My Most Precious Human novel Chapter 96

"Entering Prince Kanan Grimoard and Lady Lilith." The announcer's voice sounded loudly across the ballroom as we walked inside.

From the moment we passed the threshold the crowd spread before us, making space for us. The gasps and murmurs surrounded us with every step we took towards the ballroom center. Of course, it would be a huge understatement to claim that the commotion wasn't caused solely by my stunning dress and necklace. I bet that sexy and confidently looking in his black tuxedo Kanan draw as much attention as my neckline with a shiny emerald marking between my breasts. Nonetheless, people weren't staring at us so attentively because they found us the hottest couple in the room but because he was a mixed-breed, and I was a human and we dared to hold our heads high.

We were slowly moving forward until we found ourselves in front of the throne podium, where all the guests were expected to bow to the King and the Queen and show their respects. My guts flipped inside out at the thought that I would have to lower my head to Elora, but I had to keep my part of the act.

I stopped and immediately locked my eyes on Sariel. Then I bowed down gracefully as I practiced it for more than half an hour in my chamber. The Manolo Blahnik's heels slenderized my legs perfectly. As I let the going-high slit reveal one of them while bowing, Sariel's eyes fired up with lust. I smirked and briefly gazed at Elora. Her eyes burned as well… They burned with fury. She was so tense she resembled a statue. I was quite certain that she wished for her gaze to be as deadly as possible, but it had little effect on me. On the contrary, I drew a strange thrill from daring her. I had to say that even though I was literally playing with fire, the satisfaction I felt was rewarding enough to bear an extra risk.

Sariel's stare was flooded with lewdness, but lust wasn't the only thing I saw in his expression. When his eyes went to Kanan I knew he wanted to kill him merely because Kanan was holding my hand. I could see his claws growing and digging into the throne's armrests. I knew that Kanan felt intimidated by the King's stare, but I hardly held my laughter. I wanted to see Sariel squirm inside. I wanted his blood to boil when he saw me with another man. Was that childish? Yes. Was it selfish? Greatly. But I wanted to make him have a taste of how it felt like for me to see him with that woman by his side. I guess, I succeeded.

"You may rise," Sariel finally spoke, clearing his throat.

I straightened, intentionally pushing my chest slightly forward while looking into his eyes. He clenched his lips painfully as if he wanted to prevent himself from saying something inappropriate. I kept my mask of politeness, giving him a kind and respectful smile, pretending not to see that his eyes had stripped me naked at least ten times already.

Kanan slightly squeezed my hand as a sign for me not to prolong this situation that he found quite uncomfortable. I chuckled inside my mind and gently nodded my head towards the King… and the so-called Queen, and Kanan did the same. After that we walked to the side of the ballroom, giving space for other guests to greet the King.

As soon as we stepped aside, I felt someone's hand patting my shoulder. I turned around.

"That was awesome!" Dominique giggled, rapidly tramping into a place like an excited child.

"You saw that?" I asked, embarrassingly.

She looked me up and down with a proud and coquettish smirk. "I have to say that I did an amazing job picking this dress, and you worked that gown fabulously, honey."

"Thank you," I chuckled, then looked around, wondering, "Where is Gabriel?"

"Oh, he just used some lame excuse that he had to find "someone", and then he just ditched me. So I'll just kick his ass once I find him," she grinned viciously.

"I already feel sorry for him," I laughed, observing Dominique's eyes already burning up, ready for sweet revenge. "Once again, thank you for your help." I smiled and gave her a little bow.

"I think I have never seen my brother so turned on and on the verge of losing control. He looked like he could have taken you where you stood!" She laughed out loud.

"Dominique, please…" I lowered my voice, "There are people around us."

She chuckled, trying to wave off my embarrassment, then her eyes landed on Kanan, who stood beside us, holding his laughter. "Speaking of other people… Greetings, Prince Kanan." She bowed down, smiling flirtatiously.

I cringed, watching that. It looked weird. I thought that Dominique was into girls, and girls only. Yet the weirdest part of it was Kanan's reaction. He slowly scanned her from head to toe, and when his eyes traveled back to her face, he gave her a meaningful, sly smirk. My jaw almost dropped.

