From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Elara

20

I can’t get that girl’s image out of my mind. The unnatural way her neck was arched or her eyes, dull and lifeless, staring into nothing. I didn’t even get the chance to close her eyelids. Just when I think Cassian can’t possibly surprise me with more cruelty, he proves me wrong.

It makes me sick to know that I can have any kind of reaction toward him that isn’t repulsion. I want to scream every time I remember how my body leaned into his, how it pressed against him, and how my lips parted, letting him taste more of me than he ever should have. And I want to scream even louder when I think of how those memories have kept my mind in chaos.

I shouldn’t be thinking about it–it’s obvious he doesn’t. Who am I kidding? The whole way here, every brush of his hand or his body against mine made me tense up for reasons I should be ashamed of.

“It’s been a while since we last saw each other,” Walter says as he serves a dark liquid that smells delicious into two cups. “I heard you’ve been sick.”

“It’s just been a strange few days,” I say, trying to downplay it.

He gestures for me to sit, and I wrap my hands around the cup, enjoying its warmth. He mirrors me and gives me one of his cheerful smiles.

“I should warn you–you’re the talk of all the Diluted.” I frown, not understanding why. Walter leans over the table in a conspiratorial and intimate gesture. “You must know how Cassian is. The Diluted never keep his attention for long. His relationships are purely… carnal.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

“You’ve caught his interest. They’re wondering what’s going on with you that Cassian is going to such lengths.”

“Aren’t vampires supposed to care for their feeders?” I reply.

Walter raises an incredulous eyebrow.

“Did that seriously come out of your mouth?” He takes a sip from his cup before continuing. “I think we both know Cassian’s reputation. That stupid comment, Elara. I just wanted to warn you that next time you show up in public with him, all eyes will be on you.”

“Exactly what I wanted,” I reply sarcastically.

“What are banshees like?”

“How do you know about that?”

Now he gives me a smile that, coming from him, feels like the most wicked thing he can draw on his face.

“Maybe I should’ve warned you that no gossip escapes me.”

“So you’re the gossip around here. I seem to remember you claimed to be the opposite.”

“What can I say? Sharing a bed with another gossip always keeps you well–informed.”

was

a

The hot drink goes down the wrong way and I start coughing like crazy. Walter rubs my back as if that would actually help. When I think I can breathe again, I look at him in shock. Honestly, since I’ve been here, no one holds back when it comes to talking about sex, and it still surprises me. My whole life, the topic was avoided. Not that I was saving my virtue for any special reason, but I suppose when everyone around you treats sex like something shameful, you don’t ask questions–and you certainly don’t consider exploring.

“I see… your village is one of those that’s turned prudish,”

Not all villages are like mine?

“It wasn’t talked about much that topic,” I confess.

“Sex? Or sex with other men?”

1 hadn’t even realized Walter meant another man as his bed partner.

“Both, I’m afraid.”

“There’s only one thing I like about them,” he says, and I know who he’s referring to. “Their arrival gave humans the chance to return to old customs and cling to their prejudices. But you know what’s curious? The vampires never told them that sex was bad, or that loving someone of the same gender was immoral, or anything like that. It was humans who took advantage of the chaos to hurt those of us who had always been excluded.” He sighs. “But here, among them, I’ve never once felt like who I kiss or sleep with is a problem.”

“Only one person?” I tease, raising my eyebrows up and down.

1/2

8:42 PM

Chapter 61

“Well, Aeron is a good lover, I have to give him that.”

My mouth drops open, and I swear if I didn’t put my hand under my chin, my jaw would’ve hit the floor. I blink several times.

“Aeron?” I repeat the name. “Aeron the Pureblood vampire who bought you? Aeron Death?”

“Who did you think I meant?”

“I don’t know, maybe another feeder or a human who worked for Aeron.”

Immediately, I start comparing. I’m not the only one who seems to have had… contact with her vampire. Only, if I look at Walter, he doesn’t seem horrified by the idea–on the contrary, he seems very pleased with it. In my case, if you handed me a whip, I probably wouldn’t stop flogging myself for letting that kiss happen. I never should’ve let my lips touch his, and above all, I shouldn’t have enjoyed it.

“Darling, aside from Cassian, when one of them buys you, it’s usually not just because your blood is exquisite, but because your appearance is

He winks at me, and a shiver runs through my entire body. He must realize the distress the idea causes me.

“Don’t worry, like I said, that’s not the case with Cassian. He’s not interested in humans or men.”

too.

”

I can practically feel my cheeks heating every time Walter emphasizes how uninterested Cassian is in humans. Then what was it that happened between us? His words and actions don’t match someone who has no interest at all. My face betrays me, and before I can process it, Walter is up from his seat, pulling me to stand with him. He drags me to a more secluded area, then places his hands on my shoulders and looks at me carefully.

“That guilty little face…” he muses. “What happened, Elara?”

“Nothing.”

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