CH.5

EVANGELINE

I opened my eyes with heaviness stretching through every joint in my body and stared at the clock on the wall.

It was nearly five in the morning.

It was still very early, and the sun hadn't risen yet.

I straightened my upper body and left the bed, stepping quietly across the floor.

I needed to return to my room now. I didn't want anyone to find that I'd spent my first night as a married woman with Cordelia. I wouldn't find an excuse to explain that away.

The hallway was dark and silent as I made my way back to what was now supposed to be my bedroom, feeling like an intruder in my own home.

I inspected the area carefully before entering with slow steps and glanced at the bed.

My brows furrowed in surprise. The bed was empty.

Where had he gone?

I pressed my ear to the bathroom door to check if he was inside, but no sound came from within.

I walked to the dressing room and peeked inside only to find it was also empty.

That left only one option: the room behind the door I couldn't identify.

Was he in there? Should I have a look?

Why would I do that? What business was it of mine?

His clothes were thrown carelessly in front of the door, even his underwear!

A slight blush covered my cheeks from the thoughts that began flooding my mind.

Was he sleeping naked? Was there another room inside he preferred?

I bit my lip nervously and began walking toward the forbidden room. My curiosity had finally gotten the better of me.

I pushed the door with my index finger and inserted part of my head to check what lay inside, but all I saw was complete darkness.

The room seemed to be some kind of study or office, with the faint outline of a desk visible in the darkness. However, why would he sleep in there instead of the comfortable bed?

I won't venture further than this. I didn't want him to find me spying on him. I wouldn't escape his wrath then.

I walked toward the bed and sat at the edge of it.

There was no harm in taking a short nap since he wasn't around. Yes, I’d leave before he woke up.

I was beyond exhausted that sleep welcomed me as soon as my back touched the mattress, my body finally surrendering to the overwhelming fatigue of the day.

For a blissful few hours, I escaped into the darkness of dreamless sleep, my mind mercifully blank until something shifted in the atmosphere of the room.

Even in my unconscious state, some primal instinct began to stir, warning me that I was no longer alone.

The air felt different, charged with a presence that made my skin prickle even in sleep.

A sense of foreboding settled over me, seeping into my dreams and pulling me slowly back toward consciousness until I could no longer ignore it.

I opened my eyes lazily. My mind was still foggy with sleep, straightening my upper body while rubbing both eyes with my palms to ward off the drowsiness that clung to me.

Then my gaze swept across the room and froze.

My heart stuttered once before beginning to race.

There, sitting perfectly still on the sofa opposite my bed, was a figure I recognized all too well.

He sat in complete silence, unmoving, like a statue carved from darkness itself.

What made my blood freeze wasn't just his presence, it was the way he was looking at me. The mysterious, unreadable expression, as if he'd been watching me for hours. Studying me.

"Oh my God!" The words tore from my throat in a strangled whisper.

How long had he been there? How long had he been watching me sleep, defenseless and unaware?

"Why do you insist on defying me?" The sound of his husky voice sent chills running down my spine.

Gael rose from his seat, then began moving toward me with steady steps while I followed his movement suspiciously.

His body settled at an almost nonexistent distance from me and lowered his face to my eye level without breaking our intense visual connection.

His hand crept behind my head with a sudden movement and gripped my head, forcing it toward his face.

"Speak!"

I winced in pain when he pressed his fist to the back of my head.

I wrapped my fingertips around his wrist, trying to push him away while speaking angrily. "Fine! I have no problem with everyone knowing you kicked me out of the room. I'll leave the explanation to you!"

"Are you threatening me now?" He brought his face even closer to mine, so I turned my head to avoid any contact.

"You're hurting me. Let me go."

He didn't seem to appreciate my warning tone. "Or what?"

As soon as he finished his words, I lunged at the arm that held me, clenching my teeth around it like a rabid animal.

I increased the strength of my bite when he showed no expression or reaction, until I tasted the metallic flavor of his blood entering my mouth.

I finally released my grip and watched his calm expression with suspicion.

Did this bastard have no feelings whatsoever?

I looked at the bite mark, feeling a surge of satisfaction as my teeth had left their impression in his skin.

His stillness was beginning to unnerve me and I looked back at his eyes with growing nervousness, watching his eyes finally slide down to examine the wound for a long moment.

His eyes whipped back to mine and I pressed my lips together as a protective reaction, thinking he would surprise me with a kiss?

"I wouldn't accept you even if you were the only woman alive!" He hissed in my ear before his grip finally loosened around my head and gave me a look filled with pure revulsion.

Then he walked toward the mysterious room and slammed the door so hard that I jumped from my position.

"As if I would die for your kiss." I tried to shout so he could hear me, but my voice actually came out as barely a whisper.

I sat there for a long moment, my heart still racing from the encounter.

The taste of his blood lingered in my mouth, metallic and bitter. I'd never done anything so violent in my life, but something about this man brought out a side of me I didn't recognize.