Do not leave my side

Neera was dumbfounded, and in shock as Zavian took her out of the hall. She was yet to recover from the fact that she had just seen a person lose his right hand right in front of her. Her heart thumped fast against her chest as she followed Zavian in a hurry.

Zavian took her to his chambers and made her sit in a chair. Taking her injured hand, he frowned when he saw the blood seeping from the injury the demon's claws had caused. Neera drew her hand from him and shakily stood up from the chair;

''I'm sorry for making you worry and causing a scene at the party, your majesty.'' Neera stuttered, her head lowered in fear. She was scared. Although the demons knew she was the one who looked like the former queen, no one paid extra attention, but now that the King had caused a scene at the party, she was sure that rumors would spread.

This was going to cause trouble for not only her but also the King. He was to get married to a princess from one of the kingdoms, but what would happen if news spread that he had chopped off a demon's hand because of a mere court maid?

''Sit!'' Zavian commanded in an angry tone and in an instant, Neera was back in the chair, her whole body trembling from fear.

Zavian breathed out, trying not to be out of control. Getting a bowl of water and a piece of cloth, he cleaned her wound. He was still mad, so he was not very careful, which made Neera wince. It was only then that he slowed down.

No one said a word after that. Neera just sat there like a wet puppy, and let him tend to her wounds.

''Do you want to die that much?'' Zavian asked, breaking the silence. He sounded furious, and Neera could only bite her lip, afraid she would anger him the more if she said anything.

''Why are you so careless with your body? Do you know how important you are?'' Zavian asked angrily.

Neera shivered. Right, she had forgotten so soon. The reason he was so concerned.

''I apologize for my mistake, your Majesty. I would not endanger myself again.'' She said, bowing her head low.

Zavian stared at her. He did not know what to say and he could not even find his rage after hearing her words. She spoke so softly, like one in so much pain, he couldn't bring himself to remain angry at her.

Earlier, when he saw the demon pull her, he did not think of the consequences of his actions. All he wanted to do was yank the old fag's hand off her.

His eyes had followed her every move at the party. He had tried not to look at her, but it was almost impossible. He had unintentionally stared, watching how she poured wine for the guests and how they stared at her. He wanted to gawk out their eyes for staring for too long but he could not do that, but when that demon tried to kiss her, he didn't realize he had stood up from his chair until he was in front of them.

No matter how much he did not want to, he could not deny the fact that he thought of her as the closest thing to his wife, and could not bear to see her hurt. At that moment, he cared less about the rumors that would make their way around the city. All he wanted to do was save her.

Zavian looked down at her hand. Her wrist had stopped bleeding, it was not that deep, however, he still tended to it. Neera did not refuse. The scowl on his face was too scary for her to say a word.

''From now henceforth, you are not to leave my side unless I say so,'' Zavian ordered as he put away the bowl. Neera's eyes widened in shock, and she just stared at him blankly;

''Is that clear?'' He asked, his deep hoarse voice resounding in the room, making Neera shudder as she nodded;

''Yes, Your Majesty,'' she said and stood up, bowing her head.

''Good.'' Zavian turned away from her and walked to the bedside and took off his kingly robe and his shirt. He had tied his hair, but as he took off the shirt, the band came undone, sending his hair spiraling down his neck. Neera's eyes fixed on his shimmering golden hair, and she wondered how someone who looked like an angel could be one of the darkest creatures on earth.

Her iris lowered to his broad shoulders and toned back, and she quickly lowered her head when she saw him turn around.

She kept her head low until she heard the bathroom door close shut. Neera sighed as she looked at her hand. It had stopped bleeding and it did not hurt so much anymore.

Her mind went back to what the king had said earlier…

Staying by his side was going to cause so much more trouble for her. She wondered what the future would hold for her.

The demons would not stop talking about what happened that night, and before morning, the news would have spread across town. She would be in more trouble than she already was.

No matter what the king's intention was, the demons would not support it. Bringing his wife back to life meant not getting married to the princess, and they would not want that.

They would do all they could to stop it, and that meant killing her.

The bathroom door creaked. Bringing Neera back from her thoughts, Neera looked up to see Zavian coming out of the bathroom with water dripping down his body, a towel tied loosely around his waists. She lowered her gaze instantly as she waited for his command.

Zavian's eyes flashed at the girl still standing in the middle of the room where he had left her. She looked afraid, as though he was going to tear her apart any second from now.

''Come brush my hair. '' He said, sitting in front of the vanity.