"Come closer, let me take a look," Damien ordered, his voice low, almost coaxing.
Bella rose slowly, her legs trembling as though they could give way at any moment. Step by shaky step, she moved toward him. But when she was just two steps away, Damien's hand shot out. With effortless strength, he pulled her swiftly into his lap.
Bella gasped, the sound sharp in her throat. Heat rushed to her cheeks as shame burned through her—her wide eyes darting to the crowd, only to find every gaze fixed on her.
The nobles stared in stunned silence, their curiosity boiling over. Where had such a beautiful maid suddenly appeared from? Many of them knew every face in the palace, yet this girl was a mystery. Of course, only the royal family and a handful of servants knew of Bella and her mother's existence. To the nobles, it was as if she had emerged from nowhere.
"So, tell me…" Damien's voice cut into the air, sudden and sharp, making Bella flinch where she sat. "How do you plan to atone for spilling my drink?"
Her body stiffened, her mind blank. She tried to remain as still as a statue in his lap, but Damien wasn't satisfied. His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her even closer. His breath fanned over her face, hot and deliberate, sending shivers down her spine.
Bella's blush deepened in embarrassment. If before she had wished for the ground to swallow her, right now she just wanted to disappear completely. As though trying to add to her discomfort, Damien bent his head lower, his nose brushing along the curve of her neck. He inhaled deeply, breathing in her scent, his movements so intimate it made her heart nearly stop. Whether he was unaware of what he was doing or simply did not care Bella could not tell.
Marcus, on the other hand, clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms, his teeth grinding in rage. His eyes burned red with jealousy as he watched Damien touch her so intimately. That was his Bella his to protect, his to hold, his to touch. The possessive fury in him was unbearable, threatening to push him into action. But he knew that standing against the vampire now would be disastrous, not only for him but for Bella too. His father's wrath would fall on him swiftly if he dared.
Just as his jealousy was about to consume him, King William's voice cut through the hall.
"If His Highness likes the maid, he can take her," the king said smoothly, his tone carrying a hint of desperation as he tried to win the vampire's favor. His plans to gain Damien's goodwill had already begun to crumble, and somehow, his own children seemed to be causing it. At the very least, this troublesome girl Bella, whom he had all but forgotten existed might still serve him some purpose.
"Father," Marcus called out, shocked at his father's statement.
King William's expression turned angry and embarrassed at his son's outburst. He shot Marcus a glare sharp enough to silence him instantly.
The queen frowned, not liking the interest her son was showing in Bella. If the kingdom ever found out she was his sister, the scandal would be great. She glared at Bella, blaming her for daring to seduce her own brother, the disgust in her eyes clear for all to see.
Unknowingly, Bella coiled deeper into Damien's body as she felt the queen's hostile gaze. She had been so worried about offending the vampire that she had forgotten her family would be equally furious at her sneaking into the ball. But it was her father's words, offering her away so easily, that stung the most.
"Your Highness, we would be glad to offer this maid as a gift," Queen Prisca said, her voice smooth but cold. "She is quite different from the rest and her blood tastes better." She turned her eyes on her son, silently warning him not to speak a word.
Damien chuckled in delight, his head still buried in the crook of Bella's neck. Bella, unable to bear the weight of so many stares, hid her face against his chest.
"Seems you all are quite eager to gift her to me," he said, sounding amused.
King William, smiling in delight, nodded eagerly. "Yes, Your Majesty. As long as you like her, she's yours."