Liam's POV
My eyes widened at what she said, and Natalie turned to me with the exact same expression I was wearing.
"And why am I telling you this?" She asked, mostly at herself, and then to me.
"I have no fucking idea. Holy shit." She blinked countless of times and brought a fist to her mouth. I could tell that she was surprised by her own actions and she was definitely regretting it.
"That was not my secret to tell." She told me and paced around the room back and forth.
"You see, that's why everyone in this castle hates me! Ugh, I can't put a lid on my mouth once it starts talking. I mean, it might not have a filter but at least I'm telling the truth right? One time there was this newborn vampire that was sent in the castle and he wore the death of fashion so I told him "Hey, I really like your style. Where did you get that? In your grandma's closet?" And later, I learned that his grandma just died." She finished and I'm sure that my mouth was hanging open after she retells the story.
"See, even you, are judging me." She accused and Dragon let out an annoyed whine on my lap before plopping down on the bed. Natalie gaped and I covered my mouth to stop myself from smiling. After that, a comfortable silence settled over us.
"You're handling this pretty well." Natalie observed and she was looking at me when she said it. I slowly lowered my hand and placed it on my lap before answering her.
"What?" I asked.
"Liam. Before the other night, you never knew that our kind existed. You got abducted, by us, by vampires, nonetheless. We tried to eat you, and, you found out you're not just a simple human. Wait, did I already mention that you got kidnapped?" She asked and I nodded my head at her question.
"Normally, humans would either shit their pants or pass out. Then, when they wake up, they're gonna try to run or they're not going to believe what's happening. But you never did any of that." She pointed out and even I was amazed by myself for not going crazy after all that happened.
"I'm used to situations like...this. Situations where I can't do anything but accept what happened and deal with it. Besides, the king said no one would hurt me, and that's good for me for now." I told her with honesty and fiddled with my fingers. All that's happened to me, made me like this, and I don't know if I should be grateful for it or resent it.
"But I'm so scared. I still am." Being alone in a castle full of vampires is terrifying. I may handle difficult situations well, but that doesn't mean that I don't feel a thing.
"I'm sorry, Liam. I truly am. But you should know, you're not leaving here anytime soon." She confessed and I hang my head low as my lips formed into a tight line and I tried to fight off my tears.
"I might not be the best of company, but I want to be your friend. I don't know how that works but, is that ok with you?" She asked me and she looked nervous as if it was her first time doing this.
"A friend?" I voiced out and she smiled at the curious yet hopeful tone in my voice.
"Yeah, a friend. I promise, I'll try not to eat you." She smiled and it immediately occurred to her what she just said.
"Shit. See? That's why I don't have lots of company." She let out a frustrated groan and that made me smile a little.
"I..I would like that." I whispered and looked at her beneath my lashes. She stopped moving and blinked countless of times before a wide grin broke out on her face.
"I'm Natalie. Natalie Kingsley." She walked towards me and held out a hand. I looked at it and her for a moment before I extended mine.
"I'm Liam. Liam Claremont."
~~~
Natalie left the room an hour ago and Ryder quickly replaced her after a few minutes. He told me that the Grand High Master ordered him to be at my side at all times and never let me out of his sight.
I only nodded my head because even if I didn't want to be watched, there was nothing I could do. Everytime we were alone in a room, the air would get tense but neither of us tried to clear it up. He just stared at me the whole time and I pretended that I didn't notice it but I was actually trying my hardest not to squirm.
The silence and the stare he was giving me became unbearable and I shifted on the bed before I spoke.
"Is something-" I was about to ask him, but then I met his red eyes. Bad idea.
He pinned me with his gaze and there was so much intensity in it that I had to look away. My whole body heated and I clutched the bedsheet to stop my pulse from rising. From what I read, vampires had good hearing and I'm sure he could hear how his presence affects me.
"Please don't look at me like that." I whispered my plea and fixed my eyes on the wall in front of me. I clamped my lips together and breathed in and out.
"Like what?" His voice came out deep and breathy that made me think he was thinking of bad...inappropriate things. I swallowed before I answered him.
"Like you want to eat me." I told him and spared him a glance. His eyes were now a shade of gold and he seemed offended at what I said so I became a little more specific.
"Like the way you looked at me before you- umm..ki-kissed me." I stammered and redness slithered up from my neck to my cheeks, remembering what happened. It was frightening, both in a good way and a bad way. Realization sparked in his eyes and I looked away first, fearing what he'll say next.
He became quiet after that and I thought he was going to laugh or wave it off, but what he said next, surprised me.
"I'm sorry for doing that against your will. It wasn't my intention to force myself on you and repulse you. You need to know that it wasn't my intention." He apologized and furrowed his brows as he regretted what he'd done. I thought about his lips on mine. His strong arms wrapped around my waist, and how my heart turned haywire. I didn't know kisses were so... intense. It was my first kiss and it was with a guy. A sinful one at that. Even after knowing all this, I couldn't lie to myself. I wasn't repulsed by it.
"I wasn't repulsed by it." I must've thought the last part aloud because I heard my own voice mutter as I shifted out of my thoughts. Too late.
My eyes bugged out of its sockets as I looked at him and I immediately covered my mouth with both hands.
"I..I- Uhh." He seemed at lost for words and I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die.
The tension and awkwardness in the air increased tenfold and seconds turned into minutes before he spoke again.
"Do you like men?" He asked with curiosity and I choked on my own spit. I whipped my head to face him and there was no judgement in his expression, only curiosity.
His words replayed on my mind and I drifted to my own world as I contemplated about it. Ever since responsibilities were thrusted upon my shoulders, I couldn't afford to think about anything else. I never kissed someone before Ryder. I never dated. I don't even know if I genuinely liked anyone.
After I started working in the bar, I was intrigued that there were lots of different types of people. I entertained customers who were interested in me because it seemed to be the right thing to do. When they were getting out of hand, Matt would step up and whisk me away from them.
I was glad that someone like me was worthy of their attention. I was a quiet person because sometimes I get insecure about the hollowness and tiredness in my eyes.
Thinking hard about my sexuality, for me, there was nothing wrong in liking the person of the same sex. It's perfectly normal. You don't get to choose who you love, and no one has the right to take that away from you.
So if liking Ryder's touch made me gay, then...maybe.
"I-"
Before I could finish my sentence, Kayne and Natalie strode inside and they looked at each other before they grinned ear to ear.
"As much as I would love to tie you two in one bed, Grand High Master Raegan requires your presence." Kayne gave me a pointed glance before winking.
"Or is it too early to say.." Natalie trailed off and I feared the next words that came out of her mouth.
"Your Highness."
A/N: You guys are so lucky right now😤 If I didn't love you guys so much I wouldn't release this chapter for another 2 days😑❤️