The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-144

Madeline tried to get away from him, but instead of freeing herself, she stepped on her dress that only ended up in her almost falling down if it wasn't for Calhoun who caught her again, "We can do this all day long. It seems fun to catch you in my arms," he smirked before she finally moved away from him.

She had been feeling sorry for him while he was spinning a tale of lie about his parent's death with a solemn look on his face, "Why would you joke about your parent's death?" Madeline asked, her brown eyes wide.

"I thought it would be fun to see how you would react," Calhoun put his hand in his pocket to pull out two berries from there and offered to her, "Berries?"

"No, thank you," she retorted, a look of disbelief marring her face for believing blindly what he said.

Joking about her parent's death would have been the last thing she would have ever done, "Smile sweetheart. We don't want people thinking that I was trying to do something to you in the carriage now, would you?" He put the red berry into his mouth, biting into it as he grinned to see how she quickly schooled her expression, "Sweet girl," and they headed inside.

The mansion was nothing less to look like a smaller version of a castle. There were guards who stood outside, bowing their head in greeting. One of them was quick to lead them inside the mansion from the entrance, to where the rest of the guests were present.

"King Calhoun is here!" Announced the man as they were about to enter an open space like a room that had lawn grown on the ground. The people inside stood up to bow and greet the King of Devon.

Madeline had taken one step behind, letting Calhoun to be the centre of attention but that didn't stop the stares she received from the strangers in the room. Her feet felt cold and so did her hands with the sudden attention which was finally diverted when a woman came forward, bending down her head to greet the King.

"I am very honoured to have your presence today, King Calhoun," the woman was a brunette with a petite body and eyes that were light red.

"It is my pleasure to be here, Lady Ellen," Calhoun greeted back the young vampiress with a charming smile, "Looks like many guests here today. Is your father home?" asked the King and the woman nodded her head quickly.

"Yes, my King. He will be joining shortly," answered Lady Ellen before turning around to call the servant to offer the King, a glass of blood or wine, "Allow me to lead you to your seat," she said, not looking at the human who had come along with the King.

While Madeline was walking one step beside the King, her eyes met a familiar pair of eyes. It was Lady Catherine who she was acquainted with, giving her a smile. Madeline would have returned the smile in time if it weren't for the person who stood next to the lady. His black eyes stared at her, as James eyebrows furrowed.

It was James.

Oh dear God, thought Madeline to herself.

A nervous smile appeared on her lips and she bowed at both of them. Her hands turned clammy and she held onto the front of her dress. Her heart felt anxious at the presence of two people in the same room- Calhoun and James.

Madeline's footsteps were shaky when she made her way near to the seating. The host of the soiree Ellen Jennyings turned to look at Madeline who had been following the King like a lost puppy. Not to forget, a human.

"This is Madeline Harris," Calhoun introduced her to the young vampiress and Madeline returned back from her thoughts to see the woman bowed her head.

"Thank you for having me here," Madeline said and the vampires greeted back. Just when the woman left, she quickly moved to stand in front of Calhoun, blocking his view from James.

Calhoun's eyes narrowed at her, "What are you doing by standing there?" he asked.

Away from the King, on the other side of the room, James Heathcliff stood next to Lady Catherine Young who had invited him to accompany her here to the soiree. She had taken a fancy towards him since the moment she had laid her eyes on the tailorman. James found it hard to refuse on her face when she was being persistent. When the lady had asked him, James would have never thought that he would be meeting Madeline in here today. He wanted to go where Madeline was and talk to her but she wasn't alone. Next to her was the demon King who had taken a seat.

Lady Catherine noticed James looking in a certain direction and misinterpreted who he was actually watching, "That's King Calhoun Hawthrone. I suppose that you haven't seen him before," the lady informed him. But James had done more than see the King when he had last met him in the court.

"Isn't that Madeline Harris?" the lady asked with curiosity as she had not recognized the human right away, "Were you aware that she knew the King?" she asked him in a whisper.

"No, I wasn't aware of it," answered James, his eyes that were glaring at the King moved back to look at Madeline who had her back facing them.

James was unhappy with the turn of events where Madeline had refused the letter that it wasn't from her. He had thought probably she was not sure of her feelings for him. After returning back home, he had decided to cool his head off, not even going to speak to her when she had visited the village. But seeing her here now, all he wanted to do was walk up to where she was, and talk to her.

Last time James hadn't got the opportunity to speak to Madeline, but now that they were here, he decided to find a way to get to speak to her away from the King's eyes.