Chapter 10

Dario looked at Cecilia who peacefully slept in his arms.

He hates himself for doing this, but it is the only way for him to forget the mess he created. She stirs when she feels him getting up. “Where are you off to?” she asks groggily.

“Go back to sleep.” He demands and gets up from Cecilia’s small bed. Dario puts his clothes on and leaves the room, his mind completely focussed on Apple. Even if Cecilia is a witch, she’s the only one who’s been there for him. And according to Dario, he still felt something for her. It is a faint feeling, but it is there, maybe it’s a phase, or maybe he just needs someone to satisfy him every now and then.

Dario stops in front of Apple’s bedroom door. How he ended up here is a blur, as he felt bad for himself and Apple.

He could see that she was in love with him.

She has the same look on her face Peppa had when she looked at him. Dario could hear her soft sniffing in the room and he opens the door. He is a fool, he didn’t love Cecilia, he doesn’t even like her. She nauseates him on so many levels. It is lust. That’s all he feels for her; lust. “Apple,” he calls out to his mate, patiently waiting for her response.

“Go away,” she says with a sniff. Dario walks closer to her and cups her cold cheek in his hand. “Don’t touch me.” She says dryly and cowers away from his touch, but Dario is determined to win her heart back and sits down. The bed dips and Apple rolls into his side.

“My Apple,” he says as he looks into her eyes. “You’re shivering,” he remarks.

“Yes, because you don’t want me to wear clothes. What do you think will happen if I don’t wear clothes and have no covers to sleep under, Einstein?”

“I think that I will extend your punishment if you decide to open your mouth and speak so harshly again.”

“Whatever,” Apple says and rolls her eyes. She turns averts her gaze to the door. “I’m tired and I would like to rest.”

“I have decided to get married on Saturday.”

“To who? Because it won’t be to me.”

Dario growls and grasps Apple’s chin between his fingers. He violently turns her head towards him. “Don’t test me, Apple.”

“I don’t want to marry you.”

“Why not? I told you I’d never hurt you.”

“You don’t love me.” Dario looks taken aback by Apple’s statement but hides his emotions. He lets go of her chin. “And that is the funniest part of this… of us… because even if you don’t love me, I love you. I hate myself for this.”

“I—”

“Don’t say anything, I’m speaking now,” Apple says and moves away from Dario. She sits up and sits cross-legged. “I tried to understand you, Dario. I tried to understand why you wanted Cecilia close to me, why you wanted to spark some type of relationship between us. And I couldn’t, but it fits in perfectly now.”

“What—”

“You’re sleeping with her.” Dario inaudibly gasps. “And you’re guilty, you’re guilty of many things, Dario, but this- this is something you thought you’d hide, always feel guilty about it and eventually one day you’ll have a slip up. And the fact that she hates me is proof that she likes it just as much as you do.”

“Apple,”

“No, you don’t touch me when you’ve touched her so get out.” Apple lies back down, her back facing Dario. “Close the door behind you.” When Apple hears Dario leaving, she breaks down crying again.

At first, she thought she was wrong, she tried convincing herself that she was seeing stuff, but Cecilia’s attitude had revealed her worst fears.

Dario didn’t love her, he only loved the fact that Apple could cure him, and for that; Apple loathes him.

.

Cecilia trails her hot mouth down Dario’s neck. “You like that?” she asks him, but he sits unmoving, and completely lost in his own thoughts. She slams her lips onto his. “What’s wrong, Alpha?” she asks, her forehead creased.

“Nothing,” Dario says, and takes a sip of his whiskey.

“Then kiss me back,” Cecilia whines and rests her head in the crook of Dario’s neck. “Please, Alpha.” Dario sighs.

“I’m not in the mood, Lea.” He says lowly and pours him another glass of whiskey.

“Please, Dario,” his movements stop upon hearing his name.

“What did you just call me?”

“Dario,” Dario licks his lips and tries to calm Onyx. “You like hearing—”

“Don’t call me that.” Dario warns and shoves Cecilia from his leg. “Leave, I want to be alone.”

“She knows it. You told her your name, but no one else can know it? I think you’re unfair.”

“Apple is my mate. I think that she’s entitled to knowing my name.”

“I’m pregnant,” Cecilia says with a cocked eyebrow. “As the mother of your child, I am also entitled to know your name.”

“It’s not even mine.”

“What are—”

“You slept with Fredericko, Amadeo, Hunter, Gunther- should I continue?”

“What—”

“Amadeo is the father, but I would never do that to Ana, imagine what that would do to someone who’s had three miscarriages and who is in denial at the moment.”

“What are—”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“But-but don’t you love me?”

“No,” Dario says and slams his fist repeatedly into Cecilia’s face. He stops after a few minutes and composes himself. Dario downs the glass of whiskey and starts his journey through the castle. “Gunther,” he says and Gunther bows  before looking at his king. “Clean it up,” Dario orders and continues walking down the hallway. He stops in front of his old room that his mate occupies and enters.

“Dario,” Apple says and gasps when she notices the blood on his face and fist. “You have blood on you—”

“It’s not mine,” he says and shuts the door behind him.

“Okay. Did you need anything?”

“Yes,”

“What is it you need?”

“You,” Dario says and slams his lips onto Apple’s ones. He kisses her slowly and sexually, his arm hooks around her hip. After a few minutes, Dario pulls away and rests his bloodied forehead against Apple’s chest. “Apple,”

“Dario, I need clothes.” Apple complains. She shuts her eyes when she feels Dario’s other arm snaking around her waist.

“No, I like seeing you in nothing but a towel. It gives me power.”

“Why do you have blood on you?”

“I murdered her.”

“Who?”

“We need to get married.”

“Who did you murder?”

