His Majesty's Devious Sin

It was difficult to breathe. Adeline\'s heart raced a thousand miles per minute. She was terrified. Not of Elias, but for Asher. Everyone knew how powerful His Majesty was. He wasn\'t a Pure-Bred in name only. There were qualities he possessed that transcended human and vampire capabilities. There was a rumor that he could take on twenty men without breaking a sweat.

Asher would not stand a chance. He would get severely injured. Or even worse, have his head ripped off.

"It\'s a m-misunderstanding Elias," Adeline murmured.

Adeline placed a hand upon Asher\'s and attempted to push it off. Elias\'s cold eyes flickered towards the action.

The red of his pupils were dangerous. It was the kind of red you\'d witness as fury rushed through the veins, before vases were smashed, tables toppled over, and fiery hot flames burning an entire forest into a wasteland.

Adeline couldn\'t even breathe. Her voice was caught in her throat. There was something about his sinister smirk that twisted her stomach. He was eerily calm, his fingers resting beside him, but his gaze was an entirely different story. His eyes said what his mouth didn\'t.

"I-I\'ll come," she whispered.

Elias\'s grin became even more wicked. "Come faster, darling."

"You bastard—"

"Asher, please," Adeline said. She tightened her hold on his hand, knowing he would not hesitate to attack. He was always protective of her. And it was her fault for letting him get so close.

Adeline did not know how possessive Elias was. She didn\'t think the King who had everything in the world would care for something as small as her. She didn\'t know how much she was worth to him.

"You don\'t have to go to him, Adeline," Asher gritted out in between clenched teeth.

"I must," Adeline muttered. She pried his hand off of her, and saw the satisfaction in Elias\'s pressing glare. He was a twisted man. His heart was made of ice, like his touch.

Asher turned around, but it was too late. She had already escaped his clutches. Soon, she was going to be in another man\'s arms.

"Adeline, I will keep you safe," Asher hissed.

Asher couldn\'t bear to see her leave like this. She was walking into the devil\'s den. She was never going to come out alive. He couldn\'t fathom the thought of her pale body slumping onto the ground, two bite marks on her neck. He couldn\'t accept it. He refused to believe she would be drained, like a sacrificial lamb.

Adeline turned around, flashing him a sympathetic smile. Just a few more steps and she would be in Elias\'s arms.

"I know you can and you will," Adeline mumbled. "But I want to do the s—mmph!"

A hand slid over her mouth, holding back her parting words. His arm snaked over her waist, pressing her body against his. Her voice was caught in her throat. The air was thick and suffocating.

Elias raised her head, forcing her to meet his sharp features. He peered down at her, a cruel, heartless smile meeting her frightened eyes. She resembled a prey trapped in a corner. He had her bent in the way he wanted, had her in the position he desired, and he relished in every bit of this control.

Her breasts heaved up and down with each panicked breath. She trembled in his arms, like a frightened little deer.

Elias looked her dead in the eyes. His voice was quiet and tense, his fury barely restrained. "You sure love to test my patience, my sweet."

Without warning, he spun her around. He was no longer embracing her. The only part he touched was her small chin. He tilted her chin up, his thumbs brushing upon her bottom lip.

"I\'m sorry," she confessed.

Adeline didn\'t know what else to say. Was it wrong to be in another man\'s arms even when she had no ill intent? Asher only meant to comfort her in a time of sadness. He had done it many times before and she always viewed it with brotherly affection. They had grown up together and he cared for her like a guardian.

"Don\'t be angry," she said in a sullen voice.

Met with silence, Adeline\'s fear heightened. She stepped closer to him, worried he would do something to Asher. He meant the world to her. Asher was a close friend, he was her defender, and he was one of the last memories she had of Kastrem. She couldn\'t bear the thought of him getting hurt because of her, even if he was her bodyguard.

"E-Elias," she muttered.

Adeline wrapped her arms around him, recalling the way that heroines touched their lovers. She grabbed onto his shoulder, the heels giving her a boost. Burying her face upon his powerful chest, she hugged him deeply.

He stiffened under her touch.

Elias let out a small scoff. Did she think this would work? He felt her tremble and shake, her breath ragged and in pants.

What was she doing? Having a panic attack? All because he was angry?

"I-I willingly came, so don\'t hurt him, please," Adeline whispered, in a voice that only he could hear.

Elias\'s lips curled into a devious smirk. He saw the bodyguard\'s venomous glower, his eyes set ablaze. His hands were tightly clenched into a fist, the blood drained from his fingers.

How fun.

The bodyguard did everything to touch Adeline, but she willingly threw herself at Elias.

"So please…"

Elias licked his fangs. The sound of her pleas was sweet. Truthfully, she didn\'t even have to beg him. He\'d gladly give her everything she wished. If only she wasn\'t so disloyal to him.

"To touch the mate of a vampire is an offense that will be trialed by our laws. Not the law of humans. You know it, don\'t you?" Elias teased.

He heard her suck in a sharp breath. Not a second later, she clung to him. "Elias…"

His cruel, daunting laughter rang in her ears. She whimpered in response, holding desperately onto him as if her petite little form could hold back the strength of a Pure-Bred.

"Don\'t beg so pitifully, my sweet." Elias pressed his lips upon her neck, his arms slithering up her back.

"Have I ever denied you of something you desired?" Elias\'s lips stopped upon her pulse. It was throbbing and warm. It took a single scrap of his fangs for a droplet of blood to flow. That alone would drive the mutt into the brink of insanity.

Elias\'s eyes darkened. It would be fun. The second the pest tried to attack him, was the second he sealed his fate. But there was a trembling little deer in his arms, who\'d weep over the death of a rat.

How unfortunate that she had a soft spot in his heart, despite her treacherous actions. Found in the arms of another man, on the night Elias announced their engagement. She sure was a slippery woman. Was this the reason why she profusely denied to enter the castle when she turned of age?

"I will never forgive you," she suddenly said.

Elias raised his brows. Oh?

"If you hurt someone I cherish, I will never forgive you."

Where did this unexpected confidence come from? Her fingers were digging into his shoulder blades. He didn\'t mind. He liked it rough.

"Who said anything about hurting your pet?" Elias teased.

"Don\'t toy with me, Eli."

Elias\'s smile dropped. There she goes again. Calling him by a nickname, as if she remembered something of her youth. "Eli, Eli," a cheerful voice would demand of him, a great Pure-Bred. She\'d tug at his arms, demanding his attention with that vehement stare of hers.

"Are we on nickname bases now?" he teased her. "Shall I call you Lin in return?"

Adeline pulled back. When she was in his embrace, she realized exactly what he was. He was cold and merciless. All of his affections were just for show. If he truly cared for her, he would comfort her in her time of fear. Instead of doing that, he poked at her frustrations, edging her as he pleased.

Adeline knew her pleas would fall on deaf ears. She had learned it the hard way today. And she\'d never make the same mistake again.

"Oh my," he cooed. "My pet has learned to glare."

Adeline tried to leave his embrace. It was evident he planned on toying with her all night long. She couldn\'t go very far. His arms caged her in.

"I\'m not glaring at you," she finally said.

"No, of course not," he mused. "You\'d never dare to glare if you knew your pet\'s life was on the line."

"Asher isn\'t a pet."

"Sounds like a name for a dog."

Adeline sharply gasped. She smacked his chest in disbelief. Instantly, she regretted her actions. To hit the King… she must\'ve lost her mind.

One look at Elias told her the same thing. He was well aware of her offense, and he was not happy.