บททั้งหมดของ His Captive, His Mate, His Queen : บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

~Ioana~Twigs snap under my foot, my harsh panting sounded in my ears, a constant reminder of defiance.Faster, faster.I urged myself. I couldn't allow everything to go down the drain. My lungs burned with each breath I took, my legs becoming increasingly stiff.I knew they were coming. I could feel it somewhere within; something whispered: it would only be a matter of time before they discover I'm missing.Maybe they already had.Winds whipped past my face, the trees blurred into one, merging into a canvas of green, silvery moonlight peeking through the canopies, dimly barely lighting up the place.It was a crescent moon.It all started some hours ago.When he announced coldly, the marriage.Ever since I was younger, locked in the basement, listening to the excited laughter filled with joy from above, one I was clearly excluded from because Gabrielle accused me of theft— stealing her discarded doll.I longed for a union filled with love— a person who would treat me better, with care

~Ioana~Boom.Lightning streaked the sky followed by the roar of thunder.I jerked awake, gasping. My chest heaved with each huge intake of air, the world split into two, merging back.I fell back, my back resting against something. My ragged gasp in my ears.Disoriented. I shook my head from side to side, but that didn't make it any better.Just then.Lightning cracked once more, lighting up the sky for a split second.And my heart stopped alongside with it.Something stood before the entrance—no, it was someone.A hulking mass, like a statue. 'Calm down, it's probably…' my voice trailed off not knowing what to say.But I didn't need to make that decision because it did for me.It took a step inside, water pooling behind it, leaving trails with each footstep.His head snapped up, molten pools of gold locking on me. Immediately, my emotions took a plunge, despair enveloping me like a tsunami.It's him.He found me.Scampering to my feet, I realized how foolish my decision was.How cou

~Ioana~Numb.That's how I felt.My eyelashes fluttered open, light flooded in, floor-to-ceiling window barred with delicately crafted iron rods.Even in captivity—in such a rushed work that didn't forget to make something so gruesome look luxurious.My fingers dug into the satin bedsheets, attempting to push myself up, only to wince in pain.Turning my head to the side, a girl looked back at me, complexion pallid as death, dull hazel stared back at me.Resisting the agony,I swore my muscles creaked like the hinges of an old door about to fall out, but that didn't hold me. Crawling forward desperately, I gripped my mirror with my hands.I saw it, and once I did—tears.It was as if something snapped in my mind.Drip, drip, a drop of liquid fell on my exposed lap,Tears soon following after, gushing down.Choked sobs wracking through me.On my neck was a silvery pale mark like a crescent moon. It wasn't a tattoo—it was the mark.I flinched involuntarily, my teeth dug into my lips, draw

~Ioana~“Outrageous!” the elder yelled, his face red, flushed from the pressure behind his words, hands trembling, blue veins visible underneath his semi-transparent skin.Despite the pressure bearing at me from various gawking parties, I found myself straightening my hunched shoulders.Facing him, I asked, “Why not? You said should any party refuse, didn’t you? Or perhaps my ears are beginning to fail me.”The audible gasps that rang out from the crowd cleared my mind. Immediately, I felt like slapping myself. The courage drained out; it carried with it the weariness that plagued me.“That doesn’t give you the right to refuse.”“So you’re saying it’s just for the sake of formality?”I sighed, taking a step away, but still pressed on.“No, it’s not—”He smirked. “It’s for people who had the decency of waiting. As far as I’m aware, the both of you have already completed all the rites, or have you not?”“B-But,” I stammered, “but what you said has nothing to do with whether the rites we

~Ioana~I shivered violently. Something brushed over my skin, like silken velvet. My eyes fluttered open, light flooding my vision.I squinted uncomfortably, the sudden switch from dark to light stinging my eyes like the creatures of the night. I winced, shielding my eyes with my arm.A second later, dropping them slowly, and when I did, I couldn't help but gasp."Where am I?"Before me wasn’t the suffocating grand room but an open space. The scent of wildflowers blending in, butterflies fluttered their wings cheerfully from one flower to another. The grasses swayed calmly, undisturbed.I breathed in. The taste of freedom I never knew I missed so hungrily lingering on the air.I stepped forward, glancing around. It was wide enough that I couldn’t see the end.'Was everything just an illusion?' I loved to convince myself such.I parted the golden-eared grass-like things, moving through them.For the second time since I came here, my mouth dropped open wide."What is that?" I exclaimed,