Chapter 20

Zelda's POV

I arrive at Aidan's chamber and find him leaning on the desk, staring at me with folded arms.

I walk in, slowly shutting the door behind me then walk towards him twisting my fingers. He doesn't utter a word and stares at me with a stoic expression.

Uncomfortable with the silence, I open my mouth to speak but end up closing them as no word comes forth.

"Aidan, I..." Trying again to speak to ease the tension but at lost what to say, I sigh.

He unfolds his arms, stands properly and walking towards me asks, "Where were you?"

"I went to the servant's quarters to meet Aine." I say without hesitation.

"Why?" He asks with furrowed brows.

"I needed some hair pin, mine broke." I lie without batting an eye, raising some hair pins I removed from my hair earlier.

He tuts, walks around me and stops behind. He pushes my hair away from my left shoulder blade to the right, which causes me to involuntarily arc my head giving him more access to my neck, as he runs his nose and lips along it.

Shuddering, I make a move to move away but he grabs me immediately before I can do so. Wrapping his right arm round my waist with his left hand trailing my left arm, he places a kiss on my neck; the exact spot he marked.

I feel a sensation at this act and raise my hand to touch my neck but as usual, he's faster and clamps my hands with his.

Suddenly, I hear a slash sound. Looking at his hands, I see his elongated claws and the shoulder part of my dress ripped off. The other part of the dress dangles as it's set to come off soon.

Gasping in mortification, I turn to look at Aidan and my breath is caught in my throat with his eyes a darker shade of red with black veins below them.

He smiles in a twisted manner and I quiver in fear as I slowly move away from him. He stays still with same twisted smile as I hold up the remaining part of my dress threatening to fall any moment and slowly move back.

With a safe distance away from him, I run to the bathroom, lock it and heave. I let the dress fall, leaving me half clothed in my undergarments. Feeling like I'm being watched, I turn around to let out a shrill scream at the sight at Aidan; a version of him I haven't seen before.

His black feathered wings are fully spread out and his claws much more elongated. I gape at him in horror, fear and admiration as he walks towards me with his large wings ruffling and trailing behind him.

Before I can comprehend anything, I'm turned towards the mirror with him leaning into me. Flustered at the position and trying to push him away, he sinks his fangs into my neck.

Suddenly, thick black smoke which seems to emit from his skin and wings flow around the bathroom slowly. Rather odd to me, I find the black smoke comforting and though strange, seems it's nestling me. It smells faintly like Aidan and not suffocating like I thought it would be.

I start going limp within his arms as we stay in the same position for some seconds before he stops and licks across the bite marks created by his fangs. I shudder at this act of his with goosebumps all over my skin.

Closing my eyes, I lean into him as he trails my skin with his fingers whose claws has retracted. Slowly, his fingers makes it's way up to my chest as my breath hitches. Shooting my eyes open immediately, I'm shocked to find him staring at me already with hooded eyes through the mirror hung in the bathroom.

Slowly, I try disentangling myself from him which he tightens. He roams his hands on my stomach and I look at him through the mirror silently pleading.

His wings ruffles again and fully spreads out to wrap me still within his arms forming a cocoon. I wonder how large they are and thinking about how soft they feel to my skin, I go limp loosing consciousness.

*******

Aidan walks to his desk picking a file, flips through them and grabs a paper. He walks to the closet and picks a coat, putting it on with the paper still in his hands.

He straightens and folds the paper properly while walking over to the bed where Zelda lies sleeping. He bends to her, pulls away some strands from her forehead and pecks her gently while lifting the plush blanket to her neck.

Casting a final glance at her, he walks to the door and leaves, stationing a guard at the entrance.

He walks through some hallways before getting to the kitchen. The maids scuffle and make a clearing as the headmaid walks over to him with her head bowed low and her hands folded behind her.

She makes a move to greet but Aidan cuts her off.

"Where is my mistress' servant, Aine?" He asks.

Aine advances towards him with a bowed head like the rest of the maids. Before she could get close enough to him, he turns on his heels and walks out.

"Follow me." He says in commanding tone almost at the kitchen's entrance, causing Aine to jog to catch up with him.

They walk for some seconds and arrive before the royal courtroom door with two guards standing motionless there.

With a wave from Aidan, they stomp and move away with Aidan turning fully to Aine.

"I want you to be stationed at the Royal quarters to enable you to tend to Zelda fully. I won't entertain having her seeking you at the servant's quarters for anything, clear?" He says.

Aine bows. "I apologise my Prince, I was assigned to the kitchen this week which didn't enable me to meet or tend to her so."

Aidan squints his eyes and walks closer to her. "You're saying you didn't meet her yesterday?" He asks.

"No, I didn't. I was assigned to the kitchen and owing to the busy schedule there couldn't meet her nor serve her. This applies to the other maid server as well." Aine says.

"Who served her yesterday then?" Aidan asks.

"I have no idea, my Prince." She says fidgeting.

"I've assigned a guard to help you move your properties to the royal quarters, I believe the headmaid should've been contacted also by now."

Aine nods and without another word, Aidan opens the courtroom doors and walks in.

She unconsciously let's out a breath, the feeling of fear and submission still lingering within her after a mere conversation with Aidan.

The guards dismissed earlier by Aidan walks back to their spot before the giant courtroom doors as she swiftly leaves to the royal quarters elated at her new position and room.