The Crown's Entrapment

Bella was present in the evening celebration since Jayra wanted to introduce their family to Ebodia's Royal Family. Her sister-in-law had made it clear that they were the ones that took care of her, and Bella held her smiles throughout the evening, trying her best to enjoy herself and have so much fun. However, her mind just couldn't help but wander back to Osman. He was apparently still away with Commander Jargon fixing up some of the messes Nasser had created by the borders around the Dead Sea.

Unfortunately for her, she hadn't seen Osman since last night right after their one encounter with Princess Xenia. She had just heard from her brother Bartos that their King suddenly had an emergency task for Osman that night, so the man immediately left as soon as he was able.

Bella let out a long deep sigh as she drank from the silver goblet of wine in her hand. Staring at Xenia, the princess had apparently saved their collective asses during their fight with the final twelve in the tournament. She couldn't help but wonder… If Xenia hadn't interfered, what would've happened to the four of them? Bella couldn't help but imagine the worst.

Knowing all the things she knew now, Bella most definitely held a new level of respect for their new Queen. She had witnessed the princess's valor and care for those who were in need, and it was something that she couldn't help but admire. Still, she couldn't help but feel annoyed with last night's incident.

[Well, it's not her fault that she's been away for so long, right?] Poona reminded her. [She has no idea what's going on between you and Osman, but at least she easily picked up on the situation…]

Bella inwardly shook her head. Poona obviously admired their new queen. Her wolf was even ecstatic upon witnessing those beautiful pair of wings that suddenly popped out from the queen's back a while ago. It was their first time seeing an angel… Well, she was a Nephilim, but still, she looked so angelic with those bright white wings of hers.

It was such a beautiful and heavenly transformation; far from how female werewolves would transform into their wolf-woman form…

Poona scoffed, [Don't you dare berated our beastly appearance…]

Bella chuckled as she playfully swirled her glass, having just asked a servant to pour her some more wine. "Isn't it great to sit on a throne like that with a king?" she murmured with a smirk, knowing who exactly owned the familiar presence approaching her from the side.

"Well, your beauty definitely befits a crown, milady," Osman grinned. "But I doubt you'll be ready for the great responsibility of bearing the crown of a kingdom…"

Frowning, she turned to the man who had occupied her every waking thought lately. "Is that so? Are you belittling my capabilities to rule?"

"Well, I'm definitely not belittling you. I'm just discouraging you from it since I have no throne to offer you except for my riches," Osman roguishly smiled. "How about I just buy you a throne and a crown with the equivalent price for a Queen? I don't want you to look for another crown to wear or a throne to sit at in another kingdom instead of getting settled in my own manor… so perhaps that should suffice?"

Bella bit her inner cheek as she fought hard against her urge to blush. Lord Osman was looking more and more handsome in her eyes with each passing day, and it was honestly starting to both confuse and alarm her.

She still had two more years to wait for her Mate Bond to manifest, and what she and Lord Osman were having right now was way too dangerous if such a thing occurred… Or at least, if she let it keep happening.

She kept her quiet for now. Usually, Poona would encourage her like before. But now, her wolf was awfully quiet. Well, she could chalk it up as an improvement. After having a serious talk with Poona last night, her wolf finally understood just how conflicted their situation was.

They still had two years to wait to see if they were blessed to feel the Mate Pull on a particular person, and they couldn't afford to get too attached just yet. She asked Poona last night what her wolf would do if their Mate suddenly appeared while she gave in to her emotions towards Osman… and Poona couldn't answer her…

"You sound like you'll give me everything except for a kingdom…" Bella remarked with a pout.

Osman chuckled, and her heart thudded in response. Why did her heartbeat act weirdly like that when he was merely chuckling?

"Indeed. I'll have to settle short of a kingdom since I'm no King," Osman commented with a shrug as if he was suddenly disheartened at the fact that he wasn't a king.

Bella chuckled. Oh, how she wanted to ask him about the Fairy Queen, but she didn't want to spoil the good mood they were having right now. Not to mention how she didn't want to look so nosy for bringing up his past.

The silence passed for a beat before Osman cleared his throat. "Last night, I was about to follow after you when I suddenly got an order from our King…"

"Oh, that. I'm sure you're happy to hear from the Fairy Queen," she scoffed, trying to force a smile on her face only for her to give up. She supposed she wasn't feeling up to it at the moment with how her cheeks refused to move.

"Indeed. It's nice to hear from her again," Osman replied. "After all, I owe her my life."

She simply nodded before asking, "Are you going back to the Element Forest to see her then? It looks like our new queen had relayed some good news to you coming from Helena."

"Oh, that… No, she just had something for me," Osman quickly explained. "But honestly, I haven't checked it yet since I've been so occupied recently. As soon as I returned, I immediately went back here as soon as I could, and the first thing I did as soon as I'm here was to look for you…"

Bella's heart drummed rapidly once more. His words were making her react again, and she did her best to not let it affect her.

Osman looked at her intently, acting as if they were the only ones currently inside the great hall. She could hear the cheering, the waves of laughter coming across the room. All of the murmuring accompanied by the music… But they all seemed like nothing more than background noise against the loud beating of her heart… No, it wasn't just hers… She could also hear Osman's heartbeat syncing with hers.

"I have no intentions of going back inside the Elemental Forest to meet with Helena for personal reasons. I admit that I fell for her once, but you've completely occupied the space I had inside my heart and mind now, Lady Bella," Osman confessed. "I don't know how you did it, but you kicked her out and greedily took her place inside of me as if you weren't even thinking about sharing with anyone…"

Bella blinked at him, unable to answer… She didn't know what to say. She was just that caught off guard.

[Two years…] Poona interrupted.

"Two years… As soon as I turn twenty-eight without being blessed by the Mate Pull, then I'll accept you as my mate and husband," Bella unknowingly voiced out.