The Vampire King’s Captive

BRAN

Corey stared at Bran and Bran, in turn, stared at the wall in front of him with a hard expression. So many things were making him feel out of sorts and they were making his anger spike, clouding his thoughts and making it impossible for him to think smartly.

For one, he was lying on a bed like a fucking wimp, avoiding the gaze of the woman he’d eaten out not five days ago in her room because he couldn’t bear to look at her and say the words that he wanted to say next.

Secondly, he was pissed that she was seeing him like this-weak, helpless, useless, fucking powerless. It was usually the other way round with them and the change was throwing him. He hated it.

So fucking much.

Thirdly, he couldn’t have heard a news worse than the one he’d just heard from the oracle. He’d been prepared to pay a great fortune to the healer, whoever the person was.

What he hadn’t expected was for that person to be Maria of all people.

“Your Majesty,” the oracle called and Bran turned to her slowly. “You have to let her heal you.”

“I can’t.”

The expression on her face didn’t waver. She must have expected Bran to refuse already.

“You don’t have any other option.” She tried to reason with him, but it was pointless. It wasn’t going to happen.

“I can’t,” he repeated with great effort.

“You can,” a small, husky voice piped in. “You just don’t want to.”

It was Maria.

Fuck, why couldn’t she just kept her mouth out of it? It had been easier when she hadn’t said anything.

“I can’t take off your collar, Maria,” he sighed, tired of the conversation. “You know that.”

“No, I don’t.” She opposed and next thing, she was standing in front of him, her hands in fists by her sides, the expression on her face fierce. Fuck, she was so beautiful. “Let me help you. All you have to do is take off this bloody collar and I’ll be able to do that.”

Bran sighed again. “No.”

He was tired. So bloody tired.

And, hell, why was saying ‘no’ to her so hard?

“Why?” She asked quickly, taking a step closer to him. “Give me one reason.”

Her grey eyes were alive with anger, nostrils flaring like she was breathing fire and her body coiled tightly like she was ready to launch herself at him any moment.

Magnificent. That was what she was.

But it wasn’t enough to make Bran change his mind.

“I’m not going to take it off, Maria. Forget it.”

“That isn’t a reason, Bran,” she bit out through clenched teeth. “Give me one and maybe I’ll let it go then.”

“Because you’re going to fucking leave if I take it off, damnit.” He snapped, completely frustrated with the conversation.

It wasn’t until the words were out of his mouth that he remembered that there were two other people in the room-Corey and the oracle-and they had been listening to the conversation this entire time.

They’d heard what he just said.

“Why the hell is she even in here anyway?” He ground out, hating that his breaths were quickening because of the strength he was exerting and hating that he felt so weak. “I thought she had people watching her? Why did they let her in here?”

Corey blinked at him while the oracle merely listened on. She wasn’t the least bit surprised by what was going on.

“There are guards by her door.” Corey shrugged, expression tight. “I really don’t know how she managed to get past them.”

The guards were as good as dead.

“I need her to leave.” Bran said, looking directly at Corey and not at the woman standing in front of him. “Now.”

“Your Majesty, I think you should let her help.” the oracle finally intervened when she saw that Bran wasn’t going to be persuaded into taking Maria’s collar off.

What she still had not realised was that he was not going to change his mind.

“We’re going to have to find another way.”

“There is no other way.” The Oracle said in that same calm, collected voice. “She’s the only one who can help you, don’t you understand?”All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

Bran tried to put as much finalty and strength into his words as he could. “I’m not taking that collar off.”

“Then you accept that you’re going to die?”

“We’ll find another way.”

Her eyes flashed with anger and Bran’s own eyes rolled back in his head with frustration. “There is no other way.”

“Bran,” Corey sighed, walking closer to him. He dragged a hand down his tired face, appearing just as frustrated as Bran was. “I think you should just do-”

“No,” Bran cut him off, his anger rising. “I am not taking the collar off and that’s final.”

He could feel the energy pouring off of Maria in waves. It was dark and angry and commanding, and like a moth drawn to a flame, he turned to her, bracing himself for the look he would see on her face.

The fire.

“So that’s it? You’re really going to let yourself die?” She asked, voice laden with disbelief. Bran stared hard at her, matching her glare. She gave a disbelieving huff of laughter, eyes turning manic. “You can’t be serious.” She swiveled on her heel to look at Corey and the oracle. “Are you people listening to him? He’s going to let himself die just because he doesn’t want to remove the collar? That’s crazy!” She cried.

“Call it whatever you want.”

“Oh my gods, he’s crazy!” She shrieked, hysterical. “Why am I the only one who’s seeing something wrong with this?”

There was no response, although Corey looked a lot like he wanted to take her side in that moment and that said alot.

She took a deep calming breath, pushed her hair away from her face with shaky hands that caused a small pang in Bran’s chest, and exhaled. “I’m the only one who can help you right now, but you’re not going to remove the collar because you think I’ll run away.” She summarised. “Is that correct?”

He didn’t respond to her, but his silence was answer enough for her.

Maria nodded and the light in her eyes dimmed. “Got it.”

Then she turned and walked out of the room the same way she’d come-quietly. Except that this time, she looked defeated.