[Completed] Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel - Book I

Chapter 31 - admitting

Leuca's pov

How dare she intervene with my methods? When she came marching into the dining hall screaming and cursing at me I was at a loss for words momentarily.

Strangely, Riley always has a certain obligation to protect and stand up for her fellow kind. She especially had grown close to the maid, Beth. I had seen her name in the logs and knew she wouldn't have taken my late mother's ring from my sister. She wouldn't even have dared to think about defying me. And yet I used her to set an example.

Riley didn't see it as I did. She didn't understand my point. If I didn't set a good example of the consequences, when would they fear me? Would they keep their hands off my property or that of my siblings? They wouldn't. Humans are too greedy like that. They even take belongings from their elders.

A few humans would be punished when they weren't guilty, but it was all to set an example. To teach them what messing with me or my close ones get you. Missing a finger wasn't that bad, it is not like I was cutting off their hands.

But here my Riley was, rushing in to save her beloved fellow humans. She even dared to hit me in front of my subordinates, has she completely gone mad? Still, I had felt so flabbergasted that I hadn't acted properly in front of my subordinates. Any other human that would've dared to do it, would've lost their head in a second.

I had grown accustomed to Riley defying me as well, to speak against me in public but she should know not to lay a hand on me in public. I should've whipped her right there and then, to have her apologize publicly and beg for my mercy. Maybe only then my subordinates wouldn't doubt my power.

But now, a mere human had hit me and I just ordered Christina to take her to the room. When did I grow so weak for a human?

When did I start letting her defy me? I had given her more luxury and comfort than I had ever given another human before. Sleeping in my bed, eating whatever and whenever she wants, demanding anything from me, and getting it. She had helped me save my sister but I had grown lenient to her before that.

She had crawled herself into my consciousness. She was all I think of when I woke up and when I went to sleep. Any time of the day I would think of those green eyes, her luscious lips, and gorgeous blond locks. Even when a slave would throw herself willingly at me I would think of holding Riley, make her moan my name in divine pleasure.

Riley had managed to do something no other female had to manage to do before. She had wormed herself into my heart and made my feelings judgment any decisions. I couldn't let that happen anymore.

After the human finally confessed and I had torn her head off and send the humans back to work, my subordinates were judging me. I saw the way Tabatha was looking at my eyes and then my cheek. Even she wouldn't dare to hit me.

Abigail started the discussion first, she demanded Riley's head. She would take it upon herself to punish her correctly. I had to do something, but I knew Riley would never publicly apologize or beg for mercy from me. She just wouldn't.

I was proud but she? She was way worse. "I'll punish her, not to worry my dear sister."

Abigail didn't quite believe me, "just don't end up like father, brother. She is just a mere human." That's all my sister's advice before turning in her heel and leaving the dining hall.

After that even Tabatha advised me to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. No human could be allowed to act like that to me, not even Riley.

And so, I had to remove her from my side for a few days to clear my head. Maybe a few weeks. The moment I saw her sitting on the bed, I almost faltered already.