Chapter 7: Ice

Natasha's POV

I heard several knocks on the door before it opened.

Elyse entered the room, which made me crease my forehead.

What is she doing here?

I mean, wasn't she mad at me? She was glaring at me and all earlier, and I have no idea why.

Well, it's because I choked her-- I got to give her that. But she provoked me! She wanted to kill me, and I wouldn't just stand there and wait for her to do it. She wants to end my life because she's threatened that I am in their territory-- her brother's lair, and I got to protect myself, but I got out of control. And if it wasn't for the arrival of Valerian- I don't want to think about the possible things that I might do to her.

I watched Elyse as she sat on the seat in the corner of the room.

I wonder what she and Valerian talked about when they left the room.

Not to be nosy or anything but was it about me?

"I'm sorry for what happened," she apologized.

I automatically looked at her.

She's sorry? For what? I was the one who did something to her.

"It's funny how you got triggered when you're the one trespassing-- I mean, not trespassing since I already know why you're here," she added.

I creased my forehead at her as I tilted my head. "Why?"

"You're Valerian's mate, right?"

I quickly shook my head at her words. "No, I'm not."

It's her turn to crease her forehead at me. "That's what he said."

"I'm not," I repeated.

"What do you mean? It's literally the reason why you're here. You're Valerian's mate."

I furrowed my eyebrows because her tone is so insisting, and it's annoying me.

Ha! So, it's not only me that's Valerian is fooling, huh? He's telling his family now that I'm his mate? Are they his allies in fooling me?

Seriously, I don't know what his agenda is behind telling me a lie like I'm his mate, maybe to avenge the fact that I tried to kill him? Or does he find it fun to play me and wrap me around his fingers? He's fucked up for that.

"You're his mate, Natasha," Elyse repeated again.

She now knows my name, huh.

I deeply closed my eyes and heaved a deep sigh before opening them. "Please, I'm not going to say it again."

Elyse stood up from the chair and sat beside me. She held my hand, and I wasn't able to avoid it because she was fast.

What is she doing?

She closed her eyes and caressed my hand, and I couldn't do anything about it because her grip started tightening around my hand, so I just looked at her weirdly.

A couple of seconds passed, and she finally opened her eyes.

"It's true," she stated.

I sucked on my lower lip as my heart started to beat faster than its usual pace.

"What is?" I asked.

I repeatedly cursed inside my mind when I felt how anxious I was as I waited for her answer. Although I already have an idea of what is she going to say, I really can't help but be so nervous, and my anxiety is up to the roof. And, I guess, I am not just ready to hear it.

"You and Valerian are mates," Elyse stated firmly as if what she said couldn't be wrong no matter what.

I swallowed hard. "How can you be so sure?"

"I can see the truth," she answered.

"My special ability is that I can see the truth," she added when she saw how creased my forehead because of her answer.

My heart hammered inside my chest that I could almost hear it.

If she really can see the truth by holding someone's hand, then it's true... Valerian and I are really mates.

No, it can't be.

I drew a breath.

"Does every vampire has a special ability?" I questioned, trying to change the topic.

I need to know things about their kind because I need to find fault or at least a flaw about Valerian so I can plot his death right away because their lies are starting to get inside my head.

It's too believable and I can't fight it any longer if they continue to tell me things like this.

"No, only ones who belong in the noble family," she answered.

So, I was right.

Valerian Fenrir came from a high-rank vampire family.

That explains his abilities.

And now, I can't say that Elyse is lying about what she just said because she is Valerian's sister, so she also has a special ability.

I mentally groaned.

How did I drag myself into this mess?

I wanted to go home and ask the witches my father knew to confirm it, but I knew I couldn't do that.

My father will officially disown me if he learns that I failed to do what he wanted.

He made it clear to me.

Multiple times.

What do I do now?

"You know, I genuinely wondered why you're here-- staying here. But it's not only that; why did Valerian let you stay here?" Elyse questioned, which made me confused.

"What do you mean?"

"This is a house where he lived with--"

Elyse wasn't able to finish her sentence when the door suddenly opened, and Valerian entered.

I want to tell her to continue what she's saying, but it's not possible to because the devil has just arrived.

I sat up straight and fixed myself.

On the other hand, Elyse stood up and walked towards the sofa in the corner again but I saw that Valerian gestured her to get out of the room, and she obliged without saying anything.

The moment Elyse closed the door and was completely gone, my heart started to beat fast again.

I'm alone in the same place with Valerian, and I feel like suffocating, especially after what Elyse just told me.

I refused to believe that he's really my mate. No, because it's more like I refused to accept that he's my mate.

He is not. It can't be. No.

He's vicious, and I don't want him to be my mate.

Someone out there who's compassionate, kind, and gentle is my mate. And most importantly, a werewolf, my kind.

"Can you read minds?" Valerian asked.

He sounded so straightforward like he seeks for my answers so bad.

I sucked on my lower lip.

He didn't know that I could read minds because I didn't vocally express it.

"I saw the way you looked at my eyes before. You can read minds," he stated.

I gulped.

I remember when he told me that he struggled when he tried to read my mind, and he saw the same when I tried to read his mind.

But, he can't know that I can read minds because that will only make him ask questions that even me has no answers.

"Which is odd because werewolves can't read minds," he added as he stared at me with his eyes piercing. "They do not possess that kind of ability because they are indeed. . . weak."

My blood boiled at his last words.

I hastily ran to him, and because I caught him off guard, I managed to push him onto the wall and cornered him.

I gritted my teeth and looked at him with eyes as sharp as daggers. "I can disarrange your organs using just my bare teeth."

Valerian remained silent as his eyes and face became completely emotionless.

"Bastard," I spit the word like it was poison.

I saw how Valerian's jaw clenched. In just a snap, he managed to swap our position.

My heart hitched when all of a sudden, I was the one who got cornered in the wall with both his hands at my side.

"Feisty," he whispered. "Just like how I want it."