"Your grace," Lord Seraphino dropped to one knee imdiately as he caught sight of Jael and Mauve looking down at him.
Vae let out a pain-filled whimper as Lord Seraphino dropped to one knee. He was holding the rope around her neck and had pulled on it as he bowed to Jael.
Mauve could tell Vae would have scread louder if she had the energy to.
Vae fell, managing to stop her face from hitting the ground by putting out her palms in front of her. She stayed on the ground with her face on the floor.
Mauve winced and she felt water in her eyes. That was a cruel thing to do and she could tell he had done it on purpose.
The fact that Vae was here in this state and with a rope tied around her neck told Mauve all that she needed to know.
Mauve hid her face against Jael's chest as she tried to recover and process what was going on. Surely, Lord Seraphino couldn't do this?
How did he get his hands on Vae? Mauve hadn't even been able to find her. Also, Vampires weren't allowed to take humans anymore. Why did he have Vae?
She wanted to scream all these at him but Mauve knew better. Lord Seraphino wasn't the type to strut into the castle with Vae if he didn't have the upper hand in the case.
"What is the aning of this, Seraphino? Kidnapping of humans is no longer allowed." Jael's thunderous voice echoed down.
"Kidnapping?" Lord Seraphino asked with an exaggerated horrified expression. "You have it all wrong, Sire. I didn't kidnap this. It was a gift."
"A gift?" Jael and Mauve said simultaneously but her voice wasn't loud enough for anyone else to hear.
"Why yes, a gift." He stood to his feet and pulled on the rope.
Vae suppressed her scream as she was forced to her feet holding onto the rope around her neck. She gasped for breath and coughed.
"Shut it!" Lord Seraphino ordered.
Vae didn't. She let out an exaggerated cough and Mauve watched Seraphino raise his hand in an attempt to smack her.
"What gift?" Jael asked, stopping him in ti.
"You know the sa with the one next to you. Apparently, Evan likes to show his appreciation by handing out humans."
"Why?" Jael asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I understand that you're curious about the details, Sire but unfortunately, now is not conducive enough for to go on about the story. It's pretty long and I just arrived after hauling a human on my shoulders all the way from my estate. To say I am exhausted is an understatent. All I want to do is rest."
"You will give an explanation or you'd have to turn back the way you ca."
Lord Seraphino's face darkened and forced out a smile. "Of course, Sire." He bowed. "I wouldn't dare go against your order. I was given this in compensation for helping the humans during their war."
Mauve winced at the way he referred to Vae. She wanted to scream that Vae had a na but her mind was too busy processing the rest of his words.
"What?" Jael asked.
"The war? Surely, you were aware. Fortunately for them, it didn't drag out too long as I was there to help and the King gave a gift. Not nearly as lovely as yours but a gift nonetheless."
Mauve rembered this, her father had wanted to drag her into it by convincing Jael to join but she had never brought it up with him, not because she forgot but more because she didn't want anything to do with her father anymore.
If he wanted help, he should ask for it himself. To think he would go to Lord Seraphino. She would be lying if she said she was shocked. There was nothing he could do anymore that would surprise but to give out Vae was heartbreaking.
"That's not allowed!" Jael said and started for the stairs.
"How so?" Lord Seraphino asked tugging Vae to himself. "It's no different from what you have. She signifies the peace treaty, this is a little token of appreciation. Surely, you wouldn't expect to decline such a gift."
"Humans are no longer to be used as bloodslaves."
"Then why do you have one?"
"Mauve isn't a bloodslave!" Jael said darkly.
"Neither is this one. This is simply a companion of so sort," Lord Seraphino shrugged before his eyes rested on Mauve. "However, I would gladly return my gift if you'd do the sa."
Mauve's eyes widened at Seraphino's statent. Was that what this was about? Did he want Mauve to leave Jael? Why? What would that fulfill?
"This conversation isn't over," Jael said as he walked past Seraphino.
"As you wish, Sire. I will be more than happy to discuss this at whatever ti of your choosing." He bowed his head, tugging on Vae's rope to do the sa.
She t eyes with Mauve before Vae bent her head. Mauve forced her gaze away, feeling the uncomfortable knot in her stomach tighten so more.
How would they get Vae out of his grasp? She didn't need anyone to tell her, he had no plans to release her.
Her stomach twisted, there was no reason for Vae to go through that. What was her father thinking? How could he easily throw people into the clutches of vampires?
What did she expect? He did the sa to her even though they were related by blood. Of course, he would do the sa and worse to a maid.
She turned her back and watched the Lord pull on the rope to move Vae. Mauve could only imagine the pain she was in. It must be hard to breathe with the rope around her neck.
She looked up at Jael and he squeezed her hand. He didn't say anything but she could tell he was trying to reassure her.
"I will fix this."
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