The Dragon King's Dark Angel

5 - Hurdles

Genevieve

For the first time since those beasts captured me, I felt my lips curve up to form a little smile. It had been so long, I forgot what that felt like.

I couldn't believe that this gorgeous man that looked like a God was calling me beautiful. It was such a huge change from the treatment I had been receiving from the other men who tortured me.

I wanted to believe that his intentions were good, but that wasn't an easy thing for me to do. I had spent my entire life being secretive and reclusive. I had to do this due to the fact that if the other dark angels knew how I really felt, I would have gotten teased and picked on even more.

I left the underground not trusting anybody, and those beasts made that an even bigger problem for me. This was the first time anybody had ever been nice to me without wanting something in return, so I couldn't help but to think there was some ulterior motive behind this gorgeous man's sweet words.

With wariness evident in my tone, I point blank asked, "What do you expect from me in return?"

Atreyu furrowed his eyebrows in confusion before replying, "I don't expect anything from you besides your loyalty. Don't lie in bed with any other man, and don't betray me in any other way."

"I would never lie in bed with another man! I was forced to do enough of that bullshit!" I indignantly retorted.

Instantly, anger flashed in his ice blue eyes, then he begrudgingly asked, "What all did those savages do to you?"

"You name it, they did it," I solemnly mumbled while looking away at the wall.

"Can you be more specific?" he anxiously probed.

I released a sigh of frustration, then I angrily rambled, "They did the most horrible things to me, Atreyu! Things I would prefer not to speak of EVER!"

I could feel the tears stinging behind my eyelids, as I thought about the endless days of being manhandled and sexually abused. I didn't want Atreyu to see the tears that threatened to betray me, but it was inevitable when he gently placed his hand on my cheek and turned my face so we were looking at each other.

"I'm sorry for prying, my love. I just wanted to know how bad of a punishment I should give them," he apologetically mumbled with a pained expression on his face, then he used the pad of his thumb to swipe the tears that slipped from the corner of my eyes.

While most of my wounds had healed, the worst of them were still a little bit tender. That was the case for my cheek, and that caused me to wince in pain when his thumb brushed against it.

Atreyu's frown instantly deepened, and that affected me more than I expected. It pulled at my heart strings and made me want to do something nice to bring his cute smile back.

With that thought in mind, I brushed my knuckles across his high cheekbone and softly murmured, "Thanks for saving me, Atreyu."

"I will always save you, angel! I only wish I could have found you sooner. Before those savages got their hands on you," he stated with conviction.

I flashed another small smile at this mysterious man that called himself my mate, then my empty stomach grumbled like it had so often done these past months. Naturally, I didn't think much of it, since I was used to being hungry, but Atreyu felt different about it.

His pretty blue eyes glazed over for several seconds, then they returned to normal. Right after that, he smiled while proudly stating, "Angel, I have our best cook preparing a nice meal for you."

"You don't have to do that. I'll be fine," I quickly muttered. I wasn't sure what I should say in response, and that's what spewed from my mouth.

"Yes, I do have to do that. You are extremely malnourished and weak. That makes you a vulnerable target for anybody who wants to challenge you for the title of Queen. I need you healthy and strong, so I can introduce you to the citizens of our kingdom," he adamantly insisted with authority.

"Others can do that?" I sheepishly asked.

"Technically, yes, but most of the time when that has happened, the King usually intervenes and forbids the fight from happening. Naturally, I would do the same, but that doesn't mean that some ruthless slut wouldn't use your weakness to take you out in hopes of winning my affections later," he explained with concern lacing his facial features.

"I'm stronger than I look," I mumbled under my breath.

"I believe you are, but I don't want to take any chances," he insisted with an apologetic smile appearing on his face.

"Fine, I'll eat the food, but I don't like you treating me like I'm some damn kid or something," I defiantly grumbled feeling the need to go on the defense.

King Atreyu

I couldn't believe my adorable little angel was being so defiant about eating a nice meal. I simply wanted to see Genevieve regain her strength, so she would be able to defend herself if it was needed. Of course, I still planned to assign a personal bodyguard to her, but that made no difference when it concerned her health.

After she griped about me treating her like a kid, I chuckled at my defiant angel, then I nuzzled my nose against hers and mumbled, "Prove to me that you can handle yourself, then I won't have a reason to treat you like a kid."

Before she had a chance to respond, I pressed my lips against hers. Instantly, Genevieve's entire body stiffened, but I didn't pull away. Instead, I started massaging her cracked lips with my soft lips.

She lay there stiff as a board with her heart racing, but she didn't try to push me away. After close to thirty seconds of kissing her, I trailed soft kisses across her cheek over to her ear, then I huskily mumbled, "Has anybody ever told you how gorgeous you are?"

"No. I've only been told how worthless I am," she breathily replied.

