The Crown's Obsession (WN)

"You forced me to stay here," she tried to correct his words. Even though he had not uttered a response yet, she could feel his evil aura that was haunting.

Calhoun pulled away from her, turning her chair around in one movement without much effort. Madeline had to grip the sides of the chair because of the sudden movement, "I did, didn't I?" Calhoun asked like he was enjoying keeping her here against her will, "The more you run, the more I want you to keep. I like to see you rebel," he said before adding, "The innocent red riding hood who didn't realise what she was getting into, when she stepped into the wolf's den."

When Calhoun had invited her to write a letter, Madeline had not considered that there were other things running in Calhoun's mind, "I came here to write the letter," she stated.

"And you did," he agreed again to what she said.

"I must go back to the room. To rest," she added and saw how Calhoun placed both his hands on either side of the armrests.

"You can rest here in this room," came the short reply from Calhoun.

Madeline didn't know if he was only teasing her or was serious about it. Though Calhoun had told her he wouldn't do something forceful, she found it hard to believe, especially with the way he was looking at her with those dark eyes right now. As if, one wrong move from her would lead him in pouncing and dragging her to bed.

She gulped at that thought.

"My King," she bowed her head from where she sat, "Allow me to go to my room, and I will return to join you for dinner," she said to him.

But Calhoun found that offer less enticing compared to her being in his room, "My dinner is right here in front of my eyes." Madeline noticed, the wind had dishevelled his hair further when they were up in the sky.

"I am less appealing right now. I don't think it would be something you would like to have," said Madeline quickly, "Sweaty, salty, tired, dirty..."

Calhoun's eyes trailed to look at her face that looked anxious, wanting to escape from his clutch as quickly as she could, but he was having fun with her, to let her go.

"Dirty," Calhoun repeated the word she said, and he smiled with his fangs for her to view, "Shall I bath you then? It should be really uncomfortable sitting there by feeling all sweaty and dirty." When Calhoun's eyes reached for Madeline's hand, she moved it away from him.

Madeline didn't know what to say to him. Being careful was completely impossible because Calhoun was a master of words, and he knew just what to say to her, bringing out the words he wanted to hear from her. He then stepped closer to her, leaning forward in such a way that Madeline leaned her head back to keep eye contact with him. Their faces got close to each other.

"You tricked me," she whispered.

"Your accusations are always so high for the King," Calhoun responded to her, his hand moved to place it below her chin and his thumb moved up to feel her soft lips. His eyes fell on her parted lips, staring at it.

Madeline was alarmed and she couldn't get away from him. It reminded her of the time a honeybee had come flying to sit on her skin. The bee was hard to shoo away because if angered, there was no saying how many times it was going to bite her, and her situation with Calhoun was nothing less to it.

"I thought I could hold back, with you as an exception but I don't know how much longer I can do it." His hand moved away from her face, Calhoun's lips came to whisper on her own lips.

She would have told him to find someone else, but she had tried it before. If it hadn't worked before, it wouldn't now. He had blood from the woman who had visited him, "I am not used to this," her words were innocent, and it had Calhoun shift his gaze back from her lips to look into her eyes.

"I know," answered Calhoun, "It only makes it worse but good at the same time. I need to drink your blood, Madeline," came his solemn words.

"There will be nothing left if you keep drinking from me," her eyebrows furrowed, "Please find someone else…" and when she noticed how his eyes flared, she added, "To drink blood from."

"You have yourself to blame for it," Calhoun said, his hand that had previously been placed below her chin moved to the side of her slender neck, "Your blood is too sweet, and I wish for no one ever to taste it. Only for me to know."

Madeline felt the tingle of sensation that Calhoun's fingertips left as he moved his hand to her shoulder. But Calhoun didn't stop there. The index finger continued to trace the lines of the edge of her dress as he said, "You are someone I care for now. It might sound and look strange, but you should know that the night creatures are different compared to humans who live and die."

