Stone Cold

Chapter 16

He continued to ignore her presence, his arm shielding his eyes away from her view.

"Ares." He clenched his fists tightly till his knuckles turned white.

He heard light footsteps heading in his direction. "Don't come any closer."

She felt hurt. "Why?"

"Why are you here?" He countered her with his own question.

"Why do you think I'm here?" He was infuriating her with his nonchalant behaviour.

He remained motionless, not uttering a single word.

She scrunched her eyebrows. "You said I'm yours, eternally. Isn't that the other way round too? Aren't you mine?" She didn't care if she sounded desperate. The bond seemed to be messing with her emotions.

"It's all because of you, Ares! You bound us together and now you refuse to take the responsibility for it." She was close to screaming yet no reply came from his side.

His lack of attention was hurting her beyond words. She strode up to him, pulling his arm away from his eyes. "Say something!"

He lifted his gaze slowly to meet her eyes. Emerald orbs shone brightly looking at her with an unknown expression. She stared at him mesmerized as they suddenly changed their colour into a deep crimson. Before she had time to react he pulled her arm causing her to lose her balance. She fell on top of him with a dull thud as he encircled his other arm securely around her waist.

Her brain was slowly comprehending the intimate position she had fallen into. She was sprawled on top of him. Her hands rested on his broad shoulders, her legs intertwined with his long ones. Something was poking her abdomen and she refused to believe that it was anything other than his.. wallet. 'Yeah, that's his wallet. His wallet. Wallet. Who am I kidding? It's definitely not his wallet!' She was close to screaming with horror.

A gentle touch distracted her from her internal turmoil. His rough hand brushed the tendrils of hair, which had fallen out of her ponytail, away from her face. His touch was soothing to the core. She closed her eyes anticipating more but he curled his fingers away from her face.

"Faith." He called her name softly.

She opened her eyes looking confused.

"I asked you not to come closer because I knew I would not be able to control myself. My animalistic needs are fighting to overpower my senses. Do you know how much I want to mark every inch of you right now? Sink my teeth deep down your flesh till my scent is imprinted on you like a second skin." He grazed her neck with the tip of his fingers. She sucked in a sharp breath.

"I think you're here because you're feeling the same way. Isn't that the case, Regina mea?"

She couldn't meet his eyes. He was a sorcerer. His deadly gaze held her like a prisoner. "Yes, I'm yours. Just as you're mine, Faith." He touched his soft lips to her forehead. She gripped his shoulders tightly. His hands stroked her waist with slow torturous movements.

"S-Stop." She managed to get a word out through the haziness that clouded her mind.

"Why? Didn't you want answers?" He placed a tender kiss on her right cheek. She remained silent. Her mouth wouldn't utter a single syllable.

"I bound us together to save your life, silly little girl. Why do you always forget that?" His lips made contact with her left cheek.

"Look up at me." He placed another lingering kiss on her chin before grabbing it gently. She was compelled to make eye contact with him.

"I'm a vampire, Faith. A different species than yours. Blood bonds are meant for my kind. They have a stronger effect on vampires. Humans on the other hand can defy it if they want. The things you've been experiencing aren't solely because of this bond. In your case, the bond only acted as a trigger. What you're feeling right now, It's the path you chose for your own self. Rather, It's your heart that chose it on its own." He placed his cold hand above her heart. She didn't want to believe him. 'He's lying. He must be!'

She tried breaking away from his grasp but he only pressed himself harder against her. "Tell me," His lips were getting dangerously close to hers. "How do you want me to take responsibility, Regina mea?"

Their lips were a hair's breadth away when the mahogany doors opened to reveal a stoic Henry. "Sorry to disturb your moment, but Milady's room is ready, Milord." He didn't look the least bit sorry.

Faith quickly detached herself from Ares as if he were on fire. Fixing her clothes and hair, she started walking towards Henry with a flustered face.

She turned to look back once she reached the giant doors. He was lying sideways on the throne, in the exact position she first saw him. His face covered by his arm. She couldn't tell what he was feeling.

With one last lingering look, she followed Henry out of the room.

"Henry." She called his mame with a bit of hesitation.

"Yes, Milady." He replied in his monotonous voice.

"What does 'regina mea' mean?" She was looking up at him expectantly. He stopped midway to stare at her for a second before continuing to move forward.

"It means 'My Queen' in Latin."