"Good evening, Lady Calvet," he said, deepening his voice as he had never done in front of me. "You look lovely tonight."

"Thank you, Prince Kanan." Hearing her coquettish reply I could no longer restrain my jaw from dropping.

"You are welcome, Lady of Calvet." Kanan's slyness made me wonder if I had been fooled by him since he certainly didn't lack strength in the seduction department.

Certainly, I couldn't be surprised by Kanan's finding Dominique attractive. She was stunning as always, with long blond hair falling on her shoulders and eyes shining brighter than stars in the clear sky. Her completely not-humble, gold fitted gown with a shallow, rounded neckline and an open back that ended in a deep V, did her figure justice, underlining her slender, tall body. That didn't change the fact that their mutual attraction was something highly unexpected.

"I think I'll leave you two alone for a while," I said wickedly as I began slowly walking away from them.

I don't think they even noticed I was gone. I sighed, still grinning, and got myself a glass of champagne. The ballroom was crowded and quite stuffy, and truthfully, I would do anything to avoid all those curious stares aimed at every part of my body. At one moment, I saw a door leading to a terrace, and it seemed like there was no one there. I quickly maneuvered among the crowd, and a few seconds later, I was standing outside. I took a deep breath, leaning out from the balcony. I could finally feel more relaxed and finish my glass of champagne away from everyone. Certainly, my moment of bliss didn't last long.

"There you are, vampire's whore." The familiar, spiteful tone instantly made me cringe.

I turned around and looked at that disgusting grin on Derek's face, the one I had never wished to see again in my life. He closed the door leading back to the ballroom, blocking my escape from him. I had no idea what he was doing here, but I knew that if he was here, that meant that my father could have been at the ball as well. My heart began to race, but then I remembered Kanan's words and took a deep breath. Kanan was right. I was no longer the weak and defenseless girl Derek met years ago. Moreover, I had an advantage since he couldn't know that I had become stronger.

"Derek…" I smirked, looking him up and down, "I felt a disgusting, dirty dog’s smell in the ballroom. Now I can see that was you," I chuckled.

"Fucking traitorous bitch… If it weren't for the fact that we are on the enemy's territory, I would have killed you right now," he squeezed through his teeth, his eyes blazing in a savage rage.

"Traitor? Me?" I snorted coldly, "I don't recall being a pack member or being a wolf, and yet you blame me for not being loyal to those who tried to sell me as a slave?"

He stepped closer to me, raising his eyebrows. "You dare to talk back to me?" he said, steaming from his nostrils.

I didn't move an inch to avoid him. I kept looking into his eyes. I felt as if my eyes scanned his body, evaluated his fighting abilities, and marked him as weaker than me. That was when my lips curled up, forming a mocking smirk. He lost it.

"You're fucking dead, bitch!" He roared, his hand landing on my neck and clenching around my throat.

I grabbed his wrist, using a mere percentage of my strength, and I could see his grip loosening. I felt absolutely in control of this situation, and I found it exciting. It was the first time I felt bloodlust. Not the vampire kind of bloodlust, but I wanted to see Derek bleed. I wanted it badly. I kept looking into his eyes, filling him with confusion and fear that he had probably never felt before. I grinned wider while adding pressure to his wrist and feeling his bones were about to break. Suddenly, someone from the ballroom kicked the door to the terrace open and knocked Derek out with one swift punch in the side of his jaw. I gasped. That guy was freaking fast. He was panting with fury, but the rage wasn't aimed at me. I stood motionless for a while, trying to comprehend what had just happened. The man stepped closer to me, looking me up and down, probably checking if I was all right. Only then did I see his features…

He was way over six feet tall, easily towering over me as he took another step closer. He had raven black hair and onyx eyes that sparkled softly in the weak moonlight. His chick bones and jaw were beautifully shaped, bringing out his outstanding masculinity. And talking about masculinity… his muscles were impossible to hide under the fitted shirt and jacket he was wearing. That man was like sex on the legs, and the first guy I felt physically attracted to since meeting Sariel.

"Hope you're ok?" he asked, giving me a beaming white-teeth smile.

"Yes…" I muttered nervously, "I'm fine, thank you."

"I'm Draven, by the way," he chuckled, reaching out his hand, "Alpha Draven."