Chapter 6 Out of the Room

Dahlia's Pov

I stared at the door for a long moment.

"A guard?" I repeated. "What do you want with me?"

The man on the other side answered immediately.

"My name is Tristan, my lady.The lord Cassian has assigned me to guard you and escort you around the castle."

Around the castle?

Maybe this was Cassian's attempt to make up for yesterday.

Or maybe he'd finally realized locking me inside a room indefinitely was a terrible idea.

"How exactly are you supposed to show me around the castle if I'm trapped in here?"

There was a brief pause.

"I have a key."

My eyes widened.

Of course he did.

"I simply wanted to explain the situation before opening the door."

I glanced down at myself.

I was still wearing the loose nightwear I'd slept in.

"Wait."

A few moments later, after changing into something more presentable, I approached the door again.

"You can open it."

The lock clicked and the door swung inward.

The vampire standing outside looked exactly how I had imagined from his voice.

Tall and Stoic.

His expression revealed absolutely nothing.

"Lady Dahlia."

He bowed formally.

I didn't like how the title sounded.

"Just Dahlia."

His face didn't change. It was obvious he would continue calling me whatever Cassian had instructed him to call me.

I sighed.

"Fine. Show me around."

Tristan fell slightly behind me, a silent shadow. "The main hallways, the eastern galleries, the library, and the conservatory are considered safe for you to visit," he recited, his voice a low monotone.

I nodded, barely listening. As Tristan guided me through another hallway, we suddenly rounded a corner and nearly collided with someone.

Vampire, blond hair with perfect features.

My jaw immediately tightened.

Aurora.

The woman from yesterday that I'd seen kissing Cassian.

Recognition flashed across her face too.

Then her expression twisted into a sneer.

Well, at least the feeling was mutual.

I returned the look immediately.

Aurora crossed her arms.

"If it isn't Cassian's newest pet and leech. Do you know how ridiculous you look?"

I frowned.

"What?"

She laughed and stepped closer

"You really think Cassian wants you?"

"Everyone knows he's only keeping you because of the bond."

Each word seemed designed to hurt.

"He doesn't love you."

"You're a burden."

Aurora's smile widened.

"A pathetic little human commander who got herself killed."

My hands clenched.

"A weak creature pretending she's worthy of standing beside a king."

I wanted to respond.

I wanted to tell her exactly what I thought of her.

But something stopped me.

A tiny voice in the back of my mind.

What if she was right?

What if this was exactly what Cassian had been telling her?

They were friends.

He'd known her far longer than he'd known me.

Maybe he complained about me to her.

Maybe he regretted the bond.

Aurora smirked, clearly mistaking my silence for weakness.

Then she turned and walked away.

Leaving me standing there like a fool.

The moment she disappeared around the corner, reality came crashing back.

Anger rose inside me.

"What is wrong with me?"

Tristan blinked. He had been standing there, not interfering probably because I wasn't in actual danger.

"My lady?"

"I just stood there and let her walk all over me."

The realization made me even angrier.

I was Dahlia.

Commander of the human armies.

I had faced battlefields, war and death.

And somehow one woman had rendered me speechless.

Had I truly lost my pride?

I spun around.

"Take me to Zayn."

“As you wish, my lady”

He led me through the castle till we stopped outside a large set of doors.

“This is Lord Theodore's chambers," Tristan stated. "The person you're looking for is inside. But we cannot enter."

"Confusion washed over me.

Theodore?

The vampire Zayn had nearly killed?

What was Zayn doing with him?

A dozen terrible possibilities immediately entered my mind.

Before I could ask another question, the doors opened.

Theodore stepped out.

My muscles tensed instantly.

The noble vampire looked me up and down then smirked.

"Well, if it isn't the King's little mate."

I glared at him.

Theodore seemed amused by that.

Then he raised his voice slightly. "Zayn. You have a visitor.”

A moment later, Zayn appeared.

“Commander?" he said, surprised. "I wasn't aware you were allowed out of your room.”

"Today."

I immediately grabbed his arm.

"Come with me."

Thankfully, Theodore didn't stop us.

Once we were several corridors away, I turned to Zayn.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You being in Theodore's room."

"Oh."

I stared at him.

"Oh?"

Zayn sighed.

"Even after being turned, I was still assigned to Theodore."

The words made my stomach churn.

Before I could respond, however, Zayn smiled.

"Actually, it's a good thing you're out."

That caught my attention.

"What do you mean?"

"There's someone I want you to meet."

I narrowed my eyes.

The look he gave me was enough.

Understanding clicked instantly.

Someone that could help our plans.

I turned toward Tristan.

"I'm fine now. You can go, I'm safe with Zayn”

"No."

The guard's expression remained neutral.

"I was instructed to stay with you."

I sighed. I couldn't have him listening to what we were discussing. Then an idea came to me.

"At least walk farther behind us. I’m not comfortable with you standing so close."

He remained silent.

I smiled sweetly.

"If you don't agree, I'll tell Cassian you've been trying to flirt with me."

Tristan quickly caught my threat.

“As you wish, my lady," he said, his voice strained. "But I will remain within sight for your protection."

It was the best I would get. I turned back to Zayn. "Lead the way. Quickly."

Several twists and turns later, we arrived at what appeared to be a massive kitchen.

The scent of fresh bread and spices filled the air.

Right,

I had nearly forgotten vampires still ate normal food.

Not because they needed it.

Simply because they wanted to.

The desire to cling to normal things apparently extended even to monsters.

Zayn led me toward a woman directing several workers.

She looked human.

Brown hair, kind eyes and a tired expression.

"Chloe."

She turned toward us.

Recognition flashed across her face when she saw Zayn.

"Dahlia," Zayn said. "This is Chloe."

I nodded cautiously.

"She's been here for years. She's

in charge of the kitchen so she can-”

Chloe grabbed Zayn's arm.

"Stop talking."

"What?"

"Now.”

A loud voice suddenly echoed across the room.

We all turned toward the source of the disturbance.

A vampire stood near the entrance, hiis fangs fully extended.

And he was staring directly at us.