Chapter 9: The release

Bloyd's POV

Chapter soundtrack: Into You by Ariana Grande.

I raised my head up as the sound of the dungeon's gate opens and I waited expectantly for whoever was here to see me today. I felt dirty and unwashed, my hair a mess and my stomach rumbling with hunger. My lips were chapped and dry, thirsty for a single drop of water. But I didn't ask the guards for any of those. I remained stubborn and would rather die than let them see me beg.

The stature of a girl walked into the room and it was Arabella, holding a tray of food in her hand. My stomach rumbled lowly at the sight of the food and I was tempted to grab it from her hand but I contained myself.

"Hey." She stopped a few safe feet away from me and crouched down to drop the tray of food in front of me.

There's no way she thought I was going to attack her in this state, did she? What a coward!

"I brought some food for you. Eat up. You look hungry."

I scoffed at her words.

"Were you sent to bring some food to me or did you sneak them to me?"

"Doesn't matter. Eat up."

I remained stubborn and refused to move an inch to pick the food. She sighed and paced around the room.

"Listen, I know you must be in a daze and overwhelmed with all that is happening…"

"The fact that you are not human and live in a different supernatural realm whilst all these while acting and pretending you were human?"

She paused for a couple of seconds as if comprehending my question. She nodded her head shortly after.

"Probably."

She bit her bottom lip and stared at me.

"When you fell into the mist, you were mistakenly binded to my brother. You became his accidental mate."

"Interesting."

"So, we'll have to keep you here with us until the next forty four days when the blood moon will show up again. Then we'd be able to unbind you and let you go back home."

"Okay…"

She frowned and squinted her eyes at me as if in deep thoughts.

"You don't seem scared or bothered by any of these."

I gave her a dark smile. "Am I supposed to?"

"Well, for starters, yes."

"Oh, I'm so sorry I had no idea, princess. I'll do better to fake my facial expression next time."

She rolled her eyes and sighed, looking fed up by my replies. I was a terror to their shoulders. It was obvious.

If only they knew this was only the beginning and I had more planned in store for them.

"Why did you even follow me in the first place?"

"I was curious." I shrugged.

"About what?"

"Just curious." I shrugged. "About why you always walked towards the woods every night instead of heading home. Thought you were in a secret society or something."

I hoped that lie sounded as good as I intended.

Arabella lifted a brow as if she was trying her best to believe me.

"That…was why you followed me?"

"Uh huh." I pursed my lips and stared into her eyes.

"Now, it's my turn to ask you my own question."

She stared at me expectantly.

"Why did you save me from your brother?"

"Did I?"

"Yes, you did. Twice."

It was her turn to shrug and then she paced around the room.

"Well, before you think that I care for you, I want to clear your assumptions and assure you that I do not care about you. Not a tiny bit. Not after everything you've done to me."

"I'd have called you an idiot if you cared for me."

She gave me a prolonged look and took her eyes off me again, continuing with her paces.

"You have a family waiting at home for you, Bloyd. I am not heartless enough to want to take you away from your family and put you through so much pain. Unlike you, I am not a bad person."

"The sweet, kind princess." I scoffed. "How cliche."

"It doesn't matter." She turned her heels to face me again. "I have a message from my brother to you."

I waited gingerly.

"My brother is a no-nonsense man, Bloyd. So, if you want to be shown mercy and get out of here alive, he advises that you watch that tongue of yours and learn some respect. Do you understand?"

I smirked to myself. Oh, was I getting into his hair that bad?

"Advice taken, werewolf princess."

She rolled her eyes at my sarcastic response.

"Eat up. It's not poisoned, in case you are worried that it is."

And then, she flipped her hair at me and walked out of the dungeon.

I turned my eyes to the food after she had left. My stomach grumbled in hunger. I guess I would have to trust her this one time and believe that it wasn't poisoned.

If it was, then that would be the end of my quest for revenge.

...…..

THREE DAYS LATER

Arabella's POV

I stood by the edge of the ring, watching my brother and beta Sterling practicing swordsmanship in the field with some of the armies surrounding and watching them. I was holding a towel and a bottle of water for Alcot.

The fight ended a short while later with Alcot overpowering Sterling, winning the fight. A part of me felt disappointed at Alcot's success as much as it felt happy that he had won. I wanted Sterling to win at least, just for once.

My eyes watched at Alcot helped Sterling to his feet and my stomach fluttered as Sterling's eyes met with mine for a couple of seconds before looking away again. I had had a crush on Sterling for quite a long time now and unfortunately for me, he had never seemed to pay attention to me. I wondered why. It wasn't as though I wasn't pretty enough.

"Hey." Alcot and Sterling walked towards me and I handed the bottle of water to Alcot before dabbing his sweaty forehead with the towel.

"That was a good fight, brother. Sterling seemed to be a bit more challenging today, though."

I cast an eye on Sterling for a brief second as I said those words and my heart warmed as he smiled at my remark. I couldn't remember the last time he smiled at me. I guess I was making progress after all.

"Do you hear that, Alcot? Your sister thinks I was amazing today."

"Don't be so full of yourself, Sterling." Alcot handed the empty bottle of water to me before heading towards the castle again. I hurried after him.

"Actually, brother. I would like to have a minute of your time to speak to you about something important."

"What is it, Bella?"

"It's about Bloyd. The girl you've kept locked in the dungeon for days now."

"Oh, you mean his accidental mate?" Sterling looked at me and laughed. I laughed too. A small, delicate laugh.

Wait, did we just share a laugh? The gods! That was a whole level of progress!

"Laugh again, and I am going to throw the both of you into the same dungeon as her." Alcot reprimanded in a stern voice.

Sterling and I exchanged one last laugh before keeping a serious countenance again. I cleared my throat and proceeded to talk.

"So, about Bloyd…"

"And what about her? Is she dead already?"

"No, she is not, brother." I rolled my eyes at his heartless assumption. "She has been locked in there for days with little food and water. She'll die if she stays there any longer. She is just human, brother."

"Exactly what I want." His answer was cold and so Alcot-like.

"If that happens, you are never going to be able to unbind yourself from her. You'll be stuck with her soul forever and never find yourself another mate. What would Willow's father think?"

Alcot went silent for a moment. He seemed to be having a thought about what I said. I waited for his response with crossed fingers and my breath, held.

"Fine." He said after what seemed like a minute. "I will only release her from her prison if you promise to keep an eye on her. If she ends up trying to escape or do anything stupid, I will have you punished alongside your friend."

A smile broke across my face. "I give you my word, brother. I'll have an eye on her."

"Alright, I'll take your word for it." He sighed before turning his head to Sterling.

"Release the prisoner."