~Emily~



I felt a sudden excitement as I held the tray in hand walking straight to Zayne's room.

I could only imagine it had something to do with what Rowan said to me yesterday.



My mood turned grey as a sudden thought popped up in my head.


What of Zayne!? How would he be feeling?


He was so angry yesterday, he even beat up Rowan like he was some stranger.

I hope he's feeling a lot better than he was yesterday.


KNOCK

KNOCK


'Come in" I could tell from his voice he was still a bit moody.

I gently opened his door, my eyes caught him looking at me.


I carefully dropped the tray on his stool and stood for a few seconds.

I waited to see if he had anything to say to me.


'You know, Emily, I was also hurt yesterday. But all you cared about was Rowan"


I looked at the bruises on his chest causing me to let out a light gasp.

The bruises were a little less severe than Rowan's, but they were only partially treated.


I felt a bit aggrieved. After all, from my point of view Rowan was the one who was knocked to the ground, and Rowan is also my friend. I had to check on him.


'There's a first aid kit over there!" Zayne pointed at a dusty shelf by the left of his room

I quickly reached for the cupboard, and pulled out the first aid box.

I quickly fished out the ointment for the bruises. The ointment was stored up in a small bottle, I opened its cap and gently moved with it approaching him.


As I moved closer, the warm fragrance of Zayne's body reached my nostrils. I felt as if my mind went blank for a moment.


A sudden lustful craving developed in me.

What is happening? Why did I find his fragrance so appealing?


'What is happening, why did you stop?" Zayne's stern voice reached my ears bringing me back to my senses.


He refocused my attention on his chest. His wounds were slightly hidden by the collar of his white t-shirt, so I gently collapsed his collar.

I held my breath, my chest tightened.


Oh! What is this?


The outline of Zayne's muscles were clear in my vision of sight.

His muscles were stronger and larger than Rowan's and looked flawless,Like a walking work of art.

The noise was right in the middle of his chest, and instead of ruining this perfection, it made me more excited because of this different colour.

The sight of his physique, as the warm fragrance exuding from his body was affecting my brain like crazy.

This was the first time I had seen Zayne's body so close up, and I could never have imagined that I would be so attracted to it.

He wasn't even completely naked.

I was barely keeping myself together. My soul was being pulled away by something indescribable, wanting to merge with him.


As I continued I could feel Zayne's stare fixed on me. I tried my best to look away.

I bit my lips to restrain my impulse to squeeze out the ointment and dip a cotton swab into some. But I was standing on the edge of his couch, and if I wanted to medicate Zayne I needed to get even closer to him.


Just as I was hesitating, I was suddenly wrapped around my waist by Zayne.

He pulled me over and his body pressed against mine.


'How can you medicate me while standing over there?"


He was pressed against me, and we were so close that my breasts were pressed against him. The reassuring warmth spread from our body to mine, my heartbeat instantly became faster and I felt my cheeks gradually turning red hot.

I propped one arm on his shoulder, holding my upper body away from him, and then took a cotton swab in the other arm to gently apply the ointment to him.

Zayne's face was on my side and his breathing seemed to become laboured, his ragged breathing reached my ears. I couldn't hold my smile as my heart pounded intensively.

The hot air of his breath brushed my face, giving me a sudden warmth. His scent became more and more intense and made me dizzy. My vision was getting a bit blurry, my head was spinning round.


What is happening to me? Is this the attraction that belongs to a man?


I quickly applied the ointment all over his wound and by the time I finally put a piece of gauze on him, his voice rang in my ears.

'Emily, you should have first come to me and ask how I was doing, not Rowan. After all you are my personal maid and not his"

I froze for a moment as I heard his words, they were tinged with a bit of jealousy.

Is Zayne jealous of Rowan? And even more, because of me. Wow Rowan might have been right after all.


'I'm sorry, I should have known" Zayne's eyes met mine. I suddenly couldn't take them off him. We stared at each other for a while or gaze unwavering.

He moved closer to me, tucking my hair behind my ears.

But as it drew closer, my heart was pounding. What does he want to do? I was still a virgin, and although I couldn't deny my feelings for Zayne, I was still reluctant to do anything with him.

'Ermm… I have to go for training, I'm already late" I said as he stopped his movement abruptly.

'Yeah, go, go, go" I could tell a tinge of embarrassment, as his words stuttered.

'Okay!" I took my jacket from his bed and left his room at once.

Gosh, I didn't get mad at him.


I quickly headed off to the training grounds, the atmosphere in the training was different from before.

There was a feeling of excitement and anticipation within the Lycans.

I couldn't quite understand why.

'Hey! What's happening?" I asked a young Lycan next to me.

'Haven't you heard, we are getting a visit from the most skilled fighter in the kingdom"

I gave him a puzzled look, oblivious to the person he is referring to.


'Luther, the prince of the Lycan kingdom, is coming"


What!

No, no, no, no. Why is he coming here?


