THE POISON HE CRAVES FOR

Three

It was almost midnight when I heard the knock.

Inside my room was a secret door that led to outside the palace. Only my friends and I knew of it. My dad made sure to silence every human who worked in creating the route. He said it was for any unexpected circumstance.

Opening the door, Acacius was the first to walk in followed by Badurad who carried an unconscious lady in his arm.

He gently placed her on one of the seats, and then proceeded in stretching his arms. How heavy was she?!

He looked at her with complicated gaze before turning to me "Should he wake her back up now?" He asked and I nodded. The earlier we get done with the talk, the better.

Acacius was very much versed with acupunctures hence why his attacks and kills are always so swift. He raised two fingers and hit her back, the girl gasped awake coughing.

Noticing the change in her environment, her eyes hastily wandered around the room on fear until they rested on me. The obvious sigh of relief got me raising a brow. Why would she think she is safe in my presence?

"Who are you?" I asked. She knows who I was, so it was only right that I know who she was too right.

I noticed how she looked towards my friends with uncertainty. Her gaze holding Badurad's before she blinked away "You can talk in their presence, they can be trusted" I felt the need to clarify that. Maybe it was so she could be more relaxed and answer my questions honestly, it was definitely that. I knew these two men wouldn't leave even if I had asked

"Laelia" she answered, her voice hoarse. Badurad helped to pour a glass of water which she gulped down with such haste

"Thank you" she whispered to him. Badurad who looked infatuated just moments ago returned to his expressionless self

Ignoring him, I turned to Laelia. "Laelia, why are you here?" The cursed ones always loved staying on their own. Even though the other races aside from the Faes and witches have nothing against them, except for a few, they decided to live hidden to avoid bringing troubles to themselves.

Same reason why she left me!

We have had a few cursed ones who traveled through our lands, but they all knew the rules, they had to call and give prior notification of their coming.

As much as the other races refused to accept it, they do fear the Cursed. Only the powerful ones can survive and when faced in battle... They could cause more harm than a dozen of witches combined. Their power was something no one has been able to grasp. The refusal to acknowledge their fear for them turned them into hating the cursed.

Speaking of which, I looked back at the lady whose green eyes stared right back at me, how is she still alive if she is a weak cursed?!

"Why are you here Laelia?" I asked again as she was yet to answer my previous question. She was studying me

"I figured I will be safe here" she answered with a shrug. Her confidence is admirable but foolish. Why would I want to keep her safe?

"Safe here? You walked in to my Kingdom without permission and you wish to be safe" I said trying to figure her out by her expression. Her neutral, unreadable expression reminded me of her...

"Well you did say you wanted a Queen, maybe I am here to compete" she said with yet another shrug.

Compete...

I did made such ridiculous order two weeks ago...

I knew she was lying but she didn't seem to want to talk either. I might have misunderstood her earlier and her gaze wasn't asking to talk.

"I see... If that's all, they will escort you back to your cell" what did I hope for... That she knew her. That this sense of familiarity I can feel from her was real and not just me imagining it? Not just my head messing me up?!

"Why? A cursed can't rule next to you?" Her tone was rude but I had no time to argue with her. I turned to leave but her glare and hiss made me halt. Once more I find myself explaining to this green eyes lady!

"You are wrong Laelia. A cursed can rule next to me, there is one problem though, only one Cursed has the right to do so. See you in the morning" I turned away from her as Acacius hit her back into an unconscious state once again before they returned her to her cell.

What were you really wishing for Tristan?

"Is there something we don't know about?" Acacius accused voice rang in the room. Badurad stayed quiet but his gaze proved he was also waiting to hear me out

"I met her" their accusing expression turned into shock then surprise. Acacius suddenly had pity on his face "she is a cursed isn't she?" He asked and I nodded. He shouldn't pity me... a cursed or not, she is perfect for me! My perfect fit

"She left man. She ran away from me and no matter how I tried, I couldn't... I can't find her" I confessed, my voice thickening with emotions. Or maybe I didn't try hard enough

"We will find her. She couldn't have run to space and even if she did, we will find her!" Badarud swore as he gave me a consoling pat on the back. I smiled believing his words.

"We will find her man, just give us the name and any other thing we need to know about her. We will bring home our queen!" Acacius added. Hearing their words made me smile.

"Thank you" I was grateful for them.

Now I am not the only one looking, I will find you and glue myself next to you.

"So the cursed lady" Acacius spoke. Although he didn't say much, it was obvious what he wished to know

"I don't know. I guess I was hoping she knew her, she gives off this feeling. I am not wrong though, she knows of her and I am curious as to how a weak cursed loved so long" I told them. Laelia was lying about coming here to be queen, she might have gotten help to stay alive for so long but then...even she knows she can never be the queen of the vampires!

"Shouldn't we take her out of the cells then?" Badura asked

"We will but not by breaking her out. That will only cause a headache" if she was sneaked out and doesn't show up for a trial, not only will that stop me from attending Mason's birthday, it will raise questions about the security of my palace. All of which will be disadvantageous to me!

"Then what?" Badurad asked and I shrugged.

"I have no plans yet. Maybe after I rest" I did think of something but the possibility of it working will depend on Laelia tomorrow!

You had better stick to your ridiculous reason for being here Laelia...