A Vampire in Love

Chapter 23: Mine, Only Mine

Frustation and confusion.

That was what Adya was feeling right now.

It has been a week since she has seen her mate properly. She suspected ..no she was sure that Ajish was avoiding her. He was deliberately not steering clear of her path. This was making her life tougher than she thought.

He would only come to her room when she was sleeping a restless sleep. Only when he would pull her to his chest and hum her lullaby she would find peace. The next morning again the bed would be empty and so would be her heart. She would sleep most time of the day and night just to be in Ajish's arms. She was not in love with him...no...not in this lifetime, but she needed peace and comfort.

Adya sighed. She was not sleepy anymore. The early morning sun was peeping from the curtains. She was ready for the day. She has decided to try and break this unhealthy pattern, her addiction to her mate's touch. She needed to focus on something else.

She walked out of her room for the first time in two weeks. A guard was standing at the door. He bowed his head as soon as she passed him. She turned around the corner and paused her steps to look around. It was a beautiful castle. The walls had tapestries and figurines. Her feet took her to the edge of steps spiraling downwards. She took them to an unknown destination.

At the end of the stairs, she found a long corridor. The air was intoxicated with the aroma of toasted honey bread and garlic sauce. She also smells coffee.

"Kitchen" she exclaimed.

The kitchen was the corner of her house back home. She would spend her free time, baking, cooking, and cleaning, and if she is done with everything she would sit with her favorite book and a coffee on the counter.

She entered the kitchen, looking around. It was humongous, bigger than her entire house. She was looking around with her mouth half open. It was the most beautiful kitchen she had ever seen. The shining pots and pans, the wood top, the ceramics. It was her heaven.

"Uh hmmm"

She was pulled out of her heaven when somebody cleared her throat. She turned her head towards the left and saw a huge dining area separated by a glass wall. The dining area had a wooden table of colossal size. Then, she realized she was not alone. There was a dozen staff standing still bowing their heads. At the table, she saw an old lady sitting at one of the numerous chairs. She looked familiar. Beside her was a handsome man...no no it can't be.

"Rai" she called out with accusation on her face.

"Adya" Rai acknowledged her.

Adya slowly moved towards the table. She was hurt. In these past two weeks, the only person she wanted to meet was Rai. She hoped that he will visit her at least once. But he did not.

"Adya, how are you?" Rai was standing now. He had that small warm smile on his face.

"Hello, we meet again." Chimed the old lady. Adya turned her head to come face to face with the owner of the voice. The old lady was still sitting on her chair.

"Hell..." She began but a memory flashed through her mind—a memory of the fateful night.

"You? You are not dead?" Adya did not mean to be rude but it was what came out of her mouth.

Rai's eyes widened. He was about to interrupt but ...

"Should I be dead? By the way, I am Orya" Orya said with an amused look.

'Uhh...I am sorry. It came out wrong", Adya looked down with embarrassment. "But if you are not dead then why was I made to suffer?" She mumbled. She was very much audible.

Orya had a confused look on her face.

"Suffer?" Orya asked while tilting her head.

"EVERYONE OUT!!" Rai's voice boomed. Before Adya could comprehend anything she saw all the staff walking out of the kitchen.

"Adya...why don't we talk about this when Ajish is here?" He said politely.

Adya narrowed her eyes. Her eyes darted from a confused Orya to a cautious Rai.

"What are you talking about Rai? What suffering?" Orya was confused now.

"Orya, it's nothing..just..." Rai was desperately trying to control the situation.

"Nothing?" Adya asked with an accusing look in her eyes. "So what I went through was nothing? Just nothing?"

"Adya I did not mean it that way.." Pleaded Rai.

"Oh no no. Of course, it should have been nothing to you. I was a fool to even expect any amount of understanding from you. I thought you are the only one who I knew would stand for me in this chaos." She was hurt.

"Adya I am with you...please. I was not allowed..." Rai stepped forward and held her shoulders.

Adya immediately stepped back and jerked his hands away.

"Sure you are with me. Where were you when that beast left me dying? Where were you when that monster marked me without my consent? Where were you when I was shoving my face in his chest because that was the only way I was serving the day? WHERE WERE YOU? YOU LEFT ME TO DIE." Adya bellowed while jabbing a finger at Rai's chest.

Pain and hurt were evident on Rai's face. He stepped forward and engulfed her in a bone-crushing hug.

"You will never die till I am alive" Rai promised.

Orya was silently witnessing everything. She was trying to make sense of everything. Adya did not feel the same peace in Rai's arms but was relieved.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE ?" a powerful voice shook the walls of the castle. Rai's hand immediately released Adya. Adya turned her head in fear. She saw a very angry Ajish standing at the door of the kitchen. His fangs were out. Fury was dripping down his fangs like venom.

Before Adya could react, Ajish had covered the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. Her feet left the ground as she was lifted into the air by her waist. His fingers raked her hair while tilting her head back. Adya was not able to process what just happened. But what happened next was beyond her comprehension.

Ajish's lips came in contact with his mark on her throat. She could feel his tongue pressing against the hollow of her throat while his lips were sucking the skin around. A bolt of ecstasy ran past her mind, body, and soul. Her fingers fisted around Ajish's hair while her toes curled painfully. She was not held by gravity anymore. The world around her melted away. Her mind was clear. She was never so sure about her existence. She knew her purpose. She was born for him and could die for him. She was his.

"Mine, only mine" He murmured. 

Dear Readers,

Hope you are enjoying the story so far. This chapter is special. I would like to dedicate this chapter to pihushreyasurabhi, my first reader who asked for a quick update. It felt good. 

Please read, love, enjoy comment, vote, and share.

Love 

Wordtwiner.