Giselle didn't know much about vampires except what was rumored—that they were vicious creatures, descendants of corrupted fae Lords that craved the blood of their victims and preferred to commit such deeds under the cloak of night.
It didn't make her feel any less nervous as night grew closer. They were still out in the forest somewhere. Fabio's horse too had been lost in the chaos, from what he said earlier. Now she was in his sturdy arms as they trekked through the forest. After she let out a sharp cry, he placed her back on the ground. Lucien, the vampire king, was only a few paces ahead but he'd stopped to wait, a strange look on his face as he watched the couple. Before Giselle could say a word in protest, Fabio had sniffed out blood on her leg from where the wound reopened during the scuffle and promptly leaned down to lick it clean, a move that shocked her as it was too intimate after everything that had happened today.
"Fabio, you don't have to–"
If Giselle expected an explanation, he didn't give one, not even saying a word as he got down on one knee, ripped off the edge of his shirt and bandaged the now clean wound.
She blushed furiously when his warm hands met bare skin, still swamped by the thought of those full, red lips encircling it, his skilled tongue licking the blood away.
"It will heal faster with my saliva on it." He finally said, motioning her to get back into his arms.
The sun had long sunk beneath the horizon, bathing the sky in hues of red and orange. Giselle noticed there was yet no birdsong or the usual flurry of noises common in forest life, it was almost as if they could sense the predator travelling benightedly beside them, the paleness of his complexion a sharp contrast to the green flora that surrounded them. She realized how strange it seemed; her being lost, injured and alone in the middle of nowhere with Fabio fervently searching for her.
"I was told you would be arriving soon but not this soon, Lucien." Fabio was saying, barely breaking a sweat with Giselle in his arms. The girl couldn't help but feel worthlessly light in his arms, almost helplessly so. The thought of weighing nothing in his rugged arms sent twinge of arousal running down her center. She swallowed, trying to tune in to the conversation.
"We've known each other for nearly a decade now, Fabio. You should know how unpredictable I can be." The vampire ruler drawled, falling in step with them.
"What about your servants? Did you come alone?"
"Ah, not this time. I have not forgotten the ball you promised to throw in my honor. My servants went ahead of me, that is all. I simply wished to enjoy some fresh air, your kingdom did always have the best views nature wise and it is a good thing I did too!" Lucien turned to glance at her where she was cradled in Fabio's chest. "How are you feeling now, my lady? Does your leg still hurt?"
Giselle startled when she realized he was referring to her.
"U-uh, yes I feel much better, my Lord. Thank you." His red eyes felt like they were everywhere, boring into her very soul if that were even possible.
"How did you end up hurt and lost in these savage woods anyway? Everyone knows it is a death wish to travel this far alone, most especially for an omega. Even my changelings, as vicious as they may appear, aren't allowed this far without an escort."
Giselle opened her mouth to reply, then closed it. Seeing the dangerous tick in Fabio's jaw, she realized she had to choose her words carefully.
"I—we…were on a visit to the market place but my horse lost control and I inevitably ran into the bandits." she explained, keeping her words simple and short. The less she said, the less likely it would be to overexplain and make a mistake in their story. "I must thank you for rescuing me, sir. Things would have gone very different if you didn't show up when you did."
"It was nothing." his gaze was so intense Giselle could barely breathe.
They did end up finding a horse, Fabio's brown mare, wandering at the outer edge of the forest were the grass was greenest. Fabio secured the saddle and lifted Giselle onto the beast.
"I must take Giselle home," Fabio told the vampire king as he tightened the horse's loose harness, "she's had a long day and she needs the rest. Will you be alright completing the rest of the journey alone? I can send a carriage–"
"–it won't be necessary, Fabio. You know more than anyone how much I dislike carriages." he chuckled as though he just said the funniest thing ever. Glancing back at her, the vampire flashed a toothy grin. "I hope to meet you soon, my lady, perhaps when you are well rested and feeling much better. You've had to ensure quite the ordeal today."
Giselle returned the smile with a polite one of hers. "Likewise, King Lucien. It was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you again."
It looked like the vampire wished to say more but decided against it, only raising his right hand to wave at them. Giselle noticed a tattoo on his wrist; a symbol of sorts. He was too far away for her to see it clearly but she could make out the Roman numerals 'XXIV' scribbled in gothic script. Giselle could only wonder what it could mean, perhaps his position in his kingdom? Or was it his age? Or the age of someone special to him? She wanted to know, for whatever reason she couldn't tell. She had never felt this curious yet wary about someone before.
