Married To The Mad Vampire Lord novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Incapable of love (Part 1)

Belle did not know how long they had been traveling for, but throughout the tiresome journey, her husband held her hand in his and did not stop for a moment, moving his fingers against the back of her hand. He did not say a word again after he told her about the others already on their way to Nightbrook. She made sure not to move so much, as any little movement made her body graze against his beside her. If only he would release her hand and move away from her space, because all her senses were limited to his presence.

She could smell his spicy, exotic scent that reminded her of a scented wood her father liked to burn in his chamber, mixed with smoky lemon. She would have liked the scent if it weren't coming from him. She did not want to like anything that has to do with him. And then there was his soft breathing and the feel of his warm fingers—everything made the ride seem more treacherous than it ought to be.

She had never traveled on a long journey, and she knew this was a very long one—one that was said a speeding horse could get there fast enough in four days, not to mention a carriage. She was uncomfortable and unable to relax, and she did not think anyone in her position would relax this easily.

Belle had spent the days leading up to this wedding unable to sleep or eat properly. She had lived in dread and fear every second of the day and hour. If she wasn't being coached by the instructor the human king had sent to the Dawson household to teach her about the ways of the bloodsuckers and how to study them without being caught, she would be swamped with guests who came to pity her and mourn with her as she was getting married into the land of the undead, where they said the sun never rose in that part of the land. With everything, she was exhausted.

Now, however, she could not rest, as she believed that the moment she closed her eyes, the vampire next to her might do something bad to her. Even though she trusted his words about not hurting her, she did not trust that he wouldn't try something when she closed her eyes. Vampires had many ways to get what they wanted from a human—they could compel and hypnotize you. She did not want to let her guard down for that.

They were still in Aragonia and had not yet crossed the border, and her veil was already making her more uncomfortable. She shifted in her seat a few times and muttered an apology to the seemingly resting man beside her whenever her knee bumped against his, which was so close to hers.

She missed the comfort of her chamber and the beautiful voice of Jamie already. And though Jamie had held her hands a few times, he had never made her feel the way she was feeling now, and she knew the feeling in her stomach must have come from fear, even though she tried not to be afraid of him. She felt him shift in his seat, and her body instinctively pushed back in an attempt to avoid him. But he had not shifted to touch her—he had moved to make room for her knees or his. She did not dare look his way when she felt him stiffen at her impulsive action of flinching.

She had not thought of it, but the ride must be killing him just as much as it was for her. She was used to riding in carriages from the beginning, but he wasn't. He was a creature who did not need mortal means to journey and could use his mere strength and speed to reach his destination. But because of her safety, as he said, he had ridden with her instead of going with his people. She felt him release her hand, and the absence of the warmth made her feel empty.

Mustering up her courage, she turned her head in his direction but instantly regretted it. He was staring at her so intensely that she felt a cold sweat run down the back of her neck and spine. He looked displeased and... angry? Or was it hurt in some way? Whatever it was, she did not want to see his rage.

Vampires were known to be savage when angered, and though he did not have red eyes, she did not want to see him bare his fangs at her, as she did not trust she would survive the fear of it. Swallowing hard and bringing her hands to rest on her lap, where she clenched them together, she bowed her head.

"I...I am sorry, my Lord..." she apologized, though not certain why, but she knew he looked displeased because of how she flinched when he'd told her not to. She tightened her hands together when he did not speak for a great long minute, but his gaze remained steadfast on her. Was he thinking of how to punish her? Had she upset him that much by flinching?

Belle, who was contemplating looking up to meet his eyes, was startled when he suddenly touched the top of her head with his hand, his palm flat and his fingers spread out on it. And for a moment, she held her breath, thinking he would wring her neck. But instead, he caressed her head gently.

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