The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-193

Calhoun's teeth bit Madeline's ear, bringing a sharp pain that made her flinch. As if he was not done with it, the teeth sunk further and Madeline leaned her back towards Calhoun for him to hold her still.

"Why would you do that?!" she asked when he finally let go of her ear.

She turned around her head to look at Calhoun, who stared back at her with mischief in his eyes, "Don't let your mind wander around when I am here with you. I need your attention on me."

Madeline exhaled air out of her lips, "I was thinking only for a second."

"About the time you escaped?" came the quick question from him. She gulped, hearing him reveal her thoughts out. Calhoun was too in tune with her surroundings and emotions that she felt worried. It was like he knew everything about her, from the tip of her hair to her toe, "Relax. You act as if you have plans of running away from here and I just caught you," he grinned when the look of uncomfortableness passed through her face.

That would be something, thought Madeline to herself. Was that why he had offered her to ride with him and not have her own horse when she knew how to handle horses except for mounting the horse which she needed help for.

With her head still turned, she watched Calhoun's expression turn to a smirk that she finally was figuring it out.

Madeline didn't have such a thought, at least not today. When Lady Lucy and the others had proposed the idea to go on hunting, Madeline had agreed only with the thought that it would be different. Somewhere out of the castle and Lady Lucy was a good company. She didn't have the heart to refuse the offer of Calhoun's half-sister.

"You look upset," stated Calhoun when he noticed the glum look on her face. Madeline turned her head back to look at her front.

She was trying, wasn't she? Did he have to imply that she was upset because she was not able to escape now? But now that Calhoun put a thought in her mind, she wondered how feasible it would be to run away with the horse. To have a transport that would help her to leave the forest. But then, Madeline also doubted if she would be able to get too far. Calhoun was not an amateur when it came to riding horses, and it would barely take a few minutes for him to catch up before dragging her back to the castle.

Madeline didn't want to cause or create a scene in front of people.

Her hand raised itself to rub the ear, which felt tender under her touch. With his hands still holding the reins for her to take, Madeline finally decided to hold it. But the moment she held the reins, Calhoun let it go and he moved both his heels against the horse's side to have the horse start to gallop.

For a moment, Madeline didn't know what to do, and her hands fell slack, "Why is he galloping?!" she asked stressed, not knowing that Calhoun was the one who got the horse galloping. Madeline believed that it was probably because the horse knew it was not its master who was holding the reins.

"Hold on the reins," directed Calhoun who was amused and entertained at the same time, "Tighter," he said moving closer to her and instructing the word in the shell of her ear. At the same time, Calhoun decided to place both his hands on the sides of her waist.

Instead of concentrating on the reins, Madeline's attention went back to Calhoun's hands that held her waist, "Concentrate," he said in a calm voice. Madeline was sure that they both were going to fall off the horse at any moment. Trying to ignore him, she steadied her hands. Twisting the reins to wrap it around her hands, "That's right," came the praise from him, and he placed his chin on her shoulder. His eyes moved to take in her expression.

Madeline was glad that the black stallion stopped galloping and she tried to figure out what had made it gallop suddenly as if they had a lion chasing behind them. Her heart turned back to a steady rhythm and felt Calhoun's weight on her shoulder.

"You don't have to freak out just because you are not sure," Calhoun said next to her head. The horse started to trot inside the forest, it's hooves clip-clopping against the ground, "If you don't know what to do, you grasp the first thing you see. The only worst thing would be you not doing anything about it."

Not sure what Calhoun was talking about, Madeline's hand tightly gripped on the reins that she held and asked him, "Are we still speaking about riding a horse?"

"I am sure that is what I was speaking about. What did you think I was speaking?" a whisper of a chuckle escaped his lips and Calhoun pulled away from her, "Your wedding dress would be arriving tomorrow to the castle."

"So soon?" Madeline asked slightly surprised because wedding gowns often took a lot of time.

Calhoun gauged on her answer, "The full dress hasn't been stitched yet, but they have prepared the insides of it. Mr. Heathcliff said that they had to make sure the measurements were right so that they wouldn't need to do too much adjustments once the dress has been finished."

"Okay…"

Even if part of her wedding dress was made, that would mean the main tailor would be arriving to check the fittings right? Asked Madeline to herself. Would that mean she would be meeting James tomorrow?

