Ch. 461..470

Chapter 461 - Impossibility

Meanwhile in Vera's room…

The duo had already materialized in there for a while now but neither of them have yet to say a word to each other. Gideon was still holding onto her wrist tightly as they stood there, he, facing forward and she just looking on at his back. The sight of that broad and powerful back just gives her the feeling of security. She was just holding herself back from jumping on him and plastering herself to his seductive back, taking in the comfort and protection that it presented.

Still remaining quiet as he had yet to talk, her gaze then travelled down his shoulder and arm to his hand. Her eyes then just locked onto his hand that was wrapped around her wrist. It was amazing how his presence alone, and his touch could just calm her down like this. The scene she saw brought awful memories back to her but hearing that they were just illusions made her feel a lot better. And as if it were just one of her nightmares, Vera managed to force it out of her mind. However, she knew that she was no longer trembling and puking her guts out in disgust was all because of Gideon. Him being there, letting her hug him, helped her stay fully in control of her own mind.

She did not know how he could be having this effect on her. It was as though he could make her very soul breath and exist in peace without him even trying. It was as if he was all that she needed to stay sane and in one whole piece. Somehow, she had that feeling that all she need was to only embrace him, and everything in her world would be just fine. Even if it was not, he would somehow be able to solve all the problems for her.

And now here she was, feeling so calm and contented just because he was merely standing here with her. Why? How? How could she have fallen for this man so easily, so quickly and irrevocably deep to this extent despite getting hurt by him over and over again during this short duration that they were together? What would happen to her heart… or worse, to her soul if he ended up giving her a rejection and then turning around and leaving her? Would she… no, could she live through it?

A small helpless smile curved on her lips even as her whole body trembled just thinking of that possibility. Because she could already feel it, the impossibility of what she is hoping and striving for things to happen between them. She was confident she could handle the pain of him not loving her but him leaving her… her, not being able to touch and embrace him ever again… she knew that she could not handle a possibility like that if it ever occurred.

It sounded ridiculous but it was like her soul had already been hopelessly entangled with him since that very moment her eyes stared into those fiery blue orbs. And there was absolutely no way out for her now. She had encountered her dead end that had no way to turn back out and get out of.

"How's your feet doing?" his voice finally echoed around her somewhat sparse room, pulling Vera back to reality. She was surprised to find that he had already turned around and was facing her, looking at her with those unsettling beautiful blue eyes of his.

"My feet? They're fine. They don't hurt anymore." she replied and he pulled her towards the bed. He pushed her seemingly fragile shoulders down until she was seated on the plush bed.

Gideon then quietly squatted down and held her feet in his large hands. Vera's eyes widened as he began lifting it and examining them for himself to see if what she had said was true.

When he began to remove the bandages that were wrapped around her feet, Vera bent over to stop him. But Gideon looked up and their faces nearly collided. Their noses were about an inch to touching each other's and Vera caught her breath at their nearness. She could not help but remember the kiss that happened between them last night.

"It's bleeding again." Gideon said, his brows furrowing and his expression hardening a little as he said that before he returned his gaze to her feet. When he pulled his face away, it caused Vera to press her lips tight together, feeling slightly disappointed that he did not move to take advantage of their nearness to kiss her. It disappointed her that it seemed that she was the only one who was thinking of that kiss.

"I'm fine… my lord. You shouldn't be doing that… I…" Vera trailed off from her protest as Gideon's gaze turned back to her and sharpened, clearly telling her to hush and stop with her protests.

He continued unwrapping the bandages and Vera could only watch, revelling from the touch of his hands on her feet. She could not help but feel her heart swell at the sight of him doing this for her. Never would she have imagined that one day, someone – a lord, a prince even – would be bending over right before her and holding her feet so gently like this.

"Tell me…" he started. His voice deep and low. "Did you take quite a fancy to Kione as well? Didn't you tell me that you choose Azrael just last night?" Gideon asked her without looking up at her face. His eyes still trained on her feet.

His question caused Vera to become stock-still. She finally remembered about that man. Why did he lie? The reason why she came back and gave him a hug and a kiss were because she knew he had saved her. She was truly thankful to him that he had helped her out of that hall. That sorry which she had said to him was actually her rejection to his confession. It appeared that his confession to her too, was just a lie. But she said sorry anyway since she felt bad for him being beaten up. However, she did wonder why he had spoken such a lie like that. And now that she had thought about it, Vera found herself in a dilemma. Should she tell Gideon the truth?

Chapter 462 - Flaming Goddess

Should she tell Gideon the truth?

Should she straight up tell him that she did not go touring around the castle with that man? Should she confess to him that she had actually gotten lost and accidentally ended up in that area? She should, right? So that he would stop misunderstanding her. But… what if he went running back there and beat that man up again?

Vera did not want that man called Kione to get beaten up all over again. She had the feeling that it was better for her not to speak about it and just keep it to herself for now. And thus, she remained quiet, just staring at him silently, until Gideon finally lifted his gaze to meet hers.

"Listen…" his voice became a little hard as he started talking, "not him. No, never him. He's not good for you." His gaze was unfathomable as he said that. He shook his head and his brows furrowed even more. But Vera just found his actions more endearing, and it filled her heart till it overflowed.

However, she blinked at his words.

"W-why?" that word was all she could managed as she tried to process and work through why he suddenly said a thing like that.

"He's not a one-woman man. He's a good man except that he can't commit himself to just one woman –" Gideon scowled as he said that.

"I do not care," she cut him off and Gideon's eyes darkened with controlled anger, thinking that she would jump into this relationship with Kione anyway despite his warning. "because he's –"

Before she could even say the continuation of her sentence which was 'not the man I want', Vera was cut off and the next thing she knew, she was pinned on the bed. Her eyes widened a little as she looked up at him, his large body hovering over hers and his eyes gleaming like blue fire as he looked down at her, his face pinched as he struggled to understand why this woman would still want a man like Kione even after his warning that he would have other women and not just her alone.

"So, you are this type of woman, huh. You really love to play with fire it seems… fine…" his breathing came out harsh and raspy. "I'll play along with you then…" his fingers began to rub along her lips, parting them, and she could see how he swallowed hard, the look in his eyes seemed to be gleaming with desire, bewitching her, causing her power of speech to simply disappear. She was just a bundle of nerves and excitement in his hands.

"Tell me, Red…" his deep voice became husky as he bent over and whispered in her ear, his warm breath fanning across her skin, sending warmth and electricity shooting through her. "Did you let Kione touch you while you both were inside that hall?" he began to lick her ear seductively as he said that, and Vera nearly shivered from the intense effect of it.

"G-gid…" she croaked out.

"Tell me… how far did you both go within that short time that I left you? Did he do this to you? Huh? Red?" he began to lick the inside of her ear and Vera whimpered and subconsciously pushed against him as she was unable to withstand the ticklish and strange sensation that his warm tongue evoked within her.

"No! No, he did no such thing," Vera's body was already hot. Her mind could hardly maintain its rationality and she was no longer thinking straight. It was as though steam was rising from the top of her head.

"Then tell me… what did he do to you?" he continued probing her as he kept licking the rims of her ear and kissing down below. Vera could not endure the physical stimulation from him and also the interrogation about her supposed fling with Kione. Her overheated mind could not take it.

She could hardly register what was going on with her body now, much less about what he was even saying. She just felt as though she was back to having a fever now. A fever she for once, had not complaints about and liked so much that her mind had gone into a frenzy. What was this? Is this magic? Did he cast a spell on her to fall into this state?

Then she felt his mouth moving downwards, trailing scorching kisses along her jawline until he suddenly flicked his searing tongue across the sensitive skin of her throat. "Tell me… did he kiss you here?"

A mixture of a moan and groan escaped from Vera's lips as he sucked on her skin. She could hear his words at the back of her mind. Why? Why was he asking all these questions right now? Vera knew she should answer him. But a part of her refused to speak because she had the thought that if she told him no, he would stop. And he would leave her hanging and alone again in this room. She did not want him to go away. To leave her. To stop. She did not want this fever to ever stop. She wanted him to do more to her if that could make him stay longer with her.

She then felt his large scalding hand on her chest. "How about here? Did that bastard touch you here too?" he continued and a high pitch moan escaped her mouth the instant he gently kneaded her soft mound. Her body jumped a little in surprise. She had not anticipated that Gideon would go this far with her.

Gideon suddenly stilled. His gaze on her was puzzled now. Why did she react as though that was the first time someone had kneaded her breast?

The moment he looked down at her small and flushed face, Gideon swallowed. Her face… was delicately blushing red, her blue eyes in a smoky daze, and there were little beads of sweat like crystal droplets all over her temples. Her flaming red hair was spread out on the bed so gloriously in a sharp contrast with the dark coloured bedsheets. She was… f*cking so beautiful that Gideon just stayed there, looking at her.. She was a vision of a flaming goddess with icy pale blue eyes staring at him.

Chapter 463 - Possessive

Seeing him not moving anymore after he had slowly retracted his hand from her chest, Vera began to feel somewhat worried that her earlier reaction when he kneaded her breasts had discouraged him to continue further. She honestly did not want him to stop. She did not react like that because she did not like what he was doing to her. It was just that he had caused her to be surprised, that was all.

Afraid that he would climb off her and leave, Vera tried to think hard on what she should do to make him resume their activities and continue touching her again.

And the first thing that came to her mind was the last question he had asked her. What should she say? What type of answer would make him stay? She was antsy and wanted to just blurt something out, but the thought that it might make him run off was keeping her lips sealed and the words just hanging just behind her teeth.

"What…" she finally found her voice, "what will you do if I say 'yes'?" her voice came out hesitating, clear that she was worried about his reaction to her answer.

Her words then seemed to jolt him awake and his dazed eyes gleamed with a tinge of fury. Then all of a sudden, her hands were grabbed and pinned above her head. Her heart jumped at his closeness again and instead of alarm, excitement rose within her. Could that answer be the right one to get their activities to resume? She hoped that she gave the 'right' answer.

"So, you really let him? Huh, Red? You truly allowed him such liberties to your person?!" his voice came out so gravelly, coated with anger and Vera found herself unable to respond. Could it be that this was not the right thing to say? Her heart sank looking at the fierce look on his face. For some reason, she just felt like her answer would make him stop and leave. So she kept her mouth shut and just looked up at him with an indecisive and fearful expression until a smirk curved across his gorgeous face.

The tinge of fury in his eyes burned even wilder and his other hand reached out and cupped her face. "You little…" he hissed out heatedly and swooped down to catch her lips for an aggressive kiss, devouring her mouth hungrily and with not just a small amount of anger. There was nothing in his mind but the strong desire to punish her, to teach her a lesson, and to show her with his actions that she belonged only to him! How could she… how could she allow someone else to touch her so freely and without consideration? No one is allowed to touch her but him!

'No one!' That thought reverberated within his mind with a loud gong as the flames within his eyes flared even more wildly.

"I have already told you, woman! You are my personal bed warmer now. Mine!" he snarled out with a dangerous voice the moment he pulled away from their kiss. Vera felt her whole body jerk in shock listening to the extreme possessive tone within that statement.

And while Vera was still trying to catch her breath and make sense of his claim over her, he had already lowered his head to hers again and began kissing her neck, his hand began crawling back to her breast again and when he kneaded her this time around, her body did not jump in shock anymore. Maybe because her senses were too focused on his scorching mouth that was roaming all over her skin, hungrily kissing her from the neck down to her slender and perfectly curved collarbones, sucking her there like he was trying to leave marks all over her skin, branding her with his very own personal marks.

