The Taste of Seduction

Meredith's heart fluttered in her throat as she opened her eyes and found herself in the familiar room she used to consider home.

She stood in the doorway of Atlas's room. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, with his head cradled in his hands and bottles of scotch were scattered around him.

Just the sight of him, caused every function in her

body to go haywire.

Her heart sped. Prickling sensation shot up her spine. She felt like something was squeezing her chest.

A flush of emotion washed over her , leaving her hands clammy and beads of perspiration at the base of her neck.

She had been dying to see him and now that she was here, she was unable to get any words past the thick lump in her throat, and just stared at him silently.

He didn't turn around to look at the person. Instead, he growled in frustration.

"I fucking asked you to leave me alone. " he snarled.

Meredith's heart sank and moisture formed behind her eyes. She could hear the tiredness in his voice.

"Atlas."

She barely whispered. Her overwhelming need for him was noticeable and unmistakable in just that one word.

She saw him stiffened and shook his head as if to clear any hallucinating he was having.

"Atlas" She croaked out again.

The despair and emotion in her voice must have

woke him up from any trances he was in, because he finally turned around to face her.

Even in the dimness of the room, she could see

the torment in his eyes mirrored her own. He stood up from the bed and took a step forward but suddenly stopped.

He held her gaze in an unbreakable bond. He was scared to look away.

Meredith ran into his arms but he was too numb to hold her back. He was afraid-afraid all of this was an illusion. His name tumbled off of her lips again,

"Atlas"

His voice was pained as he uttered, "NoI'm not falling for this again, you're not real." He shook his head as tension rolled through his body and his hands tightened into fists. He clenched his teeth in acute restraint and gritted, "No, I'm not falling for this "

Meredith pulled away and tiptoed to press a kiss on his forehead. She chuckled as a tear dropped on her cheeks.

"Stupidis this a dream?" She said caressing his cheeks.

He grimaced down at her, his brows furrowing.

"Meredith.Angel." He whispered brokenly.

Meredith felt tears welling up in her eyes as she stared at him.

"Yes..." She breathed. "Atty."

No one called him apart from his Angel.

He lifted his hand, gently grasping her small

fingers, and pulled her hand away from his face. He

lowered it to his chest, directly over his heart as relief washed through him.

Meredith smiled at him and his lips curled up into a soft smile.

As his head cleared a bit, he suddenly wondered

what had brought her here. Wasn't she in the city of Arkaans?

"How are you here? I thought." Atlas asked, letting go of her hand.

Meredith ignored his questions and glanced around the room. A stern frown marred on her face.

"Why are you drinking in the afternoon? Also you look so horrible? What happened Atlas? "

Atlas ran his hand through his hair and sighed .

"I missed you. Every part of this house reminds me of you and I was drowning. I just wanted to forget about you. Now that I know that you will never be mine."

He whispered the last part so quietly she barely heard him.

Meredith lowered her eyes but not before Atlas saw a flash of horror within her hazel eyes. She pushed

past him and went to the couch, sat down, and

gazed into the crackling fireplace.

"How did you find out?" She asked.

"My uncle.he was happy telling us about his adventures and how he had found the lost princess of the city of Arkaans where me and my brother come from. He was so happy because once the princess gets married to the vampire prince,peace will finally be in the city."

Atlas said sarcastically but the jealousy and anger in his voice didn't go unnoticed by Meredith.

"I'm sorry.. I don't know where to begin..." She said, burying her face in her hands.

Confusion, mixed with curiosity and irritation,

flared inside of Atlas.

"Tell me." Atlas commanded.

She lifted her head, staring toward the fire again. "I'm to be..."

Meredith told him about the engagement, mating ritual and marking ceremony.

Anger curled hot and unstoppable in his gut, like a blazing inferno that wanted to burn him from the inside out with every word that came out of her mouth.

After she finished she looked up at him. He was trembling with anger and hurt.

Atlas balled his fingers to a fist and drove them through the wall.

He felt his body shaking with anger that he never

thought could ever consume him, and pain that he never thought he could bear.

His voice was shaking when he asked the question he had been dreading to ask to the only person he had ever given his heart, soul and body.

"Do you like him?" He asked, unbearable

jealousy blossoming in his gut and knocking the

wind out of him.

Meredith shook her head, her lower lip quivering. "No!

There is only one man that I like... only one man I love. Always and forever."

Atlas swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing, as her words calm down the monster raging inside of him.

He took a step closer to her, aching to touch her, to feel her..

Another tear slipped over her cheek as she looked

up at him with anguished, tortured eyes.

He couldn't let her end up with the vampire prince. He would die before he let that happen. He would kill him with his bare hands if he had to. Even though he knew it wouldn't be possible.

"I won't allow it." Atlas growled. moving toward her from across the room.

"Atlas, I have no choice! My people need me. I-I"

"I don't care! Your people need youwhat about me? Huh?"

"Atlas.." The brims of her eyes welled up with

tears.

"Please.don't do this.don't make this difficult for me."

He shook his head, staring desperately down into her eyes.

"No I can't let you marry him. You're mineonly mine."

"And I will forever be yours. My heart will only belong to you."

She said, a tear slipping down her cheek.