B      E      L      L      A

The sound of a horn made me snap out of my thoughts. I averted my eyes from the ground to only gawk at the Black car which stood in front of me. The window of the car that was facing me rolled down and revealed the most beautifully carved creature in the world, Xanthos Kingston.

"Come on, angel, Let's take you to your so-called home." He faked enthusiasm. The endearment he used made me want to jump to the clouds because of happiness.

I nodded my head and started making my way towards the fancy car. When I stood in front of it, I was confused as to how we should open the door. I heard a chuckle from the other side of the car. Huffing, I put my hand on the handle of the car.

As soon as I reached, my hand was pushed and the door flew open upwards. I looked at it in absolute astonishment.

"How many cars do you have?" I asked him with a shocked expression plastered on my face. This looked completely different from the last car he was driving. I don't know maybe I've fascination for cars for me notice it.

"Enough cars to set a showroom." 

His lips tilted up, forming a handsome smirk on his sharply featured face. "Close your jaw and climb in the car, min ven."
(My queen)

My cheeks heated up instantly. I scrambled inside the car and glimpsed at the seatbelt which didn't look like "pull and insert type". Not wanting to make a fool out of myself, I swirled my head to glimpse at Xanthos and ask help from him.

When my gaze connected with his, I felt myself drowning into those sparkling brown eyes which were intently focusing on me. My eyes took in his complex features. Oh, my goodness, he could be mistaken for being the modern Greek God.

My gaze shifted from his prominent cheekbones to his pink soft-looking lips. How will it feel when my lips would connect with his? My lips tingled at the thought.

Bella, now it wasn't the time for you think that way, cmon. It was all because of my mate that I'd so many dirty thoughts in my mind. It was his fault, yup completely. 

I glanced at Xanthos, who was having a look of confusion on his perfectly defined face. He had been watching my every action, my face heated up because of embarrassment. I turned my head in the other direction and cleared my throat as the silence grew awkward.

I felt the car start and scheme slowly on the ground. I peered at Xanthos from the corner of my eyes. His knuckles were turning white as he was gripping on the cars steering tightly and his eyes were focusing on the road.

After ten dreadful minutes, the car came to a halt. The door of the car lifted upwards, I stepped out of the car. "Thank you, Xan," I said politely. Thank you for being my other half. I wanted to add this up so badly but I stopped myself. However, he didn't reply or smirk. He was staring at the steering of the car, looking deep in thought.

I began walking towards my home with one question running in my mind, 'Should I just move in with him today?' I walked way to slowly deciding on the question.

"Wait," Xanthos growled.

I whirled around to face Xanthos, he came out of the car with a rigorous look on his face.

"Yeah?"

"Pack your bags and wait in the car," Xanthos ordered.

"What?" I asked a little taken aback by his sudden demand. Did he read my mind or something?

"Take all your necessary items from your home and wait for me in the car."

"Why?" I asked stupefied though I already knew the answer just wanted to take sometime to take a right decision. My excitement and nervousness to live with Xanthos pumped in me.

"Gattino." His voice was two octaves deeper than before. "From now onwards, you are going to stay with us." 

I shook my head from side to side causing Xanthos to growl.

"Why not?!" He asked keeping his face way too serious.

"You have a mate..." I chuckled. "Would she enjoy staying there?"

Xanthos eyes dilated, his face held amusement. "I'll make sure she will never forget her stay there," His voice had an evil glint. 

"Then she might get ready." Understanding the intentions behind those words, I awkwardly smiled.  "She's me." I said just to make myself believe that it was true because for someone who got so mistreated almost throughout her life is finally given a handsome gift.

He laughed. "Yes, you. You're my mate. Now, go and pack your things and meet me in the car."

"Alright, Leonardo." My eyes widened when I unconsciously called the name that got repeated in my dreams. Xanthos eyes were as wide as well. "I-"

"What?" He whispered.

"Wait you know that name as well?" I asked in astonishment. Does he get the same dreams as me as well? Was it some mate thing as well?

"How-"

"I get some weird dreams of umm... this might sound weird but I see us in some ancient scenario... you being my owner or master-" I paused as Xanthos looked tensed. "You alright? It's some mates stuff yea?"

Xanthos let a heavy breath, "I'll explain it later, now go." 

"You don't seem fine, am I the reason-" My legs began moving on their own. "You are using your hocus-pocus on me. Are you?" I stomped my leg. His tensed stature changed to a calm one as he  chuckled causing butterflies flapping their wings in my stomach. His laugh was so melodious. I mentally shook my head for thinking that.

"Oh, yes I'm." I felt myself walking to the entrance of the house. I turned my head and glared at Xanthos who was having a smirk on his face.