Her mind and heart, body and soul were all immediately suspended in the clouds and then she felt as though time had ticked by so slowly, the higher her fever, the higher he was lifting her. The next thing she knew, his mouth was on her chest, kissing her taut bud through her nightgown. His saliva wetting through the fabric and turning her white nightgown almost sheer, looking so provocative, as though she was trying to seduce him.

A combination of moans and gasps escaped from Vera's lips, and she realized he had already released her hands. With her hands freed, they flew to his head. But she did not know whether to push or pull on him. His other hand played with her other bud as he licked and suck on her other one. Oh god… what is this? Vera could only moan and gasp at what he was doing to her. All these sensations were utterly alien to her. But despite the fact that it was her very first time being flooded with these physical marvels, she was not playing the role of the shy maiden and drawing back in embarrassment. In fact, she was doing the exact opposite. She welcomed his ministrations and revelled in the whirlwind of emotions that he was putting her through.

She could already feel her gown was already so wet in that spot. He had drenched it with his mouth and that was not the only place that felt wet right now. Her sex was tingling like crazy, and something seemed to be building low in her belly that promised to be a flaming inferno once it exploded. The fever within her was so high that she felt like she was about to ignite in flames.

And when he suddenly changed to use his teeth, she made a keening, high-pitched sound as she made to grabbed onto his hair, subconsciously tugging on them. Gideon released her bud and his mouth then released that current one and latched hungrily onto her other one, causing Vera to make more sounds of pleasure and surprise.

"Gid… Gideon…" she kept calling his name out as she moaned until Gideon's hand travelled downwards and slipped under her gown.

Vera could feel his seemingly fiery hand crawling up her inner thigh and she felt her sex responding to his touch, clenching and unclenching as if it was anticipating something more. Something like his hand to touching her there. And the moment those fingers indeed reached her there, Vera could only gasp aloud again.

His fingers began to play with her curls, sliding his long and strong fingers between her sopping wet folds in slow tantalising strokes as he continued sucking on her breast again.

"Gideon…" she moaned his name again but the moment his finger probed her entrance, Vera jerked. A small and sharp shriek came out of her mouth from that sudden action and her heartbeat raced like never before.

And once again, her reaction made him halt. He pulled away and looked at her quizzically.

Chapter 464 - Fools

The look on her face made his eyes gleam in confusion now. But immediately, Vera reached out and clung to his broad and assuring shoulders, not giving him any chance to back off. "Don't… don't go," she whispered into his ears breathlessly, making Gideon's body stiffen for a moment. And the next second, as if her whisper had pressed a button, he grabbed her and made her kneel between his legs as she was still clinging to his neck.

Vera just softened her body and did not resist, allowing him to position her whatever way he wanted. Because all she asked for was for him to not leave her. Not to stop.

His hands then removed her robes and threw it to the floor in a messy heap. But when he reached at the hem of her nightgown and started pulling it up, Vera suddenly gasped and instinctively held onto her clothes.

Gideon had just creased his brows again as he looked at her, the quizzical look in his eyes intensifying. However, Vera spoke quickly, stammering out her reasoning, afraid he'd misunderstood her action. "My… my body is… it's ugly…" she said weakly as she clutched hard onto the fabric of her night gown.

Gideon's eyes slitted but his expression immediately changed again as a realization came to him. That she wasn't acting like this because this was her first time being naked before a man... it must be because of the awful fresh scars on her body.

He moved his face closer and then whispered into her ears as his hand moved over hers. "Oh, it's not Red. If you're talking about your scars… I don't care about them." His voice was low and seductive, and that was all it took for Vera to let go of her doubts.

However, just as Gideon lifted her gown up to her upper abdomen, he saw something that made his bpdy freeze into a halt. His body became still as his gaze was glued on her lower left abdomen. An ugly scar as big as his palm was etched on her fair and delicate skin.

Gideon could tell that this was a scar that had been burned into her skin using a very hot material – most likely a metal brand.

The scar looked the same as the permanent mark being etched by a high-level fire magic at the back of the most ferocious dark fae criminals. Why? Why would a frail lady receive such an awful mark like this?! Who could have done this to her? He could feel his rage boiling and churning up a storm within him.

Seeing the change in his reaction, Vera pulled away from him and covered herself. Crestfallen at the thought that he was obviously bothered by the scar on her body, she looked down and did not dare lift her head to see what was the expression that was currently on his face. She was afraid that it would cause more scarring of her heart if there was censure on his perfect face.

"Who did that to you?" his voice came out low and heavy, and her eyes flew upwards to meet with his. "Why would someone like you have a mark like that?"

Vera was unable to respond immediately. Was he angry? Why?

"This… it's… my mother," she finally decided to answer him truthfully and Gideon's eyes widened, "because I tried to run away from home. I stole a horse to escape but… but I was caught and out of anger, my mother saw some men branding horses nearby as we were in the stables that time and… and this happened." Vera explained as if reporting something unimportant, as though she did not particularly care about what had happened to her.

What she said made him utterly speechless for a long while. Then fury blazed within him. The anger was so strong he had to jump from the bed and pace back and forth to calm himself. He could not believe this. What? Her mother? How dare… how dare she! He was going to f**king kill her!

Bloodlust suddenly oozed out of him in great waves that even Vera could feel the effects of it.

"My… my lord?" Vera called out and Gideon snapped out of that haze of anger he was caught up in. Seeing the darkness seeping out from him and enveloping the room, his eyes fell on her as her large pale blue eyes stared at him with worry, not fear.

He cursed under his breath and without another word he disappeared from her view. He needed to calm himself down . He must contain himself. He can't let her see the power she had on him, that she could make him feel like he's about to lose his mind just by seeing one awful scar on her!

Meanwhile, just outside the castle, Azrael was absentmindedly swinging his sword, practicing unenthusiastically by himself when he sensed something. Someone was coming towards him. Fast! He turned around and faced the castle's door and saw dark smoke appearing within seconds.

Gideon… he thought, recognizing that familiar dark magic. And his guess was proven right when Gideon did materialize by the door. However, he was not the only one that appeared. Kione materialized next to him and in the very same moment.

And to Azrael's confusion and surprise, the two had a very strange atmosphere which surrounded them. Gideon looked like an old man trying his very best to calm down and not to bursting out in a dangerous fit of anger, while Kione was another old man in utter turmoil, looking like he no longer knew what to even do.

Azrael's eyeballs moved left and right, looking at his two friends in utter confusion. Now what the freaking hell is going on between these two at this time?

Relying on past experiences, he did not rush to speak but just crossed his arms across his chest, fixing his gaze on them. He was fully contented to just sit aside and wait, looking at the two of them as two fools who were lost in their own worlds.

After a long while, the two fools seemed to have calmed themselves down a little and finally noticed the presence of the other.. Slowly, their heads moved in unison, and they looked at each other.

Chapter 465 - Bewitched

Bloody shit! Kione almost cursed out aloud the moment his gaze fell on Gideon who was apparently just a couple of steps next to him. What the hell!? What was he doing here as well?!

Kione had actually escaped from the hall of pleasure, leaving the ladies in there without a word. It was because in the middle of his heated session with the girls, he had started to see Vera's face superimposed over theirs. And he nearly got shocked to death when one of them asked him, 'who's Vera, My Lord? It's so unlike you to utter a woman's name in bed.' His blood ran cold when he heard that comment coming from one of them.

And when it had finally dawned on him that he had actually began calling one of them 'Vera', Kione started to become so distracted he had to force himself so hard just so he could erase her image from continuously popping up in his head and to focus his full attention on the ladies who were before him. But it was all a futile effort as he tried but yet failed incessantly until he could only give up and hurriedly left them. He was so frustrated, angered even. How did he end up being so pathetic like this? Why the hell was this happening to him?! This was plain ridiculous! Were the heavens trying to mess with him? Was his suffering the subject of humour for some gods out there? Though he does not believe in gods, what is happening to him right now is really testing his resolve.

He kept scolding himself, cursing himself in his mind as he squatted in front of the castle's door, as though something foolish was driving him mad. And just as he finally managed to calm down, Gideon, of all creatures, was the first to appear before him. Oh Lord, please spare me… he muttered under his breath as he stood slowly and greeted his lord – though the greeting was done very unwillingly and with a slightly awkward look on his face.

"You're leaving, My Lord?" Kione spoke first, trying his best to act normally as how it usually was between them. He could see the deep frowning lines between his brows, and it seemed as though he had just battled within to stop himself from charging straight into a dangerous fit of rage. Now what had happened to cause him to be angered to this state? And now that Gideon had seen him, his gaze gleamed with a new wave of anger again. Now, now… can trouble not come and stop this nonsense already? He honestly was getting tired of all this drama! It should be the ladies who loves entangling themselves in daily dramas, not him!

"You're leaving her again? I hope you had warned her this time not to wander around all by herself." Kione did not know why there were those words that had just flew out of his mouth. Why would he care in the first place? Why could he not think of other topics other than her? Had he become dumb now? "You know even the castle isn't safe for a powerless girl like her –"

"Because of the predators lurking there, headed by you." Gideon cut him off and Kione barked out a short laugh.

"Well…" Kione shrugged, "I know I can't deny that. But isn't it your fault too for leaving such an inviting prey unattended, not even leaving an order for the servants to watch over her and protect her? You can't just put all the blame to the predators especially when you yourself are guilty of negligence." His words were true and sharp, not giving anyone any second chances.

Gideon's aura blazed at Kione's piercing words, and his eyes grew intense as he threw him a vicious glare. And for goodness' sake, Kione did not even feel regret nor a single bit of hesitation despite the deadly glare Gideon was already throwing at him.

"What made you think that you can fool me with your acting? And this more so doing it twice? Stop trying to provoke me, Kione. You should know me better than that. You know I can only tolerate anyone… ONCE." There was a heavy warning of danger in Gideon's dark voice as he said that and Kione could not help but let out a quick chuckle as he shook his head at his very outraged friend.

"I'm not trying to provoke you at all, Gideon, believe it or not." He said that somewhat wearily as he threw his head up and helplessly looked at the clear blue sky. A disbelieving smile slowly curved across and graced that aristocratic and fine-looking face of his. Somehow, a logical explanation finally came to him. He was always that type of man who never hides his feelings and desires. If he wanted something, he would go ahead and take it if it was available for the taking. Also, he was always very vocal about his actions. He always believed that hiding his feelings and emotions were pure idiocy. Why would he want to hide his feelings in the first place? He always believed that letting it all out was a million times better than hiding them. Hiding what you feel and burying them inside would only cause yourself to be so emotionally constipated and more often than not, ends up causing an even bigger trouble. And he could not afford more trouble than this. It was better for him to address this issue right here and now, facing it head on than trying to run away from it. Or else, it will just continue to haunt him. And he refused to play the fool drowning himself in torturous silence, all because of the confusing bit of feelings he could not spill out.

Letting out a tired and long-suffering sigh, Kione's face looked a little better and more relaxed now as he had finally found a way to solve his current dilemma.

"You can laugh at me… but…" he continued then turned and look at Gideon, a forced smile on his face. "I think I'm already bewitched by her."

___

Chapter 466 - Congratulations

A thick and heavy silence reigned for a long while between them. Gideon was so still, staring back at Kione with an even more dangerous aura, where its intensity could be even said to be bordering on murderous.

