Marcus gently laid Bella on his bed. As he watched her sleeping form, something stirred within him a dangerous mix of longing and frustration. She looked fragile, almost ethereal, her lashes trembling as she breathed softly.
He reached out, fingers hesitating inches from her face. Why does she have this effect on me? he thought bitterly. His chest tightened as emotions he couldn't control churned inside him, finally she is in my embrace he thought, he had always felt attracted to her even when the were kids, even letting his sister bully her, so he could be there to comfort her.
Bella stirred, murmuring faintly, and Marcus froze. For a brief moment, reason returned — but it slipped away just as fast, replaced by something darker. He cl
"Why must you always try to slip from my hands…" he whispered under his breath,
Leaning down,He kissed her fiercely waking her up, she struggled trying to move away from him, but Marcus was stronger,he dipped the kiss as the taste of her drove him insane,she bit his lips hard drawing blood, this made Marcus paused anger flashing in his eyes he strangle her neck choking her making her even more terrified.
"Ma.. Marcus "she choked out pls stopped,tears slid out from the sides of her eyes from the side of her eyes as she stared at the brother who she could barely recognize.
"Tell me Bella, do you hate my touch," Marcus asked his voice sounding deeper, as his eye blazed with anger.
"Answer me "he yelled desperately almost pleadingly as he looked at her the crazy look in his eyes even more obvious.
She quickly shook her head knowing that the wrong answer might cost her life.
"Tell me you feel this too , this connect between us, I have waited for you for so long ,yet that damned vampire wants to ruin us, ."he whispered gently, caressing her face , Bella tried not to flinched under his touch as she was even more convinced that her brother had lost his mind yet what terrified her the most was that she is in his hands right now.
"Marcus am your sister," she pleaded gently trying to reason with him.
"i Don't care , we can still be together, I will ask father to grant us a decree so that we can get married, I will take care of you i promised,I would never hurt you , I love you Bella, promise me you won't leave."Marcus pleaded desperately as though to convince her.
She knew trying to reasons with him would be useless, as he seemed to have gone crazy,she looked around looking for a chance to excape, but she was totally traped in-between Marcus and the large bed.
"Bella, "
Marcus called out gently drawing her attention back to him, making her heart skip in fear, but it totally stopped as she heard his next words.
" let me make you mine, " than he made to rip her clothes .She screamed, struggling desperately to free herself, just as than the door burst open with a thunderous bang, splintering from the force of the impact.
Marcus turned around, startled, fury flashing in his eyes as he shouted at the intruders only to see Damien casually leaning against the wall, his hands buried in his pockets. A wicked glint danced in his crimson eyes as he watched the scene unfold, as if he hadn't just kicked the door open himself.
"Hmm… I was wondering who stole my meal," he said in an almost playful voice,a dangerous smile curling on his lips but never reaching his eyes.
Bella let out a sigh of relief and quickly slipped off the bed, stumbling as her feet touched the cold floor.
Marcus froze, his face draining of color at the sight of the vampire standing in his room.
"Y–Your Majesty… what brings you here?" he stammered nervously, rising from the bed.
Damien's crimson eyes swept over Bella, who was clutching at the torn fabric of her dress in a futile attempt to cover herself. She stiffened under his gaze, then tried to dart for the door.
"Still haven't learned your lesson, have you?" Damien drawled, his tone cool and cutting. "I wonder what kind of trouble you would get yourself into this time."
Bella froze mid-step, her eyes flickering toward Marcus, who was staring at her intently.
"Your Majesty," Marcus began, voice trembling, "Bella is my lover. I beg you to show mercy ....we've been in love for"
"He's lying!" Bella cut in quickly, her voice shaking as she darted behind Damien, seeking his shadow like a shield.
Amusement glimmered in the vampire's eyes. His lips curved into a faint smirk as he removed his coat and draped it around her shoulders.
"That's why you shouldn't have run away, little fish," Damien murmured.
In the next instant, he moved too fast for human eyes to follow. His hand closed around Marcus's throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. The pressure seemed light, yet Marcus's face turned crimson as his feet kicked helplessly in the air.
"Stop! He's going to die!" Bella cried out, her voice trembling.
"Hmm," Damien hummed, his expression unreadable as his grip tightened slightly. "Those who dare steal from me rarely see the next sunrise."
With a casual flick of his arm, he flung Marcus across the room. The man hit the wall with a thud and crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
"Let's go, fish," Damien said coolly, turning for the door.
Bella hesitated, glancing back one last time at her fallen brother. Damien noticed the look and smirked.
"Don't worry," he said without turning. "Your lover isn't dead."
He paused, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper.
"Yet."
"He's not my lover," she defended in a small voice one that Damien still heard clearly.
"If he were," Damien replied coldly, "he would already be dead."
Bella froze the moment they entered the corridor. The bodies of guards lay scattered across the floor, their throats torn open, blood pooling beneath them. The metallic scent filled the air, making her stomach twist. She covered her mouth, fighting the urge to vomit.
Damien, the perpetrator of the massacre, walked past them without a glance. When he noticed her frozen in horror, he stopped and turned slightly.
"Don't throw up on my coat," he said dryly.
The sharpness in his tone jolted Bella back to reality. She swallowed hard, lowering her gaze and forcing her trembling legs to move again as she followed him down