The Duke's Passion

Last night, I wished it were all a terrible nightmare. No, I wished everything was just a long, adventurous dream and we're still back in Grimsbanne. 

"Wake up," I heard Sam's voice as he shook me awake. 

I slowly opened my eyes, and I found myself sitting with his help. Am I finally waking up from that long dream? I rubbed my eyes as I blinked and smiled upon seeing Sam's hazy figure.

"Can I kill you?" He asked and I could not help but let out a brief chuckle. Just as I thought, it was all a dream, after all. 

So, I collapsed to my side and answered, "Go ahead."

Back in Grimsbanne, Sam would habitually wake me up in the morning to ask something or just to say his morning greetings. It was a habit I got used to, so I often slept a bit more.

"You, don't you have any sense of danger?" I heard him inquire, but I ignored him. 

How nice… to wake up from that endless dream, it almost felt real. I smiled at the thought, ready to sleep again, and I did.

After a very long time, I slowly opened my eyes and met with a pair of crimson eyes staring back at me. The side of my lips curled up as my eyes softened.

Sam.

I raised my hand and cupped his cheek, caressing his lean cheek with my thumb. He arched his right brow, seemed confused at my actions, but he didn't stop me.

'It was just a long dream, after all,' I thought internally again, relieved that I awoke from it. 

"I had a dream," I whispered as I smiled subtly, wanting to detail to him about the long dream I had, but I summarized it instead. "In that dream, you left me."

And that's the most tragic experience of that dream. Not even death could break me, nor the fact that I was sired to the king. 

What scared me the most was the way he looked at me as if I was a stranger, without the evidence of love he bore. That, he had forgotten the memories we built together. And how he appeared to have this impregnable wall that no one could break. 

"What nonsense dream is that? It can't even get my character right." Sam clicked his tongue in annoyance, a typical reaction from him. "If it's the real me, I will rather invite you or drag you to hell with me instead of leaving you behind. It's either we die together or live together."

I giggled weakly before I let out a sigh. That's how we built our relationship; for better or for worse. "That's right." I nodded, pressing my lips together with a smile. 

"Are you daft, girl?" Sam abruptly inquired with genuine wonder. 

"Huh?" I blinked, confused at his sudden query.

"Why would you want a man who would take you to hell just because?" Sam clarified as he arched his brow. "Are you a pushover?"

I blinked many times, hoping it would clear my head, and it did. So I looked around, recognizing the unfamiliarity of the room, which made my heart sink. "So it wasn't a dream," I murmured in disappointment, withdrawing my hands from him as I laid on my back. 

"Good morning, Sam." I greeted while staring at the high ceiling, biting my lower lip out of habit before I closed my eyes to take a deep breath.

"You have quite the mood swings," Sam said as I felt his gaze on my side. "But, good morning. Now, we can talk."

I slowly opened my eyes and cast him a look. I stared at his indifferent eyes for a long time before I asked, "Do you still love me?"

"Uh." My question seemed to have taken him aback because he pondered before he answered with an uncertain, "Yes… I think."

He wasn't sure, and I'm certain he was serious. A mocking sigh slipped past my lips as I moved my gaze back to the high ceiling.

"You think?" I repeated under my breath. "So, do you also think you want to marry me?"

He didn't respond, and I'm not even surprised. The person beside me wasn't Sam. It was Hell — the one everyone hated. The person Sam hid from me; the side of him he, himself, detest. 

"I think I still want to marry you," He answered after his long silence. 

But I was not merciful to give him a break, so I asked, "Do you only think about it? Don't you feel like marrying me?"

"I feel like strangling you right now." Unlike his long silence earlier, his reply this time was relatively quick.

"So, why haven't you done it?" But I wouldn't back down with this battle of the tongue. 

"Because I also feel like kissing you, tearing your clothes apart, and sinking my fangs into you."

My breath instantly hitched upon his last remarks, but I didn't get swayed yet. Why? Because he did none of them.

"I see," I whispered as I dragged myself to sit. "Where are we?"

I asked and looked around, recognizing the similar interior, just like the palace. I didn't expect that Sam would come to the palace, especially after what happened last night.

"The third prince's quarters. My quarter." He answered while pointing at himself.

My mind reviewed the map of the enormous palace before I nodded, "Alright, then." I picked myself up, flinging my legs out of the bed as I prepared myself to leave.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked.

  I looked back at him and saw him raise a brow. "Back to my quarters, my Lord," I replied, performing a curtsy before I prepared myself to leave.

I needed some time alone to think about our current situation and to stitch my heart back secretly. Just some time alone, because that's just what I need.

"This is your quarters from now on," Sam uttered as I walked away. "Someone will transfer your belongings. You just have to wait for them."

"Thank you, your highness. However, we're not married yet, and it's not proper to stay inside a room together." It was hypocritical of me to say such words, but I needed some excuse. Upon dropping that lame excuse, I resumed my steps.

Just when I reached the door and slightly opened it, Sam suddenly appeared behind me, pressing his fingers — from thumb to his middle finger — against the door and pushed it back slowly as it creaked.

"Then, let's get married today," Sam whispered behind my ear, sending a chill down my spine.