My Most Precious Human

I violently shook my head, and then a scream escaped my throat, "No!"

Rage mixed with agonizing pain as the burning hot blood ran through my veins faster and faster. I picked Sariel's number on my phone and called him. I waited, listening to long signals that only fueled my anger. How could he do this to me? I believed him when he said that he would make me his queen and that he would kill Elora... Was I the only one in love? Was he playing me up until this moment? No. I refused to believe that. When he didn't answer, I called him again and got switched to voicemail.

"You son of a bitch! You don't even have the decency to answer the fucking call and say it?!" I think my voice cracked just before I disconnected.

My frustration was overwhelming. I didn't cry, but I wanted to demolish the entire room just to ease my anger.

Another text came: "I'm sorry, Lilith. I wouldn't stand talking to you. I've never meant for it to happen, but this is the fact. Goodbye."

"Goodbye?" I gritted my teeth. "Goodbye?!" I shouted at the phone. "You should pray to die from the hands of those degenerates, if not, I will kill you in a far more brutal way!"

I didn't reply to his message. There were no words I could write to describe how I felt. My hands were shaking while my fast breaths mirrored my pounding heart. I knew I should call Martha and tell her what had happened, but I couldn't handle the idea of digging into that wound even deeper. I also knew that if I stayed inside my room, I would definitely break some furniture... or, more like, most of it. I chose to drink instead.

I went down to a hotel bar and ordered a glass of wine, as the bartender poured it, I changed my order to a whole bottle. With a filled glass and a bottle, I sat at the bar table. I drank the first glass real quick, and a few minutes later, the alcohol began gently soothing my blood pressure. I heaved a sigh, forcing myself to calm down. All those tears I shed must have built a solid shield around my heart because the pain I felt seemed bearable. The emotion that surfaced was anger. I felt as if I had enough betrayal. Perhaps I wasn't meant to find love in this lifetime. I was betrayed deeply by the one to whom I gave my heart, soul... and a lot of my blood. I had a mate that was supposed to give me his unconditional love, and yet I gave nothing but lustful gazes and words that had less and less meaning for me. It might have sounded bitter, but maybe I was better off without trying to love someone.

I barely registered Draven, sitting on a barstool next to me. He ordered a glass of scotch while I finished my second glass of wine. I noticed he was studying my face carefully without saying a word. I didn't turn my head towards him until his gaze became unbearably intense.

"What?" I snapped.

He raised his hands in surrender. "I come in peace," he said, giving me a peculiar warm smile.

"Draven, I'm not in the mood to talk, so please leave me alone," I tossed, shifting my blank stare to the rows of bottles on the bar wall.

I poured myself more wine and took a sip before putting down the glass. His smile faded, but his eyes stayed glued to my face. I nervously tapped my fingers on the stem of the glass, trying to ignore Draven, but he wouldn't let me. He gently grasped my hand, taking it off the stem and placing it untangled with his hand on the bar table.

"I heard about Queen Elora and her pregnancy. I also heard that it is confirmed that the child is King Sariel's," he said, tightening his grip on my hand.

I grabbed my glass in my other hand and drank it all in big gulps, as if I was trying to kill the sudden dryness in my throat. Only once the glass was emptied did I find the courage to look at him. "How did you know?" I muttered.

"I have my sources inside the Palace," he smirked.

"I see." Acting indifferently, I poured what was left in the wine bottle into my glass.

"Lilith," he sighed, turning towards me on his stool and putting our untangled hands on his thigh. "I'm sorry... I know that you suffer. I see and feel how hurt you are. What can I do to make you feel better?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering if it wasn't another one of his games. I scanned his face in detail but didn't register anything suspicious. Of course, the alcohol didn't work well at sharpening my senses, but I was just too tired of keeping my guard up all the time.

"You can get me another bottle." I shrugged and turned my attention to my half-emptied wine glass.

Draven chuckled, "Wine won't cure you... I have something stronger in my room." He got down from his barstool and reached out his hand to help me get down from mine.

I raised my eyes at him.

"I won't bite you, Lilith," he said, giving me a lopsided smile. "My bite wouldn't change anything between us anyway..."

With one big "what the heck" inside my mind, I gave him my other hand and let him lead me to his room upstairs. He seemed different, more caring, warmer, and slightly more loveable. Strangely, I didn't hate his sudden attention.

As I entered Draven's bedroom, I noticed it was twice as big as mine. He sat me on the sofa opposite his king-size bed while he went to a small bar by his desk and poured two glasses of Remy Martin. As he crouched down before me, he handed me a glass and hit his glass with his.

"Here's to Lilith's heart's fast recovery." He smiled and raised his drink.

I smiled faintly, accepting his toast. The smooth liquid did wonders for my body, loosening my muscles in seconds after flowing down my throat. The wall around my heart seemed thicker as the pain vanished. Without it, I could think more logically and process more quickly.

"Do you think that you could ever lose your phone, like in between battles? Or let someone steal it?" I tossed, trying to make it sound like a casual question. "Why?" Draven chuckled. "Did someone try to steal your phone?"

"No..." I smiled nervously, "I received unpleasant messages and I wondered if there was a possibility that someone else wrote them and not..." I paused.

"Did Sariel write something that hurt you?" he asked.

I looked at him, slightly surprised by his quick and accurate guess. Then I smiled dryly, thinking that it had to be obvious that no other person would make me concerned over some stupid messages. "Um... yes," I admitted, lowering my head.

Draven straightened up and sat right beside me on the sofa. "If I needed to communicate with someone I cared about, I would kill anyone trying to get anywhere near my phone."

His words made me put an awkward grimace on my face as I thought about how many times I had left my phone in places where everyone could take it.

"I bet it's the same when it comes to Sariel. Someone touching his phone must have had a death wish," he snorted and took a sip from his glass.

I nodded, painfully realizing that he was right. I drank more to prevent my heartache from resurfacing.

"God... how could I be so stupid?" I squeezed through my teeth.

"Love makes us stupid, Lilith." His hand briefly stroked my back, just enough to give me comfort without making me feel uncomfortable.

I stretched my lips into a thin smile. "Now that Elora is pregnant, the nobles will never let Sariel divorce her..." I mocked myself, saying that.

Draven shook his head. "Not a chance. With this child in her womb, she will be treated like the goddess that could save the entire race."

"What is so good about being pureblooded? Maybe it is time to give a chance to mix breeds... or humans with unusual abilities?" I chuckled while taking another sip of the delightful cognac. "I happen to have abilities that might have some value..." My voice finally cracked, as the heartache fought off the liquor running in my veins.

Draven wrapped his arms around me and placed my head on his shoulder. "You are the most amazing creature walking on this planet. Let Elora become the queen of those bloodsuckers while you can become the personification of the wolves' goddess."

I lift my eyes at him, slowly surrendering to his body's warmth. He grabbed the back of my head, gently directing me to face him.

"Let me show you what mate's love feels like," he purred before placing his lips on mine.