My Most Precious Human novel Chapter 72

I could literally choke from the amount of hostility floating in the air. Dominique stepped closer to me as if she was going to shield me from attack. Suddenly, someone's hand hit my cheek. The slap came so fast and was so hard that it made me fall on the floor. The high-pitched sound inside my ear that came from the blow felt as if it was going to burst my head. It took me a few seconds to lift my eyes and realize what had happened.

"How dare you! Raising your voice on a noble is severely punished!" Duke Orseolo's fuming voice spread through the room.

He was still holding his hand high from hitting my face. He must have come from behind and was too fast for Dominique to notice him on time. She was standing next to him, glaring at him with an outraged expression, yet she remained silent.

The other nobles gathered around me, staring at me with disdain. They were whispering about the punishment I should receive for my words. Anger rose within my veins. I was weaker than all of them, but that didn't mean I should be ripped off my dignity. If there was one thing that kept shattering my rationality and composure, it would be calling me a thing or someone's possession. I hated it so badly that I dared to attack anyone who treated me as such… and so I did. Unfortunately, my exploding temper put me in huge trouble this time…

"It is up to you, Sir Aryan Desai… How do you wish to punish this human who insulted you?" A wicked smirk appeared on Duke Orseolo's face while he pointed at me.

Aryan crouched down beside me, watching me struggle to get up from the floor.

"I like to be called a merciful man, so I will give this human a choice," he chuckled coldly, looking into my eyes. "You can either willingly join my harem, or you can give me your blood… all of your blood."

"That is absurd!" Dominique roared, "She is already marked by the Duke; she cannot become someone else's!"

"Yes, she can," Aryan snickered. "There is a law which allows the marked one to break the bond. All she has to do is choose another one willingly."

"You are digging your own grave, Sir Desai! Duke Orseolo, you are no better!" Dominique thundered.

"Stay out of this, Lady Calvet! This human has brought it on to herself! She should have known her place!" Duke Orseolo yelled.

I stood up, touching my already swollen cheek. It hurt like crazy. I gently grazed my cheek with my fingers and noticed blood. Only then did I feel another kind of pain; my face had been cut… Apparently, Duke Orseolo thought that the simple slap wasn't enough to release his anger. I glared at him and saw him grinning viciously while turning his sharp-edged ring around his finger. The cut he made started from my earlobe and reached the corner of my lips.

"Son of a …" I muttered under my breath.

Dominique rushed towards me to see if I was all right.

"Don't worry," she whispered to my ear, "Sariel's blood will heal your wound in no time."

I smiled nervously at her. The wound on my cheek was the least of my problems. Suddenly, Aryan leaned over me, pushing Dominique away, and stroked my wound with his fingertip. I flinched and stepped back away from him.

"Don't touch me," I hissed.

He snorted and licked my blood off of his finger.

"This is amazing!" he called out, elated after tasting it. "Now I get why the Duke wanted you to himself!" he burst out laughing.

I trembled in fear more by the second. I kept glancing at the door where Sariel went and prayed that he would come back. Dominique clearly held no position to help me. She could merely mention her brother and wait for him to take action, but since he didn't come until that moment, would he even care? I was naively certain that the fact that I had his mark was enough to keep me safe, but without him around, I was still treated as a lowly creature. My heart entered a state of panic. I started to wonder if maybe Sariel had decided to fight the bond and abandon me. I had already done my part. My presence provoked a lot of the nobles, including the Princess, and at this moment I could become his weakness, a nuisance that he had to get rid of.

Aryan grabbed my hand and pulled me close, pressing my body against his. I struggled, but I could barely move within his grip. No one interfered, they all stood and watched. Duke Orseolo and one other noble, who sided with him, grabbed Dominique's arms, trying to keep her away. Aryan smirked and squeezed my chin, pressing the wound on my cheek enough to make it bleed. Then he leaned over me and licked it straight off my face. I roared, trying to move away from him and make him stop, but that only made him laugh. I could feel his arousal increasing. His eyes glowed in red as his tongue cravenly licked off another drop flowing out of my wound.