"I am a mortal too," she reminded him, feeling her stomach turn when his finger continued to trace down from the side of her neckline, moving towards the front, making her heart hitch.

"I can change that," stated Calhoun, "I will change it. Live with me Madeline, and I will offer whatever your heart wants and one day even that freedom that you so much crave, the same way I crave for you."

His fingers moved forward, moving back and forth at the front. His eyes flickered down where his hand was, noticing the swell at the top of her chest and his fangs ached, wanting to take a bite at the softness of the skin.

It was evident that Madeline was affected by his words, actions. Calhoun knew how to seduce a woman, and when it came to Madeline he had been doing the right things, yet at the same time. He wasn't the flowery man like an angel who would woo her the way she wanted. He was a devil in disguise, letting her know what he was capable of.

With Calhoun's every touch on her skin, her heart flipped and turned. Madeline might not feel the same way as he was, but it wasn't too long before her emotions would start changing.

Madeline gripped on the sides of her chair, not wanting Calhoun to see her shiver and break.

She didn't know if this was part of courting but having never been seduced before, Madeline didn't know how to react to it. The room was warm enough, but she was shivering, and it wasn't just fear.

"How would you like to spend your day with me?" he asked her, for once giving her the option. His fingers then moved to the other side of the neckline before it crept up her neck, and he held the side of her face.

"You are going to twist things once I agree to it…" it had happened before, she didn't know why it wouldn't happen again.

Calhoun smiled at her, "We'll do it your way. Just one day."

With him standing this close, it was hard to think. Every time Calhoun invaded her breathing space, she felt like her nerves turned errant, and her body froze, "You mean it?"

"You have my word," he promised. Deciding it was worth trying, she then said,

"I would like to sit on the other side of the dining table during our meal. Opposite to you," the table was long, and it would create enough distance between them, "I would like to stand with the others, probably near the wall when I have been called to the court."

Calhoun stared at her before saying, "Consider it done," and he finally pulled away from her. Leaving her skin cold.

Madeline blinked at him, at the thought that he actually agreed to it. Would that mean one day of peace? Calhoun had turned his back as if walking and Madeline bit her lip. But why now? Asked Madeline to herself.

Madeline stood up from her chair, her eyes glanced at the letter and then at Calhoun who had opened the door. Noticing the look Madeline had on her face, Calhoun asked, "What is it?" and she shook her head, "I will have the letter sent through Theodore and see you at supper," the smile continued on his lips, and she couldn't help but question to what happened just now.

When she stepped out of the room, walking towards her own, she turned back to look at Calhoun's room where the door was still left open.

Was it because of what she said today in the forest? Was he taking account of her feelings?

During the time of dinner, Madeline sat at the dining table, and Calhoun was late. The food was brought to the table and she couldn't resist but ask one of the maids,

"Where is the King?"

The maid bowed her head to answer, "It was told that the King has some urgent work and wouldn't be appearing to have supper tonight."

"Oh, okay," and Madeline bowed her own head in thanks.

The dining room was quiet except for the sound occasionally made by Madeline because of the fork and the knife touching the plate. It wasn't that it was the first time she was having her meals alone, but she found Calhoun's reaction and words to be strange. The King of Devon was strange to begin with. One moment he was trying to seduce her, and the next moment he told she would get the space she needed even if it was just for a day.

Maybe he had a change of heart? Thought Madeline to herself. A man who could protect those small creatures, perhaps he wasn't that bad? But then she remembered the maids death.

After her meal, Madeline decided to take a walk alone in the castle, but with the looks she received from the servants, or rather the way they behaved with her, she started to head towards the King's quarters where her room was. She could feel the fear where the servants appeared not to want to do anything with her. Hoping she would not stop them as they quickly scattered at the sight of her.

Madeline didn't like the feeling, but she would have to deal with it. Wondering what urgent matter might have come for Calhoun to turn busy. It wasn't like she was complaining, thought Madeline to herself.