Chapter 104: She Has A Lover

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"You want their tongues ripped? Hmm.." Ivan quietly pondered over her choice as he stroked his chin, and an amused glint flickered in his red orbs. "From the beginning, I had the same idea in mind. However, It is fine, if you want their tongues, then you shall have it. Consider it as an apology token for their deplorable behavior."

"No wait!"

Before Ivan could give his command so the guards could drag the servants to the punishment room and out of his sight, Samantha had stopped him. To be honest, she never really meant it - okay, maybe she did mean it thirty seconds ago, but she was also being connotative with her decision. She wanted to see if Lord Ivan was being serious when he said he would implement her thoughts for her. She had said something she wouldn’t say on a normal day, she was testing him, and to her greatest shock, he was about to do just that.....it frightened her.

"That won’t be necessary- I - just need an apology from them." Samantha shook her head gently, indicating he didn’t have to go through with her first choice. She noticed the slight frown on Ivan’s eyebrows after that, followed by his downcast gaze, and when she assumed it had something to do with her change of decision, his gaze instinctively darted to the door, and a dark twisted smile curled his lips as he cocked his head slightly, his hold on her waist turning protective.

"They’re here." She heard him say quietly.

"Huh?" Samantha’s eyes followed Ivan’s to find him staring intensely at the closed double doors, and it wasn’t only her, everyone’s prying gaze had drifted to the double doors to see who exactly their Lordship was speaking to. Growing confused by Ivan’s sudden fixed gaze, Samantha’s lips parted, and she wanted to ask about who he was referring to when the gigantic doors suddenly creaked open, allowing an eerie hush to descend upon the room.

When everyone’s gaze moved to the door, Abdiel was the first to walk in, his footsteps silent on the tiled floor, and behind him were four powerful figures that emerged from the shadows, revealing themselves for everyone to see. Stifled gasps could be heard when the four vampire Lord’s, known as the higher-ups from Vesunard stepped in, their presence commanding attention and instilling fear upon the servants whose eyes nearly bulged out from their sockets.

"It’s them!" A particular whispered in terror.

Everyone lowered their gazes immediately as the atmosphere turned intimidating and ominous, but the only person who wasn’t shakened by their presence was Ivan. Even Lucy had to hide behind Herbert who also lowered his head in greeting, and he didn’t dare to look the four vampire Lord’s in the eye.

"I knew I smelled incoming deaths." Lord Draven hummed as his crimson eyes settled on the four bleeding servants. With eyes as cold as the moonlight, he was the prime epitome of cunning and manipulation. Lord Draven played the role of the strategist in the vampire council, his mind always worked behind scenes as the quiet one, maliciously weaving intricate webs of power and control, and when he spoke, it carried a calculating edge that never fails to piss Ivan off.

When the both of them inadvertently locked gaze, his demeanor exuded an unsettling aura of control and secrecy, one that Ivan couldn’t possibly see through.

Moving his eyes to Lord Lucius’s appearance, his presence had more effect on the frightened servants. Tall and imposing, his jet-black hair contrasted sharply against his pale, porcelain-like skin. Lucius was known as the enforcer of the vampire council, he ruled with an iron fist, and his every move hinted at his insatiable hunger for dominance and bloodshed.

He was the perfect embodiment of raw strength and impulsive aggression.

The third Lord to enter was the enigmatic Lord Damien, his silver eyes shimmering with mystery and ancient wisdom. He had a more graceful appearance that possessed an air of elegance and refinement. He was the council’s diplomat, and he negotiated with other supernatural factions with an uncanny knack for persuasion.

Lastly, came Lord Viktor. He was the oldest amongst the three Lords, and he had the most important role in the council, which was being the guardian and protector of his people.

His presence commanded respect, and his words carried a weight that few dared to question.

"Don’t you agree with me if I say we deserve to be appeased for not being welcomed properly? Lord Ivan?"

As the four Lords stepped forward, the room seemed to shrink under their collective weight. Whispers hushed, and gazes turned toward them, a mixture of awe and fear reflected in the eyes of the lesser vampires in attendance.

Meanwhile, a dark twisted smile curved Ivan’s lips at their question, clearly, they were offended. "My apologies, I forgot I’d be having visitors." He said, but it sounded empty. "Should I call this one a perfect timing, it has been a long journey for everyone and you must be thirsty. I’m hoping this will make do for the delay."

He jerked his head at the four servants who immediately guessed Ivan’s evil intention, and they began to plead in fear when two guards suddenly reached to grab them. "No, forgive us, Samantha, please! I don’t want to die yet! My Lordship, give us one more chance! Please!!!" Their cries echoed within the hall as guards immediately showed up to take the servants away, and Samantha, who had made a mental note on what Ivan meant by that phrase, could feel a cold chill settle on her back, whilst the four Lord’s suddenly appeared content.

By this time, Ivy was making her way to the hall when she heard about Ivan’s return, but the smile on her lips wavered when she saw the servants being dragged out of the room, all bruised and in tears. To understand what was happening, she stepped inside, but what she wasn’t expecting was to run into the four higher-ups from Vesunard, and that led to her automatically halting in her steps.

"The four Lord’s..." She murmured in disbelief, her tone laced with a hint of fear. Moving her gaze to Ivan only to find the servant sitting on his lap, the vampire Lord had gotten up from his seat, but to Ivy’s distraught, he offered Samantha to take his seat while the higher-ups were left standing.

"Sit down." He ordered Samantha who was reluctant at first. She found it disrespectful to be the only one sitting while everyone else was standing, but since he had made it an order, she could only hesitantly take her seat.

"What is going on here?" Questioned Abdiel as his eyes narrowed vividly. Everyone was stepping into the hall now, including the vampire brothers, Queen Carina and everyone belonging to the royal family.

While everyone was left to stand, only Samantha was taking her seat. Her nervousness grew when the higher-ups settled their gazes on her, but when she looked at Ivan so he could take note of her uneasiness, he made it clear to her.

"You’re unwell, I can’t have you standing."

"Fascinating, that’s a human." Lord Draven’s gaze landed on the human servant, and his eyes narrowed as though he could pick up on something else. He wondered why she felt familiar.

"Is it true? The rumors?" Carina, who had been suspicious of their alliance, had to question Ivan in front of the four Lords. Apart from Ivan being a feared Lord himself, these four were much more powerful compared to him, but then, his lack of fear had Carina growing worried, cause if her memories weren’t deceiving her, she always remembered Ivan to be the one cowering in fear whenever they approached him.

How much has he really changed?

Carina stifled a fearful gasp when Ivan turned his head to look at her since she had raised a question, and he sighed exasperated before eyeing her with disgust and returning his attention to the crowd in front of him.

"Since everyone is here, I am going to make this clear to all of you, with no rooms for doubt. The rumors are wrong, disgusting rather, but.... there is one thing about it that it’s true." The way his eyes gleamed at his last phrase had everyone exchanging confused glances, and then he said.

"She has a lover, but that lover isn’t Herbert." The earlier warmth in his eyes returned when he looked at Samantha, and then he let his hand out for her to hold.

"Can you stand up for a minute?" He asked, the smoldering tenderness in his voice had Samantha blinking, replacing her uneasy feeling in her stomach with unhidden flusters, but then she took his hand and stood up.

Facing him, Samantha watched with questioning eyes as he brought his hand forward to caress her cheek with his thumb, it felt cold, making her shiver slightly against his touch, but before she got a chance to predict what he wanted to do here, he was pressing his lips tenderly against her own, kissing her in front of everyone.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read