"Let go of her, you sick bastard!" Dominique fumed, but the sound of her voice quickly dispersed in the laughter of other nobles.

They stood there, enjoying the show while I squirmed within Aryan's forceful embrace. Terrified and helpless, I became the main attraction of the gathering, and every cell in my body screamed how much I hated this situation.

"So, what do you say, beauty? Do you want me to suck you till the last drop, or do you want to live and become mine?" Aryan tightened his embrace, making me fight for my breath, then he leaned over my ear and whispered, "I would rather play with you in my bed. You're gonna love my cock, and it's already hardening, awaiting your taste. It's gonna tear your insides apart."

The tip of his tongue roamed down my neck. It made me sick. It was nauseating to the point where I nearly threw up in his face. I kept struggling, but I was losing my strength. He overpowered me and enjoyed my defenselessness.

"I'd rather die than let you have me!" I shouted fiercely.

"It's a pity, but I will respect your choice," he chuckled as he released me from his grip.

I quickly stepped back, panting heavily while he and the other nobles laughed. Dominique roared, trying to help me, but those who held her were stronger. I shivered. I was horrified. I kept glancing at the door, still hoping for Sariel to show up, but that hope within me was fading.

"I can try to overwrite the mark, but there is a simpler way to drain you…" He smirked and pulled out his sharp claws. "One cut on your neck. I promise you won't suffer too long."

"Don't you dare, fucker!" Dominique bellowed.

I looked around the room one more time, but, except for Sariel's sister, everyone either sided with Aryan Desai or feared him enough to not interfere. Aryan's cold grin petrified me to the bone. I had nowhere to run and was going to be executed on the spot. My heart thundered wildly, but I clenched my teeth and decided to look this bastard in the eye. I hoped he would choke on my blood that he was so eager to drink.

Aryan's hand swung, but suddenly a huge blow pushed him back, making him smash the wall. A second later, I found myself in Sariel's arms. He was nervously pressing me tightly to his chest, stroking my hair. His vampire heart was pounding as fast as if he was human. I wanted to hide my face in his chest, but then I heard Aryan's laughter.

"Duke Calvet, do you wish to challenge me?" He stood up, brushing off the remnants of wall plaster from his suit.

Sariel released me from his arms, gently pushing me to the side.

"Challenge you?" he smirked viciously. "I am going to execute you!" The power of his voice sent a sonic wave that made the walls shake.

Duke Orseolo gulped and immediately released Dominique. She slapped him and ran towards me to hug me.

"My marked one is the current Mistress of the House of Calvet!" he exclaimed loudly, pointing at me, "and whoever dared to touch her, harassed a member of the Calvet family!"

Everyone stepped back, leaving Duke Orseolo and Aryan Desai alone, unwilling to join them while facing Sariel's anger.

"Leo!" Sariel called his right hand man.

Leo showed up instantly as if he was waiting by the door for permission to enter. Two other bodyguards followed. Leo was carrying a shining sword with him. He bowed to the Duke, then glared coldly at the other nobles, making them step back further against the wall. Sariel stared at the cut on my cheek.

"Who?" he asked, glancing at Dominique.

"Duke Orseolo," she smirked.

"Which hand did he use?"

"Right one," she replied, pointing at the sharp ring on his finger.

Sariel smiled wickedly and then gazed at Leo, and he nodded in response.

"N-no!" Orseolo called out fearfully.

Leo took the sword in his hands and started walking towards him. He tried to run but was quickly captured by the guards. Leo swung the sword, and the Duke's right arm fell to the floor. He gave out an agonizing scream as his blood flooded the room.

"Shall I take care of the second problem?" Leo smirked.

"No," Sariel chuckled, while a furious glare filled his eyes. "I will let Sir Desai know what awaits those who try to take what's mine."