Odessa Throbbing pain in the back of my head made me twitch. I tried to put my hand on the back of my head, only to feel a grip tighten around my body. Groaning, I continued to squirm until I heard a series of cooing words like they were supposed to comfort me. Feeling my dragon, she was anything but comfortable. She was downright angry.

Unfamiliar smells filled my nose, smells of old copper coins laced with a hint of a deep spicy cologne that had me scrunching up my nose. It wasn't pleasant at all, waking me further. The icy wall that held me close didn't help with the smell, it only grew stronger the tighter the hold that came on me.

An icy hand buried my face into the wall, still not feeling the familiar warmth of Creed. My hands pushed away, still not able to open my eyes.

"It's alright," the familiar seductive voice sang through the air. My body instantly stiffened, knowing exactly where I was. Eyes opening quickly from fear, my body solidified, trying to curl myself into a ball. "We are almost there now." The Duke.

So he wasn't captured. It was all a trick. It was all too easy to capture him. This vampire was smart, cunning and I knew he would find me, eventually. My guard was completely thrown away, thinking the high walls of the palace would keep me safe. The deep fortress known as the Light Palace, a place where I had thought I was safe, was nothing but a pebble in his path.

Continuing down the dark halls, the torches being swallowed by the darkness, his shoes clicked with each passing of his feet of the floor. My dragon's instincts heightened, feeling other bodies that surrounded him.

"I do not want to be disturbed," he ordered to the vampires behind him, one of them being the asshole that hurt Leaf. Gods, I've been thinking about myself. Is he alright? He was just a child, an innocent child, and he got sucked into this mess with me. How did he even know that I knew who Leaf was?!

"Stand outside the door," the Duke ordered, pulling me inside a highly decorated room fit for someone of nobility. Gold trim, dark wooded desks, and candles spread throughout. It reminded me of the same atmosphere the night he tried to take me. The king bed was in the middle, covered with a dark purple duvet and matching decorative pillows. The hallways he led me down had me thinking we were in a bunker, which we very well could be, and this room was well equipped for his domain.

The Duke's head leaned close to my neck, trying to tilt my head so his face couldn't come close to my skin. He chuckled, still sniffing the side of my head. "Oh, this citrus smell will be the death of me," he hummed, setting me on the bed like I was a precious flower.

The darkness of the room, the shadows stretched across the walls, gave me a chill. Scratching my nervous itch, I grabbed the decorative pillow beside me to have something physical to hold on to.

"You have given me quite a scare, my lovely pet. I thought I would never find you." His back turned to me. He must be brave or stupid enough to think that I wouldn't do anything. My dragon stirred in me. My fingers tried to bring out the claws that I so desperately needed. I was petrified, even more so, but I wasn't the precious little flower I had been, letting him feed off me for months.

Straining, my fingers didn't turn into the beautiful purple claws, instead, they shook, feeling pain between my fingers. The Duke only chortled, pouring himself a glass of a dark, amber liquid, slinging it back quickly. The burn was clear in his throat as he let out a lip-smacking sigh.

"Don't worry, lovely, I've calmed you so you won't attack me out of fear." His eyes gazed over my body, the dress I wore torn at various places from the travel. Not sure how long I had been out or how far I had taken, I shifted uncomfortably. They did something to me while I was out, and now I fear they could take the one thing I didn't want to happen. My bond with Creed.

Could he do that?

The Duke sauntered over, sitting on the bed. My back slid back, lining my back with the padded headboard. Scooting closer, his black-fingered claws traced my cheek, tears threatening to fall. "Don't worry, your dragon is put away. The magic I had them cast on your human form helps the dragon stay at bay. I know you are tired of playing house with that wretched beast and now we can continue our courtship."

Do. What?

"I am happy with Creed," my voice shook. His fingers that swiped my clean cheek fell away and a balled fist replaced it. His lips pressed firm, now just a line of disappointment spread.

"It is just the bond talking, lovely. What we had is much more special than that, don't you remember?" Shaking my head, my hair fell around my face, the sweat perspiring across my hairline. Duke Mortus sighed, standing on the bed. "There is a lot to tell you, and I fear this bond is going to interfere with your authentic emotions. Once it is removed, you will see my way."

My heart was beating out of my chest. This vampire was crazy. Why would I ever have a bond with him?

"On the third month of having you at my mansion, I realized how much I had fallen for your bewitching looks, your smell, your taste," his tongue licked his dry lips, watching me. "I had ordered the servants to put you into a guest room, so I could properly court you. Seeing you every night was the greatest pleasure of my existence. That is until I found out they never put you in the room that I had assigned for you to be in." His knuckles turned white, the silver-clad rings clinking together.

"I have failed you in that regard, and I beg for your forgiveness." I stood frozen, gripping the silk comforter beneath me.

"Please forgive me," he landed on his knees at the side of the bed, gripping my hand. His eyes pleading, pulling on my hand to place a cold, gentle kiss.

The guy was a psycho.

"Please, please," he begged again. My head glanced to the door and back to him. Those glowing red eyes continued to eat me alive.

