Crimson Heir

Chapter Ten

Feasting on wine and the eye-candy I had before me. I lowered the glass as I blinked slowly. He's handsome.

Helsing's grin faded as he walked in the dining hall. He wore a nice white shirt with flare around the chest, it swooped low enough to see his collarbones and his chest hair. A belt low on his hips and black slacks. His shoes looked really well-kept as the dark leather shined in the dimly lit room. He had his hair in a relaxed pony with sparse hairs draping the sides of his face.

"You look exquisite tonight, Miss De'Neer," his voice husky and low. I don't think he realized how weird it felt to hear that last name when it wasn't truly mine. I watched him sit down next to me and the waft of sandalwood and spices made my nose flare, breathing in deep.

"Thank you, Helsing," I replied before he realized my tenderness.

He grabbed a napkin and folded it onto his lap, and he reached forward, his rings catching the low amber light. He poured himself a glass of wine and put some food on his plate, mostly meat.

"Why did you want to have dinner with me?"

Helsing looked at me through his low brows and tilted his head up, "I didn't think you wanted to talk so soon. Aren't you hungry?"

I shook my head, replying quickly, "No. I can't eat most of this."

"Why can't you?" His eyes looking at his food and grabbing a fork and knife, cutting up his proportions and taking a bite of the ham in cranberry glaze. He made it look so delicious.

"I'm allergic to most of it, if not all of it."

His head cocked to me, and he set his knife down, stabbing a piece of ham. He dipped it in the glaze, "I want to test that theory."

I tilted my head to the side and stared at him in disbelief. "I am not eating if it will kill me."

Helsing leaned forward and held the serving of food by my face, "Eat. I can save you either way, Miss De'Neer."

I rolled my eyes and locked my eyes on the ham. It smelled really nice, almost sweet but the way it looked was unappealing since it's dripping the glaze on my empty plate. Testing his patience would be deadly. Did I want my head to be the newest decor in his estate along with Levi's?

I huffed a grunt and opened my mouth, letting him guide the food into my mouth. I clasped my lips around it and pulled back, chewing slowly as I was very nervous either way. But the flavor was decadent. The ham melted onto my tongue as the glaze made it this nice savory, succulent combination. Amusement flickered in Helsing's face. I rather got annoyed as I swallowed hard.

"I don't want you to save me, on second thought. I would rather die as is," I said, giving a glare.

Helsing already served another bite to himself as he chewed with a dimple in his cheek. I swallowed the rest and shot him a rather deadly look.

He knows something.

"What?" I asked.

"I don't want to spoil the mood so soon, but I can't hold the secret to myself," he said as he dabbed his mouth with the napkin then placed it on the table. He interlinked his fingers together and sat back, looking at me with his dark amber eyes.

"You're not allergic to anything other than wolfsbane, and we'll worry about that another time, but your un-biological father, Klein, poisoned you over time to make sure you wouldn't shift. All of this food," his hand motioned to, "isn't going to harm you. None of it. I wish he never did what he did, but do not put ill-will towards him as it was part of the protection act that was agreed on between him and his brotherhood.