Chapter 161   - 38

She saved him, and now that he chose to live and to abandon his suffering for her, she wanted to protect him.

She wanted to never let him suffer again, or let him feel lonely again. She wanted to fill his days with happiness and show him that life was worth living.

She would allow no one to hurt him again.

Zamiel smiled at her, and Heaven panicked. Her cheeks flushed. Did he hear her thoughts? After marking her once, he shouldn't be able to no matter what, but he had been able to compel her so anything was possible.

"Can you hear my thoughts?" She asked, hoping the answer would be no.

His smile widened. "No. But I am curious of what you were thinking now."

Her cheeks burned even more.

"Nothing special." She lied.

"I doubt that."

"It was dangerous coming here." She told him, trying to change the subject.

"Heaven, I promised I wouldn't hurt you family." He reminded.

"I know. But my family are not fond of you." She looked around.

Her mother looked displeased and worried. Her father on the other hand seemed relax. Her grandmother smiled at her which calmed her down and Gina showed she was excited for her.

Klara wasn't happy, but Roshan didn't seem to care. And then there was Zarin. He did not look as angry as she thought, but he seemed to disapprove of Zamiel.

She couldn't blame him. He had hurt him and his sister.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." He assured her.

Heaven remembered the images she saw of his dead family. She had seen nothing more gruesome, and she never experienced such pain. Was he truly as alright as he seemed?

The music ended, and Heaven never felt so disappointed by its ending. If she could, she would dance with him the whole night.

Zamiel slowly released her from his hold, but as soon as he sensed her panic he tightened his hold on her hand. "Heaven, you never need to be afraid of me leaving you again. I am only leaving for now."

She was not afraid of him leaving this time. She was just afraid of how things would turn out from now on. What kind of trouble would all of them be in after the party?

Who would be disappointed? Who would be angry?

Holding her hand, Zamiel led her back to her seat. Heaven could see that her mother was trying to mask her anger where she sat next to her father. When they came to the stairs that led to the throne Zamiel released her hand. She was to continue on her own to her seat.

"Thank you for the dance." He said.

Heaven gave him a smile before walking up the stairs and sitting next to her father.

Zamiel turned to her father. "Your Majesty. Thank you for your permission. I'll take my leave now."

"Why don't you stay for dinner." Her father suggested.

Heaven's heart went wild inside her chest. She knew this was not her father accepting Zamiel. This was her father being clever, keeping his enemies even closer than his friends. There were many things Heaven had learned from and about her father the last few weeks. He was very tactical.

She looked at Zamiel. He didn't seem fazed by her father's invitation. "It would be an honor." He said.

Heaven could feel the thick tension in the dining room as everyone sat around the table. Klara, her mother and Zarin were displeased. Gina and her grandmother seemed curious, and Roshan and her father remained calm.

Her father sat on the short side of the table with her mother to his left and Zamiel to his right. Heaven sat next to Zamiel and across from her grandmother, who gave her a reassuring smile to calm down.

"So how do you know my daughter?" Her father as dinner was being served.

"She saved me." Zamiel replied shortly.

"And you abducted her for saving you?"

This wasn't going well. Heaven became nervous.

"I regret my actions and I have apologized to Heaven. "

So far, he was handling it well. Heaven was proud of him, but her father wasn't satisfied. He looked at Zamiel skeptically, but Zamiel was looking at something else.

His gaze was fixated on the bread that was being served. Heaven remembered his reaction when she gave him the bread. She knew bread evoked bad memoried in him. She noticed how his hands trembled before he hid them under the table.

Heaven turned to the servant. "No bread. You can take it away." She ordered.

Everyone looked at her, surprised. Her mother gave her a questioning look. "Heaven?"

"Mother, the smell makes me nauseous." She lied.

Her mother seemed confused, but her father gave the servant a sign to take it away. Heaven could feel Zamiel relax next to her.

Her father didn't ask any further questions, but she knew he would later want to talk to Zamiel in private.

Shortly after the bread was taken away, hot soup was served. Everyone picked up their spoon except for Zamiel. He just looked at the soup. Heaven knew immediately what he was thinking. That it might be poisoned. Her family didn't like him, but she knew they would never poison him.

Zamiel.

Would he ever trust again?

Would he ever stop believing that everyone was out to hurt him?

Heaven was glad to see him slowly grabbing his spoon. His hand trembled slightly, but he still picked up the soup and had a taste.

Her father noticed his hesitance. "Don't worry. I wouldn't poison you for hurting my daughter. There are more painful ways."

They exchanged a knowing look, which Heaven didn't understand. "Your Majesty. The worst thing you can do to me is poison me. Still, I'll eat your food."

There was something about how Zamiel spoke, the confidence in his tone, yet being respectful while letting no one threaten him made Heaven feel secure. She didn't feel like she needed to interfere to prevent a fight. He was behaving exceptionally.

Heaven was glad they survived dinner, but her father wanted to speak to Zamiel in private, just like she predicted.

Everyone left the dining room, leaving Zamiel and her father behind. She was nervous but decided to trust them both. Once they stood outside in the hall Klara was quick to show how displeased she was.

"Gina! Zarin! Let's go home." She said turning and walking away without saying goodbye.

Zarin gave her a long look before following his mother. Gina looked at her apologetically and Heaven gave her a reassuring smile. Roshan nodded goodbye before following them. Now she was left with her mother and grandmother.

"What is happening Heaven?" Her mother asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "What is he doing here? Didn't this man cause you enough pain?"

Heaven didn't know how to explain it to her mother. She didn't know where to start or what to say.

"Mother, he is not here to hurt anyone. There was a misunderstanding before."

Her mother wanted to say something when her grandmother stopped her. "Let's discuss this once he goes back home." She said.

"Yes. We will discuss this matter." He mother said, looking her in the eyes. Heaven had never seen her mother so upset.

She shook her head, disappointed. Her grandmother put one arm around her. "We should let the men do their work." she said, then gently led her mother away.

Heaven was glad to have her grandmother on her side. Now she was left alone in the hall, waiting. It felt like forever, so she went to sit in the garden nearby. Still, she was nervous, waiting and counting her heartbeat.

Why was it taking so long? Did Zamiel just leave, teleporting himself back to his home and her father back to his room. Did her father say something that made him leave without saying goodbye?

She wanted to confirm her suspicion, so she hurried back to the dining room. She opened the door and walked inside without warning.

She was right. No one was there. Now she was really disappointed.

Suddenly an idea came to her. What if he was waiting in her room?

Lifting her dress, she rushed to her room. When she entered, she found no one. He wasn't there, but his smell, the scent of rain and earth lingered in the air. He had been here, or he was still here, just not in her room. She followed his scent to her garden.

There he stood amongst the bushes and flowers with his back to her.

Heaven stepped outside, and when he sensed her presence, he turned to her. She was glad to see that he was alright.

"What did father say to you?" She asked as she approached him.

"He asked me if I can protect you."

Heaven stopped, feeling knots in her stomach. She knew already what he was thinking. She had felt his guilt when he kissed her. Seen it in those horrible images from his memory. He thought he failed to protect his family.

"I don't need protection. I can protect myself." She said.

He smiled. "I know. You proved that with the kick last time. You aimed just right."

"That always works." She said playfully.

Zamiel just looked at her. Those smoldering silver eyes showed her appreciation, but they also gleamed with something unknown to her. Something that brought a fluttering feeling to her stomach.

"You look breathtaking in this dress." He told her.

Heaven felt her heart stop for a moment before it began to beat rapidly again.

"Thank you." She blushed.

He took her hand gently and pulled her closer. "Do you mind staying awake tonight?"