Chapter 40 - Haku

I stared at her beautiful face as her face kept shifting to different emotions. Confusion, anger, surprise then back to confusion.

"So then, who is he?" She asked me pointing to Zero. She didn't so much as bat an eye when I mention who I was.

She was so readable but unreadable at the same time. Every time I think I have her figured out or know what she's going to say she just does the opposite.

"How rude Haku. You didn't so much as introduce me to this lovely lady beside you." Said Dino staring at Anya like a piece of meat that he desperately wanted to devour.

I could tell she was trying to hide the disgust off her face but she's not very good at hiding it. I wanted to bash his head in for making her feel so uncomfortable.

"Oh I'm sorry Dino. Anya this is Dino he is the Emperor of Vino and sitting beside Teo is Zero. I guess you could say he is a close friend of Teo's." I said sweetly hiding my desire to slit Dino's throat right here and now.

"Oh, hi it's nice to meet you all." Anya said awkwardly trying to disappear in her chair.

I just need to keep my poser for a few more hours and he will be dead. I glance over at Teo who kept stealing glances at Anya without her noticing. I wonder who she is to him?

She doesn't seem to know him but he seems to know her. That look she gave him had a lot of hate behind it the moment I mention he was Emperor of Zevran.

I wonder. ., "so Anya what brings you here to this meeting?" I asked her and at the corner of my eye I could see Zero tense up.

"Oh umm. ." At first she seemed lost for words until something shifted in her eyes.

"Actually I'm here to give my answer to Teo's proposal." Anya said with a mischievous grin. That look in her eye tells me she's up to no good.

She smiled sweetly at Teo, "I refuse, find someone who is interested." She said with a hint of coldness behind her voice.

I looked over at Teo who was smiling at Anya but their was no happiness in his eyes just pure rage. She didn't so much as flinch she just glared back at him but I could tell she was scared.

Just when the tension was dying down it was slowly building back up when the doors bursted open with our dinner. The cooks and servants were passing out our dinner when a plate of food was put in front of Anya.

Her eyes widen with desire but after a few seconds they sadden as she pushed her plate away. I tilted my head to the side watching her with curiosity.

She is hungry but she pushes the food aside like it is poison? What an odd woman. "Are you not hungry?" I asked not being able to contain my curiosity any longer.

"Oh uh, I ate earlier." She said giving me a fake smile until her stomach started growling.

The look on her face was beyond cute making my heart skip a beat. Her face grew a beautiful rose red as she looked at me with embarrassment.

"D-did you hear that?" She whispered casting her eyes down to her small fidgety fingers. It was obvious she was hungry.

"If you are hungry then please eat. It's not poisoned if that's what you think. If it makes you feel any better I'll have someone test your food before you eat it." I said about to wave my hand for someone to come but she grabbed my arm.

"No! I could never let someone get hurt because of me. . . I'll just take your word for it and eat it." She said slowly pulling the plate back in front of her and before I could say anything she took a bite of the meat on her plate.

Her face lit up practically glowing, "this is delicious!" She shouted happily. I don't think I ever seen someone so happy about eating food. There she goes again doing something I wouldn't expect.

I studied every inch of her, she was quite beautiful and their was something else about her I couldn't quite put my finger on. Her eyes flickered to me so fast it caught me off guard making me feel uneasy under her gaze.

"Thank you." She said smiling at me in a way that made me almost choke on the air I sucked in.

She knows who I am but she isn't slightly intimidated by me what's so ever. If anything she's making me feel intimidated by her and she not even trying.

She touched my arm earlier but I don't think she even realize she did. She hasn't so much as tried to flirt or bat her eyes or any of those things that most women do. She just doesn't seem to care but she cares if I heard her stomach growl?

I almost feel irritated that she hasn't so much as tried to flirt with me. She shows more affection towards the plate of food then to me.

Normally I can never get people to shut up about themselves but she hasn't so much as said a word unless it was convenient. Looks like if I want to know more about her I'm going to have to ask myself.

"So Anya where are you from?" I asked her and I could see Teo and Zero perk up. I could tell they were listening but they pretending to be engaged in their own conversation.

Her face seemed to pale a little as she thought about my question, "I'm not from around here. I live far away from here. I guess you can say I got lost and got separated from my brothers." She said sadly I could tell she was telling the truth but I could also tell she was hiding something.

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that. How many brothers do you have?" I asked trying to pull more information out of her without sounding desperate.

"Three I have three older brothers and don't worry I know I'll reunite with them soon." She said giving me a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I know what will make you feel better, wine. Let me pour some wine for you." I said taking the bottle of wine away from the servant beside me but she cover her glass with her hand before I could pour some in.

"I'm not allowed to drink alcohol but thank you for the offer." She said and I could hear everyone gasp as she refused me. Everyone stared at her with disbelief even Teo raised an eyebrow.

No one ever says no to an Emperor but she said it in front of three Emperors without so much as care in the world.

She looked around the room with consern, "Did I do something wrong?" She asked and all I could do was just smiled at her.

"No my darling you did nothing wrong but may I ask, did you say you are not allowed to have alcohol? May I ask why not?" I asked curiosity and everyone went back to eating like nothing happened but I could tell they were all listening.

"Oh uh, for one I'm not old enough and for two my older brother would kill me. Drugs and alcohol are a no in my family." She said putting another bite of meat in her mouth.

"So you are scared of your brothers then?" I asked still trying to figure her out but she looked at me and laughed.

"No I'm not scared of them I mean Ace can be a little intimidating and he scares a lot of people but he just cares a lot about our well being so he just comes off a little rough around the edges that's all." She said kindly eating the last bit of food on her plate.

"He is not around to see what you are doing. I'm pretty sure one glass is not going to hurt anyone." I said sweetly studying her.

She will betray his trust. Eventually everyone betrays someone they supposably care about. Even if it's something minor like this. I told myself patiently waiting for her to answer.

"No it would hurt someone, it would hurt him and me. I would be breaking the trust we have for each other besides it's not that I can't drink the alcohol but I choose not to out of respect for him. See the difference?" She said smiling brightly.

Innocence, that's what I couldn't put my finger on until now. She was beautiful and innocent. I could feel my eyes widen when this new knowledge came to me.

I felt warm all over like the sun was shining down on me every time she looked at me with those beautiful grey eyes.

I want her. I wanted her soft skin on my skin. Her beautiful lips on my lips. Just when I was about to reach out to touch her I heard Teo growl across the table.

Apparently he knows what I was thinking and it seems I'm not the only one who wants her. He gave me a piercing gaze that said if you touch her the truce between our country's was over.

I put my hand down. I'll keep my hands to myself. . for now. I thought to myself as I watched a servant put more food in front of Anya.

She seemed to be in her own little world happily eating her food not realizing what was going on around her.