'He is here!!"

A loud voice rang through the whole training grounds.

Everybody turned their head in the direction behind me.

I soon followed suit.

My heart twitched on sight of Luther. He had a very disgusting grin on his face. He walked majestically through the narrow path, leading to the grounds.

By his side was Thorn, his trusted ally.


I could understand why people at the grounds were so excited to see Luther. Most of the aspiring warriors lived outside the castle premises, so for them a sight of the prince is worth weighing in gold.

But with my little knowledge of Luther, I could tell he didn't really like to train that much, neither did anyone.

So then why was he here?


He walked up to the front of the gathering. All the eyes of everyone were fixed on him.

'Good day, my Lycan warriors, both young and old, aspiring or accomplished.

I came here on behalf of the king and all royalties of the palace.

I have come here to deliver to you people a very crucial news.

As from today henceforth, you warriors will have to expect a war with the vampire kingdom coming for us"


A loud chattering erupted from the crowd. Their voices laced with worry, I could barely hear Luther's voice again.


A war? What for?

There is a war coming to this kingdom? Is that why Zayne decided to sign me up to train?


'Silence!!"

Luther's voice was loud and audible, bringing everyone to silence.

'Please do not panic, with good and intense training and preparation, the vampire kingdom don't stand a chance"

'We have the best warriors ever known, the best leaders ever, so with that! No one can defeat the Lycan kingdom!!"


'Yes!!" an approving chant came from the crowd.


~Zayne~


'Fuck!"

What was wrong with me? I continued to pace around the room in annoyance.


Emily just stepped out of my room, and I couldn't help but feel very undermined. How could I get rejected by my own maid?

What is wrong with you, Zayne? Can you do better?


KNOCK KNOCK


A loud knock on my door snapped me out of my breakdown.


'Come in!"


Luther and Thorn entered my room, their faces squeezed as they wore an ugly frown.

It was as if they never laughed or smiled, only to mock people.

'You sent it to us, brother?"


'Yes I did. I need you guys to head down to the training grounds and announce to them the possibility of a war!"


'Why can't Rowan or Cedric do it, after all they are at the training grounds every day" Luther said, his voice laced with annoyance. 'A prince and soon king like me can't be seen in muddy grounds like that"


'Enough! Listen to me carefully brother.

You will go down there and tell them about the war, no complaints!"

I gave him an ear full, Luther sometimes behaves as though he is literally begging for it.

'I sent you for this, for the reason that most of those warriors treasure the mere sight of you. Every word you say to them is very crucial to them, so to avoid any violent conduct, you will announce it to them"

'Am I clear?"


'Yes, brother"Luther mumbled under his voice, I could barely hear a word he said.

Luther and Thorn left my room, discontent evidence in their faces. They kept their brows furrowed as they walked out.


'Phew!" I took a deep breath, today had already been a handful for me and it was barely noon.


'Master!"

It was set to get even more strenuous. A distant voice reached my ears, his voice was laced with urgency and worry.


Cedric suddenly barged into my room. 'Lord Zayne we have a big issue on our hands"

Cedric's eyes showed distress, I could not but worry and fear what the issue might be.


'Well, tell me what it is?"


'Sir, why don't I show you?" Cedric walked out of the room, prompting me to follow from behind.

We reached the kingdom entrance gates.

My eyes widened in shock at the sight of four Lycan bodies dead as I let out a huge gasp.


'Cedric, what happened? Tell me now!" I asked Cedric my voice cracking.


'Based on the bites, the nature of the wounds we've concluded these attacks were caused by vampires".


'Vampires!! I will kill every one of them!" My voice rang out from a fair distance.

'Have you done a check on any vampires whose shape shifted and are now in the Castle?"


Cedric's silence to my question worried me the most.

'You didn't!!

Fuck!"

'We have to get back to the castle now!"

I rushed back to the castle, my steps quickened.

The sun was gradually going down, and the vampires were soon set to break loose.

If there are indeed any vampires presently at our castle, they must be after Emily, but I won't let that happen.


'Everybody to your rooms now! And when you do shut the doors hard"


There was now a scramble at the courtyard, everybody strived to get to their rooms, they didn't know what was happening, but from my voice they could easily tell something was wrong.


Soon after, the castle was empty, silent as a graveyard.

I took a stroll round the castle before heading back to my room.


But as I reached my door, my hand was already fixed on the knob.


'Arhhhh"


A loud scream reached my ears. I could tell it was a human scream.

Oh no! Emily!!


I raced for Emily's room, breaking the lock on it with ease.

What?

'Where are they?"


I was surprised to see Emily, laying peacefully on her bed.

'Who?"


'Oh no!! Steph!"

I dashed out of Emily's room, ignoring all her questions.


In little time, I was at the other maid quarters. From a distance I sighted her room, partially opened.

No, no, no.


I kicked the door wide open, but there was no one, not even Steph.


No!!