“I’ll have a dressmaker come see you tomorrow.”

“Dario, whose blood is on your face and fist?”

“I need to shower. Do you want to join me?”

“Answer me!”

Dario strolls towards the closet and takes the key out of his pocket. He unlocks the door and takes out a towel. “You can put on some clothes while I shower.”

After several minutes, Dario exits the bathroom, the towel he took from his closet loosely sits on his tattooed waist. Apple looks at his glorious body that has tattoos and muscles coating it and bites her bottom lip. She looks up and frowns when she sees him wearing his everyday attire. “You’re always wearing that. Don’t you ever feel clustered up between all those thick materials?”

“No. Am I supposed to feel clustered up between all these thick materials?”

“I-I mean- no. I shouldn’t have asked that.” Apple looks away from Dario’s penetrating gaze.

“Come here, Apple,” Dario urges and extends his arm. Apple hesitates but gets up and slowly walks towards Dario. She gently slides her hand in his and allows him to pull her close to his body. “Don’t you ever for one single second think that I feel anything for any other woman except you. You hear me?”

“D—”

“I’m speaking now,” Dario says with a smile. “I don’t want to lose you, Apple.”

“You will if you let your stupidity get the better of you.” Apple smiles, “But treat me right, and I promise I won’t go. And stop killing people, Dario.”

“I can’t promise that.”

“Don’t promise, try it at least.”

“I’ll try, but don’t blame me if it doesn’t work.”

She needed to find all possible ways to escape from everything and everyone. But if Dario kept tugging at the strings of her heart, he might just make her go crazy.

.

Amadeo stood in front of Dario, his head bowed. He shivered under Dario’s hard, hooded gaze. He has never been this scared of Dario, but this; the sudden fury Dario’s presence carries, shook him to the core. “My King,” Amadeo begins, his gaze still on the laminated floors. He tries to keep his heartbeat under control but fails and ends up sweating like a cow. “I ask you to not punish me, My King. Miss Apple had—”

“You call her Miss Apple now?” Dario asks, his brow cocked.

“She requested it, My King.”

“I need to start searching for a new second in command,” Dario says to himself. He gets up from his chair and circles his desk, ending up in front of Amadeo. “Look at me, Amadeo.” Amadeo looks up, into Dario’s fiery eyes.

“Yes, My King?”

“Do I need to start looking for a second in command, Vitta?” Amadeo shakes his head. “Then you will be punished. It is only fair that you’re punished. Miss Apple also had a punishment. What makes you’re so special?” Amadeo doesn’t answer and Dario wraps his hand around his neck. “I asked you what makes you so special?”

“Nothing, Alpha King.”

“Good. Twenty-five days in the dungeon. Go.”

.

“How about a mermaid dress?” Lucia, the royal dressmaker, suggests while eyeing Apple’s figure. Anastacia smiles at Apple’s reaction. “Oh, come on! You’ve had that reaction to every other dress suggestion.”

“I said I want a huge dress that hugs my body and poofs out as it touches my hips.”

“You’re getting married—”

“Exactly! It’s my wedding and it’s my dress. So, I’ll decide on it and you’ll make it.”

“Lucia, I think we should let Apple decide on the dress, and any alteration that needs to be done, you can handle without her messing in your work. How does that sound?”

Lucia scoffs, “So I don’t get a say in anything except the alterations that needs to be made.”

“Yes,”

“No, I refuse—”

“As your queen, I command you to obey my orders.” Apple says with a neutral expression. Lucia looks down with a nod.

“Very well then, My Queen, we will start tomorrow at noon. I won’t be late.”

When Lucia leaves, Anastacia looks at Apple with a frown. “So, how are you holding up?”

“I don’t know, Ana, how do you think I’m holding up? I’m getting married to the king in a few weeks.” Apple looks at Ana’s small, yet noticeable bump. “Your baby is growing.” She says with a small smile and looks down.

“Apple don’t do this to yourself. We’ve spoken about this. I’ve told you to not think about her.”

“It’s kind of hard not thinking about the man that sleeps with his ex while he is engaged to his mate.”

“Stop thinking about her.”

“I can’t! I- It is so hard to forget everything. The fact that she-she—”

“He loves you, Apple, and that is all that matters. Love overpowers lust. Lust expires, love is eternal.”

“Then why is lust the reason most relationships falter?”

“Maybe there was no love involved at all. See it from Alpha King’s perspective,”

“He has no perspective here, Ana, this isn’t about him. This is about me. The world does not revolve around Alpha Stupid King and his royal throne of darkness.”

“That one hit close to home,” Dario says as he leans against the bed post. “Mrs Vitta, you’re allowed to visit Amadeo for half an hour.” Anastacia nods and quickly gathers her belongings. “Oh, and you look beautiful.” Dario comments charmingly and receives a smile from both Anastacia and Apple. When Anastacia finally leaves, Dario yawns and plops onto his bed. “You’re growing on me like a plaque- a good one though.”

“A plaque, huh? That’s nice way of saying you love me.”

“Apple,” Dario says and Apple walks closer to her fiancé. She puts her palm on his cheek and smiles.

“Dario,” their eyes lock and Apple deeply stares at him, a soft glint sparks through Dario’s dark eyes. “My soul cried out for someone like you.”

“My tainted soul heard yours crying.”

“You’re helping by standing here with me, wrapped up in nothing but flaws.”

“Your touch cures me.”

“I love you, Dario,” a lone tear slips from Apple’s eye and Dario slides his thumb over the trail the tear has left.

“I love you and only you, Apple.” Dario gently kisses Apple. He cups her cheeks into his large hands.

He loves her.

I love her, he thinks excitedly and repeats those three words in his head again.

I love her!