From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 100

Chapter 100

He nods, ending our moment of rest. He raises his weapon again, positions himself offensively, and I do the same. I can’t help but picture myself holding a whip like that girl’s or wonder what the Far Lands might be like. I’ve only heard rumors. They say people there are exotic, that color bathes every surface, and that people are free in every way one can imagine. Passion rules them, and I don’t know if it’s a good idea to go somewhere like that–especially not with someone who looks at me with liquid desire in his eyes.

The next two nights 1 spend training, testing my physical endurance. During the day, my attempts to sleep are constantly disturbed by dreams that feel too real, in which Cassian is in front of me. Sometimes he brushes my hand with his fingers, and other times his lips graze my temple. Not even in dreams am I immune to the magnetism his body exerts over mine.

The Far Lands live up t to their name. It will take us several days by boat to reach the coast and, once there, I don’t know what our destination will be From the moment I set foot on the wooden deck, I feel an urgent impulse to cling to the railing and watch how the ship cuts through the sea. I don’t take my eyes off the water for even a moment, and sometimes I think I can distinguish shapes beneath the surface. Shapes that are watching

mhe.

“If you’re not careful, you might fall”

The sour apple joins the salty scent of the sea. I glance sideways at the vampire, who seems more interested in me than in his surroundings, I rest an elbow on the wooden surface, cradle my chin, and throw him a curious look

That would be a shame.”

“Do you think I want you dead?” He mirrors my curious look. “You’re far more valuable breathing.”

“Are you planning to use me as a bargaining chip with Cassian?

Laughter bursts from his chest, filling the air with its sareet sound. I try to hide my surprise it always impacts me to see how Eleazar doesn’t try to hide has amusement and seems happy most of the dine. Despite his intimidating appearance, his robust body, and feline gaze, he isn’t cruel when he speaks and doesn’t seem like a tormented soul

“I have no intention of taking you back to him, he says slowly. “Though if it’s your wish to return, I won’t be the one to stop you. I already told yau, you’re a guest, not my prisoner,

I remain silent as I deliberate in my mind whether I should reveal some of my thoughts, let him know how lost I am

“I really don’t know what I’m going to do, I don’t know where to go” Sadness filters into my voice. “I can’t go back home and I have nothing else. I don’t want to go back to him either—I feel pathetic remembering I was just entertainment and that I almost ended up in a cage just because I looked pretty

“Do you really believe that, or is it just anger!” I show him a confused expression. “Haven’t you thought that maybe you like him?“,

“Cassian exerts a twisted power over all of us, he’s magnetic.”

I’m afraid we were made to have that effect on humans.”

“Is that how you ended up becoming a vampire?”

He curves his lips into a sad smile and lifts his hand to brush my cheek. He moves a strand of my hair behind my car.

“You should rest Tomorrow night we’ll resume training.”

He steps away from me and walks across the deck until he disappears into one of the cabins below. 1 look at the sky, see how twilight’s gray stains the heavens, and with a sigh I finally pull away from the railing and imitate Eleazar. I go down the steps into the interior of the ship, where darkness in total. Luckily, there’s a small sconce on the wall. 1 grab the candle from it and use the flame to guide me through the gloom. I head to my own. cabin. The bed is small, with simple sheets and a pillow. Other than that, there’s a trunk full of things that are supposedly mine but I don’t really consider them so, a chair where I sit to take off my boots, a jug of water, and a mirror on the wall that has fallen due to the sway of the waves and is now covered in tiny cracks.

I leave my clothes on–I don’t trust that someone won’t barge intouny room at any moment; I’ve felt unsafe since the bathtub incident and, to be honest, I haven’t felt truly like myself since then. The memories torment me, the certainty that it’s not the first time I’ve done something like that, because now I’m sure it was me. The events of the forest had been pushed to the back of my memory and now they’ve resurfaced.

I wonder who the real threat is—them, or me!

I lie on the bed on my back, eyes fixed on the ceiling. There are no windows, the ship is designed so that the entrance of light is nearly impossible.. Only a few humans walk the deck, maintaining the ship’s course. I hear some voices speaking sofily and focus on ignoring them. Sleep takes a while, but it comes

I’m sitting at the edge of the bed. At first I think it’s just any bed until I see the sheets and raise my eyes to observe the rest of the room. It’s Cassun’s, and if I wasn’t entirely sure, I feel his warm breath behind my ear. The scent of wet earth and night–blooming jasmine envelops me, unlike his hands, which rest on either side of my thighs. His presence behind me is like a tingling sensation

12:24 PM c

Chapter 100

“Why do you come to me every night?” His voice drips with agony. “Don’t give bread to someone dying of thirst, Elara.”

I don’t know where I find the courage to turn and face him. His face looks thinner, but no less attractive. There are shadows under his eyes and his lips have lost some of that poppy red color. He’s not feeding I know it without him telling me, his appearance gives it away. It’s been almost two weeks since our paths separated. That’s quite a long time dying of thirst. I don’t feel pity, I feel immense satisfaction.

“I assure you, it’s not your bed I want to visit at night,” I reply.

“Oh, no?” He raises one of his symmetrical eyebrows. “Is there someone visiting yours. Elarať“

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