She was only forced to look away when Fabio's chest pressed against her back. Cheeks ablaze, she jolted away on instinct only to be met with a firm hand pushing her back.
"I can't ride with your hair in my face, Giselle. And you're still hurt—you have to lean back." his hand was still, she realized when the warmth didn't fade.
Giselle didn't have a choice. Her body was already weak with exhaustion and the vibrations from his baritone did nothing to help but try to lull her to sleep.
They rode past familiar terrain, arriving at the palace not too long after. Instantly, they were swamped by attendants but Fabio didn't stop to accept assistance from anyone of them, carrying her bridal style himself and bounding up the long flight of stairs.
"Fabio, put me down, I can manage–" "Quiet, Giselle."
Servants peeked out of their workstations, muttering under their breath. Surely it wasn't unusual to see the royal couple but the rumors floating around the palace didn't favor them to be cordial towards each other so Giselle understood their confusion. Not only was Fabio cradling her in his arms like an infant, but she was holding on tight for dear life as they climbed up several fleets of stairs to get to their wing. When they did arrive, he walked right past her room.
"Fabio, my room–"
"–you can stay in mine, for now."
Giselle should protest more, storm back to her room if she had to. After all, just mere hours ago he sliced her leg open with his godforsaken claw and sent her running away in a fright. But he set her on the bed gently, pulling off her soiled shoes. Any thoughts she had of leaving flew out the window.
He disappeared into the changing room and came back with a bowl and a small rag. Rinsing the rag in bowl, he squeezed its excess liquid and used it to clean her leg, repeating it until all the dirt and grime was gone and only the reddish-pink gash remained. Once again, he licked at the wound gently, allowing saliva to drip on open scabs until they healed shut first before moving onto the larger cuts. Giselle tried not to think about how small her leg felt in his hand.
"I'm not handicapped, you know. Just tired and hurt but it's healing." She said as she watched him flit about the room, picking up clothes and books that laid on the carpet.
Fabio nodded, more absentmindedly than out of necessity. "I know that Giselle."
Giselle groaned. He wasn't looking at her, too interested in cleaning up his room. For the King of Wolves, he was very untidy.
"Then why keep me here? I would like to go back to my room, please."
He shook his head. "You can't."
"Why not?" Her voice came out sharper than she'd intended. Fabio's gaze was just as sharp but lacking true bite behind them. For some reason, Giselle had learned to tell his really angry 'look' from his simply 'annoyed' one.
Fabio sighed, crossing the room to seat beside her on the bed, his fingers drumming on the sheets restlessly.
"Because," He said, this time meeting her eyes. There was a sadness in the blue of his pupils and for a moment, Giselle wished that it was her he loved so dearly. "Because it is my fault. I hurt you, I've always hurt you."
She felt her body tense at his confession. It wasn't news to him, it shouldn't be. Every waking hour in this palace had been fraught with pain and tears, he was more than aware of it. Even the wound he had unwittingly inflicted on her was nothing compared to what he had already put her through.
"Sometimes, I feel our—our bond speak to me. You're always in pain." she shivered at the feeling of his warm breath on her cheeks. Unruly tears gathered in her eyes, glistening as she looked up at him. "I wanted you to break, Giselle. That's why I did it. That's why I hurt you many times."
There was no use holding them back. Her tears fell freely, pooling down her cheeks and wetting the pillow under her head. Fabio reached out to touch her cheeks, tentatively at first, then his firm thumbs stopped one tear. Then another.
"Have you broken yet, hmm? Have I broken you, little red?"
Giselle sobbed harder until her body shook. She was sure by now her face was drenched in tears and snort yet Fabio didn't look away from her, an almost reverent look in his eye if not triumphant. Slowly he wrapped his arms around her and pressed her close in an awkward hug, one she couldn't return because of how hard she was sobbing.
Moments passed and he still held her in silence until she had calmed down, until only soft sniffles betraying her past tears.
"Did you injure me on purpose too? Is this all part of your plan?"
"No."
Giselle wiped her face, barely looking at him. "Can you do me a favor?" He nodded wordlessly. "The ball for King Lucien–"
"You shouldn't attend, you're still–"
"No. I—I want to. Gods know I need the distraction." Giselle said decidedly. "But I don't want anyone to see my…my face. I already look horrendous after–" Fabio looked confused for a second and she knew then that it was a horrible idea to tell him. "Never mind, forget I said anything."
"Tell me what you want, Giselle." if she saw his eyes fall to her lips as he spoke, she didn't mention it. "The least I can do is make it happen…"