The Vampire King's Possession
Chapter 407. Uncomfortable?

Chapter 407: 407. Uncomfortable?

The next thing Mauve noticed after the carriage as she stepped out of the Tavern was Danag sitting at the coach, he looked ready to leave.

"Finally," a familiar voice said. "I thought we might have to spend the day here."

She turned towards the direction of the voice and saw Erick standing a few feet from the carriage. He had a sneer on his face that was hard to miss even in the nightlight.

Mauve didn’t even try to hide her displeasure. Of course, he was here. Someone had to accompany Jael. She would have preferred that person was Damon.

She turned away from him just as quickly and scanned around. There was no sign of anyone else aside from the vampires.

She couldn’t help the sadness that crept in. Of course, no one was here to see her off. They had already done so much by bringing her here, they weren’t obligated to do more.

"Mauve," Danag said to her. "Good to see you."

She raised her head and smiled at him. "Thank you."

"Enough of the pleasantries, get into the carriage," Erick yelled out from where he stood."

She glared at him and turned to Louis. "Where is Jael?" She asked.

"He went ahead," Louis said without missing a beat.

"Oh okay," she responded.

Why was she disappointed? It was her fault for thinking this was going to be a group trip. She shook her head. There was no point waiting around any more, it was best to get on her way.

Galath wasn’t here, he didn’t have to be here. He already did his part and she was certain he wasn’t very happy with her after everything that transpired.

She took a step forward and paused a little as Louis went ahead of her. He stretched out his hand to open the door when she heard a voice from the Tavern.

"Princess," she turned around to see Owen and Galath standing by the door.

"Owen," she smiled, a little too brightly that her cheeks hurt.

He rushed toward her, stopping in front of her, and before he could bow, he let out a loud yawn.

"I told him to get some sleep but he insisted," Galath said as he too walked closer.

"Safe trip, Princess." He grinned at her.

"Thank Owen," she smiled at him.

He chuckled and scratched his head. "I don’t know when else we will see but I do hope it’s soon."

"Me too, Owen," she said, still smiling.

"Me too," Galath said, his voice lower than usual.

He walked even closer; he bowed and stretched out his palm. She placed her hand onto it and he kissed the back of her palm.

"Be safe, Princess." He slowly let go of her hand and stood to his full height. "Be safe," he repeated.

"Thank you and you too. I wish you a safe journey back to the castle and give my greetings to Malcolm."

"Of course, I shall let the Crown Prince know."

"Enough pleasantries," Erick repeatedly. "We don’t have all night."

Mauve didn’t acknowledge his words, he wouldn’t be Erick if he didn’t have something to say about the situation.

"Bye Princess."

"Bye Malcom, Bye Owen."

She waved slightly and turned away from them to where Louis was standing with the door partly opened.

She made to get into the carriage and he offered her hand to help. "Thank you," she said as she accepted his kind gesture.

He gave her a knowing smile and she looked at him with a puzzled expression but there was no time to think about it as he lifted her into the carriage.

She sat down and immediately noticed the presence of someone else. It had been a little dark to see into the carriage from outside.

"Jael!" She called out in shock.

"Why did you say I went ahead?" His loud voice scolded Louis.

"Did I?" He asked with a very obvious smirk.

"Louis," Jael called.

"I didn’t want to ruin your surprise. Besides, you could have shown yourself when she asked but you didn’t. You could have revealed yourself anytime but you didn’t. You’re welcome."

He grinned and shut the carriage door close before Jael could reply. "Danag, move the horses."

As soon as the order was given, a loud whistle rang out followed by the sounds of horses neighing as they pulled the carriage forward.

Mauve stuck her head out the window and waved to Owen who was slightly moving after the carriage. He stopped running but kept waving, forcing her to keep her head outside the window.

After a while, it was too dark to try to see him so she stuck her head back into the carriage and turned to look at Jael.

He had a scowl on his face even in the low light, she could see his expression clearly. Not that she needed to, his aura was enough indication that he wasn’t pleased.

If he was going to be this grumpy for the ride, he could have gone ahead. She turned away from him and looked outside the window. Why was it so awkward?

She didn’t know if she should say something or wait for him to speak first. He didn’t look like he was in the mood for a conversation.

"I see you’re especially close to the knight," he muttered.

"What?" She blinked. She heard him but it was easier to pretend, she didn’t.

Of course, he was angry that she chased him out of the room for Galath. She saw this coming. However, she didn’t actually think he would bring it up.

"The knight that you chased me out of the room for. What was so important that I couldn’t hear?"

"Oh about that? He had a message from my brother." She lied.

Mauve looked out the window, she has always been a terrible liar and she hoped it didn’t show right now.

He squinted his eyes, still not convinced. She could feel his glare and she could also see it from the corner of her eyes.

"What’s your relationship with him?" He asked.

Mauve could swear there was humming in the air from all the tension he was exhuming.

"What? What do you mean? He is a knight under the King’s command."

"You seem awfully close."

"I wouldn’t say that, he was just in charge of getting me here." She replied.

Surely, it wasn’t what she thought and Jael was just unnecessarily curious about Galath for some reason.

"Did he ask you not to go with me?" He suddenly asked.

Mauve frowned, looking at him at his question. Did he overhear the conversation? Jael wasn’t the type to eavesdrop. So, she couldn’t say that was the case but it was too perfect a mark.

"Does it matter? Am here, aren’t I?" She said and turned away again. Why was it so hard to keep his gaze?

"Do you regret it? Would you rather not go with me?"

She paused and turned away, this time holding his gaze for as long as she could. "Do you want me to stay behind?" She asked, her eyes darting back and forth between one blue eye and the other.

"You know my answer," he said.

"No, I do not," she replied. She wasn’t going to give him the benefit of the doubt. He was usually pretty clear when he didn’t want something.

"You really don’t?" He asked with a sad look on his face.

"It’s hard to tell and unless you say, I can only keep..."

Suddenly the carriage jerked and Mauve was thrown into his lap. She blushed and tried to pull away.

"Sorry, the carriage..." She looked up to see his eyes shining bright at her.

"Don’t pull away from me," he said.

Mauve swallowed at the sound of his voice. Was it her ears or was his voice full of want?

"I am not pulling away from you," she said as she straightened herself. "I am just trying not to bump into you."

"You say that while you keep moving away."

"Yes, because this is an accident and I need to sit up straight."

"Even though I would rather have you in my arms the entire trip."

Mauve looked away. Why would he say something like that so easily?

"Thanks for the offer but I am pretty comfortable on my own."

She sat straight up and leaned against the backrest only for them to go over a bump again and she was flung onto Jael’s legs.

Why did that bump feel deliberate? Can Danag hear them? She doubted it but it truly did feel like that. However, she wasn’t concentrating on the problem which was she was back on Jael’s legs again.

"Sorry," she apologized. "The carriage keeps throwing me around. I am not trying to make this uncomfortable for you."

"Uncomfortable?" He asked.

"Yeah," she said and tried to pull away again but he held her still.

She looked up and him and he lifted her off the seat of the carriage and placed her across his legs.