Isabella In my mind, I woke up in my old room. Not the one I had in Rome, but the one on Aalia. High ceilings and the chandelier greeted me. The lovely scent of jasmine and lavender lingered through the room, as was the air freshener I liked to use when I was younger. I looked down to see myself in the nightgown that I loved to wear when I was 14. I refused to let Mama throw it away because I loved the baby blue color so much, so I requested that my comforter be in the same color and fabric. My papa got it for me one random day when I was 14, and I had been wearing it since then. I looked up to find Cassandra sitting across the room. Her legs were folded across her lap. It wasn't the 18-year-old Cassandra I knew; this one was older. Her dyed blonde hair was cut short into a pixie style. Her eyes were wide brown and were lined with so much eyeliner she looked like she was cosplaying an Egyptian outfit. On her cheeks was a light dusting of blush that I bet she was hoping to make h
Isabella Damon placed a soft kiss on my lips and then on my forehead again before speaking into my ear. "Go back to sleep. I'm here," he said, and like the trickster he was, his voice lured me back into sleep like a lullaby. By the time I opened my eyes, it was bright outside, and Damon was still inside the room. He was seated on the couch that was placed beside a door that I figured led to the bathroom. Most importantly, my throat felt as though it was made of sandpaper, and my tongue was so dry I thought I was in a desert. I looked beside me to the dresser table and saw a jug of water with a glass beside it. Just as I was reaching for the glass, I felt a hand on mine, lowering it. It was warm, comforting, and large as it enveloped mine gently. Suddenly, I was exhausted by the little activity that I had performed. I was momentarily startled by the sudden movement of the bed. The half of it that my torso was on suddenly started moving upwards until I was in a near sitting positi
Isabella Two days later, even after I saw Paula, I said nothing to Damon. I was lying to myself and keeping something from him. Perhaps he could tell because every time he came close to me, I would flinch and turn my head away as though he had offended me. The reality was that I was angry with myself for not saying what needed to be said. Perhaps I needed another shot, or perhaps I needed some time away for a while. I shook my head. Going away was the same thing as being a coward, and I wasn't raised to be one. Perhaps my life after 15 had taught me to run as the only way to survive, but I always knew that I would one day face the thing that was chasing me: my birthright. I leaned back against the pillow of my hospital bed and turned towards the window. It was night when I woke up from my nap to find that I was alone. The last time Damon came, I started to avoid his gaze and gave him one-word answers. I wasn't surprised that he had left, even though he promised to be here, but w
Isabella I went back to Paula's room every day after the small conversation I had with Michael. She was sleeping for most of the time until the fourth day when I found her awake. She had a bright smile on her face as soon as she saw me. She looked better, less weak, and more capable of getting up on her own. "Hey," she whispered to me when I sat beside her. "You're okay?" she asked. I was torn between saying yes and saying no. Yes would mean alive because I was constantly in a state of turmoil, and no would mean that I was in pain. So, I chose both. She looked at me as though I had grown a second head and then giggled. This was the Paula I was familiar with, and I felt at ease. "I'll feel better when I tell you something," I said. "What is it?" she asked. I told her about who I was, where I was from, and why she was kidnapped. By the time I told her about who Damon was, she gasped and covered her mouth. "I knew it," she whispered, as though she had happened upon the secret o
Damon 4 days ago, I was certain Isabella thought me a monster. Perhaps Michael had told her what happened. That blabbermouth. She flinched every time I reached for her, and the moment our eyes met, she would quickly turn her face aside. At first, her rejection was startling, and I felt it was probably a side effect of some trauma she had experienced being shot. When it persisted, I began to feel pain in my chest as she did it. Isabella never flinched from my touch. Isabella would always look me in the eye, even if she was shy. The only logical conclusion I came to after the second day of her flinching from me was that she thought I was among the monsters. Perhaps I was, but later that evening, my feelings were confirmed. In my dreams, I stood on a heap of bodies. Suddenly, a hand grabbed me, and then another reached out from the midst of the dead bodies. Just as I was about to pull my leg from it, I saw my hands drenched in blood. More hands reached up and grabbed me, suddenly
Damon Whatever plans I had had to be put on hold. Whatever ideas Isabella had had to die. I needed to get back to Avalia Immediately. "Meet me at the hospital in 10 minutes," I told Alessandro as I grabbed my keys from the tabletop in the living area. The drive was too slow. At nearly every block, there was a slow movement of cars. It was either that or my mind was moving too fast and my body wanted to catch up with it desperately. As soon as I saw the hospital in view, I hit the gas until I reached the parking lot. Unfortunately for me, the only free space was far away from the entrance, so I made do with running. I ran all the way up the stairs because the elevator seemed like it was wasting my time. Finally, I opened the door of Isabella's room. Her eyes were hopeful; they held relief. Her mouth opened and closed as she took in my appearance. Sweat dripped down from my eyebrow to my cheek and then slipped from there to my white shirt. "I'll come with you," she said. "I'm rea
