Odessa

Zaos, Annabell, Sadie and Seth were in front, murmuring among themselves. Two of my arms were clutched around one of Creed's arms, holding him like a teddy bear to my chest. Never in my life have I ever been talked so negatively to.

Daine was scolded to leave, Glinda taking hold of her son's make-shift-leash and pulling him away from the small trail of people. I couldn't help but laugh as he looked back and stuck his tongue out at me.

It wasn't fair. They haven't told either of us how to complete a bond because they were hiding it. From what I could gather, Creed did not know either. I had already grown so attached, this bond everyone keeps talking about sounds serious, strong and unmoving. I feel that same way now with Creed, that I would die myself if I couldn't be with him. Then again, I wouldn't know understand what to look for.

Zaos was gave details about Creed. Sadie had never met nor knew of his history. Her prancing as she walked dwindled with each step, several times swinging her hair with her mouth open at the treatment that Creed has endured. The small miniscule sliver of hope had me gripping onto the imaginary reins of control, but even that seemed too far out of reach.

Creed walked with his jaw tightened. He was holding out for me; he was holding out to have any sort of friendship or companionship with any sort of race, but I could feel his control wavering. His dragon continued to vibrate, growling at any warrior that would come up too close behind us. I knew his dragon could snap any of them to pieces in just a millisecond.

Just off into the trees, a large hut that sat at the bottom of a tree with giant roots sat quietly. The roots engulfed the entire structure, weaving it into the landscape. As we entered, the door let way into one giant room with the biggest mahogany table I had ever seen. It was solid, huge. I could imagine they had to build the structure around this large table because men or women lifting this bad boy wasn't happening.

"Please sit here." Zaos pulled out a chair for Creed and I, I saw Creed look hesitantly to me but ultimately pulled me to his lap. Zaos sighed, pitching his nose in irritation as Seth sent him a glare. If worse came to worse, Creed and I could fly away. Who cares about completing a bond, which sounded just like a formality, anyway? We could live in peace and alone as long as we had each other.

"Right," Sadie sighed, who was also sitting on Seth's lap. This must be a mate custom. "Odessa, Creed," Sadie nodded as she placed her hands on the table. "Zaos has informed me of the situation about you, Creed, and I want to say I'm truly sorry for what you have been through. Odessa's confession how you saved her as she ran away from the Duke's has been enlightening." Her nose scrunched.

"However, we are here to discuss with you, Odessa, why I am here. Please, hear me out before you become angry. I want us all to talk about this calmly. I really want your side of the story, too." Sadie's eyes held warmth, but something else. The surrounding area was peaceful and as for her mate, he even took a sigh of relief, burying his nose into her neck. Creed continued to hold my waist with one arm and take his thumb, rubbing the top of my thigh with the other. If they were mated and acted like that, so loving and adoring each other, what was the difference with Creed and me?

"Odessa, the reason I am here is at a favor of the Queen of Vamparia. Her most trusted Duke has come to her pleading to find you because he says that you are his mate." My body shook. It wasn't a brief tremor. My body convulsed around Creed. His arms enveloped me, putting my head in the crook of his neck as I hyperventilated. I felt not thing for that vampire, I wanted nothing to do with him. The vampire that haunts my nightmares was saying I was his mate? Surely some goddess couldn't be that cruel.

"Odessa, you need to tell me what's wrong. Tell me what happened. Obviously, we don't have the entire picture." Sadie leaned a crossed the table, softness in her facial features showed concerned but I would not trust her. She could send me back, take word over some high ranking Duke over a human that was stolen into this world.

Creed's calming vibrations helped my body stop shaking. His lips grazing my forehead, humming into it. Creed had no shirt for me to hold on to, so I gripped his hair like a child. I didn't care how pathetic I looked. I wasn't about to go back, couldn't go back.

Lura came close to me, pulling my now sweaty hair behind my ear. Creed's grip continued to tighten, afraid she would try to take me away. "Honey, it's alright. I believe you, Sadie is merciful. If you don't want to go back, then you won't. Can she listen to your story? Give her a better picture of what is going on. She is only going off the one story because that's all she knows."

My eyes opened, looking at Sadie with pleading eyes. My grip didn't let go of Creed, I sat on his lap like a cowered lamb. I explained how my mother brought me here, gave me to Master Enoch, how I slept in a cage used as a blood bag. Flashes of memories charged into my head like a platoon of soldiers. He was seeping his fangs into me all over again, making me feel the pain as he would twist and pull at my skin. His hand roaming over my clothes, his wicked grin as he finished that left scars all over my body.

I had to relive it all, all over again, as I explained how I slit his throat and ran through the marshes, the mud and dirt, and finally hid in a tree for Fluffy and Creed to find me.

My eyes, playing tricks, saw my arms tinged red, the small drops from my arms dripping into Creed's lap. Shaking, my hands came near my eyes as the once healed scars reopened and dripped down my arm. "It's not real," I whispered out loud. "It's not real."

A heavy sob wracked through my body as Creed growled in resentment, holding me back into his brawny arms. "Enough," Creed's dragon growled out. The table shook before us, causing Seth and Sadie to hold each other.

"This is terrible," Sadie gasped. "Diana is being lied and manipulated!" She slapped her hand on the table, causing me to wince. "Mind-link Nathan, have Diana search the Duke's basement," she ordered, standing from Seth's lap. Seth kissed Sadie's cheek, his eyes glazing over.

Sadie began pacing, rubbing her forehead over and over until her eyes glazed over too. "They are mind-linking," Annabelle spoke from across the table. "Werewolves can talk to each other through their minds. They are talking to other wolves."

"I need proof," Sadie suddenly spoke. "My parents need proof that there is probable cause before we demand answers or we will start a war." Seth shook his head, now rubbing his scruffy chin.

