Chapter 22

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a whisper.

"Taking care of you and our baby. I have to make sure you are alright."

"Where have you been all these days? I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of you. It felt like... you rejected me."

He shook his head and sighed deeply. "I had to give you some space to protect you from my father's wrath because he would kill you if he ever found out I had feelings for you. The grudges and deep hatred between our worlds run too deep."

I sighed in sadness as the strange dream flashed through my mind again.

"Leo... do you really love me?" I asked softly.

He chuckled. "Zena is still in a coma and now everyone except the doctor believes I went off to the forest to stay alone and meditate, but I snuck in here to make sure you were safe."

He smiled, searching through my eyes. "Unfortunately, I have lost the key to my heart in your eyes, and my soul is bound to yours forever, so stop asking if I love you."

My cheeks must look like tomatoes right now, and I really had to quickly look away, trying to hide how deeply his words had affected me. I was blushing too hard.

"I thought as I lost my wolf, our mate bond wouldn't be strong. And...I don't think I am fit to be your queen without any inner beast. I am just like a human."

He laughed gently, playfully trailing his finger along my lips and nose.

"No one else will sit beside me on the throne but you. I want you to always have that at the back of your mind."

"Then be my trainer," I pouted. "I want to be stronger and be able to defend myself. My body is weak."

His eyes narrowed at me. "Huh? You want to train?"

"Yes, I have to train, please."

"Train for what?" he asked, lowering his head.

"I'm sorry, but you're not allowed. As a slave, you're forbidden from even approaching the training grounds."

"Then it doesn’t have to be the training grounds. Anywhere can be my training place..."

"You’ll be caught and whipped—a thousand lashes," he said under his breath, then offered a soft, reassuring smile, rubbing my arm gently.

"Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to convince my father to let you stay in the castle—for the baby's sake. And gradually... I’ll..."

Leo, I had a dream. A terrifying one. So vivid, I still feel goosebumps. The screams won’t leave my ears. Danger is coming—and the real enemies are demons." I spilled the words, and his face twisted into confusion.

"Demons? They don’t exist. Everything we know about them is just from old tales. Even if they once walked this earth, they’ve been wiped out—gone forever. Don’t let dreams deceive you. I understand... it's the pregnancy." He laughed and kissed my lips.

But I still couldn’t shake the unease. I couldn't feel any better.

"If I ever had to fight... would you train me so I can win?"

"Diane, you're not fighting anyone. I’ll talk to Zena. I’m sure she’ll leave you alone once—"

I hissed. "If you don't train me, I will find another teacher. I hope you won't disturb us."

"You know I can't stand that." He breathed and leaned forward. "I accept to be your teacher, but how do you plan to make my father allow you to train?"

"By requesting a duel with Zena."

"What?!" His eyes widened, staring at me in disbelief.

"Do you have a death wish? Zena will kill you. I won’t let that happen."

I pulled away from his arms and stepped out of bed, ignoring the slight burn on my back. The wounds from the whips were healing but very slowly, since I had lost almost every wolf ability.

"I may not actually fight Zena, but I just want to use that duel as an excuse to get trained. Zena will be the one attempting suicide if she still agrees to fight me after training," I said in a firm tone.

He blinked, clearly amused.

"Diane, you sound hilarious. I’m trying hard not to burst into laughter. I can only train you to defend yourself against commoners—not a feral guardian vampire like Zena. She hates you too much to show any mercy and you are just giving her the opportunity to get rid of you."

I stepped closer to him and leaned in. "The beast inside me is even more powerful than the vampires. I have to train my body perfectly before I turn 21 so I can be a vessel."

He paused, then gently took my hand, tracing the scar on my wrist.

"I had a dream too. I haven’t told anyone. But what you're saying... it’s starting to make sense."

"Tell me," I urged.

"I dreamed of a female hybrid. A powerful one. So majestic with ethereal beauty. But I couldn't see her face properly because it was hidden behind a white veil." He paused and smiled in amazement.

"I was about to be executed when she appeared and saved me. I don’t know how I ended up in such a hopeless place, but the moment she rescued me, my strength returned. Together, we fought like warriors—against demons. I don’t know if she was you..." He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"It may be me. Or Zena. Who knows." I shrugged, trying to suppress the huge grin threatening to show on my face.

Why did his dream move me so deeply? I could picture it all vividly—and it felt...so good.

"It won't be the first time you helped me regain back my lost strength and ability. I was enthralled by that lady in my dream, so there is no one qualified to be that if not you." He leaned in, his lips brushing mine, and my body trembled with desire.

"Kiss me, Leo. I’m dying for your touch. I can’t resist—"

He held a finger to my lips.

"Shhh..." He hushed me, shaking his head slightly.

"No, not now. Not here. If we’re caught, it’ll be chaos."

He stepped back, his voice strained with longing.

"You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you—every minute, every hour of every day. I want to hold you and do all that silly, sweet stuff couples do. But we can’t. Not yet. As for your training, let’s do it your way, my beautiful queen." He winked, and I sucked in my lips as my heart pounded at a fast pace.

His smile. His gorgeous eyes. They made me feel more alive than ever—as if I were the most precious thing in the world.

"I love the way you called me your queen..." I murmured, covering my face, completely embarrassed at how flushed I had become.

Just then, the door burst open, and my blood ran cold at who I saw standing at the door.