Love Bite Obey

Chapter 3: Slave Girl

Author's Note: Wattpad may not have sent out notifications for the previous chapter, so make sure to read it before reading this one.

Previously:

I open the double doors that lead to the living room, but it's empty too. Odd. I look around. The fireplace isn't lit, and I expect it would be when entertaining guests. Our bedroom door is closed, but he wouldn't take her into such a private place?

I rush to the bedroom door and quickly pull it open. Empty. Good. I close it again. That leaves just one other closed door – the one that leads to the old servant's room. It could serve as Ella's guest room while she was here, but why would Rahlan close the door if he was simply helping her settle in?

I step towards the door, but I stop at the sound of muffled voices. He closed the door so that others couldn't hear their conversation. Who's he trying to hide from? None of the vampire guards would go past the lord's hall without knocking, and Jaclyn hates entering Rahlan's den, as she calls it. Other than him, I'm the only one who walks freely in this keep. Their conversation is meant to be hidden from me.

I quietly step out of my boots, careful not to make a sound. If their vampire hearing alerts them to my presence, then I won't know what they're trying to hide. Prowling around in my socks will be difficult to explain, so I peel them off and stuff them in my boots.

Moving on my toes to remain silent, I sneak up into the passage, but I stop short of the door. This is eavesdropping. I'm trying to spy on Rahlan, the person who I sleep beside every night, the one person I'm supposed to trust. Pressing my palms against my eyes, I take a deep breath.

I'm a vulnerable human in a vampire world. Rahlan's supposed to look out for me, but now he's acting behind my back. If my guardian isn't there for me, then I have to take things into my own hands. I've been rebuilding my life in this castle, and I won't let it fall to pieces.

I continue to the door, positioning my ear just inches away from the wood. Even at this distance, their voices are still so soft. If they were speaking at a normal volume, I'd be able to hear them clearly from here. Paying careful attention to the inflections in their voices, I'm able to make out some words.

"She's... danger..." I hear pieces of Ella's voice, "Your responsibility..."

Rahlan mutters something in response. I can't make it out, but he sounds angry.

Ella begins again. "You... kill her."

I gasp. We've only just met, exchanged no more than a greeting, and she wants Rahlan to kill me? Their voices immediately go silent. My gasp was barely above a whisper, but they heard me.

I step back from the door to make it less apparent that I was listening. The handle twists, and Rahlan pulls it open. Ella is standing despite the two chairs resting at the wall. Their conversation was less than casual.

Her eyes land on me, and her expression twists up with disdain. I shoot her a sharp look in return, abandoning any notion of being polite and forming a friendship. If this woman came here to mess up my life, she's about to realize that I won't roll over so easily.

"Julia, shall you continue preparing lunch?" Rahlan asks.

My glare snaps to him. Any concern I had about eavesdropping has evaporated. My distrust was well placed. Why did he even allow her to have this conversation to begin with? He should've kicked her out the moment that she made such a sinister suggestion. I want to let it all out, but I have nothing but broken sentences from eavesdropping. He could simply dismiss my concerns by claiming that I misheard. It will be wiser to wait.