章節 2: The Real Beast

Hope was tired after a whole day of traveling in the small carriage on a bumpy road. When it stopped, she took a peek out the window. The breadth of Springwood Castle filled her vision. The leads rattled as the horse shook its head in wait for the drawbridge to land over the Spring River so they could get inside the inner courtyard.

The Castle of Springwood sat high on the top of a hill surrounded by thick forest and imprisoned between two meandering arms of the Spring River. People said the previous Lord had decided where the castle was built. He specifically chose the looming hill so everyone who came to the Castle of Springwood would think twice before bothering him.

Hope's gaze fell upon Lord Springwood in the castle's great hall. His black hair fell in glossy strands of various sizes down to his shoulders. His ebony eyes were as dark as darkness itself. His pale white skin seemed like the sun had never touched it. The Lord's smile was cold and eerie, but his gaze made her blush. Why? She had never felt this way before, recognizing that his striking presence had overcome her. That was when she knew she had gotten herself into a dangerous nightmare.

Hope wasn't stupid. She knew that smile was fake, perceiving that his true intentions were hidden somewhere behind that smirk. The Lord's eyes were playful and enticing, but when she looked closely, she could see the bitter darkness pooled in the depths below.

Little did she know that the High Lord of Springwood was bored. For Drake, that being his real name, the measly humans were tedious and troublesome. Very few things were able to arouse feelings inside his heart. Sometimes, the Lord could find exciting individuals to keep him entertained, but they didn't last long. Even the ruler's duties seemed duller than the most dried pea.

"What is your name?" Hope heard his baritone voice for the first time.

Drake thought that today held the possibility of excitement, but he didn't invest too much hope in it. The answer to his question arrived. "Hope." That made him smirk, thinking of the coincidence. Drake found an invigorating feeling spreading through his being. Maybe she won't waste this day after all.

"Tell me, are you going to be an interesting toy, or should I toss you aside like my previous ones?" Drake's smirk widened, as he examined Hope's expression.

But she didn't back down. "I am not a toy! You would do better to compare me to a beast than a doll. My advice is to release me before you find out whether or not I am interesting."

Drake's laughter echoed around the room, astonishing the guards, who readjusted their stance with unease. The last time he had done that was years ago, and it sparked a terrible day for all living in the castle. His mood could change, igniting his bloodlust and driving Drake into full berzerk mode.

He sat up from his throne and marched down the steps towards Hope. At her threat, Drake grabbed her neck and pushed her onto the wall with the full intensity of his power. His face was so close that she could feel his hot breath on her cheeks. Lime crumbled beneath Drake's sharp nails as Hope heard his husky and threatening voice. "I will see this beast and how it fares in the arena. If you can't survive, then so be it, but I would prefer you alive so I can tame you."

Drake's eyes glowed, and the murderous feeling stirring toward her weighed heavy on Hope's chest, leaving her breathless. Or was his hand on her neck? She glared into his eyes. "The real question is who will be tamed and who will be the tamer."

Drake enjoyed this conversation. No one had dared to address him this way for ages. This girl was ruthless, possessing such boldness. A strength he had once enjoyed in people, but that was before he became empty on the inside. Drake's inner voice shouted, 'She might be worthy of being my mate. I want to see how she fares in different situations and how she handles herself.' He pushed back the voice within, needing to find his own resolution.

Her big brown eyes resembled those of an innocent deer, but her inner strength made Drake perceive her as a fearless tiger stalking its prey. Good! This was becoming interesting, but a tiger still would be far beneath him. At that moment, Drake decided he needed to find out more about her.

A shiver ran through Hope's body when she heard his husky voice whispering in her ear. "I am bored, and you will entertain me. I will find out what makes you tick. After that, when I know everything I need, I will have no further use for you. The real question is if you will still be alive by then."

Before she could respond, Drake loosened his grip, turned his back on Hope, and returned to the throne. "Take her to the arena."

Hearing his cold voice, Hope shivered, knowing how fear could creep inside her heart if she didn't resist the thought that this lord could do whatever he wanted with her.

The same officer who had threatened Hope's mother grabbed her by the hair and dragged her from the room. Maybe she closed her eyes, and that was the reason why she couldn't see Drake's movements. One moment he was near the throne, and the next, he was beside her. As Drake cut off the hand that held her, a splash of blood covered her face.

Hope froze. There was no way she could describe her amazement. Hope would have done the same thing given a chance. At that particular moment, she didn't know if she should be horrified or grateful.

The guard screamed in agony while Drake smiled and licked the blood from his sword. His eyes glowed red when he smiled wickedly once more. "I never said you could inflict pain. That is my prerogative, and yours is to do what I order. Tsk, tsk, tsk...You taste as bad as I've imagined..."