Hellbound Heart

Someone who caught the silent conversation due to the utter shock in that one ladies' eyes piped in with warning in her eyes. 'Watch what you are saying, Jules. The princess is not a witch. And if the prince ever finds out what you are gossiping about...'

'I never said that the princess is a witch.' Jules retorted, defending herself from being accused. 'She's the one who came up with that conclusion. Not me!' Though she never said it explicitly, however, she was hoping that someone would misinterpret that statement and lead the conversation in that direction. That would only lean in her favor.

'But you had implied it! Leave the princess alone. The prince is just in love with her. That's it. Stop being bitter about it.' The woman warned them again and then she turned around and left. Leaving Jules and the other girls with sour expressions.

....

Sebastian halted in the middle of their spacious room. He took a deep breath and then slowly put Izabelle down.

She had not spoken since the moment he scooped her up into his arms. Which was not like her at all. However, Sebastian thought that perhaps she could feel that something was going on with him and that was why she refrained from distracting him.

Stepping back, Sebastian put both his hands on either side of her shoulders. Bending down so he was more at her level, he searched her face slowly, and then down her entire body with a scrutinizing gaze. The way he was doing it was as though there was something important he needed to find. However, after a few moments, his gaze returned to her face and they locked gazes again.

"Tell me, Izabelle." His voice was grave as his hands squeezed her shoulders a little. "Are you harmed anywhere? If you are, don't hesitate to tell me."

Blinking at him for a couple of seconds, Elle stared at him rather uncomprehendingly. Her expression told him she was not hurt.

"You thought... I have been harmed?" she asked curiously. Her gaze searched his face as well. "Was that why you suddenly came to get me?"

"Yes." He replied and her blue eyes gleamed. It was as if she suddenly became emotional.

He reached out to brush her face with the backs of his fingers. His voice dropped low and grave but sexy as he continued. "I need to see it for myself, Izabelle. I needed to check and personally see to it that you truly weren't harmed anywhere. I needed to know that nothing had happened to you. That no one dared to –" He suddenly stopped talking. It was as though his voice just gave way.

"I am fine, Sebastian." Her tone had changed into something deceptively firm. The look in her eyes turned a little... fierce.

The sudden change in her demeanor and that rare gleam in her eyes made Sebastian momentarily forget how to respond. It had lent her a look of a warrior princess that was so contradictory to her usual image of a slender, gentle and gracious princess. And it was that beautiful contrast in her that had took him by surprise and sent his mind in a whirl. While he was still in a daze, it was then that she reached out and grabbed the collar of his coat all the while pushing him backward.

Sebastian allowed himself to be pushed back by his little wife. Her actions, that were so unlike her and that compelling look in her eyes... had him silenced and spellbound. For some reason, it was sending his heart racing hard within him. Even so, he still did not want to do anything to distract her. He would like to see this other unique side of her that she had never shown to him before, even if it was only for a little while longer.

Neither of them spoke as she stepped forward and he stepped back. Their gazes never breaking, never letting the other go. Curiosity and yes... thrill surged within him as he waited in silence and anticipation. Her behavior right now was just so unexpected and so... refreshing. It truly was a surprise... a very welcomed one indeed! He never thought he would think of her being this fierce as adorable, as when she was obedient and blushing. In fact, f**k... she looks like an inviting inferno right now. Not that she was not always already hot but...

What had gotten into her? Did he miss out on something that had triggered her to suddenly behave like this?

No matter how he was enjoying this moment, he knew that there should always be a reason behind everything. Especially since it was really so sudden. Too sudden, in fact. She recently had only been blushing hard as always when he was teasing her not too long ago. So what had gotten into her, to so suddenly...

She pushed him on his chest hard. Again, Sebastian did not bother to maintain or keep his balance as he realized she had planned to fall down along with him.

He let himself fall back on the comfortably padded couch.

Izabelle was on top of him, her one knee kneeling between his legs while her hands were still gripping the collar of his shirt.

Sebastian fought the urge to speak or to raise his brow or to seize her again and pin her against him. He wanted to know what she was going to do next. The anticipation building within him was so great. He could feel and tell that she was about to do something that she had never done before. As to what it was, he was not quite certain. And he was not going to try figuring it out. He wanted to see for himself what this woman of his was going to do.

His heart started to beat with so much expectancy and suspense.

Her blue eyes dilated and finally, she opened her mouth. "You are mine, Sebastian." She declared.