"I know this sounds very unlike the normal person that I usually am. But I'd like to tell you now. I think it's not possible for me to just back off quietly and ignore this thing that is happening. To tell you honestly, I have already tried getting her out of my mind, just a while ago, but it's not as easy as I thought it would be. So I think I'll just go with the flow for now and see where this will lead to. You know as well that I'm not good at hiding what I feel and what I think. For me, it's pure idiocy to do that. Why should we suffer and hurt ourselves, denying something that obviously is happening within?" Kione added and Gideon furrowed hard, his eyes looking as though they belonged to a wild beast's now. Though Kione's rationalisations made sense, however, when Gideon thought of how all that had reference to Vera somehow or another, his anger boiled over to an even higher point.

But Kione was unbothered by his gaze as he continued. "And since as far as I know, you and Vera aren't in a relationship yet, nor I suspect that you ever might be in one. Therefore, I believe it's not too late for me to pursue her." He justified his points out.

Their gazes clashed and held each other's. And it was as if lightning were sparking and colliding between them.

"I'm not going to let you have her." Gideon said darkly. But with this man's temper, Kione found it surprising that he did not even move to grab his collar yet. It seems that Gideon could tell he was not bluffing this time and was finally taking his words seriously.

"I don't think that you can be the one to be deciding that at all, Gideon. You and I should let her choose who she really wants to be with, without trying to force her choice." A small smile curved on Kione's face as he said that, and Gideon's eyes twitched a little.

The storm-like intensity in his eyes swirled in dangerous waves as he kept his eyes locked onto Kione's. Then without a word, he turned his back from Kione and disappeared.

A long and deep sigh left Kione's lips the moment Gideon's figure was no longer in sight. And he shook his head when he realized how relieved his sigh sounded even to his own ears that Gideon chose to leave without throwing another punch first.

In that moment, Azrael finally approached where Kione was standing at. The big man began slowly circling Kione for quite a long while, continuously rubbing his chin in a contemplative manner, not saying anything at all but just letting out little hums from time to time.

"Stop doing that Azrael, damn it," Kione snapped impatiently, and Azrael finally halted in his tracks and exhaled forcefully.

"Don't put all the blame on me when it's you who are suddenly acting out of character. Are you sure you're not an imposter?" Azrael still was looking at him funny and rubbing his smooth shaven chin.

Kione scoffed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I wish I was! Damn it!" he spat out loudly then sighed again. "This will be a major headache… but I refuse to go down a crazy spiral by trying pointlessly to hide or stop whatever these feelings that are surfacing within me." Kione threw his hands in the air in exasperation.

"So you've really fallen in love with Vera?" Azrael asked in shock.

"I believe so." Kione nodded and shrugged helplessly.

"Now that's very interesting." Azrael began to laugh out loud until Kione got irritated and elbowed him. Hard.

"Stop laughing, you idiot!" he muttered unhappily.

"Well, I believe this might be what people call karma, Kione." Azrael continued laughing, wheezing through the pain of his elbowed ribs. "You've hurt one too many women. Therefore, the gods have now decided that it's your turn. The tables have been turned on you!"

"When did I hurt any woman, you dumb-ass? Aren't I the most gentlemanly and gracious dark fae in the entire Under Lands? All I did was to give them the pleasure they were craving for."

"I don't think you even realized how many hearts you had broken, you idiot." Azrael tut-tutted and shook his head at Kione.

"Who the hell are you calling idiot, idiot?"

"Now I can't wait to see how all this will pan out." Azrael side-glanced at his friend. His smile was now looking like he was starting to feel sorry for Kione. This buddy of his is going to be in for the ride of his life.

"Stop looking at me like that, you big oaf! I haven't even started yet. You can't be biased and root only for Gideon. Don't forget I'm your friend too!"

"Well, if Gideon won't move on from Leah and keep seeing Vera as some kind of substitute or whatever it's called, I guess you'd definitely have a fighting chance there, my friend. Though I won't root for you yet unless I make sure that you really are capable of becoming a one-woman man." Azrael replied seriously and Kione silently shut his eyes as he leaned his head back against the door.

"Even I don't know of that as I've never tried it before." An ironic smile curved across Kione's lips. "I, myself, believe that I can't do that as I don't even have an idea on how the hell could someone be loyal to only one woman for his entire life. But I guess it's actually not as impossible as I thought it would be. Though for now, I shouldn't be thinking of that yet."

"And what are you supposed to be thinking about for now, if not this issue?" Azrael looked confused and scratched his head.

Kione just glanced at his friend and sighed again. "It just dawned upon me that I have never tried pursuing a woman… not even once in my entire lifetime. I just know it's definitely not the same as seducing. Therefore, right now, I have no idea how or where to start."

Azrael clapped down on Kione's back hard. "Congratulations.. That's indeed a problem the so-called lord of the rakes definitely deserves."

Chapter 467 - Angel Like Her

A pained smirk curved across Gideon's face the moment he realized he was back and standing in front of Vera's door. As he stood there staring at her door again, he thought that it was funny how his body just seemed to move to where she was like this without him even realizing.

He had to disappear from Kione's view because he could feel himself getting crazily provoked by him again. Thinking of how Kione was fighting with him for Vera was enough to get him riled up and he could not believe he actually felt an intense bloodlust towards his friend. Therefore, all he could do was to only leave, afraid that he would do something that he regrets later on as his mind was a complete mess right now. He could feel himself wavering so badly.

Leaning his back against the door and lightly slamming his head back, Gideon shut his eyes tiredly and then he slid down to sit on the floor. He could not believe all these things were happening now, especially during this crucial moment. He should not have… brought her back here with him… he should have listened to his inner voice that had been clanging non-stop in its warning to him. Why? Why did he have to meet with her that night?

Now he understood what was behind the crazy warning bells that had rung so ferociously within him the moment he had laid eyes on her. Now he realized why his mind, his darkness seemed hellbent in making him believe that taking her with him was a very bad idea. If things were to continue like this, she… she was going to ruin everything… everything he had been working so hard for so many years. All his intricate plans and sweat and blood invested in it, it might all come crashing down in shambles due to her influence in his life right now.

He shook his head and then bumped the back of his head against the door again in agitation. No… he must not allow anyone to ruin his well made plans, not even her. He had tightly shut his heart closed to almost everyone for such a long time, even going to the extent of cutting himself off from all those that he cared for. For years, his heart had been as dead as driftwood and as cold as ice. And he did not mind it one bit at all, comforting himself in the knowledge that for him to succeed with his plans, he must remove all the distractions in his life, even if that involves his very own heart and emotions, he was fully willing to kill them all off for the success of his plan being carried out.

Everything was originally going perfectly according to his plan, smoothly and without hiccups, until… until she appeared out of nowhere. Why? Why did he have to set his eyes on her that fateful night? Why did he ever allowed her to touch him in the first place? Thinking back now, he had never allowed any women to touch him before this. So why did he allow her to? He did not know how she had done it, but before he had realized it, he found himself being clutched by those little frail fingers.

Shaking his head again, Gideon tugged at his hair in frustration. No, he could not allow this lady to hold any more control over him. He must not allow this madness to continue on any longer. This madness, it must stop now. Before… before everything unravels, and it was too late for regrets and turning back.

And besides, as he further thought on it, he realised that what Kione said was right. No, it was right to say that he knew it all along. She would be much better off with someone else rather than him. Someone like her… an angel like her… she should not be subjected to fly through hell with him. She had already suffered enough in the short duration of her young life. Her being with him would only bring on more pain to herself and invite on more suffering. And that was one thing that he was sure of – she must not be allowed to suffer anymore. Not now after being rescued by him, and definitely not because of him. She is one woman who deserves someone better, someone who does not have such massive baggage to carry, and someone who can stay with her, loving her, forever until the end of their lives together.

Staring at the floor, Gideon tugged at his hair harder, a little absentmindedly. A shaky breath escaped from his lips and when he finally opened his eyes from his deep contemplation, they were once again calm. The wisp of darkness that was quietly swirling around him like they were trying to comfort or protect him also settled down and silently entered his body again, disappearing as though it was never there in the first place.

He stood up from his slumped over position on the floor, his fists unclenched now as he reached out for the door handle.

The sight that greeted him when she swung the door open was one of Vera, who was still sitting on the bed, hugging her knees tightly to herself. Curled up in that position, she looked so small and so alone.

Seeing her always disorient him no matter how strong his resolve was. She could be described as a wildfire coming at him with full force, with the intention of melting all the walls he had erected and built for so long. But Gideon now no longer plan to just stand there and allow her to do as she wished to him. He had a stronger grasp on himself now. No matter how devastating her effect was on him, he was going to try his best to withstand it. Because this was all for her sake as well. He knew that if she were to get entangled with him, it would spell nothing but trouble and more heartache for her. And for him as well, but that was not the point here.

___^

Chapter 468 - Dangerous

When she turned her face to look at him, Gideon caught his breath at the way those eyes stared at him. He had left her again without a word, so realistically, she should be furious with him right now. She should be telling, or even yelling at him that she no longer wanted to see him again. She should be shouting at him how much she hated him right at this moment. However… her eyes seemed to be glittering as though she was just so glad he had come back to her. Her initially dulled and lifeless eyes looked so much more alive now instead at the sight of him. It was as if her ultimate wish had just came true.

His jaws worked and his fists clenched for a moment when he saw such raw emotions flowing out from those expressive blue eyes of hers. He could not deny he was crazily flattered at her welcome of him no matter what he did. But he shook himself out of that state and composed himself before silently letting out the breath he did not realise he was holding and approached her with measured steps.

"Your back… are you alright now?" her sweet voice echoed out and floated into his ears, a sweet and honeyed melody that soothed his troubled soul. He just felt as though he had heard a mystical music that had given him instant goosebumps.

"Don't move." He gave her the order when she attempted to leave the bed. "I came back to replace the bandages I removed."

Gideon squatted down, not meeting her gaze as he took her feet in his hand. Though this was not the first time he was doing this, he still could not help but marvel at how small and dainty her foot looked to be when held in his own large hands.

Vera just stared at him without saying anything. But it was as though she had somehow already felt that he came back this time to tell her some bad news, and her eyes became incredibly sad and a wealth of hurt shone out of those blue orbs as she fixed her gaze onto his perfect face.

"After this…" Gideon started as he continued wrapping her feet ever so gently. "I'll be sending you away. You can go wherever you want and with whoever you want… with the exception of myself." He finally lifted his face and met her gaze head on. The sight of her expression made his heart skip a beat and paused but he gathered his resolve and swallowed before he continued speaking, reaching out to touch her face.

And Vera just teared up, so silently, just staring at him longingly while her quiet tears flowed down her cheeks as twin streams before dampening the front of her nightgown.

"W-why?" she choked out. She could feel her throat tightening as it burned due to her holding back her tears. She should not cry before this man over this issue. She had known that there was someone important to him that he kept within his heart. So why was she behaving this way? But she could not help herself from wanting to find out more about it. "Is it because… of her? It is her… right? Because you can't bring yourself to forget her?" Vera's choked voice cracked at the end.

Gideon's eyes widened at her words and Vera's heart shuddered as her mind just registered what she had just said. Was he going to get angry at her again? Would he storm out in a fit of suppressed anger again? Did she accidentally signed her own death warrant now that she had inadvertently mentioned his love in this situation?

But contrary to what she had feared, he did not blaze out in anger. His brows just creased for a moment before smoothening out again and his darkened visage cleared off as if a storm had just been blown off by a strong westerly wind. He opened his mouth as if to retort but for some reason, something made him hold back and stay his tongue from spouting those words. Then he looked away from Vera without saying anything, just shaking his head lightly.

Seeing that he was not planning to say anything further on the matter and that what she had just uttered did not ignite his rage, Vera tentatively reached out her pale hands to him and he stiffened the moment her delicate fingers brushed against his taut jaw.

