Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 534: Strike first

Not a shard, not a fragment of limbo in sight. No Emeric, no mother and certainly no Silas either. For all she prayed, her sleep was dreamless.

Although, no complaints were made considering her position allowed her very little luxury. Praying for no nightmares was the best and only standard to pine after.

The floor was hard and cold, but at the very least there was peace... That lasted until a foot struck her side, wrenching the first scream out of her in that early morning.

"Up, whore! You’ve had enough rest!" Zarah towered over her figure as Arabella straightened up onto her knees, "You’ve got a long day coming so you will need to have a proper breakfast," she practically spat, "Although, if it were up to me, you wouldn’t get as much as a sniff of food but alas, it is out of my control,"

Arabella kept her eyes on the floor as the shivers that plagued her since the previous day resumed.

"Stand up!"

Without a warning, Zarah yanked at her leash so suddenly, she nearly choked. But to no avail, the instant her feet went on the floor, her knees buckled and all the weight fell straight back on her ass.

"If you can’t walk then crawl, whore! It is more befitting of you," the hag chuckled, "Either way, you are going where ordered,"

And crawl she did! Again, the murmurs, insults and words of pity followed her all the way throughout the hallways.

But at the very least, her eyes never rose from the floor in front of them. At least, she was spared the glints in their gazes that burned her naked, filthy skin.

Dread coursed her veins faster when Zarah stopped walking. That could only mean that they had reached their cursed destination.

The sound of the great double doors of the meeting room as they split open was enough for her stomach to drop down her heels.

"There she is! Our shiny new toy!" Cedric’s voice rose, "Well, shiny as a figure of speech,"

Arabella needn’t see it to know that the Generals around the prince shifted in their seats, readjusting themselves as though what lived between their legs grew too big to contain.

Zarah kept on tugging her leash until the young woman’s face came inches from Cedric’s boots.

"While you’re at it, kiss them for me," he snickered.

"You heard his highness, slut!" a foot landed on her head, pressing her face further towards his shoes.

Confronted with no other option but to obey, Arabella laid her lips and kissed at the leather.

"Arch that back and spread your legs further apart," Zarah’s foot then went to press on her lower back, "Show that filthy cunt off,"

As soon as she obeyed, a cold and solid surface connected with her clit from behind, making her whimper for mercy before anything was even done to her.

"Feet off!" Cedric ordered the man to take his boot away, "I have a special task for her today. Come now, whore, enough of that. I want you to put your ass by my feet and keep an idle position throughout this meeting we’re having. I have a surprise I am sure will be to your liking,"

"You heard the-"

"Zarah, I want you out of here!" he turned his attention towards the hag, "We will be discussing important matters. It’ll be no place for a woman,"

When her eyes went towards Arabella’s knelt figure, the prince immediately added, "Consider her a pet. Now, unless you see yourself on the same level as her then leave,"

Zarah made not a peep more and swiftly exited the room after those words.

Arabella kept her eyes on the floor; feet tucked beneath her ass and back straight.

"As I am sure you’ve already heard of the happening, by the borders," he started.

Her heart skipped a beat as a breath hitched in her throat.

"Because of our pet here," referring to Arabella, Cedric yanked at her leash lightly, "Her dear ’husband’ followed and attacked us on our way back. You do agree that it was well within our right to restrain and show him how hospitable we are," he half asked.

Silas did follow and try to attack Cedric, but throughout his speech... His tone, she couldn’t help but feel something was amiss.

But it meant that the alarms back in Umbraria were sounded.

"Agreed," the men grumbled in unison.

"I am also quite sure you won’t disagree that should they strike first, our people would be at a disadvantage," his tone suggestive, he cut his sentence giving the impression that there was more to be shared.

"Are you suggesting we charge first?" the voice came from General Harold, obviously the oldest of them all.

"Do you have a better suggestion?" Cedric raised an eyebrow.

"Once we cast the first stone, there will be no going back," General Albert chimed in.

"So be it," the youngest. The one Arabella only got to behold through a clouded vision. General Atticus spoke up, "Whoever deals the first blow shall remain ahead of the race. Not to mention the complete map of the remaining tunnels we’ve received from our dear friends back in Umbraria,"

A breath hitched in her throat... Her heart dropped through her bottom...

There it was! The consequences of not sealing all of the tunnels that led in and out of the country.

That was his plan all along, wasn’t it?

To strike while they were busy with Silas’ situation.

"An attack of such standard will require a lot of preparation. When do you plan on hitting?"

"We’ll hit the iron while it’s still smoldering or the sooner the better,"

"I heard the king has awoken," General Morris leaned forward, "What is his word on this?"

A knock on the door, revealing a well-fitted servant that came to bow before the men, came with a message.

"Your highness, your guest has arrived,"

"Ah! Speaking of friends in Umbraria! Please welcome the man that made all of this possible. Look up slave. I’d like to see a bright smile on you. No less should be tolerated when greeting your dear old father after so long,"

Not a smile adorned her face upon obeying... As Reubon Sterling walked through those doors, chin high and posture straight.