A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 83: Definition Of A Bastard

"The humans are holding a feast tonight in celebration of their new union with Althenia," the captain reported.

Brandon leaned forward, his eyes piercing into those of the knights. "They’d be fools enough to try and attack us," he dismissed with a hint of disapproval in his voice. The humans were too weak to make a move.

The captain’s lips parted, his eyes searching for Jessica’s for assistance. From her standing position besides the king, she took the cue, turning to face him.

"The Althenians are well known for their battle prowess at sea, Your Majesty. We cannot overlook this, considering the sea is our greatest weakness."

Brandon placed his fingers on his temple. The last few days he had sat in this throne hall had been nothing but catastrophic. He had thought ruling was this simple but the simple act of sitting in the throne hall and listening to petitions felt like hell in itself.

"The king is tired and in need of rest," he said, unable to take it anymore. His ass felt sore when he stood.

"These are important matters, Your Majesty." Jessica implored. "We can’t just sit and wait while the humans gather an army..."

"I trust you can take care of that, mother. Now if you’ll excuse me." He left through the rear door, two knights following him closely behind.

Jessica’s eyes rested on the empty seat. With two briesk steps, she softly sat on it, letting her fingers feel the cold iron on the armrests.

And turning to face the captain, she said, "Where were we?"

"There’s something else I need to tell you, My Lady. Rumor has it that prince Charles of Althenia will be marrying Elena Thornhart in order to strengthen the bond between the two once rival countries."

"Nonsense! Who doesn’t know Elena is married to that Bastard!" Her lips twisted in disgust.

"I thought of the same." The captain took a step forward. "My theory is Gabriel fled to the humans in search of an ally, but once the king learned that the truce is broken, he dissolved the marriage."

"Gabriel wouldn’t let anyone take her away from him," Jessica said, her fingers caressing the edges of the seat. "Your theory must be misguided."

"My theory can be misguided but not my source of information. I paid him handsomely to fetch a lie."

Jessica paused in her actions, contemplating on what the captain had said. Humans loved gold and they’d do anything to lay their hands on it. What if it was true? And where was Gabriel in all of this?

"I trust Darion will catch up with the bastard soon. In the meantime, I want you to get me all information you can on this prince Charles of Althenia."

"Yes, My Lady," the captain bowed and exited.

Jessica leaned back, her back resting on the cold metal. She would have had a chill but she liked the feel of the metal against her skin instead.

"Prince Charles," she whispered, her eyes fixated on one place.

*****

Jophiel had already slipped into a new dress after taking a bath that took forever. She could still feel the itch on her skin due to how hard she had scrubbed it. But the hunger she had didn’t give her the opportunity to scratch her skin. Instead, she teared a piece of bread and dipped it into some thick soup that smelled like honey.

"Mmmh!" She grunted, feeling the delicious taste in her mouth. The last time she had had one of these was when she was a little girl, before she moved into the Eldorian castle.

The door creaked open at the same time, Darion’s shadow nearly consuming the whole of her. His hands were bloodied, she noticed.

"Got yourself in some trouble?" She asked, trying to find his eyes. He walked inside before she could catch a glimpse of his face, and halted opposite to the bed. There was a bowl with water on the floor.

"Just a little mishap in the tavern," he replied, crouching low to wash his hands. He wiped them with his butt and sat on the bed.

"You should eat," Jophiel voiced after a while of silence.

"Mmh," he grunted, his eyes fixated on her back. He was quick to cast them at the ceiling when she craned to look at him.

"Come join me," she invited.

Join her? Did she know he was trying to avoid her altogether? But how could refuse such an innocent invitation to dine with an angel in disguise!?

As if with a mind of its own, his body moved, sleep sliding to the mat where she sat. He leaned on the edge of the bed watching her serve him from the corner of his eyes.

"That should be enough," he cut her in her actions before she could fill his bowl. He wanted her to eat to her fill after all.

"My mother used to tell me men eat more than women," she said. "That’s why papa’s plate was always full," she added with a smile.

Darion couldn’t afford to lose such a beautiful moment. He watched her smile. It was the most beautiful thing he had seen today.

’You look beautiful when you smile,’ he thought, keeping it to himself. "Not all men are human," he countered instead. "And vampires eat as half less as humans do."

He took the bowl, and placing it on the mat, tore a piece of bread and dipped it into the thick soup before taking a bite. Jophiel watched him before she smiled shyly, all the while hiding it with her hands.

"What about you, Darion?" She asked, watching as he tore more pieces of bread.

"What about me?" Darion asked, food stuffed in his mouth now.

"You don’t strike me as a man who is human, nor vampire," she said.

"Isn’t that the definition of a half breed, bastard, whatever you want to call it?" He said, now drinking his soup to wash down the bread stuck in his teeth. But it only made it worse. Gods knew he was starving!

"More bread," Jophiel said, handing him a half block. His eyes rested on the piece slowly moving up to lock with her eyes.

His lips! If the god of temptation didn’t whisper a ’kiss him’ in her ears, she must be day dreaming. They were lined with the oil from the soup, and slightly parted. His hair looked messy but it only acted to bring out his features. Even the dirt on it didn’t make him a living temptation any lesser.

"You should eat too, Jophiel."

She didn’t know why but the way he said her name left her spellbound to his dark eyes. They looked like a sea of darkness, and she, the light meant to make them turn a shade lighter.

"You look beautiful when you smile," Darion admitted. She casted her eyes on the floor, a smile and light blush on her cheeks. And as if that was not enough to turn him on, she tucked a couple of stray strands of her hair behind her ear.

"I should take a bath!" He declared. God, he needed it now more than ever. The heat was palpable on his skin despite the biting cold he’d experienced a few minutes before. He needed a cold bath at that!

Without waiting for her response, he unbuttoned his shirt and threw it on top of her dirty clothes. Jophiel’s mouth hang open but the words got stuck in her throat. Her eyes worshipped his well toned muscles before resting on a scar that run across his chest.

"I’ll... Just face the other side," she finally found the words. She walked past him, the scent of his sweat invading her senses. She didn’t know why but it gave her an alien sensation.

Climbing on to the bed, she faced the wooden wall before the sound of pants dropping invaded her senses. Even the slightest of sounds didn’t escape her new profound sense of hearing.

The fact that a man she had seen half naked was undressing behind her back raised a tingling sensation in her stomach. Her innocent mind involuntarily tried to fill the puzzle and she couldn’t help but bite her lower lip.

"You can turn now," Darion said.

Though her mind screamed at her to stop, she found herself searching for him in the room. He was seated in the tub, almost immersed in it completely save for his head and shoulders.

"I can’t remember the last time I took a bath," he admitted. His skin was greasy against the soap. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

’Don’t look!’ Jophiel’s mind screamed but her eyes yearned for more. Lord, this man was oozing pure masculinity. The simple action of applying the soap on his skin ignited a sensation in the pit of her stomach, something untapped.

Darion applied the soap in circular motions around his arms and neck when his eyes caught her staring. Wait! Was that a dreamy look on her face?

"I’m...," Jophiel tried to conjure the words when she was caught pants down. She snapped back, trying to hide her face from him. "I’m really sorry."

"Actually, I might be in need of help."

Jophiel " ".