NEVER HAPPENED AT ALL

A wave of horror washed over me as I stared at the man in front of me. The man's long white hair was tied into a ponytail, leaving two white strands of hair that framed his features, exuding an unsettling mix of middle-aged weariness and youthful malevolence. His pale blue eyes bore into my eyes with a chilling intensity, sending shivers down my spine.

Knowing his effect on me, his red lips curled into a smile. There was a dark intent lurking behind it, a predatory gleam that made my heart race with fear. His elongated fang glistened as he ran his tongue across it, a gesture that seemed to savor the fear that he instilled in me. I turned to look at King Aspen, wondering if he was going to stop this madness because this wasn't what I signed up for but the king merely watched the whole thing with a bored look on his face, which meant that I was on my own.

I swallowed as I tried to take a step backwards but his hand held me firmly in place. I opened my mouth trying to think of something anything but the words seemed to get lodged in my throat. All around me, sounds of pleasure filled the air, the maids moaning with pleasure and I looked behind me to see Flora on the lap of a woman who was feeding from her wrist, both had a look of pleasure on their faces and I cringed when I saw the woman's lips filled with red blood.

"I could give you pleasure like that, you can get twice as much from me." The man said when he noticed me staring at a woman who was now staring at me.

 "Thank you but no!" I said finally finding my voice as I yanked my wrist away from his.

The man simply let me go, raking his eyes up and down my body but not in a leering manner, it was more of amusement. I glared at him as I took a step backward.

"Uncle Dimitri," I heard Anya call and I turned to look at her to see her gazing at the man with a slight pout on her face, "I thought I told you the fresh human belongs to me."

Fresh human? Why the fuck does it sound like I was a piece of meat? I asked myself when suddenly pairs of hungry eyes landed on me. Right, I was the fresh meat! I answered as everyone stared at me at once and I swear the man in front of me released something like a purr.

"Hmm, her fear is so delicious." He says in a low tone, "Although she hides it well, I love her!"

Yeah, fuck no! I thought to myself and turned to run when I suddenly smacked my head into a hard chest. Stumbling back, I inhaled sharply, my heart racing as I caught a whiff of his intoxicating scent. Without needing to look up, I knew it was him, Corion.

For some reason, my body went calm and when I finally dared to meet his gaze, I found myself ensnared in the depths of his emerald eyes. They bore into mine, a storm brewing within their depths. His intense stare made me feel exposed and vulnerable and for a moment I forgot to breathe because it was too much.

I tried to take a step back to create some distance between us, but his hand shot out to grasp my arm, holding me in his place. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, making me shiver involuntarily.

"Mine!" He growled the possessiveness in his voice sending a chill down my spine. I blinked in confusion unable to comprehend his sudden declaration.

"I'm sorry, what_" Before I could ponder on what he meant by that, he spun me around roughly, his hand now wrapped around my throat, cutting off my breath. Panic surged through me as I struggled against his iron grip, my mind racing with fear and confusion.

"This little thief right here belongs to me." He hissed, his words laced with a dangerous edge that made my blood run cold. "You thought you could steal and get away with it?" He asked in a low tone and soon a small murmur began among the guests.

Corion's accusation left me reeling, my thoughts spinning as I tried to make sense of his cryptic words. Fucking bastard, was he going to tell my secret in front of the king and these people? What the fuck was he trying to get me killed? I knew I should have gutted the bastard when I had the fucking chance, how could he sell me out like this?

I writhed in his grasp, every fiber of my being screaming for escape. Anger and frustration boiled within me as I mentally cursed him for his audacity. "Let go of me!" I hissed at him but Corion just squeezed my neck tighter in warning as if warning me to shut up.

"Silence thief!" He demanded before he reached into the small cut in my dress between the valley of my breast. I could feel my heart beat faster as he reached inside, his knuckles brushing against my breast before he pulled out a gold pocket watch from beneath it.

I heard a gasp from the guests while Dimitri's eyes widened as he stared at me with an accusing gaze. "That is my watch!"

Motherfucker! I cursed feeling rage within me as I twisted myself from his grasp and head-butted. I heard a small gasp and a murmur from the crowd but I didn't care as I glared at Corion who watched me with a blank expression on his face.

He did this! This was his plan! I thought to myself as I glared at Corion with accusing eyes, feeling hurt that he would do something like this to me.

"So you indeed are a thief!" I heard King Aspen drawl out.

At the sound of the king intervening, I immediately dropped into a bow as I stared at him. "Your majesty please, I didn't do this, I swear it!"

"You dare to steal from my guests?"

I swallowed not liking the tone he was taking, "Your majesty, I swear I didn't…"

Before I could say anything, the king nodded his head. I turned just in time to see a guard approaching, his expression stern and unyielding. Before I could react, his hand lashed out and struck me across the face with a force that sent me staggering backward, the sharp sting of pain blossomed across my cheek and I tasted the metallic tang of blood on my lip.

As I held my throbbing cheek, the king's voice cut through the air like a blade. "The take her and lock her up in the dungeon till I figure out what to do with her," He ordered, his tone cold and unforgiving.

The guard wasted no time in obeying King Aspen's command, grabbing me roughly by the arm and pulling me away. I stumbled along in his grip, my head swimming with a mix of pain and confusion. The weight of the guard's hand on my arm felt like a shackle, binding me to a fate that seemed all but certain.

I glanced backward, not to look at the King but at the prince. Do something! My eyes seemed to scream at him but Corion's gaze was hard and unyielding and it was clear that what I thought was blossoming between us, never happened at all!