Chapter 9 9

"What do you mean?" She asked, perplexed by my reaction.

"I think I need time to reconsider whether this obsession is for him or for absolute power." I sighed, rubbing my temples, finishing my cigarette, blowing it and taking out my peppermint.

"Nathaniel will kill you."

"Ah my, such a privilege." I breathed out, grinning, putting my hand on my chest sarcastically.

"I don't know about him but if my Father caught me he would surely kill me." I muttered, making a sour face as Nathaniel's words echoed in my mind, stirring it badly.

"Exactly, you should have thought about it before." She scolded, pushing her hairs behind her shoulder, smirking scornfully at me.

"Anyways, delay Father for a while until I indulge in my time with my beloved after we can work on the plan. I want him." 'to love me' was silent. I shrugged, getting up, setting my dress to put up the innocent façade again.

"Let's just hope Axel doesn't interfere expeditiously although he wouldn't sit quietly after knowing this pact." Alessandra sighed, still smirking at me.

"Well, this was the primary reason for our marriage, eliminating him. If he dies, our bond will too."

I hummed, blinking a few times, being satisfied by the shy exterior which made Alessandra burst into a peal of laughter.

"What?" I asked, arching a brow at her odd behavior.

"Oh God, your acting..." She laughed, holding her stomach, snickering at my appearance.

Only if you know it's not an act, that's what he does to me.

"What? I have to do it... gotta lure him, you know." I rolled my eyes off, pretending to act furious and excusing.

"I can't believe you, girl..." Her low seductive voice gradually eases down, giving me a mischievous look holding a glint of direness concealed in them.

"Anyways, We are leaving tomorrow. Nathaniel waited all this time so I could bid goodbye to my only friend." I smiled.

"So generous of Plague Doctor." She scoffed, getting up.

"I will go and check up on him, I don't want him to piss Father." I said, clearing my throat, the moment I held the knob, she called me.

"Zariah."

Glancing at her over my shoulder, I waited for her to continue.

"This man will raze you." She said seriously, stating the bitter fact whose reality I couldn't grasp at this moment.

"Keep my warning in your mind." She said, getting up.

"Wallow in his presence all you want but don't dare to attach your heart with him again."

'When did I stop in the first place?' I thought.

It almost sounded like a threat and stuck badly, my lips were impotent to pursue- 'Too late.'

Swallowing the lump restricting my speech, I gave her a straightforward nod before leaving.

I walked back to the room and saw Nathaniel sitting on the bed, using his phone, still in his office attire.

"Are you going to sleep like this?" I asked, closing the door behind me, sitting on my side.

"It would only bother you if I sleep naked." He replied coldly.

Eyes still affixed on his phone, his inscrutable eyes holding a fusion of mystery I was unable to encrypt.

"I can get Father's trouser... if you want." I suggested.

"Hell no." He derided, putting his phone down.

"I do wear underwear- and don't tell me you have a problem with it as well." He jeered, irked.

"No... I was just saying it for your comfort." I mumbled, isolating my eyes from his swamp of buried emotions.

"You don't have to be vexed about it." He muttered, lifting his eyes to meet my unnerving ones intently.

"I thought you were going to stay in her room for the rest of the night." He said, straightening his back, getting out unbuttoning his shirt and putting it beside his waistcoat.

"No.. it's fine."

I breathed out, sensing my heart racing when his burning chest revealed to stumbled upon my uneasiness.

God, he is undeniably tempting.

"Hmm." He hummed.

Coming right in front of me, hands in his pocket, lips twirled to produce his harmonizing whistle, sending a dark stare.

"What?" I asked, perturbed at his keen eyes hovering at me.

"Why do you stress over a scanty look?" He whispered seductively, fingers latched to my jaws to collide with his orbs.

"Because it's not." I replied inaudibly, losing my identity when my soul was enslaved in his domain.

"What do you consider it then?" He smirked, enhancing my heartbeats.

"Manipulation."

He sneered, savoring my vulnerability, "Well, I can't deny it. I love it when you sway," Leaning dangerously nearer, he asked what I dread, "But,"

"Does it entice you or intimidate you?"

"Don't ask me the question I am incapable of answering, Nathaniel." I murmured softly.

Narrowing my eyes in grief, his amusement faded, tracing his finger down to my neck.

"Why is it onerous to answer?" He asked, voice tensing up in tenderness.

"Are you forced to be in my grasp or..."

He paused, bending on one knee, hand around the side of my neck to not break the intense eye contact.

"Have you willingly dedicated yourself to me?" Oh, you have no idea...