A certain anxious feeling started to build in her chest, but she tried not to let it appear on her face. She had to behave normal. James was going to get married to Lady Catherine Barnes. She was the daughter of a reputed Duke. Madeline could only tell that it was possibly a suitable match for him. Somewhere there was an ache in her heart. Not seeing him had made it easier, but the thought of having to meet him tomorrow brought an uneasiness in her chest.

"You okay?" asked Calhoun, his words testing her and Madeline nodded her head.

"I was thinking when my family would be here," Madeline deviated the subject subtly away from her wedding gown and the unspoken tailorman. Were her parents caught up with something that was holding them back from visiting the castle?

"I sent out a letter to your father through one of my men," answered Calhoun, "You don't have to worry about that. I know how much your family matters to you."

"Thank you," she murmured her thanks for his thoughtfulness.

When the others caught with them after a few minutes, Lucy appeared to be in a bad mood and next to her was Theodore. They were behind while Lady Rosamund, Samuel and Sophie were riding at the front. Even Calhoun noticed how his half-sibling looked like she wanted to leave the party to which she had just arrived, but she didn't say anything, and neither did Calhoun go to question.

Though Lucy was related by blood and Theodore was someone who he knew for a very long time before he even entered the castle, he didn't bother to get in between them on what was going on. They were both adults, and he was sure they knew how to sort out things if something was going on.

"The King's stallion is truly impressive," praised Samuel eyeing the black horse and then at the couple who sat on the horse, "We thought we lost you."

"I have had him for years," Calhoun moved forward, the front of his body pressing Madeline's back so that he could reach out to pat the side of the horse, "It is how you love and take care of the things around you. If you show them enough love and care, they will be the most loyal beings."

"The King is right," agreed Lady Rosamund, "My father once had this horse who he had for years. It was a pity that the horse's eyes were shot with arrows." The story that appeared to be a good one turned bad quickly, thought Madeline to herself.

"Who shot him?" asked Sophie, who appeared to not know about the story.

"Your grandfather was the one who shot it," chuckled Lady Rosamund with a calm voice, "It had turned to a useless thing. There was no point in watching the horse writhe in old age. Anyways, what are we going to hunt today?" asked the lady with a broad smile, excitement evident on her face.

Considering everyone was a vampire in here Madeline noticed how everyone looked excited with the idea to hunt the animal, which would be turning to a feast of meat for dinner tonight.

Lady Rosamund and Samuel had spears hauled on their saddle's of the horses while Lady Lucy and Sophie carried the bows.

Madeline looked around the horse, wondering what Calhoun had brought along with him because there were no spheres or arrows that stuck out of the saddlebags.

"I believe you haven't hunted before," stated Calhoun, his hand leaving her sides to reach out to get something from his back. Madeline noticed he had a different kind of bow and arrow. It was entirely made of metal that gave a feeling that it was heavier than the average bow.

"No, I haven't," answered Madeline and she didn't hear any comment from Calhoun on it. Humans didn't go hunting as the vampires did, "When did you learn to hunt?" she asked him, her voice low just for him to hear.

"Probably a few days before I learned to hunt people," his answer was blunt, a smile that came up quickly on his face when he watched the blank expression on Madeline's face.

Was it a joke? Asked Madeline to herself. No, it didn't appear to be a joke. This had her give him a curious look, wanting to know his time before and in the castle.

"What animal would you like to eat today?" he asked her, as a cook would.

"Anything you and the others would like to eat, milord," her back suddenly straightened when he squeezed the side of her waist.

"I would like to hunt you down and eat. I am sure you are the tastiest one I could ever taste," said Calhoun, not losing an opportunity to let his intentions known by her.

Madeline smiled back at Calhoun, "Would you like me to get down and run?"

Calhoun smirked at the effort of her sarcasm. What a cute little thing she was, "Hmm, there are many people in here. It will only end up in them taking a part in hunting you. Maybe we can change the location. Like my bedroom."

The King had jokes, thought Madeline to herself.

She turned back to look at others who were speaking about the possible animal they would find in the forest today. When Calhoun was getting his arrow from his back, Madeline felt someone's eyes on her from her left where Sophie and Samuel were, but neither of them were looking at her. Why did it feel like someone was looking at her?