"I…" Vera stammered. "It's okay even if you can't bring yourself to love me. I am not asking for much… I just want to… I mean, just let me… let me stay with you. I am not asking you to forget her. I never will ask that of you. I can promise you that." She looked at him with an earnest stare as she picked up her hand and laid it over her heart as a solemn oath that she is swearing her promise to him.

Again, Gideon's electric blue orbs stretched even wider as his gaze flew back to her face. He looked at her in disbelief now, his mouth hanging slightly open, utterly speechless at the extent this lady with the fiery hair would go to. He went silent for a moment, thinking if he should consider her proposal. But the very next second, he internally jerked and chided himself on even allowing the thought to cross his mind at all. Did he not swear to himself earlier that he would not involve her in his plans any longer? Did he not say he needed to stay away from her as she would be detrimental to the success of his plans being carried out?

From this, he could see how easily he was being swayed by her words and thoughts. Even when he was shielding himself so hard, he still got swayed by her momentarily. Thus, he stood and turned his back from her for a moment.

From this one experience, he could see how 'dangerous' this little lady was to him. Just some words here and there, and he was already wavering even when he had put up his ultimate guard.

Chapter 469 - Hopelessly Damned

Vera saw him take a sharp and deep breath. Then abruptly, he turned back to face her, swiftly bending over and slamming his big hands onto the bed, effectively trapping her petite frame between them. His eyes were radiating a fierce intensity that beamed down at her.

"No… don't!" He was shaking his head so ferociously. "Do not do this, little Red." His voice came out in a tight whisper. "Don't do this."

"Why?! Why can't I? If you let me… I can…" Vera frowned a little before questioning his response to her. She did not understand why it was so hard for him to accept what she had said. In her mind, she did not think she was asking for much.

His jaws hardened, his hands on the bed clenched the sheets so hard that if he were to exert a little more pressure, they would surely rip under his handling. "You'll only hurt yourself, Red. You won't… you will never be able to find that happiness you longed for with me. So, don't go and invite yourself anymore suffering –" Gideon tried his best to reason it out with her, using words that she would understand – hopefully.

"Nothing will hurt me more or make me suffer more… than having you sending me away from yourself, cutting me off and not allowing me to be next to you." She broke off, her tears starting to drop before they turned into a clear river that tracked twin paths flowing down her gently sloping and silky cheeks. "Nothing on this earth's surface and under it can ever make me happy… but you –" Vera claimed with an impassioned whisper. However, Gideon heard it loud and clear as a bell tolling right next to his ears.

"No, don't say that! Damn it!" he hissed out in exasperation. Not knowing what kind of words he could say to Vera that could make her understand where he was coming from or what he wanted her to do. "You're only saying that because you're just infatuated with me. Because you think I'm the kindest creature you have ever met. You are seeing me as your savior, just because I jumped in front of you to stop you from killing someone. I'm not. I'm nowhere near that kind as you think I am, Red. I'm not anyone's savior. In fact, I'm the exact opposite of what you think I am. Believe that. I am not worth you suffering for." He kept trying to convince her.

A sharp breath left his mouth and then his eyes gentled a bit as he tried to control his emotion that was starting to spin out of control again. "Do not worry. Your feelings… they will eventually subside over time, believe me… hearts are ever so deceiving and ever changing. You will be fine without me, eventually… I'm sure you will. Just give it some time." A cynical smile curled at the edges of his lips as he said that.

Vera shook her head stubbornly as her eyes never left his face, wiping away at her own tears now. "If what you said is true, then those words… they also apply to you, right? Am I right? It is either you believe your own words… If not, you are trying to lie to me. Isn't that right?" Vera challenged him.

Gideon was rendered speechless at her clever retort to his reasoning before he bit down on his lips and drew in another round of deep breaths. He was now looking as though he was struggling so hard to keep his ground. But in the end, his will seemed to have prevailed.

"Listen…" his voice seemed breathless now as he cupped her small face in his large hand. "I'm a seriously f**ked up creature. I know myself and I am telling you this. I am damaged and hopelessly damned to the core."

Vera's eyes widened at his ferociously dark words, and she responded with a frantic shake of her head. She could not think of him that way.

"It's the truth, Red." He said as he wiped her tears away with the ball of his thumb, a small smile flashed on his face. "So don't waste your time on someone who does not even have any future. You can't…" his voice died down.

"What… what do you mean you don't have a future?" Vera's eyes looked alarmed now as she clutched and held onto his wrist, causing Gideon to press his lips into a tight line. She could see how he looked like he had regretted what he had just told her. Her nervousness increased as he did not say anything. "Tell… tell me, what do you mean…"

"Shh…" Gideon's thumb pressed on her lips ever so gently. "I mean there's nothing in my future but darkness." Something incredibly heartbreaking gleamed in his eyes as he looked at her. "Nothing at all. And no one… and nothing can change that. Because I am the one who chose that kind of future for myself. And no matter what happens, I have no plan to change its course… no one can make me change my mind too. No one, Red, not even you." And he smiled at her, one that held a wealth of care and concern for her.

Their eyes held each other's for what seemed like a long time. Those words, coupled with that look in his eyes in that moment… it hurt so badly. But Vera knew right then that he did not need to say anything more to shut her down, completely.

And Vera just reached out and just hugged him tightly to her. It was like she was trying so hard to cling onto something that was bound to slip from her arms forever.

She wished he only said those words to discourage her, to force her to give up on him. But she knew that he was not telling her lies. She could sense that every word he had told her was beyond serious and it breaks her heart over and over that she can no longer do anything about it. This man was firm in his decision.

Chapter 470 - Tonight

He was truly going to cut her off from him now. Why? That was what she did not quite understand. Why would he willingly choose such a dark and depressing future, and one that did not have hope whatsoever? And why did he not want to change course at all? Was there really nothing she could do to make him change his mind? Could she not really do anything for him?

Vera knew now this man was so much like her. He was in the dark too, suffering all by himself and she knew whatever he was going through, whatever burden he was carrying, was something she might not even be able to imagine at all. All she knew right now was that there was really a huge difference between them. She had found her hope in him, and he was now the sole reason she wanted to keep going in this journey called life. But this man did not find his hope. Or rather, he did not want to find his hope, and it hurts her so much that she could not be his hope just like how he was to her.

She just wished that she could be someone who means so much to him, or even just enough for him to at least have second thoughts. She would be so happy if she was just enough to make him at least hope for a brighter future. Just enough to make him change his mind. But it seems that she could not even become someone like that for him. And that was what hurts her the most, knowing that it was futile for anyone to force someone to change their mind. Because she herself was like that. No matter how painful it was, still, nothing can ever force or make her stop wanting him.

This was why she understood what he was going through and if her, backing off will at least lessen his burden and suffering, then she would back off. She wanted to do anything and everything for him. And if that includes sending her away from him was something that he truly wished to do, then she would respect that, no matter how painful it will be. Even if it ends up killing her inside all over again.

Vera's grip on him was so tight but he held himself still and did not move to return the hug. She could almost feel the vibration of his unwavering resolve and she could only smile to herself bitterly.

She sighed out, slow and deep. And they both just stayed still, until Vera opened her mouth again.

"Before I…" Vera's weak voice echoed in his ear, still not letting go of him. "Before I let you go, could you grant me one last request?" Vera pleaded and there was something in her voice that caused him to look at her face.

Gideon's body stilled he seemed to even stop breathing for a few moments as he stared into her blue eyes that seemed to be so vivid and brighter than ever.

"May I have you… all of you tonight?" Vera whispered, hugging him even tighter, as her voice shook. "Just for tonight. Tomorrow… I… I won't bother you anymore. I promise…"

A long silence reigned between them, and Vera's heartbeat began to thump so loudly, praying that he would not reject this one last request from her.

"Please?" her voice echoed out again, as soft as a kitten's mew and Gideon shut his eyes closed. She is doing it again. And the warning bells were ringing damned loud again.

But as everything inside him was still in turmoil, his treacherous lips opened and answered her. "Fine, just for tonight." His voice nearly shook as he said that as his insides screamed at him. F*ck it all to hell. He knew this will only complicate things. He could already see himself battling himself to the very extreme again once the night is over. But he knew he would willingly go through that again to grant her wish one last time.

He felt her pull away from him and when he saw a soft smile on her face, Gideon suddenly felt his knees weakened and he fell back on the floor. And since Vera did not let go at all even as he stumbled back, she ended up straddling him as he sat on the floor.

"Thank you…" she whispered, thanking all the gods above that he did not reject her this time and she could at least have this one wonderful memory with him.

And Gideon shut his eyes again, inhaling her unique scent, and reveled in the feeling of her soft body that was pressed against him. "This means… you're all mine tonight, right?" She whispered out a little shyly.

"Yes. Have all of me, all you want." He answered, helplessly. "Just for tonight."

"Mm. Just for tonight." She echoed and in the next few seconds that passed, they remained in that position, just listening to each other's breath and each other's heartbeats, feeling each other's warmth shared between them.

Vera's heart finally calmed down a little. The pain was still there but he was still here with her and whatever time she had left with him, she wanted to make the most out of it.

"Do you want to go out somewhere?" he asked but Vera shook her head immediately. She did not want to go anywhere else but just remain here. Knowing that if they go out, someone or something might take his attention or the person himself away from her. Even if it was only for a moment, she was not willing to share him or his time with any others tonight. He is finally going to be all hers – even though it was only one night – tonight. Therefore, she was going to jealously keep him in here, guarding him in this room, with her.

"I want to…" Vera swallowed as she paused. There was a slight hesitation in her actions, but her eyes looked decisive as she swallowed hard. Tonight, she was going to give her all to him. Everything she had left – all were going to him. She was not holding anything back and would offer it all to him. Since he did not want her heart, there was only one thing left that she could give to him, her body. It might not mean much to him. But to her, this was all she had left of herself. She had already given him her heart and soul… her body, she will also give this to him too and she knew in her heart that she would never regret this. Because she knew that this man was all she wanted and craved for in her entire life.

When she pulled away, her eyes were sparkling with an intense gleam the next time she met his gaze. "I want to make love with you, Gideon…"

Chapter 471 - Take Them Off

Vera did not even realise that she was holding her breath as she waited for Gideon's response. Her face had long since flushed red and hot at the boldness of her own words. But she did not even have any time to feel embarrassed because all her attention was fixed on nothing else but on him.

Those eyes that never failed to draw her breath away every time she looked into them so deeply were now dilated as he looked at her with a severe expression that she could not quite fathom. However, she hoped that his look would mean something positive to her. Since he has yet to push her away or reject any of her smaller advances.

"I want you…" she added, "I want you so bad…" her voice a pleasing echo in his ears. "Make love to me, Gideon," she repeated once again. The ache and sadness in her eyes were then replaced by a stubborn determination now, rendering him even more speechless. The surprised look on his face told her that he had not expected her to say those words to him. At all.

"Re –"

A heart jerking kiss shut him off totally. His body stilled like it had suddenly turned into a marble statue and Vera did not waste a moment longer to take the advantage of the situation. She lunged over and pounced on him while he was still in a stupor. She slid her tongue over his lips and when he parted his own in surprise, she quickly slid her tongue inside his mouth and licked and tangled her warm little tongue with his.

Tangling her fingers through his thick and silky hair, Vera did her best, kissing him as wild and passionately as she could. She just made sure that he would be able to feel just how much she wanted him, just how much she lived for him, and how she craved for him to her very fibre of her being.

She thought that she was going to have to do much more to shatter his guard to pieces. To make him grant her wish. But to her surprise and delight, it did not even take her that long before he was responding to her kisses, cursing under his breath as his hands roamed all over on their own and pulled her closer to his body. It was as though he wanted to pull her into himself and merge them together as one. And it was as if he could not help the way he was behaving. As if he no longer had the power to control his very own body right now.

