CHAPTER 108: UNDER HIS SKIN

"W-What?" I asked, getting anxious by the way Osha kept smiling.

Gosh! I felt embarrassed. I knew I was anything but quiet last night, and don’t get me started on the state of the room this morning, whatever happened was the result of Drevon’s close shift, the windows were cracked and the floors were split like an earthquake had struck, and the bed was in a pitiful state.

"Nothing, Your Grace! I’m just glad you’re no longer sewing."

I blushed when she took my hands, not because she did, but I recalled Drevon kissing them this morning before he left for court.

I pretended that I was asleep so I wouldn’t see him leave. The feel of his lips on each of my fingers, taking his time with them, caused shivers down my spine.

Gods! That beast will be the death of me!

"Your Grace! What’s happening? You’re all so red."

I pulled my hand away from her hold. "Nothing!"

Osha smirked devilishly. I think I was rubbing off on her in all the wrong ways; she was always so shy and nervous all the time, but now she was teasing me!

"I’m sure it is," she said dreamily.

It was times like these that I was grateful Ravyn wasn’t present. She’d have pressured me about details, that shameless woman!

Osha had told me she attended court on my behalf to look over some matters. When she gets back, I’ll be sure to ask about it. I knew it had something to do with the crown prince situation. I haven’t seen Dia either. I wonder if she was busy attending to the princess. I miss that little brat.

"Y-Your Grace."

"Hmm?" I replied absentmindedly.

"T-The prince."

I turned with a macaroon in my mouth to the path leading to my gazebo. My eyes widened, and the pastry dropped to the ground.

Damon casually walked down the aisle like he owned the place.

I blinked several times, but he was still coming. I closed and opened my eyes, but he was still coming. I used my finger to open my eyes further, but HE WAS STILL COMING!

He walked up the stairs, until he towered above us. Osha clasped my hand tightly, as did I. We were both in shock.

What on earth was this piece of trash doing here?

"Hello, Eloise," he spoke smoothly.

"Y-Your highness."

"Your highness?" He said amusedly. "That day you weren’t so formal, were you?"

I gritted my teeth. "May I ask what you’re doing here? Far from your quarters? In my garden?"

He sucked on his teeth, dragging out the wrought iron chair to sit, but my hand lashed out and gripped, stopping his advances.

"What are you doing?" I asked as politely as I could.

"Seating."

"No, there is no seat for you, your highness."

"I wasn’t asking." He yanked the chair from my grip, hurting me in the process.

"Your Grace!" Osha took my hand to see, but it was only a scratch.

"Tell your servant to leave," Damon said, relaxing on the wrought iron.

"She is not leaving," I replied sternly, glaring at him with a frustration bigger than my hunger.

"Oh..." he murmured amusedly, but then, like a fast-changing weather, his smirk faded, and he veered his dark gaze at Osha.

She clenched her chest in pain, suddenly short of breath.

Horror gripped my bones. "Stop it!"

But he didn’t halt his alpha command until Osha was clawing at her throat.

"Stop it! I’ll tell her to leave!"

"Good," Damon said, peeling his eyes away, and Osha was released.

"Leave, Osha."

"B-But, Your Grace—"

"Now!"

I didn’t take my eyes off Damon, who didn’t in return. Osha rose and stepped out of the gazebo, the sound of her footsteps echoing as she sped away.

"You’ll pay for hurting her."

"Will I?" he mocked. "But then again, I shouldn’t underestimate you."

I tensed when he leaned towards me, and I was partly thankful for the table creating some space.

"You came at me with nothing, just words, nothing. You knew it won’t change a thing about my intentions, yet you did it. To get under my skin."

"Did it work?" I voiced with irritation in my tone.

"Yes."

I’m glad it did, at least now he knows even a human can cause such a stir in a beast. But his next words were something I didn’t expect.

"Now you’re under my skin, and I have no intention of cutting you out."

I frowned at his words, but suddenly he snatched my chin.

"Your scent..." he murmured, tipping his head, eyes drowned in confusion. "My brother’s scent is all over you." His eyebrow furrowed. "But there’s something else... You smell different."

I forgot to wear my perfume. Ravyn wasn’t present to nag me to wear it. However, I couldn’t understand why Damon said it was different; he was the one who said I reeked when we first met. But the way he looked at me gave the sense that he was seduced by it.

How his oxblood eyes held me in place, unflinching, the usual dark expression and gaze that seemed as if they would cut you to pieces, gone and replaced with deep curiosity.

Suddenly, the table didn’t act as a barrier anymore. I heard an echoing pumping sound, drowning my ears and luring me into something far deeper. Confused about where it came from, I leveled my eyes to his neck.

H-His pulse, and I could see the red coursing through it, almost like I could single it out from everything else, the flow of the blood like a stream. How is that possible? And why does he smell so good?

I leaned close, so that my nose took a whiff, my eyes closing in momentary bliss. He smelled of wine, pure wine, and my mouth watered as a hunger unlike anything I’ve ever felt awakened.

My lips brushed against his skin, my hands on his shoulder as I buried my face in his neck, and I licked the spot where his pulse throbbed.