Isabella Damon looked deep in thought for a moment, and I could see the gears in his mind working. "In the end, it's up to you," he said finally. "If you want another family to replace it, then fine. If not, then the space remains vacant, and only five ruling families, along with yours, will take over the leadership of Aalia." "I see," I said as my hand reached up to rub my chin. "Then perhaps it will be better to use one of the minor families and elevate them." "Perhaps," Damon replied. "Just choose wisely." "What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely curious about his statement. "And are you thinking of leaving me alone? I can't do this by myself, Damon. If you're not there, I'm going to... the guys will eat me alive. If Cassandra is this bad, how much worse are the rest of them?" "Damon!" I wished to myself that the man shared the same apprehension as I did. Instead, he was laughing so hard his shoulders were shaking. By the time I saw his face, his eyes were watering, and his fac
Isabella One week came and went in a breeze, with Damon visiting me every day and sometimes staying the night. We would cuddle on the slim hospital bed, his large frame hanging off the edge. When he felt bold enough, he would pull down the neckline of my gown to reveal my nipples and suck on them while I squirmed comfortably in his arms. Paula was doing much better. I occasionally heard the sound of Michael Familia's British accent from her door, followed by her giggles. It looked to me like the two were getting closer in a good way. When we had the opportunity of being alone, we would share stories of our childhood. We knew this before, but we had so much in common; we were practically raised similarly. The only difference being that my father was betrayed and killed, while hers was still very much alive and kicking. Damon had agreed to extend my stay by one more week because Paula's discharge was not until another. "It would be good if we leave together," I told Damon. He did
IsabellaPerhaps it was Donatella's face that was the most surprising, but the days following my declaration and official ascension to the throne were followed by endless visits to my family's estate.I had to temporarily move there because I was worried about the constant movement and how my son would take it. However, according to Julio, it also applied pressure to bring Cassandra back to the city.She had disappeared a few days ago, and I believed she went to have her child."I must say, he's a very handsome boy," Nicholas said as he carried my son and began to walk around the new nursery. The baby cooed in his arms and raised his little fists towards his face. I smiled but began to miss the little bundle of warmth that he provided. I had once complained to Damon, and his reply was,"You'll just have to get used to it. Or are you going to take my son away from me?" Damon said with a smile.***To my surprise, Cassandra didn't show up over the next few weeks. I began to genuinely w
IsabellaGeorge knelt in front of me in the gazebo. I had given Alessandro the go-ahead to let him come to the mansion. He came accompanied by three more people that I didn't recognize."There was a mistake, Princess. If I had known…”“I know you think that I am a benevolent figure of never-ending kindness that might accept you. But you must understand that given my position, I simply cannot forgive you right off the bat. You have to prove yourself to me. You have to prove yourself to the city. You have to prove your loyalty, and it will cost you more than it did the last time," I found myself saying.Shortly after that, I left the men alone and made a beeline for the nursery where I felt my son squirming and crying in his cot. The maid I had instructed to stay with him was trying to keep him calm, but she was failing miserably, making me laugh.I stretched out my hands, and just as she placed him in it, the infant settled down. Shortly after passing him and singing to him, I felt ar
DamonAfter Isabella told me that I should handle Cassandra, Valentino, and her allies, I got to work instantly, telling Ted to pull out the old files he had on the trust of those she committed."So what do we do with them?" he asked. "We pick the weakest link. We pick the one most sympathetic to the lower City. Find me a couple of them and show them the pictures."A few days later, I received a call from Ted while I was out in town on a meeting with Nicholas."We have a number of them. What do you want us to do?" he asked. "Tell them to come to my place," Nicholas said with his arms raised. "I'm sure we'll do a good job convincing them." I smiled and told Ted to do the same. Six men, members of the lesser families, came through his gate.I recognized Antonio and George to be some of them and stopped myself from snickering behind my mask. The men bowed when they saw me, but it was clear that their initial fear of me was gone. I smirked behind the mask and looked at them.I loved se
