Demon Prince's Forsaken Bride-Chapter 54: A Nightmare? (2)

’’His Highness is slow when it comes to love affairs,’’ Astra revealed the said weakness in a ’I know it all’ posture, ’’As his subordinates, we are usually unable to do much because he annihilates the enemy in one swoop but here, we can take our turn to shine by lending him a hand in mending his love life.’’

Rune did not say anything but his concerned gaze seemed to speak volumes regarding their capability in love affairs.

...

When Lareina went back to the room, the room was empty. She left one candle and blew off the rest before climbing on the bed.

Thoughts of what Astra had talked about crept in her mind but she did not linger on them for long. When she stopped thinking about things, it seemed like the day’s exhaustion finally seemed to catch up to her.

She had just closed her eyes when suddenly, she heard the sound of door opening followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. The other side of the bed sank.

Lareina’s heart picked its pace. Had she known Azrael was going to sleep here, she would have slept on the floor. Or not sleeping for a night would be fine as well.

It was too late to get up. And after the incident tonight, she neither wanted to confront him nor did she want to talk to him.

The thought made her body curl a little towards the edge, putting more space between them. Suddenly, the sheets under her moved a little as the man’s weight shifted closer.

Lareina shut her eyes tightly. A strong arm wrapped around her waist and moved her from the edge of the bed towards the middle.

As the coolness seeped into skin, the familiar woody fragrance of the man settled in the air. He held her waist and spooned her into his arms from behind for a long while, his chin nuzzling into the crook of her neck.

She held her breath, not knowing what to do. At this point, she had pretended to sleep for so long to wake up and question him about what he thought he was doing.

After a while, the man released her. But before she could take a sigh of relief inwardly, he rolled to the side such that she was completely lying on her back, her face completely visible to him. She calmed her thoughts, not moving a single nerve on her face as she felt him leaning closer.

His fragrance wafted over to her nose and his body hovered above hers. Everytime she inhaled, the curve of her breasts grazed against his chest. She felt his lips lingering above hers and her fingers clenched the sheets.

But suddenly, the weight on her body disappeared. The sound of a sharp blade cut the air and as Lareina opened her eyes, she was blinded by the glare of the dagger that stopped half an inch from her forehead.

...

Lareina sat up on the bed, a layer of cold sweat covering her forehead as she panted. The flame of the lone candle that she had left burning had probably been blown out by the wind.

She unconsciously touched the other side of the bed, only to find it empty. However, despite the candle being blown, the room was not enshrouded in darkness.

The pale glow of moonlight encased one corner of the room. And the door she had secured earlier was slightly ajar, letting light enter the place.

Lareina had just pushed herself to her feet when her palm grazed along something wet. She turned to look at the bed. A huge portion of the sheets were stained with blood.

She retreated a few steps, reaching out her hand to wipe the sweat from her neck but the sticky sensation in her fingers made her fingers tremble a little. When she retracted her hand, it was stained with blood.

The only fact that provided her assurance and a hint of relief was that there was no pain. No wounds on her neck either. So, the blood was not hers.

Her thoughts were cut short when a dreamy voice wafted over in the air. It was the sound of a woman singing a song, a love song. Calm and serene, the notes seemed to reverberate in the peace of the night.

Lareina followed the sound and walked towards the window in her room but she could not see a single person in sight.

However, the singer did not stop singing. Instead, the notes of love gradually turned into resentment and hatred. Like a gut wrenching heartbreak, they seemed to reflect the downfall of a love.

Suddenly, everything fell silent. The lady’s voice dispersed like an illusion.

At this moment, the door of the room opened with a ’thud’.

Lareina flinched a little, due to her absentmindedness. When she turned around, she saw the familiar silhouette of Azrael standing at the door.

’’Did you hear the voice?" In the dim light, he kept his distance from her and he did not move an inch from where he stood. Unlike every time before when he used to walk into her room like he owned it. He probably did but... nevermind.

’’I did,’’ Lareina moved away from the window, ’’Why did you come back to my room again?"

No response.

Lareina reached into the wooden case by the bedside, retrieving a slender sulfur match. Striking it against the stone wall, she watched as it flared to life with a sharp hiss. In the dim glow, her fingers steadied as she touched the flame to the candle’s wick, the warm light chasing away the shadows.

"You cannot die here,’’ were all the cold words he offered.

Before this, Lareina would have been deceived but at this moment, she noticed how he deliberately avoided her question, ’’Your Highness, why did you leave so hurriedly earlier when you had already come here?"

’’You are mistaken,’’ Azrael’s gaze trailed off to the bloodstains near her neck. When she looked to the side, her neck arched a little in the shade of the candlelight, creating a stark contrast with the crimson on her skin.

"Am I?" A ghost of a smile hovered on her face as she looked at him.