The Taste of Seduction

Meredith did not know how long she had been sitting out there on the floor, lost in deep thought about how sudden her life had changed, when she heard a sudden knocking at the door which made her jump.

She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone right now so she ignored the person.

The door creaked open and she instinctively shrunk from it. But then she stopped when she

noticed the person who had entered.

He was still wearing his black shirt. Hand still on the doorknob, he stared at her with an unreadable expression and she took it as him judging her.

Meredith wiped her tears from her eyes and looked away from him.

She must've looked as pathetic as a child with tears running down her face and her arms pulling her knees into her chest. But he did not turn away.

Instead he walked slowly towards her, his red eyes never leaving hers. He crouched next to her slowly, as if he didn't know what to do, putting all his weight on his feet.

Suddenly she saw him begin to reach for her hand but she pulled it away as quickly as she could, hugging it to her chest and above her aching heart.

"What do you want?" Meredith asked, looking at him warily. The guy was so weird, he rarely talked and just stared at her as if she was a fascinating creature he was seeing for the first time .

He sat next to her in that position for another minute, so silent that she questioned if he was still breathing.

"Here." He said, giving her a black pouch.

Meredith raised her brows at him. What was he giving her and did she trust him enough to collect anything from him?

"Not poisonous.." he said, cutting through the silence.

He looked at her, his eyes still not showing anything he felt. He was like a block of wood.

Meredith took the pouch and opened it to reveal a

silver pleated and crystal compact mirror.

Boasting a flurry of sparkling crystals on the lid it opened up to reveal two mirrors with the one at the bottom being slightly magnified so that she could be attentive to any minute detail that needs addressing.

She turned it around to reveal an engraved message.

"Be strong."

Meredith stiffened at the message. Why was he giving her a mirror with such words engraved on it.

She had to admit the mirror was beautiful. But why a mirror among other things? Why was he being so kind to her? He was so difficult to understand.

Meredith didn't know if she should hate him or just like her he had no choice in this matter.

"Magical mirror. It can be used to spy on people. Just think about the person and he will appear in the mirror. Whatever he is doing at the moment will be shown."

Meredith's eyes widened in shock. Such a thing existed? That meant she was not safe and people could spy on her? Her heart pounded in her chest.

"Don't worrythere is only one of it's kind. I got it as a gift but never saw the need for it. You need it more.." He said flatly.

"Also here, Elvin said you wanted a communication device." He said giving her what looked like the mobile phone but it was just lighter and had no back just palm flat. It seems technology was really advanced here like Elvin said.

Meredith gaped at him, stunned. Shock and confusion buzzed inside of her skull like a swarm of angry bees.

She did not respond for a long while, only stared

at him.

"Why?" Meredith breathed, unsure if he'd even hear her wisp of a voice. She didn't have to say much she was sure he knew what she was asking him.

.

"You're my fiance." His brows knit together, offense flashing across his paled face.

"But.. Why?That doesn't mean anything and I haven't even accepted you." Meredith stuttered.

He gave her a small smile. A predatory smile.

""I won't be calling off the engagement." Marcus

said.

"You have no choice Princess. Do you want to survive in this court? Then I'm your best chance. I don't need you to love or have to sleep with me.

You have so many enemies and you're weak at the moment to fight anyone of them. So until you have reached your full potential as the Queen of the city of Arkaans you have to listen to me. Do as I say, when I say and I will grant you protection."

"Why do you care what happens to me?" Meredith asked not in contempt but just in general curiosity.

However that doesn't seem to bode well with him

and his already emotionless eyes harden.

"I don't." He said roughly, as if something has

clicked into place.

"Then why should I trust you? Why should I believe you? You could be one of those enemies who wants the throne and power of himself!"

Meredith's voice rose with the shock and hysteria settling in. Marcus held a long, calloused finger to his lips, signaling for her to lower it.

Meredith opened her mouth to ask more, but he gave her a stern look that had her clamping her lips shut.

"Too many ears." He said again, tapping his ear, his

voice hardly audible. "You must trust me. And learn how to mask your emotions."

Meredith swallowed the lump in her throat while a trail of spine chilling fear crept up her back.

"Along with confidence, we'll also need to work on

controlling your emotions."

He said with a bored tone.

"I can smell your fear and emotions from a distance and can hear your heart pounding.

It renders you weak and people can use that at their advantage."

Meredith's eyes snapped open wide, her jaw falling open.

"Everyone is a primal creature here who feeds on peoples fears and weakness. You're supposed to be strongest in the room always. Remember Princess.you're the strongest supernatural being in all of Arkaans. You're more powerful than you think and no one.I mean no one should be able to intimidate you. Not even me."

Meredith blinked at him. She wasn't really expecting this but she was no fool.. She knew there was something in this for him too. He had his own reasons for wanting her to be stronger and for offering his protection but what was it?