Beneath the Watching

20. Stefan

20

STEFAN

Mabel was going to be the death of me. She wouldn’t drop the subject of Kiara, no matter how many times I told her she had to stay away. I left her below in the crowd with Benjamin and Jack, who both seemed to have forgiven her for her untimely excursion into the forest.

They’d been left with strict instructions, though it pained me to leave her so exposed. Their earlier lack of regard for her safety pissed me off and my trust didn’t come easy, yet I had to give it. From where I stood on the balcony with Lucian, Ilya, Kiara, and others, I did my best to watch for any threats.

Lucian thanked the crowd for coming and presented his daughter, Kiara, to the public. I caught her eye just as her crown was being placed on her head. I knew her secrets. I knew she was waiting for Ramone to come and whisk her away. Her heart was treacherous even while she swore up and down she loved my best friend. I also knew of Ramone’s uncanny power, his ability to get into her head and manipulate her.

She’d opened the door and her legs wide for his games with little thought for anyone but herself.

Lucian yelled to the gathering, “Tonight we celebrate this victory!” The crowd cheered as he encouraged everyone to enjoy themselves and I trailed down the stairs following Ilya, Kiara, another demon named Alexander, and Lucian himself.

Vaguely, I heard Ilya reassure the girl before he stopped me and instructed me to check in with the captain of the Black Guard, Leo. Our security was top tier, but then again so was Ramone.

Leo stated everything was good and there was no sign of a breach. This wasn’t unusual, our kind were experts at being undetected. We had the best sorcerers and expert spells had been set in place. The chances were better than average we’d be alerted immediately should things go sideways.

With Ramone being next in line for the satanic throne and his possessing of a strong bloodline, there was nothing we could do to ensure absolute peace no matter how hard we tried.

Making my way across the dance floor, I joined Benjamin, Jack, and Mabel. So far, no one had recognized her, thanks to the cloaking spell I’d covered her with. I could see her true form but anyone other than me, Ilya, Lucian, and my two men would see a total stranger. I had to let some others in for her full protection. They couldn’t help her in any way if they were unable to recognize her.

“I can’t believe Kiara’s a princess,” Mabel said in wonderment, taking my hand. We spent a while wandering the entertainment areas, explored a terrace, and drank some wine. It was the perfect opportunity for Mabel to see more of the castle and I enjoyed seeing everything through her eyes. We were now in a parlor, a few other couples seated in quiet conversations on the other side of the room.

I had to force myself not to laugh. “Does she seem like the princess type to you, my love?” As far as I was concerned, Mabel was far better suited. She was classy, elegant, graceful, and stunningly beautiful.

She paused a moment. “No...not really. But she could be.”

“You’re a better person than I. Everyone’s headed back to the ballroom, let’s go.” She set her wineglass down and I took her hand as she stood.

We entered a vast space decorated to within an inch of its life. One of Ilya’s friends, Branko, had a very talented girlfriend who’d overseen organizing and decorating this event. I suspected the woman knew who Mabel really was; being that she was constantly eavesdropping and generally not minding her own business and I steered clear of her as much as I could.

It grated at me how hard I could try and ensure Mabel’s protection and yet she would still be at risk. The voice hadn’t spoken to her lately and I’d been encouraging her to let it come through so she could evaluate the information it provided, hoping it would give us some insight. It had been irritatingly silent as of late, providing zero assistance.

“You look beautiful,” I murmured by her ear as we began to dance. She nuzzled my neck while I breathed in her scent. It was nice not to have to keep her locked up in the northern wing for a change.

I watched as Lucian brought Kiara out onto the dance floor, guiding her near us to dance. My guard instantly went up. This felt like a calculated move though I couldn’t begin to discern his motivation. Steering us away, I tried to keep an eye on the duo.

“Stefan,” Mabel hissed. “She's right there. Please?”

She glanced up at me with her big blue eyes. “We talked about this. She wouldn’t even recognize you,” I chided her.

“She’s my friend, one of my best friends. I miss her. What if I never get to see her again?”

“Maybe someday but not right now. Stop asking me when you already know what I’m going to say.”

Her back stiffened. “How do expect me to get used to being here when you won’t let me do anything? I’m stuck in your rooms all day, every day, other than when I get to back in the kitchen.”

“Mabel,” I warned. “Stop.”

“Kiara’s my friend and you’ve told me she's in danger.” She was starting to get angry. My quiet little human ward was coming further out of her shell at the worst possible time.

She growled at me, “She’s right there.”

Mabel freed herself from my grasp and darted to the left, but not before I managed to snag her by the upper arm. I could’ve sworn I saw Lucian smirk. I leveled a gaze at the man and led Mabel across the marble flooring.

“Stop it Stefan, I’m worried about her.” She wrenched her arm away and I guided her forward.

“Don’t test me.”

We went through a doorway, and she whirled on me. “Let me see her,” she demanded.

“You saw her. You can see she’s fine.”

Mabel pointed her finger in my face, and I had to fight the urge to bite it. “But I’m not. I don’t see any danger in speaking to her, there was nothing happening. There’s hundreds of guards. What’s the problem?”

“The problem, my dear, is that you’re you. You have magic in you. Strong, valued magic. Not some minor magic like you can make a flower float in the air, no you can change people’s destinies with a word spoken by that little voice in your head.”

She blanched and I continued. “Your magic is sought after. People sell pieces of their souls, enslaving themselves to the likes of me for just the tiniest sliver of what you have within you. If you think for one fucking moment that I’m going to let anyone like that get their hand on you, you are sorely mistaken.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so?”

This woman was going to drive me to a homicidal spree. “What do you think I’ve been telling you all this time?” I was struggling to keep my voice down. My aura was so violent I could see it in my peripheral vision for once. This wasn’t good, I didn’t need anyone getting curious what the disturbance was.

“Come on, I’m taking you back to our quarters and then I have to go back out there.”

We made our way to our rooms in silence, Mabel mostly staring at the floor. Her mental battle was written all over her face, so I was happy she met no one’s eyes. Her mood had changed, and I felt her withdrawing. I’m not sure what I expected after unloading on her the way I had but I did find myself smiling over her standing up for herself.

Once we were behind closed doors, I pulled her to me. She was trembling and I tried to soothe her, running my hand up and down her back. She was a vision of beauty in the deep blue gown she wore, her dark hair framing her face and complementing the dress. I had no idea what a vile creature such as myself had done to catch the eye of a woman like her, but I was happy the fates had granted the favor.

“Do you still want to be here?” I didn’t have to explain my question.

She glanced up at me. “Yes.”

“Technically, I did kidnap you.” She blinked and looked away. “Regardless, you did ask to come.”

Mabel ran her palm down my forearm and clasped my hand. “Well, if I have a choice in kidnappers, I’d choose you every time.”

Choice? I gripped her by the back of her neck. “Since when do you have a choice?”

“You, I mean you. What did you think I meant? I said you.”

Holding her face in my hands I pressed my lips against her forehead. “Your only choice is me, don’t lie to yourself.” She let out a little laugh and I grinned at her just as Benjamin and Jack strode through the door.

“Not now.” I sent them away and shut the door, intent on showing Mabel everything about the benefits of her solitary choice.