IsabellaDamon had carried me into the tub filled with cold water. As soon as my body came in contact with the water, I instantly sighed in relief. Marie came to me with a small figure half wrapped in a cloth and laid the pink infant on my naked chest.I leaned my back against the foam headrest and let my child lean against my skin. He squirmed and cried, but Marie said it was all part of the process, even though my heart was aching as I desperately searched my mind for what to do to ease his sorrows somehow."If he doesn't cry, his lungs wouldn't be strong. You have to let him cry, princess," she had told me before I struggled with her, and Damon carried me into the bathroom. Even now, he was still crying, but I felt a bit assured as Damon held my hand and began to rub soothing circles over my knuckles. "You are so strong," he whispered. "I'm so proud of you." He whispered again, and this time his hand reached up to caress the head of the infant that laid on my chest. I smiled, bu
IsabellaDamon laughed suddenly, his shoulders quaking, and the room filled up with the hearty sound of joy. He stopped after a while and turned his head towards Cassandra. "It looks as though this wannabe princess is uninformed about what's happening in the city. Someone please tell her."Andrew cleared his throat. "The King…" Damon took off his mask, revealing his face, causing Cassandra to gasp and cover her mouth, as did Donatella. "The King has been married to the princess for quite a while now. I happen to be one of those privileged to witness the ceremony and the signing of their marriage certificate.This, of course, meant that as one without a surname, he would take his wife's own, making him Damon Montenegro Therefore, your challenge… your stake on the throne is very much mitigated by him.""That's not possible!" Cassandra screeched. "You wouldn't do that," she said as she turned her head towards me and stared daggers at me through the screen. "I did. Would you like to h
Isabella"Do I need to remind you that you are a fugitive?" Damon's voice cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter."Do I need to remind you that your crimes are so great you deserve to be put to death?" Damon stood up from his seat and walked towards the pregnant woman."Get out, or I will pull my gun and shoot you between your eyes, not caring about the child within your belly." Instantly, Donatella gasped and covered her mouth with surprise.She got up and walked towards both of them and set herself in their midst as though to protect Cassandra. "Ouch," I thought to myself. "So much for loyalty forever," I said out loud. Donatella turned to me."You must understand, princess, it's not as though I will not be loyal to you. It's just with the recent developments, we find ourselves needing an heir. Perhaps once she gives birth, she can leave." "I'm not going anywhere," Cassandra said, protesting as she pushed the older woman out of the way."I'm here to challenge her
Isabella“No, Isabella. We still need Cassandra to come out. We need her to show her cards. I'm sure it's not going to take long, but... you have to hang tight, Mia Bella," Damon said, shaking his head.He raised his hand and began to caress my belly before leaning in and pressing a kiss on my swollen abdomen. As if in response, the baby kicked where his hand was."He's saying hello to me," Damon said with a smile as he leaned forward and then pulled open the robe I wore to reveal my naked belly."So perfect," he said as he pressed another kiss on the pale skin. "So damn perfect," he said again as he met my eyes. I could see the expression there, his eyes flashing red before returning back to their normal hazel color. He spread open my legs and slowly removed the outer robe to reveal my naked pussy. Slowly, he kissed his way from my belly button down to my weeping pussy.***The extra wait was grueling, but I didn't mind it. I filled my days with walking, with Paula up and down the
Isabella"It was just a rumor," I told my husband as he paced the length of the room, hitting one wall and then going to the next to do the same."We both know rumors are next to truth. It wouldn't be said if it wasn't seen at some point. But you're the same person that said the city thrived on rumors. Why is this one only different?" I questioned him, but the man continued his insistent pacing. He had taken off his shirt, leaving him half naked and making my eyes wander to strange places."Please," I begged him as I stood up. I took off my coat."You're making me dizzy," I said.Damon stopped suddenly and looked at me. "And if the rumor's true?""Then we laid a trap. And I think traps are your thing… at least Julio's thing.""So let's call the ultimate trap master and have him whip up something for us," I said as I reached up towards my husband's head.***The day after, Julio sat opposite me in the gazebo. "How could you not tell me you were pregnant?" He asked, his eyes wide and f
DamonIsabella's face was pale when I saw her as she came out of the bathroom. She had a stunned look as though she was trying to remember something. I grabbed her hands and rubbed circles over her knuckles until she smiled at me."I am fine," she said with a shaking voice."Champagne?" I asked as I handed her a flute. She shook her head. "I can't keep it down," she said, forcing another smile at me."Isabella, what is wrong?" I asked with my mouth close to her ear. "I'll tell you when we get home," she said as she squeezed my fingers back.The rest of the evening couldn't come fast enough as I began to wish time could go faster. Finally, three hours after we arrived at the party, she tugged on my arm, telling me she wanted to go home. I bade goodbye to my friends and some others who were desperate to see me for some reason. We decided to take the chopper, being impatient and me wanting to find out what was wrong with my wife.I helped her out of her dress when we reached our room. S