Atherian Tales: The Blood Slave

Chapter Seventeen

He was back. After what seemed like another month, Elias had returned and whatever he had wished to speak to Lord Thelios about seemed urgent. The lord wouldn't hear it and simply asked him to join our conversation.

Elias walked in on the two lords and myself discussing my future here. Lord Delaney still believes that I am a true blood slave to his cousin Thelios. Though I am not, something about Lord Delaney makes my skin crawl. It seems I don't have a choice, wether I am a bonded slave or not, on where or who with I belong. When Elias asked Lord Thelios if he plans on giving me to his cousin, my heart stopped momentarily and I froze in my spot like the free water of the Atherian river in January. I wished at that very moment that I could have escaped Elias from the beginning. If I could have only made it to the broken tree sooner and masked my scent I may not have been in this situation, in this sunroom, being the topic of this conversation.

The question must have struck a nerve in Lord Thelios for he dismissed his cousin and myself to leave only him and Elias. I was mostly glad to leave that room. The tensions that hang in the air left the atmosphere thick making it hard to breathe and simply walking out the door opened my airways letting my lungs fill up with the much needed oxygen.

"Please let me walk you to your room." Lord Delaney said as he closed the door to the east wing sunroom behind us. My open airways closed shut again at his words.

"Don't trouble yourself Lord Delaney, Noah is perfectly capable of completeing the task. He is my escort." I tried to be pleasant with the lord but even I could hear the shaking of my words as they left my lips.

"Noah will still escort you, I only wish to accompany you." He smiles that mischievous smile that sent shivers down my spine and made that knot I had in my belly,from my first conversation with Thelios, return.

"I assure you, it is no trouble for Noah. I would walk myself to my chambers if I were allowed." I tried again to inform the man I didn't want his company without saying the harsh words to him. It didn't work however as Lord Delaney stepped closer, grabbing my hand with his.

"I insist." He said with a light tone but through gritted teeth. I was unsure if he was trying to hide his anger or annoyance with the fact that I was fighting off his offer or not. Not being able to escape the man's hold, I had no other option but to allow him to join myself and Noah on our small journey to my chambers.

The walk through the halls left me feeling uneasy. Noah walked ahead of myself with Lord Delaney walking closely behind. He was so close that I had feared if I had to suddenly stop my feet, he would slam up against my backside.

"Do you like the Imperial Castle?" He spoke, breaking the silence.

"It is a fine palace." I said, keeping my answer short.

"That doesn't answer my question Amily." I didn't like hearing my name rolling from his lips.

"What do you wish me to say my lord? Please inform me so I may answer your question correctly." I began getting harsh with the lord. I could feel the heat radiating from his body when I spoke. I wanted him to know I wouldn't be bothered by his presence or his quest for knowledge.

"You bite back I see. That is a quality that is most frowned upon, especially from young ladies such as yourself." His words were laced with harshness such as mine though he still bore the cheeky smile and his sweet tone.

"I do not wish to live up so social standards of young women my lord. I only strive to be myself." I spat back, or bit back as the lord previously stated.

We had finally made it my chambers. I stood there practically fidgeting as Noah unlocked the locks to my door. Once the room was open, I slipped inside but before I could completely shut my door, Lord Delaney placed his hand between the door itself and the frame.