"Diana's soldiers were in the area. They went to check the basement of the Duke's home. There were no humans." I gasped.

"He moved them then! He had to!" I cried. Sadie continued to pace, rubbing her arms. Seth pulled her from her worry and had her back down on his lap.

"I believe you," Sadie spoke confidently. "Even if he is your mate, I'd never let you go back. Abuse is not to be tolerated, mate bond or not. It's unacceptable. Your emotional scars are clear of how you are trembling."

"Even if Sadie believes you, we need proof. We can't start a war over a mate," Seth leaned back in his chair. "This is a delicate situation. The Duke is the tipping point of the rogues going against the crown. The Duke deciding to side with them would be disastrous."

"So you leave one poor soul, a human, to prolong the inevitable?" Sadie growled at her mate. A whimper left the giant's lips, his eyes softening at his mate. "I'm just stating facts love, I don't like it either. It is just wise we have concrete evidence. I can't imagine why the Duke would be her mate and torture her like that, but some people, like vampires, are evil enough to do it," Seth rubbed Sadie's arm, defeated.

"Not all vampires are bad, like Bastian,... we can't group them all like that." Seth rolled his eyes.

"You need physical proof?" I muttered.

"This will cause a war if I pry too deep without evidence. We would need the alliance with the Light Kingdom to help us and, per our agreement, I need evidence of wrongdoing. Vamparia has been sitting on the edge of a new age for a while. Even with a new Queen on the throne, it is unsteady. The entire parliament is corrupt, and I'm afraid Diana just isn't prepared to handle it either. Even she, herself, cannot see that many of them are out to get her." Sadie slumped back in her chair. “It will take two kingdoms not to just destroy the rogues but also rebuild it. I need his help to succeed."

I pulled away from Creed, setting my arm on the table, palm facing up. The entire room gasped, staring at the many holes in my arms. "Fucking shit," Seth spat out. "The bastard didn't even use his venom to heal her. Did he even numb it beforehand?" A tear fell down my cheek, landing on one scar. Sadie's hand cradled my hand.

"This,... this will be enough."

A sob left my lips, turning gripping onto Creed like a lifeline. His calming scent, the gentle vibrations he created, only had the stress melt from my body. I would not go back. I would not be sent back to a terrible mate who abused someone who he should have loved. Not once did I feel a connection with this, Duke, and I was glad.

"Your Highness, if I may?" Glinda knocked on the door. She was now wearing ceremonial robes of black and gold swirls with her hood covering her head. Seth nodded for her to come forth. She glanced between Creed and I and smiled. "I believe things here are going to be more complicated," her whisper was barely audible. Many in the room listened more closely. Annabelle gripped to Zaos as Glinda grew closer to the end of the table.

"I believe Creed may have black magic embedded in his body. I want to test a theory, if that is alright with you." Sadie and Seth had a silent conversation with each other until Sadie replied, "yes, but please make it discrete. I have a feeling it isn't just the rogue citizens of Vamparia we have to worry about. These rumors about Creed are disturbing, especially when his own brother doesn't come to cease these talks. If it is alright with you, Creed, could Glinda find out if there are any black magic spells on you?"

Creed nodded to Sadie and to Glinda, who smiled. "This evening then, as I said before, I will come find you, Black Dragon."

"Please send word once you know what curse is on him, if any.. I want to be fully informed since we will leave soon back to the Warrior Pack. My poor daughter Evelyn doesn't get much time with her mother and she was just born and we need to head back," she giggled, leaning her head in Seth's chest.

"Congratulations, and thank you," I spoke. "Thank you for not letting me go back."

"Odessa, I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions. I'm still new at all these formalities. I really hope you can forgive us."

"Nothing to forgive. As long as I can stay with Creed, right?" Sadie smiled brightly. "Of course! You honestly look like a mated pair, anyway. I would ask you to take good care of her Creed, but I think you already do that." Creed's lip curled, his head resting on my head.

"Congratulations on your union," Seth stood up, crossing his arm over his chest. "I believe you are of excellent character. Not once have you tried to show you power to any of us, even though I know you could wipe us all out of the room in an instant."

Wow, was Creed that powerful?

Creed had me sit on the table. He bowed low to Seth with his arms crossed. "I hope to work with you soon, maybe get some revenge on a blood-sucker," Seth chucked. Sadie poked Seth in the stomach. "Baby, that's racist."

"Nothing leaves this room," Seth ignored Sadie's words, only petting her head lovingly. "Lura, as cousin to King Orion, I'm sure you understand this. I'm glad Daine isn't present. He's a loud, unruly mouther fucker." Lura giggled until the door burst open in the back of the large conference room.

"Who summoned a party without me!?" A tall slender man, with Elven ears, long white hair and beautiful wings sprouted behind him. They fluttered, causing the wind to curl down the table.

"Orion!" Lura squealed, running into his arms. The woman beside him with glorious wings of blue and green hissed at Lura who only laughed. The girl immediately returning the gesture and shrieking at each other. "Pleasure," Zaos spoke, smiling brightly. "You are here for our weekly bonfire party?"

"Of course, we were just heading back from our honeymoon and look at what day it is! It would be the perfect ending to our sinful honeymoon fun." his eyebrows wiggled, pulling the girl by the waist.

"How are you, Willa?" Zaos walked to her, kissing her hand. Her blush crossed her face. "Well, thank you."

"Ahh, what do we have here?" The guy named Orion came sauntering beside Creed and I. I gripped ahold of Creed's torso, not sure if this guy would like my mate or not.

"The infamous Black Dragon staking a claim on a helpless human girl." Orion circled us, Creed never moving. My eyes could not leave the feminine look this man had. His skin was too perfect, too mystical and utterly clean. "Your aura is certainly,... interesting."