Abused and Bought

Just Friends...Right?

Hours had passed when Hunter deemed it time to head home, despite Candy's (or Grace's) begging.

"You are all welcome to the castle and you guys can come anytime." Hunter said.

Hammy squealed and wrapped her arms around Candy again, bidding an over-excited farewell. They made their way down the streets, hand in hand.

"So you're name is Grace huh?" He broke the small silence that had nibbled at them. He looked to her. "It suits you. It's cute."

She smiled shyly, fiddling with her shirt. He was the only male to call her cute, other than her friends. It was strange hearing a compliment about her name, or anything about her, since it's been about three years since she had received such a compliment.

"Grace..."

She blinked surprised to see Ryan step from some nearby shadows, his eyes masked by his hair.

"I need to talk to you." He said.

Hunter tightened his grip on her hand.

"Alone." He added, glaring at Hunter through his bangs.

Grace looked at Hunter, squeezing his hand in comfort. Reluctant, Hunter released her hand, after eyeing Ryan another moment. She followed him, his back tense as he lead her into a small alley. Once inside, he leant against a wall, his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Is it true that your Hunter's pet?" He asked.

She nodded.

"Why are you mute? What happened to you all these years?"

She swallowed. Taking his hand from inside his pocket, she traced words onto his palm.

Abused

Taking a moment to connect what she had written, he went rigid, his teeth grinding against each other.

"You....you were abused?" He asked, his voice a cold whisper.

She nodded again. Without warning, he gripped her shoulders, pulling her harshly into a bone-crushing hug.

"I'm so sorry Gracie." She smiled weakly at the old nickname. "I couldn't protect you. I broke my own promise."

She pulled away, tilting her head. He seemed to swallow, his eyes darting around nervously.

"Grace." He breathed deeply. "When we first met, I promised that I would always protect you. I broke that promise. The day you went missing, I had planned to tell you something. Something that had been on my mind ever since I first met you."

She blinked innocently, completely lost. He knelt to one knee.

"Grace...." He swallowed again. This was the first time she's ever seen him so nervous. "I....I love you. I always have."

Her eyes widened, her mouth dropping open in shock.

"I-I wanted to tell you....so, so many times, but I always chickened out. Then, the one day, that one day that I finally promised myself that I would tell you, you disappeared without a trace."

He stood, wrapping an arm around her. He tilted up her head, lowering his own.

"I love you Gracie."

And he pressed his lips to her own.

Her eyes shot wide. Her hands snapped towards his shoulders, shoving. His lips were soft, and tasted like oranges. But, it felt wrong, wrong to kiss his lips. He pressed her into the wall. She yanked at his shirt.

Suddenly, he was thrown from her being, nearly slamming into the wall behind him. She was crushed into a chest, a snarl vibrating.

Hunter.

"How dare you?!" He growled. He placed her behind him, grabbing Ryan by the collar. "How dare you kiss my girl?!"

He began to pull back his arm, only to have Grace latch onto his elbow, restraining him.

"Grace..." A chill passed through her spine when her name passed his lips. "Let me go."

She shook her head, tugging him. He growled and ripped his arm from her grip, slamming his fist once into Ryan's face before dropping him. Grace gasped and began making her way to his side, but Hunter restrained her, baring his fangs at the now bloody boy. Ryan glared at him as he held his broken nose.

"Don't you ever come near my girl again." Hunter snarled, taking Grace's hand and pulling her harshly.

Once outside the alley, he wrapped his arms around her waist and legs, lifting her and pressing her to his chest.

"Hold on." He said.

The second after he said that, the stores and houses became nothing but colorful blurs. Graces hair whipped and flew as he ran at inhuman speed back towards the castle.

She gasped for air when he finally stopped, slamming open the doors. Storming up the stairs, he threw open his doors and roughly placed Grace onto her feet. He stormed towards his bathroom.

"I'm taking a shower." He grumbled.

The door slammed behind him.

*********

Best I got. Enjoy!