~RUNE
I realised a shaky breath as I stared at the world beneath me.
Then I took the first step down the stairs.
Every step that drew me closer to my predator caused the fear in my heart to grow stronger.
Uriel watched me closely, his crimson eyes burned with an emotion I could not identify.
The beauty he possessed was deceiving and for a moment, I wondered if he still hated me.
Eventually, I reached him and accepted the hand he had outstretched to me.
“You have a beautiful smile. Don’t hide it from me,” he whispered as he pulled me closer.
My heart skipped at that and I barely recovered before he connected his lips with mine.
Heat scattered across my lips to the rest of my body.
The cold fear that had begun to cripple me slowly melted away in its intensity and for a moment, my mind went blank.
Uriel pulled away with a small smirk on his lips and he led me to face the Orin who were watching us.
“Now that my Queen is here, let’s all proceed to the table,” he announced.
“Undefeated is the King and our Queen!” They all exclaimed.
An involuntary shiver ran down my spine but I forced myself to smile, just as Uriel had instructed.
This man was dangerous.
The last thing I wanted was disobeying me after he had indirectly told me to smile.
Uriel placed his hand possessively around my waist and began to lead me through the hall.
That was when I spotted the three Lords of Oraena.
Lord Dain, Morrigan and Sylve.
Dain’s expression remained unreadable.
Morrigan carried the hate he openly had for me and Sylve, he still looked as dangerous as I last saw him earlier.
We soon arrived at the long tables.
An Orin guard came forward and instinctively pulled the head chair for Uriel.
But he didn’t sit until I was seated beside his chair and he pushed my chair closer to the table.
“People of Oraena, dine with me for the first time as a married man,” he announced when he was finally seated.
The others also got into their chairs.
Then maids began to swim into the place carrying different trays of food.
They placed mine and Uriel’s before us and uncovered it.
Strange crimson food stared back at me.
Some type of meat sat completely soaked in this crimson soup and it made me feel uneasy.
What was this food?
Sylve suddenly chuckled. Find the original chapter at g.com.
“What an interesting choice of food for today’s dinner…” he began.
“Red rabbit stew.”
My heart skipped triple beats as I jerked my head toward him.
Sylve was already watching me, the violet haze in his eyes deepened with amusement.
My entire body went cold as I looked back at the food.
Why on earth were they serving us red rabbit stew?
Was this just a mere coincidence or was the goddess trying to tell me something?
My heart instantly began to pound heavenly.
‘What do you think will happen to you within Oraena, Little White Rabbit?’ Sylve’s words from earlier today echoed back into my mind.
“A toast to our new White Queen… What will our King have done without her?” Sylve said as he lifted his silver cup in the air.
That was what snapped me back to reality and I watched as Uriel poured me a cup of wine as well.
“He’s right, what would I have done without my Moon?” Uriel muttered.
“I owe her my life.”
He looked at me at that moment, his stare burned into me and I thought I was going to die.
My heart ached as guilt rose up my chest.
He lifted the cup and offered it to me.
With shaky hands, I accepted it.
I looked forward to the table and realised that everyone else was waiting for me to speak.
What was I supposed to say?
I feared any word that came out of my mouth would sound unintelligent!
No one trained me to become Queen!
That had been Sayla’s life long training.
Don’t let them see your fear, Rune.
I forced a big smile on my face.
“I assure you, I didn’t do much. It was all the King’s will to live.”
The table remained silent as they all watched me and I wondered if I had said something wrong or not said enough.
“My Moon…” Uriel called with the brightest love-struck smile.
“Always so humble and never trying to take any credit.” Then he faced the table.
“A toast to the new Queen of Oraena!”
The table exclaimed.
“Long live the Queen. She is favored!”
I also lifted my cup shakily and from the corner of my eyes, I saw the way that Sylve watched me.
Even when he drank from his cup, he also smiled and it caused a cold chill to run down my spine. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Speaking of chills, Morrigan finally spoke.
“I hope that she will finally bless us with her light and help curb the darkness that is slowly rising within our lands,” Morrigan announced.
“The sooner she uses her light, the better for us.”
My heart sank once again.
Morrigan was like an insistent neverending nightmare.
No matter how hard I tried to force him to drown, he kept popping his head up and reminding me just how royally fucked I was.
“My Queen is still recovering. When she is fully ready and deemed safe by me to use her powers, then she will start healing our people,” Uriel stated in an authoritative tone.
“As for now, we will have to find other means.”
A cold silence descended upon the hall the moment he made that statement.
He sounded angry, almost as if Morrigan had overstepped.
And I had to admit that I was thankful deep down that he had come to my rescue.
How else was I supposed to get out of it if not for his intervention?
At least, with this little cover, I could breathe easy, knowing that no one would be demanding for my nonexistent healing powers soon.
“As you wish, your majesty,” Morrigan stated.
The table suddenly grew cold again.
It was clear just how much his people feared him.
“How did this table turn so gloomy?” Sylve suddenly said.
“We came here to wine and dine in honor of our King and Queen, not to mourn the dead!”
“I fear Lord Sylve is right,” Dain joined in.
Then he turned to some people carrying musical instruments whom I had not noticed before.
“Play some music!”
Suddenly, I felt a warm hand descend upon the exposed part of my thigh, thanks to the slit my dress had.
Uriel faced me with blazing crimson eyes and I gasped.
“You are not eating, my Moon.” He paused and came so close that I believed he was going to kiss me again.
“Do you want me to feed you myself?”
My eyes went wide and I instantly wished I could disappear into the chair.
My cheeks burned as I felt his hand going up my thigh, burning my skin as it dangerously got close to my private area.
Was this still an act?
Or was this turning real?
The Little White Rabbit in the midst of Wolves… Like it ?