"Nonsense! You are beautiful...and sweet...and special!" I affectionately murmured, then I trailed kisses down her thin neck. I was surprised that she was letting me do such an intimate thing to her, and I planned to keep going until she made me stop.

When I reached her sweet spot, I mumbled, "This is where I will mark you."

I heard her breath hitch in her throat for a few seconds before she shakily whispered, "What are you doing, Atreyu?"

"I'm showing you the love that you deserve," I stated with honesty, then I trailed more soft kisses across her shoulder.

Genevieve's body trembled, but that didn't deter me one bit. I knew she was scared that I was going to hurt her like the men did at the Dark Mountain Kingdom, and that's why she wasn't responding like most women would have.

It was going to take time for her to feel comfortable with me or anybody else, but it wouldn't happen if I didn't show her that my intentions were good. That being said, I knew it was crucial that I take things slow, so I didn't go past her shoulders.

Instead, my lips worked their way back up to her ear, then I sweetly mumbled, "Don't be scared of me, Genevieve. I'll never do anything that could hurt you."

"I want to believe you so badly, but I need time to process everything that has happened since I left the underground. I had recently escaped from there when those dreadful men pulled me out of the sky and nearly beat me to death. Since then, it has been one form of torture after another until you rescued me," she shyly explained.

"You will never be tortured again if I can help it. Anybody and everybody that tortured you will be punished to the fullest extent!" I vowed to my angel.

I wanted nothing more than for Genevieve to open up to me about what all they did to her. I knew firsthand how detrimental it could be on one's psyche to keep those traumas locked away inside the brain.

Unfortunately, she wasn't ready for that, and even if she was, it wasn't the right time. Seconds after I made that vow, there was a knock on my bedroom door.

Knowing it was my angel's food, I made sure she was fully covered by the blanket, then I summoned my servant to enter. A second later, Noah entered my bedroom with a small cart that he pulled in with him. After he wheeled the cart to the side of the bed, he asked if there was anything else I needed.

When I told him no, he quickly left my bedroom. Noah had always been a good servant, and he never stuck around longer than needed, because he knew I liked to have my privacy.

Genevieve made no attempt to get her food, so I climbed out of the bed and walked around to the cart. After I lifted the silver lid off of the plate, I politely asked Genevieve to sit up so she could eat.

Without trying to put up a fight about it, Genevieve sat up with her back propped against the headboard. I set the tray on her lap, then I watched her eyes light up with joy, as she looked at the plate of food.

There was a medium-rare steak, a baked potato, green beans and a roll. Not only did it look delicious, the mix of aromas were enough to make anybody's mouth water.

Genevieve glanced between me and the plate of food a few times, then she grabbed the fork and took a little bit of the potato that was loaded with butter, cheese and bacon bits. Instantly, a wide smile formed on her face followed by a little moan.

After she swallowed that bite of potato, she cut a small piece of steak and put it in her mouth. Right away, her smile widened even more and her eyes closed, then she moaned the whole time she was chewing it.

All caution flew to the wind at that point. Genevieve tore into that steak like she hadn't ate in a year, then she devoured the rest of the food, all within a matter of minutes.

When she was done eating, she chugged the glass of sweet tea that was sitting on the cart, then a loud burp escaped from her mouth. Instantly, her cheeks turned bright red, as she timidly mumbled, "Oh my, excuse me."

I simply smiled at her cuteness and took the plate from her, then I wheeled the cart out to the hall. To get Noah's attention, I used my fingers to make a loud whistle, then I closed my door and returned to the bed.

I noticed right away that Genevieve looked pale and quickly asked, "Are you okay, angel?"

"I don't know, Atreyu. I don't feel so well," she whined with a grimace.

A second later, her hand flew up to her mouth, then she scrambled off the bed. I knew full well she was on verge of vomiting, so I quickly ran over to the bathroom and threw the door open. Genevieve ran past me, then she dropped to her knees in front of the toilet just in time for the food she had just eaten to come back up.

I ran over to Genevieve and dropped to my knees beside her, then I held her hair back with one hand while using my other hand to rub soothing circles on her back. It wasn't long before the entire meal was expelled from her stomach, then she leaned over the toilet and groaned.

The doctor had said she was malnourished and most likely starved, but I had no idea to what extent until that moment. It had been so long since she ate a good meal, her stomach couldn't handle it. I made a mental note to give her smaller portions for the time being, while I got a washcloth wet with warm water.

After I used the washcloth to wipe the sweat off of her forehead and the vomit off the corners of her mouth, I scooped Genevieve's frail body up in my arms and carried her back to the bed. As soon as her body hit the mattress, she rolled to her side and curled up into a ball.

I could hear her quietly weeping, as I walked to the other side of the bed, and that broke my heart. I hated to see my angel in such bad condition, and I wanted so much for her to have a speedy recovery.