The Duke's Passion

I gasped for air, waking up from a strange yet vague dream. My throat rasped as I broke out in sweats. I turned to my side, only to realize Sam wasn't beside me.

'Where did he go?' I wondered, closing my eyes as I calmed myself down. My head throbbed, but the pain was bearable; I'm already used to it. When would this dream stop?

It had been half a year since I became an official member of the Order. For half a year… my dreams and nightmares had been increasingly troublesome. It would leave me with a terrible headache I had to endure all night or day.

At first, I thought because of the constant change in my schedule, as I sometimes had to work at night and sometimes get assigned to work during the day. But the more I thought about it, I was fine until that night.

"Don't think about it again, Lilou," I whispered under my breath, shaking my head lightly. I had been trying to bury the memory of that night five months ago in the garden with Stefan, but was it just a coincidence that I had been having these recurring nightmares after that night?

I don't know if calling it nightmares was the proper term. They're more like dreams, but I always gasp for air when I wake up because I felt being trapped in a loop.

"What time is it?" I wondered, shifting my gaze in the window's direction. It seemed it was still pretty late in the night; I was assigned for morning duties for almost a month now, so I'm back to sleeping at night.

My throat felt parched. 'I should fetch some water,' I thought internally, flinging my legs out of the bed to fetch some water outside. 

As I opened the door and peeked my head out, I furrowed my brows. There was no one around. Well, I told Sam not to ask anyone to guard the quarters since it was embarrassing to let others hear our moans. Also, it's not that we couldn't protect ourselves.

I headed towards the kitchen to fetch some water. Since the third prince's quarter was almost deserted, I didn't see anyone. Fabian and Rufus were probably busy, they've always been. When I reached the kitchen, I searched for water which I found easily, and hydrate myself.

I hissed in satisfaction. "I thought I'd get dehydrated," I mumbled and cleared my throat. I chugged another glassful of water and filled it up to take it with me back to the bedchamber.

On my way back, I noticed a figure from the corner of my eyes. I turned my head in its direction, narrowing my eyes as I noticed the silver tip of the man's hair.

"Sam?" I called in a low tone, cocking my head to the side. Since I had been used to working in the dark, my vision could easily adjust to the lack of light. 

Where was he going? I thought, marching my way to follow him. From his stature and the color of his hair, I knew it was Sam. I couldn't also feel any malicious aura, so there's no harm to check. 

I followed the way where I saw Sam headed, trailing the wall with my palm. Even though I couldn't feel danger, being cautious wouldn't harm me. My footsteps were light, as if I was barely touching the floor.

Working for half a year as a member of the Order had given me other skills to use. Even though we're working with the royal family to resolve the growing problems with the Undead, the Divine Order had its own skill set of rules different from the monarch.

If this was before, I would've called Sam's name once again, but not now. If I called him and that person wasn't Sam, it would give them time to prepare as I approach. I'd rather move quietly in the dark to see whether someone infiltrated the prince's quarter.

Soon, I reached a chamber that was rarely being used by Sam and me. The door was slightly opened, and I froze as my breath hitched when I heard a familiar voice of a woman. 

Cassara.

"Hell, you haven't been drinking, have you?" she asked coquettishly. What was this woman doing in here? I clenched my teeth, not pleased that she was here in the middle of the night.

Sam chuckled in a low tone. "So, you came here to feed me?" 

I felt my heart sink when I heard Sam's voice. My hand on the wall slowly curved into a ball. Just hearing them together without seeing what they were doing clenched my heart. My mind was running wild, thinking whether Sam was touching her or she's touching him.

Should I barge inside and throw a huge fit? I should berate Sam for leaving his wife to see another woman, right? There were myriads of reason and thoughts that rose in my head, but I couldn't do any of them. 

I stood on the same spot like a fool, as if my feet were nailed on the floor, being forced to listen to their conversation. 

"Your wife doesn't feed you. Does she even know how exhausted you've been?" Cassara complained, obviously putting me in a bad light. "I'm not saying she's neglecting you, but how can she not know that feeding you once a month is also neglecting your needs?"

"Does it bother you?" he asked, making me clench my teeth. Why did he sound so gentle? 

I knew I didn't have enough time tending to my husband, but was it enough to justify seeking another woman's comfort? Jumping into conclusion immediately was a death sentence as a member of the Order, but I couldn't help but assume as the matter of the heart was involved.

"Of course, it bothers me. I kept silent and remained on the sidelines because I didn't want to burden you," Cassara sweetly cajoled. I could imagine her damn hands touching my husband. 

"But, my worries will be far greater knowing you'd been deprived. So, just take a bite, Hell. I do not mind and I'll keep this a secret between us."

'You should leave.' My mind told me, and I nodded. 'I should just… leave. Right…'