Chapter 163
Lola POV
I can feel the storm of insecurity, doubt and anxiety brewing within Zeke through our bond. I wish I could feel what Zane is feeling right now too, although I am unsure he is in a better state than Zeke is right now.
I know my dad didn't mean to make Zeke feel bad, he is just testing the waters and making sure they know not to mess with his daughter. Although I kind of thought it was funny at first, Liberty reminds me that Zeke has only just recovered and that I should put him at ease a bit. As I have marked him, I can now mind link him too.novelbin
'I can feel your worries, Zeke. Please don't feel bad, OK? My dad just wants to ensure you don't hurt his only daughter anymore, that's all'. I can feel his anxiety subsiding slightly at my words, but the insecurity and doubt are still lingering. 'I'm trying' he answers back timidly, and I feel bad for him. He just fought off death, and now he is being scrutinized by his father and brother in law.
'Dad, Damon, go easy on him, OK? He is still in pain, and I can tell he is really anxious right now'. My dad answers 'OK honey. I didn't mean to make him feel bad, I was just surprised that's all. I would have expected Zane to be marked before Zeke would'. 'I know dad, but the situation called for it'. I can feel him hesitating, before asking me 'you didn't do this out of pity, right?
Because you should nev.... I don't let him finish his sentence. 'Of course not, dad! Nobody forces me to do anything, I am the Queen!' I joke, before continuing 'if anything, the situation sped up my decision, but I would have done it eventually anyway. I won't admit it aloud to them yet, but I do care for them, dad. More than I initially would have liked. They just need to stop acting stupid long enough for me to start loving them!
My dad almost chokes on his own air upon hearing me say that, and I can't suppress a chuckle. 'OK honey. As long as they don't hurt my little girl' he grumbles back, and I smile up at him in return. "If they hurt you again, Dymo will burn their little dogs to the ground" Damon says aloud, loud enough for Zeke and Zane behind us to hear.
I jab my elbow into his ribs, and give him a hard glare. "Just kidding..." he shrugs casually, although we all know he isn't. I love him endlessly though, my (over )protective little brother. I glance behind me to see Zeke and Zane following close behind, both with worrisome expressions on their faces, though they try to mask it as soon as they catch my gaze.
"How about we all get something to eat?" my dad speaks up. And, almost as if it were answering my dad, my stomach rumbles loudly in response. I grin sheepishly, before answering "I guess that is a yes".
We head towards the dining area, where around 200 dragons from the castle are currently having lunch as well. Although I can almost smell the fear dripping off some of them, many of them seem to be glad to see me. Which is a welcome change, as fear used to be the dominant feeling towards me.
To my shock, many of them even start clapping, and pretty soon all of the dragons are chiming in. Some of them are even kneeling, to which I wave for them to get up. Perhaps I should get used to this, but I really don't want to, it makes me feel awkward. 'Why are they kneeling and clapping?' I ask dad, to which he replies 'you defeated an entire army alone, Lola.
You protected the Kingdom with your own life, you protected them'. I snort 'I am the reason they were in danger in the first place'. 'I don't believe that, honey. Lucian would have tried to commit a coup sooner or later regardless, and we have always been at odds with the vampire King. You can't arrange a war within an hour. They had planned this a long time ago already'.
I am not convinced, but I decide not to comment further. I smile at everyone and gesture for everyone to continue their lunch. We grab our lunch from the buffet and head back to our table. Everyone wants to hear what happened after they left, so I start elaborating what went down.
If Zeke hadn't been in the hospital, I would probably have had fun doing what I did (yes, I am a sadistic little prick apparently). I had put all my training to good use, you could say. I saved Lucian, the little b*tch, for last. When I was done with him, he was unrecognizable, the flesh burned from his body. And I can honestly say I didn't feel an inkling of remorse, not even Justice did. I am not sure what happened after I took him out though. I must have passed out from exhaustion, I guess.
After my story, Zane begins to relay what happened with Zeke at the hospital. And after his story, my dad and brother only add how they were feeling like sitting ducks back inside the castle, waiting for my return.
"Well, didn't we all have quite the eventful day, huh" I state laughingly. Everyone breathes out a big sigh of relief almost simultaneously, before Zeke responds "you could say that again..". My dad eyes him and my mark on his neck, but he doesn't say anything. I am not sure Zeke noticed my dad's wandering eyes yet, so I quickly jump in to change the topic.
"So, now that we are all caught up, I would like to freshen up and rest a little, if that's OK?" I look at my father questioningly, with a small smile. I know he wouldn't say no to me. And if I am being really honest, I have been dying all day to have some alone time with Zeke and Zane. We were alone in the hospital at times, but we still had a lot to process.
And besides, anyone could barge in at any time. But I am really starting to crave some intimate alone time with my knuckleheads now. I yawn for dramatic effect, before standing up. "Sure thing honey. Zeke, Zane, feel free to use the guest rooms again".
I chuckle inwardly. Someone doesn't want the 2 boys in the same room as his daughter. Or perhaps he just wasn't expecting me to actually want that, who knows. Zeke and Zane look like they were expecting to be shipped off to the guest rooms. They all seem to be in shock when I reply "no need for that, they are coming with me".