The breakfast was a quiet one, the only sound made being the soft clinking of spoons and forks hitting the plates and the subtle movement of the maids as they scurried to attend to their duties. Eliana sat at the far end of the table, her distance from Ryker palpable, her appetite lost as she gazed upon the jar of deep red liquid that seemed to mock her. The disgust was evident on her face, and Ryker couldn't help but smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He savored her every reaction, every twitch of her face, and every tremble of her hands.
As the meal dragged on, Eliana struggled to swallow her food, her throat constricting under Ryker's piercing gaze. She felt like a trapped animal, her heart racing with every passing moment. Just as she thought the meal couldn't get any more unbearable, Ryker spoke up, his voice husky and low, sending shivers down her spine.
"Eliana dear, I want to show you my land, come with me, let the sun shine upon your face," he said, his words dripping with an unsettling sweetness.
Eliana's heart skipped a beat as she hesitated, her mind racing with doubts and fears. But Ryker's red eyes seemed to bore into her soul, leaving her no escape. She couldn't refuse the invitation without risking offense, so she nodded meekly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'd be honored, your majesty."
Ryker's smile was evident, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "Excellent! We'll leave immediately." He rose from his seat, his movement swift and graceful, and offered her his hand. She took it hesitantly, feeling a jolt of electricity down her spine as their skin touched.
As they left the dining hall, the maids watched them with disdain, some with pity, knowing the vampires wouldn't want her to live. But the head maid, Vynessa, watched with red eyes filled with anger and disdain, her heart burning with jealousy. She had always thought she would be the one by Ryker's side, not this...human.
Vynessa was a slender, petite woman with pale skin, highly favored to have been given the position at a young age. She had served the king at night, keeping him warm, and had grown accustomed to his touch. So, it came as a surprise when she heard the king was getting married, not just to anyone, but a human. She had cried for days, her heart shattered into a million pieces, and vowed to torment Eliana, to make her suffer as she had suffered.
As she watched Ryker smile at Eliana, her blood boiled, her mind racing with ways to kill her, or make the king kill her, so she could be with her king once again. She smiled to herself, her eyes gleaming with malice, and left to join the others, her heart heavy with hatred