Chapter 38 Embracing Birthdays

• As soon as the door closed, Bella's head drooped low, desperate to be left alone in the presence of Blade. His commanding voice alone sent shivers down her spine. Reluctant to meet the gaze of the pure-blooded vampire, someone the goddess had destined to be her mate, she kept her head lowered. Suddenly, an ominous growl erupted from Blade's throat, causing her to instinctively retreat towards the safety of the wall. His growl sent a wave of fear coursing through her entire being.
• Pausing momentarily, Blade felt a surge of frustration. He despised the fact that Bella still harbored fear towards him. Despite giving her the ample time she had requested, she remained scared in his presence. "Were you coerced into bringing the dish to me?" Blade inquired, wanting to ensure that she had come voluntarily, rather than being forced into an action she had no intention of doing.
• Bella swiftly shook her head, puzzled as to why the vampire king would even entertain the notion that she had been coerced. "I was not forced, I came willingly," Bella replied, her head still bowed low. She lacked the courage to meet his deep, dark eyes. Those eyes always seemed to have an inexplicable effect on her. She had noticed that whenever she stared into their deep blue depths, she would get lost in their penetrating gaze. Undeniably, Blade was affecting her, and this was precisely what she had been trying to avoid. She was not ready to accept him, or anyone for that matter. She was still the broken girl who had suffered from the trauma of her first mate's assault.