The Vampire King's Possession
Chapter 496. Roused Up

Chapter 496: 496. Roused Up

Mauve’s eyes flew open and she was greeted with the brightest eyes ever. However, the first thing she registered before how pretty his eyes were, was how intensely he was staring at her.

"Oh, you’re awake." He said and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

Mauve stretched a little as she let out a yawn. "What happened?" She asked while yawning. "Can’t sleep?" She peered at him, it didn’t feel like she had been asleep for long.

"Something like that," he said with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Mauve’s eyes narrowed. "Is it because of me?" She asked with a very concerned look. "Was I snoring?"

She knew Jael was a pretty light sleeper and even the change of her heartbeat could wake him up.

He laughed, "No, trust me."

"Have you slept at all?" She asked, fully awake now and equally concerned.

"You worry too much," he said and poked her nose before pulling her to himself and wrapping her in a bear hug.

"You haven’t answered my question," she muttered against his chest.

"You haven’t slept for very long. You can imagine my shock when you suddenly roused up because I was staring a little too hard. You had nothing to do with me not sleeping, I interrupted yours."

"I don’t mind," she said, letting out another yawn as she hugged him back. "You can’t sleep?" She asked again.

"I don’t think so," he replied. I just haven’t tried sleeping yet."

"Oh," she buried her face in his chest. "Is something bothering you?"

"Nope, I couldn’t be less bothered."

"Are you sure?" She asked, pulling back to look at his face and he peered down at her. "I know you weren’t pleased when Lady Marceline arrived."

Mauve had almost slipped up and called him her aunt but she caught herself in time.

"I am not," his voice neither held anger nor did it sound like he was hiding anything. "I can’t stand her but I can’t exactly chase her out either and I am sure Louis is excited to see her."

"Did something happen between you two?"

"Me and Lady Marceline?"

She nodded against his chest, feeling drowsy again.

"I wouldn’t say that. We just don’t see eye to eye. She likes to think she’s my aunt but she was just really close to my mother."

"I see," Mauve whispered. She knew Jael’s late mother and Lady Marceline were cousins but somehow she found it hard to believe that Jael’s relationship with Lady Marceline had always been this strained.

Maybe it was the way she teased him like she did it often or maybe it was just that Mauve was reading too much into the situation.

"You should go back to sleep," he said and stroked her hair.

"More like you should get some sleep," she replied.

"I will," he said without any argument. "Just after you."

"Okay," she smiled and closed her eyes as she listened to his slow-beating heart. It sent her off to sleep faster than she thought.

The next time Mauve opened her eyes, it was nighttime and Jael was right next to her with a scowl on his face.

There was the sound of knocking on the door and with how agitated the knock was, she was certain whoever was behind the door must have been knocking for quite some time.

"I can’t believe she woke you up," Jael said, sounding more irritated about the knock than concerned.

Mauve tried to sit upright but Jael stopped her.

"Get back to sleep, I’ll deal with it," he whispered.

"Hasn’t the sun set yet?" She asked. It did feel like she got more than enough hours of sleep and the knock wasn’t that loud if she had been fast asleep, she wouldn’t have heard a thing.

It was hard to tell how dark it was as the curtains were still drawn and with the way Jael was hesitant about leaving the bed, she figured she still got about an hour at least.

"It has, about three hours ago," he whispered.

Mauve’s eyes widened and she sat upright immediately. "Why did you let me sleep for that long?"

There was no doubt about it, the first meal was definitely over. Hours ago. It was at least halfway through the first half of the night. She was usually up before the sun completely set.

"You looked tired and there was no reason to make you get out of bed," he explained.

"There is. The first meal!"

"You can always eat in your room."

Mauve blinked as she remembered they were in her room. He had brought her here while she was asleep last night.

"Yeah, but I’d rather eat in the dining hall."

"You don’t want to eat with me?" He asked with a raised brow.

His nonchalance was killing her. Did he do this on purpose? Should she be concerned?

"You know that’s not what I mean," she gave him an unimpressed look.

The knock rang again but it wasn’t too loud and it didn’t sound like it was coming from her door. It sounded like the knock was coming from Jael’s room.

"I will be right back. Let me deal with this."

She nodded and watched as he walked to the connecting door. He walked through and closed the door behind him.

She couldn’t help the frown that appeared on her face. Did he let her sleep in because he was avoiding Lady Marceline?

She doubted Jael would do that, it was probably to annoy her. She shook her head. She had no idea, it was better not to make assumptions.

She rolled to her side and got out of bed, walking toward the wall. She pulled the string. She might as well get ready.

Jael took a while to return. The look on his face didn’t hide how he felt. She could tell whatever had happened didn’t go well.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

He nodded.

"I called for a bath," she said, not knowing how to respond.

"Good, you should get ready. I’ll ask the servants to bring up our first meal."