The fact that his defences just came crumbling down so easily like that, made Vera's heart swell with joy that she could not believe that it was the same heart which was just bleeding in so much pain just a little while ago. She could only thank whatever gods that were out there who had granted her wishes and fervent prayers for this one little thing. And she would not take it for granted.

As their heated kiss went on, Vera held his hand and slowly brought it towards her to place it on her breast. She still remembered how good it felt when he had kneaded and played with her there. And when he had massaged her breast, Vera moaned loudly against his mouth. She did not bother to keep her voice down and allowed him to know how much she loved his touch.

"Gideon… kiss me there…" she whispered, as if she could no longer wait to feel that pleasurable sensation of his mouth moving all over her breast again. Gideon's eyes gleamed in the dim light before his head bent over her. This time, he freed her breast and his mouth latched onto it without hesitation. The feeling of his hot mouth on her without the fabric getting in the way just set Vera's body on fire.

And before they knew it, the quiet room was filled with nothing but the sounds of their heavy breathing and moaning and the sound of his name being called out reverently over and over. Vera was already stripped bare and as naked as the day she was born as she knelt between his legs.

Gideon feasted on her perky mounds until she was writhing in desire as his hand was touching her sex again. Rubbing and stroking her folds while she clung onto him, her hands crawled down from the scalp of his head down to his back as if she could not get enough of his closeness.

Vera could not believe she was feeling like this right now, and with Gideon as her partner. Her mind was swimming with so much pleasure she almost thought that she might even be dreaming. She secretly pinched herself on her thighs to check if she was really awake and everything was real. The sharp pain radiating from the area she had just abused herself assured her that she was not dreaming. And her hands then moved on its own, reaching out to his clothes, wanting to take them off.

She had instinctively did that. Maybe because she was still a little afraid that he might suddenly change his minds and leave her again. Or maybe because she just could not wait to feel his naked body against hers anymore. Or maybe it was just both. Either way, her hands had already landed on the front of his chest and grabbed a fistful of his shirt. Daring to raise her eyes to look into his, she saw no rejection nor censure and her heart jolted with joy, seeing that he was not rejecting her advances.

But she found her fingers stumbling, shaking and could not even manage to undress him as smoothly as she had thought it would happen in her mind. It was then that she realised that the dark fae clothes were not as simply made as the human's clothes.

"Clothes…" she uttered urgently, panting a little. "Gideon… take them off…"

Chapter 472 - For The Last Time

"Clothes…" she uttered urgently, panting a little. "Gideon… take them off…"

He pulled away from her stumbling fingers and stared at her. There was a growing hunger in his eyes, but it was still tightly controlled. He was still the master of his own body – at least for now.

"You don't need to do this to make me stay." He told her, tucking the stray strands of her hair behind her ears. And that simple gesture just made Vera's heart swell even more. "I already promised you and agreed to your request that I'll be all yours tonight. So, don't worry.?I am not going anywhere anytime soon –" his words were reassuring to Vera's ears to say the least and it only brought a brilliant smile to her face.

"I'm not doing this just to make you stay. I'm doing this because I want you. This is just me wanting you so very badly…" she responded in a heated whisper and then made to tug at his clothes again. "You're all mine tonight, so listen to me and just take off these clothes right now."

A disbelieving smile suddenly curved across Gideon's lips without him even realizing it. Then a glint of mischief suddenly replaced the shock in his eyes. Gods… this little lady just keeps bringing him one shock after another, rocking him to his very core.

"It's true that I had agreed you can have all of me tonight, but I didn't agree to obey all your orders, little feisty red." He replied and he bit down on his tongue at the realisation of what he had just said. Damn it all to hell, he was unexpectedly getting carried away by the situation. However, he could not seem to stop himself. But screw it all! He had already made a deal with her, so there was no use holding back anymore. He would honour his words to her if it was the last thing he did! Tonight, he was going to allow himself to surrender fully to her all she wanted. And he was going to let himself just go with the flow, without holding back… just for tonight, he would forget about anything and everything else – but her. Tonight, he was going to ignore it all, his darkness, his demons. Yes, just for tonight, he would not care about anything else but her. Tonight, he is going to let himself go and breathe. For the last time…

And as soon as he had decided on that, his body suddenly seemed to get lighter. The hardness and ruthlessness that were ever present in his eyes was finally dissolving like wax right into the fire.

She had already managed to remove his long coat and was now clumsily looking for something. "Help me…" she breathed, looking like she was in a pinch. "I don't know how to undress you. Your clothes are strange." She could not help but pout in exasperation as she was stumped in dealing with the dark fae's clothing.

Once again, Gideon could not help but smile helplessly. He had half bitten his lower lip to stop himself from chuckling out. The pinched expression on her face… he found it incredibly adorable. She kept on bringing shock after shock to him again and again with her boldness and sudden feistiness and that adorable look… some little hands were trying to tickle him, and he could not help but want to tease her. He wanted to see more of her. He wanted to unearth more of her other expressions that was not those of pain and sadness or hopelessness.

And so, he did not say anything but simply sat there, looking at her silently with the corner of his lips lifted up, as if enjoying whatever he was looking at.

Finally noticing the look on his face, Vera pursed her lips even more and she creased her brows at him.

"Fine," she said suddenly, and Gideon raised his brow.

Vera climbed off him and ran off to grab something. And Gideon bit his lip again, barely stopping himself from bursting out laughing at the sight of her running back to him with a small fruit knife held in her hand.

She straddled him again as Gideon leaned his back against the bed. Still, he did not say a thing and just watched in anticipation at what she was planning to do next. His curiosity in her every action skyrocketing every second that pass.

Her pale blue eyes looked at him, and there was bravery in them. Then she swallowed and moved the knife closer to his neck. He was wearing a strange ink-like fabric that hugged his body tightly up to his neck. And strangely she could not find any button to remove nor lace to pull. It was nothing like the tunic human men usually wore.

Vera pulled the fabric away from his neck moved the knife again, but her fingers wavered. And like a puppy afraid to make a mistake and harm him, she looked at him helplessly. There it was… this lady just switched from a feisty little spitfire to an incredibly innocent little girl within the blink of an eye.

"Don't be afraid… go on…" he told her, causing her eyes to widen. "You can rip it all apart all you want. That's the only way you can undress me." Gideon teased her with a poker face.

She blinked. "R-really? There's no other way?"

He nodded. Mischief gleaming in his eyes.

Once again, Vera swallowed nervously, but not long after, the feisty look returned. She took a deep breath and then with an intense focus, she sliced the fabric with the dagger, beyond careful to never harm him even with a single nick. And it made Gideon feel another tug in his heart as she looked at her treating him like he was someone so fragile that a small cut could kill him.

The jarring sound of the fabric of his clothes ripping echoed out in a loud contrast to the silence of the room, and he watched her smile victoriously as she put the knife away before tugging and pulling on his cloth down until his torso was fully naked and bared to her roving eyes.

Chapter 473 - Want More?

She stilled at the sight of his nakedness. Then she reached out and ran her fingers over his bare skin and he sharply sucked in his breath at her touch. The look in her eyes filled with fascination. His body was smooth and… flawless… and beautiful… unlike hers. And that brought a slightly pained expression crossing her face.

"You are…" she uttered as she continued touching his taut muscles. "so beautiful… so perfect…"

Gideon suddenly pulled her close, pressing her against him and claiming her lips again, this time very softly and without the roughness and wildness from earlier. The movements of his lips over hers was so sublime it almost brought tears spilling out of her eyes. Then Vera gasped after she registered the heat of his bare skin on her own. Her mind immediately forgetting the insecurities that had been roused within her.

When their lips parted, he whispered in her ear. "Now what do you want me to do next? Red?" his voice so intimate in her ear and she shivered at the fact that he did not sound restrained anymore. It was as though he was a completely different person, but still the same. It was hard for her to explain. But one thing she knew, she did not feel him holding back anymore as he had done all those times earlier.

"I want you to… touch me again." She said as she clung onto him, rubbing herself against his hard muscles instinctively.

"Touch you… where?" he teased sexily, "I need to know exactly where you are talking about, my sweet." He kept teasing her and calling her using those pet names, sending her mind into a tizzy.

She held his hand and shyly brought it down to her sex. "Here." she muttered as her face burned red, and Gideon only smiled, kissing her neck now as he cupped her sex and started playing with her down there. His slick fingers glided into her folds without much hindrance and played with her bud until she was moaning harder, and she was throwing her head from side to side due to so much pleasure which was assaulting her senses at that moment.

She prepared herself not to jerk again once he does that to her the next time. But when his finger probed her entrance yet again, her body just reacted instinctively. But to her surprise, her reaction did not make Gideon halt anymore. He just held onto her a little bit tighter before his finger probed her depths again.

Vera caught her breath at the strange feeling of penetration in her lower regions. His finger then began moving inside her with shorter and slower strokes in a backward and forward motion. And Vera could only bite down on her lip and hugged him tighter, unsure what to do or how to feel about what he was doing to her. And before Vera knew it, she was moaning in pleasure as her insides got used to the foreign experience he was giving her.

She felt even hotter now and her face was so flushed and red as she felt herself getting slicker and wetter at his touch.

"I'm going to insert one more, sweet red," he whispered to her so lovingly, Vera just nodded, even without knowing what one more he was actually referring to.

Then she felt another finger slid inside her, making her draw in a deep breath before holding it in. "Don't hold your breath, sweetcakes. Just breathe, in and out… yes, just like that…" he was kissing her jaw as he whispered to her, and she realised that he was watching her face so very closely.

He was taking his time as he slid his fingers inside her in an almost torturous and slow motion. And after what felt like minutes, Vera was already feeling so good, and loving the pleasures he was making her feel. She never thought that even with just his fingers, he could already pleasure her to such heights like this. But… she wanted more… something more… she just did not quite know what exactly.

"Gideon…" she moaned his name out again.

"Yes?" he purred against her skin softly, kissing the sensitive spot he had recently found out that was below her ear.

"I… more…Gideon…" Vera was muttering, not quite making sense. But Gideon only chuckled as he knew what she wanted. However, he wanted to tease her more.

"More? What more? Sweet?"

"I don't know. But more please…"

She heard his quiet chuckle. "You mean…" he finally increased his pace faster, "like this?"

And Vera moaned even louder. "Yes, yes! Like that!"

The pleasure was increasing to an unbelievable degree that Vera found herself rubbing herself against his hand, as if she just could not get enough. The thing that was bubbling inside her was unbelievable now.

But he suddenly stopped. "No! Don't," she cried out and Gideon chuckled again. This time a bit louder and Vera forced her dazed eyes to look at him, wanting to see how he looked like when he was laughing. His quiet laugh sounded so good in her ears that she could only imagine what his gorgeous face looked like when he genuinely laughed.

"Patience, Red. It's not time yet," he whispered temptingly, and Vera could only shake her head.

"I can't… wait anymore. I… please, don't stop. Do some –"

She could no longer continue her words because she found herself being lifted and her bottom was gently being placed on the edge of the bed. Then he parted her legs wide and squatted right before her, in between her parted legs.

Vera's eyes widened as she looked down at him, a little confused and with a hint of nervousness in her big blue eyes. His eyes gleamed as he looked up through his thick lashes.

He took one of her legs and kissed her inner thigh, moving higher and higher Vera's heart began to pound so hard in anticipation and disbelief. Do not tell me… he is going to…

Chapter 474 - Signs

Gideon's hot mouth reached her there and gave her one long and slow erotic lick. Shocking Vera to her core. She could not believe he had really kissed her there.