"I'll forgive you if you let me go," I muttered, barely able to keep my composure. He chuckled, kissing my hand again.

"But my lovely, I can never let you go. You are my beloved. It has been decided you will return with me to Vamparia, where a new nation will rise and you will have the finest things." I stopped breathing, trying to take my hand away from the chills of fear running up and down my arm.

"Think of it, a new nation. You and I will be second in line to the throne. I will decorate you with jewels, give you the most beautiful dresses, shower you with gifts and love. I will worship the ground you walk on." A creepy smile played on his lips. His fangs quivered as he neared me.

Shaking my head, I continued to pull my hand away, until he gently let go, standing in front of me.

"This bond, it ruins your perception of me. That dragon stole you away and now clouds the love I know you have for me." His breath deepened, pinches his nose. A blood-red tear left his eye. "I am not angry with you, you could not help it. You did it to survive because you are a survivor, Odessa. That is why I cherish you so."

Continuing to try and pull my claws out of my body, my dragon roared a painful cry. "I didn't do it to survive, Creed, The Black Dragon is my mate," I said confidently. "I love him and he loves me. Can I just be happy with him?"

The Duke contorted his face as if he had eaten something sour, picking up the lamp on the bedside table, crashing it into the windowless brick walls. Flinching, I felt an anger boil inside that wasn't mine. Creed must know I was missing, he had

to.

Dangerously quiet whispers left the Duke's lips, my dragon's hearing muted to the insane words leaving his mouth. Whatever magic they put on me had clouded whatever dragon strength I had gained. Concentrating, I began to call on my dragon, to give me strength to procure that magical ball of light. My lower eye twitched, pushing further into me, all for it to fizzle away before that heat could leave my palms. I'm failing.

Feeling rage, undeniable, unspeakable rage, had my dragon thrashing inside. Growling felt up to my throat and leaving my lips. The Duke turned, his hair now a mess of tangles from his fingers pulling on his hair. "What was that?" Shaking my head, I tried to rub my chest, calming the frustration.

"Your dragon, your dragon, gives you these empty feelings. Once we put her to sleep, it will all be better, it will," his voice laced with promise. His eyes, those blood-red eyes, had me frozen. What was it that Bohdi had told me? Not to be afraid, to build confidence in me, I was stronger than this. I had to push through. But could I push through the black magic?

Each time I called my beast, she roared in irritation, unable to break through the wall of magic. "Bring in the demon witch!" The Duke yelled from across the room. His pacing, making me more nervous by the second, was halted as the old wooden door groaned open. The same witch that stood behind the vampire who dared put his dirty hands over my mouth stood smiling. Her teeth, white as snow and lipstick as black as the sky without stars, she giggled watching the Duke in his state.

"Oh, you have it bad, Duke Mortus." Her gentle sway in the seductive outfit she wore didn't falter. His red eyes looked down at her face, avoiding the breasts that dared to overflow her leather corset bodice. "You have my payment?" The combination of her low husky voice and the finger trailing down the Duke's opened tunic made me gag. Sure, she was a beautiful woman, but the blackness of her presence had me repulsed.

"Of course," his hand went to his waistband. A vial of red blood was handed to her dirty fingers. Opening the vial, she took a long, passionate breath in.

"Alpha's blood," she hummed. "Excellent, and I assume the rest is in route?" The Duke's stare, one I had seen many times before he struck his long fingernails into an unsuspecting servant or blood bag, flashed across his face. A snarl left his mouth, fangs bared.

"You doubt me?" He growled, his fangs hanging over his lips. The witch only fiddled with the vile, laughing without care.

"I was just checking, no need to get your panties in a twist. Now is this her?" Her eyes looked at me, disgusted. "You sure? You could probably do better." The duke pulled a rag from his pocket. It looked familiar, actually, it was because it was the same rag I used to cover myself in the cell. Small, tattered, and barely covered my body even when curled up into a ball.

Tears brimmed my eyelids, my hands covered my mouth. He would never let me go. This bastard will hunt me down for the rest of my days. His nose came up to the rag, inhaling it deeply, giggling to himself. My scent was his drug and I would never get away unless I did something. No time to wait for rescue. I was going to get out of here.

"I am sure, and once this bond is rid of, she will see it too." The witch hummed, then ticked her lips in amusement. "Hurry, Morgana, I don't have all day," the Duke spat.

"It will hurt. Are you prepared to see your little beloved in pain? Breaking bonds can be,..." Morgana studied me up and down. "Quite painful, and the demon that inhabits my body is unforgiving." Morgana's long black nails picked between her teeth.

"D-demon?" I breathed. Morgana walked to get to the bed, the Duke letting her get closer.

"Yes, if a witch wants to wield dark magic with exceptional skill," she cooed at me, "she can perform a ritual inviting rogue demons from the underworld. The only price I pay is letting them use my body for their own bidding in both realms without their master knowing." My wide eyes continued to sway back and forth from witch to duke.

"It's so precious how she is so oblivious," she giggled. "Their master is Hades himself."

Gasping, the Duke gripped her by her throat. "Just because she is ignorant of our ways does not mean you can frighten my beloved. Now get on with the unbinding."