Ivara's POV
"You should drink it—maybe just a mouthful or two. Come on, baby face." Prince Eryndor cooed from the other end of the bed, a bowl of soup in his hands.
I shook my head, retreating to the corner of the bed. "No, I'm not taking it. It helps with nothing, I still see stuff, and…and." My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard, unable to complete my sentence.
I kept wallowing and crying about how unlucky, unfair, and cruel life had been to me, but this… this was worse, like the worst phase of my life, and yes, I regretted being born.
After I tried escaping and then passed out, I woke up inside this room… back at Dark Hound but not the manor.
At first, I thought everything was fine, not until I realized I had been unconscious for a week plus. The realization was still sinking in when the hallucinations took over and, since then, my life has never remained the same.
I didn't know what that beast of an Alpha had done to me, but it sure made my life a living hell. Either I was screaming alone, crying, or drawing blood from my skin.
Thankfully, I had Granny Jojo and Prince Eryndor beside me and it kind of made it easier for me.
"I know it doesn't help with anything, but at least you get to sleep for a few hours and not try to hurt your throat or yourself." Eryndor murmured.
I sniffed, while holding the duvet up to cover myself. I didn't want him to see me break, I didn't want him to see the tears and how weak I was.
"No, I don't need any of that. What's the point of sleeping if I'm only going to wake up to scary illusions? I'm losing my mind Ryn— I'm losing it." The tears I'd been struggling to hold back finally fell.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what else I can do. This is the only thing Jojo can do to help. I'm sorry," Eryndor replied.
My lips trembled as I struggled to smile.
I didn't know why he was here or why he cared so much about me, but it soothed my soul knowing that for once in my life, somebody actually chose me.
He was a werewolf, a werewolf prince. I deserved nothing from him, not even respect.
I was a slave, a lowly one, yet he still cared. In fact, he was the first person I woke up to after a week of being unconscious. I didn't know why he cared, but I loved that he did. Maybe, just maybe, if that monster didn't interfere, it wouldn't be so ugly.
I took down the duvet then wiped the tears off my face with the back of my palm. "It's not your fault, life is just unfair sometimes."
He sighed deeply then dropped the bowl of soup. "We'll skip the soup then, I'll just keep you company."
We sat in awkward silence for a while, with me playing with my fingers.
"Why do you care so much? You barely know me."
His eyes narrowed as his gaze searched through mine. I gulped. Your mouth, Ivara. This damned mouth of yours.
But he suddenly beamed. "You remind me of someone."
My gaze lit up. "Really?"
"Let's get your head wrap changed—you're starting to bleed," he said.
During one of the illusion sessions, I had smashed my head against the wall before Granny Jojo could arrive, so I got injured.
I bit my tongue. He was obviously trying to change the subject, and I knew better than to push it further. He didn't want to talk about it.
He lifted the tray containing ointments and bandages for my wound, then began walking over to the other side of the bed where I sat, all curled up.
He hadn't gotten to me when the tray flew out of his hands then smashed against the wall, ruining all its contents. I flinched, retreating on instinct while Eryndor stood still, his gaze on the door.
The room temperature dropped, and I felt goosebumps crawl up my skin. Dear goddess, I hope this isn't what I think it is.
The door flew open and the devil himself walked in. My heart skipped a bit and for a moment there, I forgot how to breathe. He hadn't even spared me a glance, yet I was suffocating.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his gaze on Eryndor.
"Do I not have a right to be here?" Eryndor fired, his hatred evident in his glare.
Sure enough, it looked like they didn't get along. My hand began trembling, so I hid it beneath the duvet.
"Get out." Xlynor simply muttered.
"This isn't your property, this is Granny Jojo's quarters and I have every right to be here!" Eryndor countered, his hands trembling… not in fear though, in anger.
Xlynor didn't say a word, he only tilted his head a bit to the side and then his jaw tightened.
Eryndor glanced back at me, and then I nodded, signaling that I would be fine. With one final glare at Xlynor, he stomped out.
The moment the door banged shut, Xlynor's gaze fell on me. My throat tightened painfully. This was the first time I set my eyes on him since I woke up, and I hated it. I had hoped he died.
"Get out, I do not need your presence either." I spoke, trying as much as possible to keep it respectful, although deep down I hoped there was a way to strangle him or share these pains with him.
"Hand it over," he muttered, and that was when I noticed the maid behind him. She had a tray with her which she hurriedly dropped at the side table after his command.
I stared at the tray, disdain written all over my face.
"Drink it." Xlynor commanded like he owned it.
I retched. Who the hell did he think he was? After all he did, he still had the nerves to walk in here like he owned it?
"What makes you think I'll drink it?" I spat, my lips curling.
"I didn't ask," he mumbled, and a force shoved to the edge of the bed that I was sitting right in front of him.
I gasped, my breathing turning ragged. "You having stupid powers shouldn't make you…" I trailed off the moment he took a step closer.
He glanced at the maid, and she sprinted off, then got the tray.
My eyes widened. "What are you doing? Get out! Get out!" I tried pushing him off, but he held both of my hands together, pinned them with his knee, then pulled my hair back with his other hand.
I couldn't explain how he did that so swiftly, but yeah, I was pinned and unable to move.
"I didn't expect you to accept it that easily, Shenka." He huffed.
"I'm not…"
"You're going to open that little mouth of yours and drink this up like a good girl." He cut me off, his face stern and leaving no room for objections.