Fisting both her hands into his silky dark hair, Vera shivered. "Wait… Gid…"

He ignored her and proceeded to place her one leg over his shoulder then ate her again. This time, stabbing his tongue into her entrance. And Vera's entire being was lost in utter pleasure again.

He ate her like he was tasting something so delicious that he just could not get enough of, inserting his fingers inside her again as his delicious tongue stroked her, caressing her as deep as he could go.

"How do you feel? Sweet red?" he asked against her sex, the vibration of his deep voice, sending more shivers all over her.

"Good, god, so good." She had grabbed onto his head again, wanting him to continue kissing her there. Desperately wanting something she did not know what exactly, to finally happen and relieve her. "Gideon…"

But he did not give that something to her until she began to feel so tormented by him, by his fingers and tongue and mouth.

"Gideon… I'm… you're going to make me perish…" she moaned, not knowing what to do anymore.

His heart-stopping laugher vibrated against her womanly parts, and he pulled away and looked at her. She would never have imagined that he could laugh like this.

"Yes… I'll make you feel like you'll perish from pleasure, sweet red. Wait for it." He said and Vera tugged on him again.

"I can't wait anymore… please… now, make me perish now!" she cried out desperately and Gideon licked his lips. The hunger in his eyes blazed and in the next moment his mouth was sucking her bud as his fingers moved faster than ever.

His tongue swirled even faster, matching the rhythm of his fingers inside her until she threw her head back and her nails sunk a little into his scalp.

"Gideon!" she screamed out his name and a fierce sensation assaulted her body as she jerked and quivered violently. The ecstasy that exploded within her was so unbelievable, so good that she honestly felt that she could really die. Even if she did not, she was quite willing to die happy after experiencing this.

What was that? Her mind questioned over and over as her body became limp and she let go of his hair and let her body fell back on the bed, not caring how she was spread out over the sheets.

He rose and looked down at her. He swallowed hard, and in one snap of his fingers, the rest of the clothes that were covering his lower body disappeared into smoke.

Vera opened her eyes and her heartbeat picked up their pace again as she let her eyes wander all over him, stopping at the raging proud and hard member of his. She swallowed, unable to keep her eyes of it even as he moved closer to her. My oh, my!

"You can touch it if you like, red." His magnetic voice came at her as though they were a spell, and she pulled her body up. Her eyes were large as she looked up at him and then back to the length of him.

There was amazement and shock in her eyes even as she stared at his length. Then she reached out her hand and gingerly touched the tip of it. He sucked in his breath while she gasped, retracting her finger away a little when his member twitched as though it was alive. She prayed to the gods that she did not accidentally hurt him.

"This is your first time touching one?" he asked, and she nodded. Swallowing. This time, even more carefully, she touched him again, tracing her finger gently along the bulging veins. This soft and slow movement of hers caused Gideon to stiffen, his gut contracting fiercely from stopping himself from pouncing on her. Her touch burned him. "Want it?" he asked in a gravelly voice and Vera looked up at him again.

"It will… fit, right?" she asked, her large expressive eyes did not show fear but there was a little doubt in there and with her question, he knew she was doubting if she could take him into herself.

A smiled curve across Gideon's face. "Want to back off now? Sweet red?"

She immediately shook her head, almost frantically. Even grabbing at his length all of a sudden as though wanting to prevent him from running off. And Gideon could not help but groan at her movement.

"I want it… you… inside me," she said. And in that instant, he lost it. He grabbed her and kissed her hard. It seems he had already reached his limit.

He buried his face against her neck and kissed and suck her skin wildly, like an untamed animal wanting to devour her whole. He knew his entire world was undone now.

His hands spread her legs wide apart before his hungry eyes and she held onto him tightly when she felt his hot tip coming to rest against her already dripping core. She was nervous because of his size but she still wanted him, so bad. That was not even a question. She wanted to know how much more pleasure he could bring and give to her. How much more of him she could have before this night was over.

Taking her hand in his, Gideon held it above her head, and in a sweet gesture, stared down at her like she was the most beautiful girl in his eyes.

His mouth kissed her lips lightly and then in one swift move, he slid himself deep inside her, stretching her to the limit and filling her to the brim. And that caused Vera to sharply gasp out from the unexpected pain that had lanced through her.

Gideon suddenly held himself very still, his eyes that were filled with nothing but desire slowly clearing from the pleasurable haze and widening in realisation. As Vera was biting her bottom lip to keep herself from crying out in pain and distracting him, Gideon felt a sudden dread consuming him.

He had noticed all the signs, all those gentle hesitancy in her touch, the way her body reacted when he touched her. But due to her insistent claims of wanting to be a bed warmer, Gideon had honestly thought she was only reacting like that because no man had bothered to pleasure her, to even use their fingers to make her wet first or kiss her there. He had thought they had just used her for their own pleasure and that she did not even have the opportunity to experience what real pleasure was yet despite her experience. He had thought…

He had thought of so many things and other scenarios but this one… And it came slamming into his mind like a tonne of bricks.

"You… you're a virgin."

Chapter 475 - Hate

The moment a curse spilled out from Gideon's mouth and Vera felt his hands leaving hers, she swiftly reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, possessively pulling him back towards and into her. His body was so stiff he did not seem to be able to react fast enough from her pulling him and thus, he ended up crashing into her. That only caused them both to suck their breaths at the impact of that body clash.

"I was… but not anymore…" Vera said, drawing in air through her teeth, breathing through the pain of that forceful penetration. She tightened her arms around him, letting him know that she did not want him to stop now. Not when they have already reached this stage. She was adamant in that she did not want him to pull away. "And I… I am beyond happy that you are the one who took it. I wouldn't want anyone else to take my first time but you… so please…" her voice wavered a little as she kissed his skin with so much emotion, "please don't stop. Don't go and leave me here. You've promised me tonight, remember? Take me… have me… all of me…" she pleaded with him.

She felt his body trembling after her words, and she dreaded he was going to pull away. But to Vera's greatest relief, he did not. However, he did not make even a small move, but just kept still as he continuously trembled as he rested his forehead against the pillow.

Why… why was she doing this to him? Gideon questioned silently. His emotions were all over the place right now. He could not believe this. Somehow, all he ever brought to her were hurt and pain. He was going to send her away, to cut her off from him for good… he had made sure she had understood that clearly. Yet, she still decided to do this. To finally offer herself up to him like this. He… he did not deserve this… he had no right to be that special one who deserves to be her first… he just did not deserve her. Period.

All of a sudden, his trembling body shook all over when he felt her tongue licking his ear. He then realised that she was copying him! Following just exactly like how he had done to her, whispering in his ear.

"Gideon… I want you… make me feel good again, pleasure me again…" she uttered in a breathy and pleading voice, causing his blood pressure to shoot through the roof and almost loose his cool. And with that, he was seduced hopelessly his member that was still impaled inside her rapidly swelled again.

She pulled away a little to look at his face when she felt him stretching her inner walls again, wanting to kiss him on the mouth. But she paused at the look that he had in his eyes. She saw self-deprecation in them. It was obvious that he hated himself… so much so that the hate was so intense, so rooted to his deepest core that she could feel it reflected in his eyes. She was taken aback and wondered what could have happened in his past that was able to cause such amounts of hatred to be kept within him.

It made Vera's heart hurt again. She caressed his face and a soft smile bloomed on her face. If she could, she would do anything to erase that hate in his eyes. She would trade anything she had for it.

"You are… you are mine tonight." She reminded him gently, caressing him continuously, as soothingly as she could. "You had said that I can have all of you… so please stop thinking about anything else. Let me have all of you… your body, your soul… your… your thoughts too…" she kissed him, "think of me only… just for tonight… forget everything else but me…" her soft and sweet voice seemed to wind seductively into his ears, shooting for his heart and it seemed to have an effect on him.

And Gideon finally responded to her. He suddenly roused from his statue-like state and kissed her back. She felt his body seemed to have roared back into life once again. He did not move his hips, but his mouth and hands began to explore her wildly. And his touch just ignited the fire inside of her into an inferno again.

"Gideon…" she moaned out his name as he licked and sucked on her tongue. When he pulled away from the kiss, he had lifted his torso from crashing against hers. Looking up, Vera could see a gleaming silvery thread connecting them from his lips to hers. Her heart lurched at the sight and happiness swelled within her. Then looking up at the new expression in his eyes, the utter desire that was pouring out from them, as though he was seeing nothing else but her now, made Vera's insides throb. Her lower parts tingled and clenched in a very pleasurable way that made her think she could get used to it.

"Right…" his voice echoed. "… you are now mine…" he declared, and he withdrew his length from her very slowly before he dropped tiny kisses at the corners of her eyes. "I'm going to move now…"

"Yes," she replied, "yes! Take me!"

He pushed himself into her and Vera winced at the pain. She felt him kissing the corner of her eyes again. "It'll feel better soon, I promise." He whispered lovingly as he continued pushing in and pulling out slowly, making sure that she would have the chance to get used to his size first.

A low groan escaped from his lips as time ticked by. She was so tight it was taking him everything that he had inside to control himself from plundering her wildly and not caring for her comfort. However, his conscience would not allow him to do so to a virgin like her. He needed to be patient for her but she… oh god, she felt like heaven. How was he supposed to keep himself under control?

He had been in hell for so long that a taste of heaven would have totally unravelled him in no time at all. But… he must not lose control. Not now. For her, he cannot hurt her.

Chapter 476 - Everything

Light-headed and breathless, Gideon stared down at her. God damn it, he found that he could not wait any longer.

"Red…" came his breathless voice, torment evident in them. "I can't… not anymore. I can't wait anymore. I'm going to do it now." He whispered in a pleading voice, almost at the point of being desperate.

And Vera felt her heart swell from hearing the desperate sound of his voice. Happy that he seemed to want her as desperately as well.

"Mm… yes, do what you want. Have me all you want – ah!"

He pushed himself in so deep inside her in one long and hard thrust that Vera could not manage to stop her voice from calling out. He pushed at her again, in and out, making Vera lose her mind in the process. The pleasurable friction of their bodies rubbing against each other brought her to heights she would never have imagined were possible.

"Red… oh, my sweet red…" he whispered as he moved his hips, pinning her hands over her head again. His eyes gleaming so beautifully, so breathtakingly, as he rocked against her in a powerful and steady rhythm. He even ground his teeth as he lost himself in her heat and wetness.

Vera forced herself to keep her eyes open, to watch him as he strained that beautiful body. She wanted to see the kinds of expressions he makes as his desire consumes him. And her heart was filled with the sight of him. She wanted to keep watching him but… as seconds ticked by, it was becoming harder for her to even focus her eyes.

Vera could not even remember when did the pain recede and all that she was feeling now was just wave after continuous waves of delight building within her. She was so wet and hot now. And she could feel everything. The pulsing and unyielding member filling her slowly made her burst with a whole new wave of desire.

Until she found her legs wrapped around his waist. He began to pinch the tip of her breast as he continued their dance in a beautiful and delicious rhythm. Then he bent over and devoured her mouth again, all the while thrusting deeper, and harder, bringing her to a new level of pleasure every time. It was as if he was planning to bring her higher than the heavens itself.

The building pleasure was so unbearable that Vera could not even vocalise his name properly anymore. "Gid… ah!" her mind was in a delirious state of extreme pleasure.

"Red… I'm so close…" he uttered in a guttural voice.

