Chapter 51: Plotting Revenge
"What really happened?" Valerius asked Annalise as he helped her arrange the items that they would be taking with them to the Grand Duke’s mansion.
"I’m not sure..." Annalise responded, her voice coming out in a mere whisper. Her eyes stung with punished tears that she had been trying to keep in control ever since she returned to the castle without Lord Damian. The man had disappeared somewhere without telling anyone.
The more everyone kept asking about what happened and where Lord Damian was, the guiltier she was feeling. A part of her knew deep down in her heart that she was actually not at fault but the guilt was still there.
After all, if she hadn’t forced him to accompany her for shopping against his will, the situation wouldn’t have gotten this bad.
"Annalise..." Valerius was immediately beside her, taking hold of her hands in his own as he forced her to turn and face him. His voice was filled with the usual warmth but there was also a hint of worry in it.
"Don’t blame yourself. It’s my fault too, I shouldn’t have ordered him to accompany you since I knew that he was in a bad mood. You have nothing to blame yourself for." He rubbed her arms lightly as he tried to calm her.
All the resolve that she had built to keep her emotions in control, broke down the very moment she looked into Valerius’ eyes. Her heart trembled in pain as she felt the weight of guilt washing over her.
Valerius immediately pulled her into his arms without wasting a single second. "It’s alright. Everything will be alright." He murmured softly against her ear as he continued to rub her back in a gesture of comforting her.
The newly formed mate bond between them got filled with warmth and care as Valerius pointed his entire attention to making her feel good.