Raphael

-------------

I could feel all her stiffness, every tense muscle. My baby was nervous, and I knew why, but it didn’t bother me, but rather amused and pleased me. Just a little more I wanted to enjoy this evening.

Her skin was so warm, so velvety and soft under my fingers that I experienced tactile ecstasy just touching her bare back. Still, it was the right decision to buy this dress for her, although I can’t help but admit that excessive masculine looks towards her made me feel furious, but at the same time it raised my self-esteem, because this girl is only mine.

Her hands were like a feather on me, as if she was holding them in the air, trying to touch me as little as possible in front of strangers. And how I wish now that they would all disappear, leaving us alone. Although in my eyes we were already just the two of us, everything that was happening around us, all these couples dancing with us instantly faded and dissolved.

I grabbed Thea by the waist, pressing her closer to my torso and sharply spun her in the air, which made her have to grab my neck with her hands. Her blushing face was only an inch from mine and our hot, ragged breathing merged into one symphony, passionate and searing.

Every curve of her body was so graceful that I could not look away from her beauty, from the beauty of her body, I wanted to put my hands everywhere so that everyone could see who she belongs to. So that no fucking king of Adaman would dare to put his lousy look on her. How angry I was at that moment. And if that’s what we all came here for, I would have already ripped out his eyes.

- Your body fits my hands perfectly, baby. - I whispered in her ear at the moment when I forced her to lean back, strongly arching her back.

She desperately wrapped her arms around my neck again to keep from falling, and that was exactly what I wanted. I was in no hurry to change our position, staying in place while everyone was waltzing around. My hands caressed her slender waist, making her shudder from these simple but intimate movements.

Gradually, the couples around stopped dancing and parted to the sides in misunderstanding of what was going on between us. With a sharp look, I noticed Madeleine covering her mouth with her hands and barely holding back tears, the king and Queen of Riliya got up from their seats and their appearance spoke of uncontrollable anger. Well, finally all the masks are dropped. There was only Terrence, on whose face there was genuine surprise. After I forced Thea to wrap her arms around my neck, he should have recognized his damn mark on her arm. That’s how I got everyone’s attention.

The music stopped, a dead silence reigned in the hall and Thea became agitated, trying to move me from my place.

- Do you trust me, baby? - I asked without losing eye contact with her.

She was silent for less than a fraction of a second, and then nodded her head decisively. My obedient little girl.

And I pushed her hair back a little from her neck and bent even lower, slowly and sensually running my tongue from her collarbone to her earlobe. At the same time, touching her hair with his hand, passing silvery streams of magic through each strand, which enveloped her in a light sparkling haze, exposing her real appearance in front of everyone and tearing off the golden mask from her face. And finally, before standing up straight, I imprinted a short kiss on the lips on her discouraged face.

There was not a single person who would remain neutral to what was happening in front of their eyes and most of them were shocked and disbelief, and only then anger and rage. Which in turn came more from her so-called parents. The holiday begins to acquire pleasant notes, already the soul rejoices.

I felt Lillian leave her seat and descend the steps, moving in our direction. Turning around, I shielded a defenseless girl, trembling with fright, who was just beginning to realize what everything had led to.

Exuding an unheard-of dark aura, she was able to incinerate anyone with just one glance, but not me. And she knew this better than anyone else in this room, and therefore, having come to her senses in time, she stopped about fifteen meters from me. Behind her, like a pitiful puppy, her hubby, who was already fully armed, holding a magic wand at the ready, was attached. Is it worth noting that combat magicians were already lined up around the perimeter, ready to attack at any second, it is only necessary to give the order?

- Why all this farce? – I artistically feigned surprise, after which I grinned in a smile. – Did you really expect something different from me when you invited me to visit?

She quickly restored her appearance and posture, but her whole speech was imbued with sarcasm and acerbity.

- You don’t know who you’re playing with, kid. – she said through her teeth.

Many people crowded tightly along the walls did not understand what was happening. That’s right, because it was only for a select few, of whom there were not many. Or rather, even one – the king of Adaman, who was now neutral, because he saw the situation in a different light, as if everything was not going as they planned. But I never play by someone else’s rules, I create my own.

- Kid? - I repeated slowly. - It doesn’t look like we’re too different in age. Or is it magic that keeps you in a young body? I teased, and her face was covered with thick wrinkles from the way she grimaced.

- Do you think you’ve gained something by kidnapping my daughter? She doesn’t even have magic. - Horel interjected.

- I know. Maybe it’s love? - I shrugged my shoulders.

The tension in the hall was growing and it was already safe to cut it with a knife, but what’s there with a knife, an axe to chop.

Lillian’s angry hysterical laughter defused the situation, riveting all the attention in it.

- Do you think you’re the smartest? Maybe you think you’re the strongest? - her voice was full of mockery in my direction, but it didn’t bother me at all. – Bring him in.

Her voice echoed loudly through the hall, alerting the guards. And the next moment they dragged Milos’s limp, bloody body, throwing it at the feet of their queen. She crouched down a little and grabbed his hair, lifting his swollen, tortured face.

- You see, you can think whatever you want, but we’re always one step ahead of you, Raphael. Always. - her smile was laced with a grin.

Milos was alive and conscious, but his body was too badly mutilated to resist in any way. Gritting his teeth, he suppressed a painful groan that threatened to break out of him. And as if not satisfied, Lillian pressed his face hard against the marble floor, after which the count passed out.

But he still had vampire blood flowing in him, which means he will begin to recover very soon. However, somewhere we made a miscalculation, since he was so easily trapped. But never mind, we’ll get him out, and this damned witch will answer for everything.

- This isn’t your first spy we’ve caught in our castle, but I’m surprised it’s someone so important to you this time. He didn’t want to talk to me, so I had to go to the back of his memory. There was a lot of interesting stuff there. – slightly tilting her head, Lillian quipped.

She could talk a lot and talk about what she learned from Milos, but I had one interesting gift. I was adept at detecting lies. And by the lost look of my adviser, I realized that he was completely unaware of where he was and who he was. He must have voluntarily lost all his memories before being interrogated by the Queen herself. I was proud of the loyalty he had shown at the cost of threatening his life.