He did not know it would be like this. He never thought that he would lose himself to the pleasures of love making to this extent. He wanted to devour her whole… and also to let her consume him whole. This pleasure… the feel of her… the undulating sounds of her moans… he knew that this memory would haunt him for the rest of his life. The satisfaction that their union evokes within him was something so moving and earth-shattering that he had nothing to compare it to. It was just out of this world.

"Oh, f*ck! I'm coming!" he clenched his teeth when she started spasming around him so violently good. And his hands gripped unto her harder, constraining her when she started trashing and writhing beneath him in a pleasurable way.

And when she bucked her hips forward, Gideon groaned hard and pushed into her harder, deeper, faster until Vera finally cried out in a dizzying climax.

Gideon barely managed to pull himself away from her sweetness and immediately spent himself onto the sheet as the two of them shivered from the extraordinary intensity of their own orgasms. Vera was seeing flashes of light in her vision and almost blacked out at how powerful she was rocked by her high.

He rolled off from her and laid on his back, his breath still hissing between his teeth. Oh, gods, it took everything he had not to come inside her. Everything. F*ck! He did not know it would be like this. This was the very first time he had struggled so goddamned much to pull out. And f*ck again, because his dread has grown even more now. He was terrified at the fact that he was now entertaining the thought of not wanting her to leave.

Time ticked by and as Gideon was covering his eyes with the back of his hand, Vera slowly rose and sat up to look at him. She could not believe what had just happened. The ecstasy they just shared was just crazy! It was inexplicable and mind-blowing to say the least!

Her eyes looked at him and her face reddened, a smile blooming on her face. But when her eyes caught the white sticky liquid that was pooling on the sheet near them, her smile slowly faded. That was right, he had pulled away just before coming and… she was not ignorant about matters like this. She had heard about this previously that men do this to avoid impregnating their mistresses. They would never allow their seed to be planted in someone other than their official wife.

Seeing this proof sitting on the bedsheets beside them only caused another sharp sting in her heart.

"Red…" his voice jolted her out of her reverie and when she turned to look at him, she was surprised to see that he was already sitting up and looking at her.

She forced a smile at him. But he had already noticed and had read her expression from early on before even calling her. And his gaze fell to that same spot she was staring at before he called out.

"Come here," he stretched his hand out to her and Vera did not hesitate to crawl towards him even with her heart aching from his actions.

Gideon cradled her in his lap and pulled on her head to rest it on his chest. "I did that because…" he paused and when Vera looked at him with her large clear blue eyes, he suddenly looked conflicted. He had a face where he was questioning himself on why the hell did he even tried to say something.

"Because… ?" she prompted him and held his gaze, as she asked in a small voice.

Chapter 477 - Pretend

"Because… ?" she prompted him and held his gaze, as she asked in a small voice.

"It's… it's for your sake." He pulled her close and kissed her head.

Vera looked down in disappointment as his words did nothing to soothe the pain that was still sharp in her heart and seemed to cause a lump to be lodged in her throat. And she knew that he knew it as well.

When she remained quiet, he groaned and ran his fingers through his hair as if he was suddenly exasperated again. "I'm a son of a monster, red…" he said. "I am certain that my child would inherit and then suffer the same fate as mine. I'm a monster and my child will be conceived and born as a monster too. That's why I swore to myself never to…" he paused, his eyes suddenly widening in disbelief. He was shocked at himself that he had said those words out aloud and even to her.

Vera could see the utter shock in his eyes. The pure disbelief that he had spilled those secret things kept only in his mind, to her. And it made her feel immensely better that she brightened up.

Reaching out, Vera embraced him ever so gently. "Don't worry…" she whispered in a soothing voice, a voice filled with promise. "Your secrets will be safe with me, Gideon. It will not even appear in my dreams. I'll bring them with me to my grave."

Gideon's body seemed to sag over, and he rested his head on her shoulder.

"But I just wanted to tell you that I will still want you, desire you… no matter what kind of monster you are. I'll want your child too…" she paused as he started trembling again, hugging her close to him tight. "… and because it will be part of you, it will never be something bad or evil."

"Stop…" his voice was so low, so pained. "Don't do this to me..."

Her hands caressed the back of his head in a very soothing motion. "I'm sorry…" she whispered. "I know I'm making everything even harder for you. Forgive me for wanting you, for loving you –"

"Enough!" he pressed his fingers against her lips as he gently bumped his forehead against hers. "Enough… I'm begging you…" Gideon's voice was trembling, and she swore that she could hear there were tears in his voice.

Vera's heart broke when she heard that. She never expected to hear those last three words he said.

She let out a shaky sigh and pulled away. But the next second, she planted a kiss on his forehead. And Gideon's world seemed to come to a screeching full-on halt he could only shut his eyes firmly closed. Why… why was fate doing this to him? Did the gods hate him so much that they loved toying with his life?

He placed his hand at the back of her head, running his fingers through her fiery hair in a relaxed and loving gesture. "Listen to me, red… and listen well." his whisper echoed in her ear. "Something big will be happening in the near future. There will be a massive war that could very well end everything as we know it. I am destined to be the sacrifice… the key in stopping this disaster from running its full course…"

A disbelieving smile curved on his lips as he trailed off while Vera gaped at him in shock. She could not quite register the things that he had just said to her.

"Now look what you're doing to me…" he laughed helplessly, tugging at her hair. Then he took a deep breath and looked into her eyes again, tucking the wayward strands of her hair behind her ears. "I am bound to be gone in the very near future, red… and that's why… that's why you can't… you can't be falling in love with me. Not now, not ever…" a sad smile adorned his lips.

Too late… she smiled back, her lips trembling now. But she did not say it out loud anymore as there was no point in doing so. Not that it would have changed anything if she had vocalised it. I had already fallen in love you since the very first time I saw you. She told him in her mind. She knew she could not tell him because she did not want him to struggle more than he already was. It was painful thinking of his fate. Of theirs. She could see it his eyes, his future was set. If she tried and forced him to change his mind now, something might happen. And she did not know why, but she felt terrified… that she might push him too hard that he might end up losing his mind. Maybe because she could see what a tormented creature he already was. There was no need for her to add on to his agony. He was already looking like he only needed a little more push, and he would fall into the pit of madness. It made her heart shake with horror at the thought of how madness did a number on her mother. An extreme fear swept over her.

So Vera just hugged him tightly, giving her all to at least soothe his battered soul even if she could not solve the problem to it. "I understand…" she told him. And they both fell silent for a long time. Just feeling each other. Until Vera pulled away and broke the silence. She had decided to act like everything was alright again. She wanted to do more things with him before this night ends. So she would continue to pretend that everything was fine. For his sake and also hers, she would pretend that he had not said what he did and she would act as though she and not heard it. If that was the only way to make both of them feel better, it was okay to pretend it was all fine now. Just for now. She was going to forget all the things she had heard and focus solely on him alone. Tonight, it was just going to be about him and her.

Chapter 478 - News

"That was amazing by the way…" Vera said shyly, and Gideon blinked at her.

"That…" he raised his brow.

"What you did to me earlier. It was amazing!" Her face blushed harder and Gideon could not help but smile.

"It was. The best I ever had." He commented and Vera's eyes circled.

"Really?" she looked at him suspiciously, disbelievingly. "Are you kidding me?"

But Gideon's gaze was so serious that Vera gasped in surprise. At the same time, her heart fluttered like crazy within her ribcage.

"Then… can we do that again?" though her face was flaming fiercely, she braved herself to say that out.

Gideon blinked and then he chuckled. Causing Vera to fall into a daze at the sight of his genuine laugh. He was an angel when he laughs. And she could only look at him, picturing his laughing face, imprinting it in her mind. If only she could watch his laugh forever beside him. If only he had more time to be so carefree and laugh in this way… if only… However, she shook her head and came back to the present.

"You are… what a dangerous creature you are little red. I can't even find the right words to describe you."

"Is that a good thing?"

"Oh yes, that means, words aren't enough to describe you."

A wide grin bloomed over Vera's face, and it was Gideon's turn to fall into daze, basking in how lovely and warm her real smile was. What a beautiful… maddening creature she was.

He pulled at her, making her kneel before him, with her trapped between his legs as he kissed her with hunger. His erection was already standing hard and proud at the juncture of his thighs. He was raring and ready to go.

When he pulled away from their kiss, the savage hunger in his blue eyes was blazing hard.

"What do you want me to do, my sweet red?" he asked in erotic voice. "Do you want me to do exactly what we did earlier again? Or do you want to do something more? Or perhaps try out something new?" his suggestions sent Vera's head spinning again.

Vera blinked at him owlishly, her heartbeat racing like crazy as she spoke. "I want the… something more... and something new." She said decisively, causing Gideon to smile again, this time, wickedly.

"Stand before me, red," he drawled out lazily and Vera obeyed. She reddened when her womanly place was right before his face. "I'm going to pleasure you with my mouth like this… are you okay with this position?" his eyes held hers and she could not pull her eyes away. Though she was ready to die from embarrassment, she held herself still and waited for him to show her what he meant.

She swallowed hard, but there was also excitement that rose within her. And she nodded at him, causing his wicked smile to look even hotter, even more wicked that it should be banned.

"Hold onto the wall or my head…" he said as his lips touching her and before Vera could respond, he gave her one long and slow lick before latching his mouth hungrily to hers as if to devour her clean and whole. And she was going to let him… she will enjoy the rest of this night with the two of them flying to the heavens.

…

Meanwhile in the Great City, the Under Land's capital.

King Belial just returned to his palace after surveying the camps he had set all around the Abyss of Darkness. Ever since his wife, Beatrice, left for a journey to Yryzia, he did not waste a moment longer to focus all his attention to the unrest that was happening within the abyss.

He had gone down there again until he and his men reached the well of darkness. He could feel a tremendous dark energy pulsating from deep within the chasm. Even though not even a single monster had emerged from it for days now, the king could sense a terrible unease just by feeling the power pulsating from it.

This amount of dark magic was not normal. No… it was in fact far from normal. This is something he had never encountered before. And the greatest problem they have was the fact that this phenomenon was something new and they did not have the slightest idea on what was going to happen next or when will that something would just suddenly erupt and happen. All they could do was to prepare themselves and wait. They were literally sitting ducks waiting to be shot down. But, what else could they do? Since they have absolutely no idea on what was coming, how would they know what was the right thing to prepare? How could they plan or organise the best method to counter that unknown which was coming? Was it only monsters they needed to look out for like usual? Or was there something else that would appear?

To the king's relief, Claudius arrived and told him that his daughter-in-law was also currently in Yryzia. Belial had known something strange were going on with the portals, but due to this bigger problem, he could not do anything personally but only to dispatch others to check on the situation regarding the portals. This was also one of the reasons why he had sent Beatrice over to Yryzia, knowing that his older son was up to something related to the opening of the portals. Belial also knew that Beatrice was far more helpful in reaching out to this son than himself.

The news he received from Claudius was a shock and now, another news came to him, forcing him to rush back to the Great City with much haste.

He had heard that a group of powerful vampires had arrived in the Under Lands and their leader was no other but his long lost son, Prince Gavrael.

"Where are they now?" King Belial immediately asked for the report as soon as he arrived back at the palace.

"In the throne hall, Your Majesty," one of his officials answered and without wasting a moment longer, he strode off towards the door of the throne hall that was opening wide at his approach.

Chapter 479 - My Son

Inside the massive and extravagant throne hall of the King's palace, Gavriel and his men were standing before the impressive throne made of pitch black precious stones.

Earlier on when the vampires entered and passed through that portal, all of them were shocked beyond belief at what seemed to be a completely new world they had arrived in. They did not know if their prince was as shocked as them as he hid whatever expression he had the entire time. All that could be seen was his stern and inscrutable face that he usually puts on when dealing with serious matters – matters of utmost importance.