"You look very ugly with that smirk, Xanthos," I was lying through my teeth. He looked so handsome with golden orbs and that smirk made him look more attractive.

His smirk didn't waver away one bit like how I expected it to. If so, it stretched more than before. He caught me gaping at his face, my cheeks heated up in embarrassment.

I looked forward, once I reached the door. I wrapped my hand around the knob, but before I could twist it to unlock, the door swung open automatically. My breathing hitched in my throat. What the cookies? I brought my right hand to my chest and clutched it tightly as my heart started beating erratically.

My legs didn't stop moving, I continued to walk. I heard laughter boom from behind me. "Stop wasting your powers now," I mumbled. "Stupid."

I tried to resist his spell on me as I neared my room and attempted to hold me at one place by digging my toes in the rug but my effort was all in vain.

My eyes enlarged as my stepmother came into my view. She was standing beside my room's door holding a thick bamboo stick in her hands.

"Hello dear, how are you? Did you miss me today?" She asked me with a fake soft tone.

I felt my legs coming back under my control. I stopped walking and didn't answer her question. I couldn't open my mouth as I felt my lips heavy. What in the world was Xanthos doing? 

"Answer me!" Angelo shouted harshly. I struggled to speak but I couldn't. I licked the gap between my lips by my tongue to utter at least a word but it was useless.

I made an effort to walk into my room. She knew it, so she blocked my way by standing in front of the door. 

"You mutt!" Her arm twitched; holding the cane tighter. 

Warmth radiated from behind me, as if someone was standing there. My gut feeling told me that it would be Xanthos.I directed my attention back to the lady but a giggle escaped my lips at the scene I was seeing.

Angelo was whacking herself with the stick. What the hell? This was funny, wasn't she supposed to spit blood if she tried harming me though? Xan must've changed the settings maybe. I controlled my laughter by sealing my lips together. Now I wanted Xan's spell still to be there on me.

"Who the hell is doing this? Stop it!" She continued hitting herself; especially on her head. 

I no longer could control the laugh that came out of my mouth. She looked so comical at that moment.

"Oh, my goddess, Mom! What are you doing?" I heard Lewis frantically yell.

I leaned against the nearby wall to support my weight as I was laughing hard. I could feel the anger which was intensely radiating timely subside. 

"Belwhore!" As soon as he called me that name, I stopped laughing

Lewis pushed himself against the wall; next to me. He cried out in pain. I crinkled my eyebrows. "Xanthos?"

Angelo fell limp on the ground. When she coughed, A blue thick liquid came out of her mouth. She dropped the cane next to her and struggled to breathe. I felt guilty for laughing at her before.

I ran towards her limp figure and plopped her head on my lap after I kneeled.

"I-" She drew in a deep breath.

"This is worse than our earlier punishment," Lewis said kneeling beside me.

"Xanthos!" I hollered and bit my lip in anger.

"Oh shit!" I heard him mutter. 

"Where in the damn world are you?" I raised my voice.

"Beside you." I turned my head to my left.

"Invisibilia element," I heard Lewis whisper in awe.

I glanced at Angelo who was trying to take her head off of my lap. She had a disgusted look on her face. I knew she was disgusted by me. So, I moved her head to my right and got up from my crouched position.

"I need to see you, Xanthos," As soon as I demanded, he was in front of me in a blink of an eye.

He had a sheepish grin plastered on his face, which made my heart flutter. He looked so cute with his hair sticking on his forehead. I almost forgot where and in what situation was I in by looking at his mesmerising eyes.

"You wanted to see me, my queen?" I snapped out of my trance when he broke the silence. I glanced at Lewis who was standing on the other side of the room with Angelo who looked almost healed. Their both eyes were focused on the person in front of me. I turned my attention back to Xanthos.

"Firstly, Don't call me your queen." I received a playful growl from him. "Secondly, you went extreme, you psychopath."

"Sweetheart, didn't I tell you my plan already?" He shrugged his shoulders. I wanted to facepalm myself for liking the way he said 'sweetheart'.

"Let's not carry it seriously alright sweetheart?" I asked him with a smile. I didn't get intimated by him, I no longer felt scared. I felt the emotion anger in me, which was something new.

"Well you enjoyed it, Didn't you sweet pea?" I stared at him. The endearments he was using was making me feel giddy inside. I couldn't be angry at him.

"No, I didn't."

"I don't think so, the way you were laughing told me you enjoyed."

I opened my mouth to speak but before I could he held my hand in his and opened my room's door.

"Now go and get ready, You're going to be stuck with me forever. I'll meet you outside, cute candy. "

The endearments are killing me.

A/N

What do you think about the story?

Are my chapters very short?