In fact, the whole group of the king's elite men had been as silent as their lord and master ever since they entered the portal as well. They felt as though they were with the dark version of Gavriel again but yet, not quite the same. However, none of them dared to speak up and ask if everything was alright with him.

Samuel had tried to hint to Zolan to say or ask something, but Zolan just sighed helplessly and gestured back that it might not be a good idea for them to ask anything right now. Zolan had felt that the king seemed to be in great concentration. It was as if he was in the middle of an intense war even though they were just walking. Zolan also thought that since the colour of their king's eyes was still a stormy grey, he was just like this due to his extreme worry for his wife and unborn child. Thus, he had told everyone not to bother him.

When they encountered some monsters near the portal, he did not even bother to pull his sword out and just let them deal with every single one of the bothersome monsters. And when they met with the dark faes, just one sharp and meaningful look from him was enough to get the dark faes to bow their heads in reverence to their king.

The tense and fearful air that the dark faes exuded as soon as they saw Gavriel had bothered them. But since their king himself did not comment on it nor did he look bothered by it at all, they could only just shrug and follow in silence.

But when they finally reached the Under Land's capital called the Great City, Zolan finally broke the silence.

"My King…" he started as they waited for the king of the Under Lands to arrive and meet them. "… forgive my insolence, but these men are wondering if you still do remember us?"

Gavriel lifted his gaze and stared at Zolan, then one of his brows raised arrogantly but gracefully in a silent response to his question. 'Opps, it seems he's still the usual him.' Zolan muttered within, that expression would never have appeared on his face if he was still in his dark version.

Zolan rubbed the back of his head as he forced a laugh. "Well, since you just started being so quiet and serious, the men had thought that your dark side might have taken over you again at some point which we had not realised." He continued speaking as he looked at the other men who were beyond speechless that Zolan just threw them under the bus and was shameful enough that he did not even include himself. 'This f**king sly fox!' were written all over their faces as they looked at Zolan. He was truly the fox being sent to guard the hen house! Their expressions were complicated as they exchanged glances, wishing that they could strangle Zolan.

Gavriel's gaze fell to the others, and they straightened their postures.

Thankfully, Gavriel let out a sigh and slipped his hands into his pockets. "I was wondering why my nosy and annoying men were suddenly silent. I thought you guys finally got tired of being the nosy ones… but it seems that I was wrong."

"Oh! That means you still remember us!" Levy exclaimed and then sighed. "Good grief, I nearly died from keeping my mouth shut!" he then hung his tongue out like a dog panting for water and they all chuckled at his silliness.

Gavriel could only shake his head, smiling at how his men were being silly. "It seems that my dark version as you guys call it, is best fitted to lead you all. It's amazing how he can shut the lot of you guys up without even trying." Gavriel laughed at their constipated and horrified looks after they heard him made that statement.

"No, no, Your Majesty!" Levy frantically shook his head and his hands. "We love the usual you the most. Your dark version is just too scary and overbearing. Not to mention that he can't even remember us. Right? Men?"

Everyone nodded quickly and Gavriel just smirked, shaking his head.

"Will your dark version come out again at some point in time, my lord?" Zolan then asked after a while of bickering with the rest of the men, "I honestly assumed that happened again since it seems you somehow knew exactly where we were to move around in this land."

Everyone went silent and focused their attention on it. They all wanted to know so at least they could prepare themselves. It would not be good if they bickered with him in his dark version or they might end up being beaten to pulp!

However, before Gavriel could answer them, they heard an announcement, saying that the king has arrived.

Their heads immediately turned towards their back as the massive throne hall doors opened.

They all stood still as a man in flowing dark robes and long dark hair entered. He reeked of strong and dark power. Just the sight of him turned the vampire's fighting instincts on without them even realizing it. Thankfully, their experience with their king's dark version made them a little more tolerant now. This man curiously gave off almost the same vibes as their lord's dark version.

His presence alone was so strong that one look at him was enough for them to tell that he is the one and only king of the Under Lands. Moving closer towards them so gracefully, he had set his intense blue eyes on their king. And then, unexpectedly, the majestic and threatening king suddenly broke out in a welcoming smile and opened his arms wide while looking at Gavriel the whole time.

"My son, you're back!" His voice boomed out through the throne hall.

Everyone just stood still, including Gavriel. None of them had expected that this was the first reaction of the king of dark faes to their arrival in his kingdom.

Belial let out a short and amused chuckle at the sight of the vampire's stunned expressions and he moved to stand in front of Gavriel and hugged his son in a bear hug, thumping him on his back happily.

"It's been really too long since you have been gone from home, Gavrael." King Belial said, gladness was filling his eyes. "Or do you prefer being called Gavriel? I'm fine with either of the two, son." He patted Gavriel's shoulder again and then pulled away.

Gavriel remained very still, but the look in his eyes looked like they have turned a bit emotional the moment he saw Belial appear and called out to him as his son.

"You… you're my father..." Gavriel said in a somewhat dazed manner and Belial smiled and nodded at Gavriel, not looking surprised at all that Gavriel was questioning him.

"Yes.. I am your one and only father, my son."

Chapter 480 - Call Them All

There was a slight disbelief in Gavriel's smile. He already knew that his real parents were in this realm. He had already mentally prepared himself that he was going to meet them this time when he came through the portal. But what he did not expect was, reuniting with a parent for the first time would actually feel like this.

Gavriel's eyes looked behind his father as though looking for another person and Belial spoke as he saw his son's wondering eyes.

"Your mother is not here at the moment. Ah… she's going to get jealous of me again that I met up with you first before her." Belial chuckled but his eyes contained traces of becoming quite emotional as well. "Your mother would be crying right now if she were to be here. She's been longing for you ever since you left many years ago." King Belial's voice softened at the end.

Gavriel looked like he did not know what to say so Belial patted his son's shoulder again in a reassuring move.

"It's alright son. I know you don't remember a thing about your earlier life as Gavrael." Belial said, and there was understanding and concern in his eyes. "Your mother's aware of that as well so you don't have to worry about anything. We fully understand your situation, my son."

Those words made Gavriel breathed out in relief. He did not realise how much he had hoped for those words until he heard his father said it. But abruptly, his face became serious. "My wife, Queen Evielyn, is she here?"

"Ah, you don't have to worry about her. My lovely daughter-in-law is with your mother." King Belial's smile was so wide that his eyes were crinkled into crescents. It was obvious he was mightily pleased with his daughter-in-law.

Relief washed over Gavriel at the reassurance in the Belial's voice.

"Where are they? I want to see her… them."

"Forgive me, son, but they're not here right now. They're currently together right now and your older brother is with them."

Gavriel's brows creased in curiosity. "My older brother…" He did not expect to hear this.

"Yes son, you have an older brother. His name is Gideon. You used to be so fond of him when you were younger. It's too bad, but I can't call them back here to the palace right now."

"Why?"

Belial looked around. His gaze fell to Gavriel's men who were standing at attention behind him, and the men immediately greeted him with a bow. Belial smiled at them.

"You have a bunch of great men with you," he commented before he turned to his attendant.

"Take good care of the guests," he ordered and the dark fae nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the servant bowed then politely gestured to Gavriel's men to follow after him.

Understanding that Belial wanted to speak with him privately, Gavriel nodded at his men to give them the permission to leave, and they followed the dark fae servant.

When the father and son were alone in the throne hall, the atmosphere became a bit serious.

"Because the Great City isn't safe right now." Belial told Gavriel. "In fact, I just found out the entire Under Land isn't safe anymore... we might be facing a great calamity soon."

Gavriel's expression became a bit even more serious. Feeling the severity of what his father was talking about, his own aura tuned heavier.

"I wish our reunion was not done like this and in this situation. It would be nice if we could have sat down and have drinks together for one whole night to celebrate your return." Belial sighed. "But right now, there seemed to a great war looming around and Evie, your wife, had recently sent me an emergency message about her nightmare. And I am sure you know about her dreams, right?"

"Evie had another nightmare?!" Gavriel's eyes widened.

"Yes. And she had sent word saying she had seen destruction so huge that the Under Lands had been brought to total ruins by countless monsters." Belial responded in a worried tone.

"My wife's nightmares… they're not even right to be called nightmares. They are literally visions! All her nightmares always happen! She had never been wrong about those visions yet." Gavriel felt his heart race hearing that she had yet another vision. And by the sounds of it, this was a horrifying one.

"Yes, she had told me about that. And she even saw the monsters reaching as far as the surface too. That only means we, the entire realm of dark faes would lose the war and the monsters managed to get past us. And that's why I think we truly are in trouble this time around. Especially since our enemy does not seem to be something that could be killed."

"What do you mean, father?"

"According to Queen Evielyn's nightmare, she saw countless monsters emerging from the Abyss of Darkness. I believe that based off the results of her vision, we weren't able to hold out due to the sheer number of monsters pouring out endlessly from the chasm. So our enemy is the abyss itself. Our only chance to stop the destruction must be to stop the monsters from coming out in the first place. But the biggest question is how do we do that? If it's a creature breeding or creating monsters out, we could aim for that one sole creature. But it seems that might not be the case as we have reasons to believe that the abyss is a portal leading to another dimension or to a world of monsters."

"Then… the only way to resolve this might be to seal it or destroy it. The portal, I mean." Gavriel responded, and Belial was silenced. Then a proud smile curved on his lips as he looked at his son. He seemed happy that his son had the same thoughts as how he did. This son of his indeed had grown so much. If this was Gavrael's mindset, he might have gone ahead and jumped into the portal on his own, recklessly and with abandon.

"That's a great idea, son! I believe that must be our best option right now. Now the question is how much magic and power will it take to seal or destroy something that had been there for countless years."

The father and son fell silent again, both of them pondering on this issue. When their eyes met, they could tell the solution they both have in their minds. Their wives. Gavriel just felt like Evie's involvement will be crucial in this matter. Not only because of her vision and her ability to see upcoming disasters, but because Gavriel just believes that there's always a reason she had to be the one to receive that vision. He had seen it over and over again, that Evie will always be a part of the major events such as this no matter how much he would try to stop her from being involved. Belial on the other hand, also couldn't help but think of his wife. Beatrice had a peculiar ability to formulate solutions for problems out of scratch. She cannot use magic but in her stay in the Under Lands, she was probably one of the most knowledgeable if not the best when it comes to spells. She could even create incredible and never seen before spells or modify used before spells. Sometimes, Belial himself was scared of what else she could do. In his heart, he knew her abilities would be needed in this situation.

But the two of them have a look in their eyes that were exactly the same. Worry and fear.

Seeing the exact same look in their eyes, the father and son smiled at each other and shook their heads almost simultaneously.

"This is a dilemma. We might need to call our wives here to save our assess from this massive problem." Belial laughed in disbelief.

"I'm afraid that's the only way. And I'm quite sure that even if we don't call for them, they'll definitely show up without us knowing." Gavriel said knowingly and he smiled helplessly as he understood Evie very well.

Another helpless laugh escaped from Belial. "Bloody hell… I can already see that happening if we insist on sending them away and not involving them."

Belial began to pace around slowly, thinking hard. And when he stopped, he seemed to have finally made up his mind. "I am going to send a word to call them all back here. I believe there is no use for them to hide in Yryzia anyway, as that city is still part of the Under Lands. Have you made up your mind, son?"

Gavriel could only nod despite the worry still gleaming in his eyes. "Yes. I want to see her."

"Alright." The king declared and called for Claudius to come over.