Chapter 22. Jealousy

Ariana's POV

Staring at my hands rested on my thighs, I let out an exasperated sigh as the hairdressers and make-up artists did their work on me.

I don't even understand why I'm being dolled up as if it's my birthday and not the little girl's birthday we're attending.

Apparently, the day of the birthday appeared all too soon and I didn't even realise how two days passed in a jiffy. Ofcourse, the days were filled with a lot of drama and tantrums which were mostly thrown by Carla because - as you would have it - she simply couldn't bare the sight of Kiana.

Due to which Kiana had to stay stuck up in her room most of the time to avoid a fuming Carla who was ready to explode any moment. But today, Kiana was also attending the birthday party since she was invited as she's the king's late friend's wife and it would be rude not to invite her.

Unfortunately Carla wouldn't be attending. Carla had asked Daniel to not let Kiana attend the party but he blatantly rejected which fueled her up Carla and in the heat of the moment she stated she won't be attending the party.

But she made it sure that I attended and had literally forced me to get dressed up pretty good and even warned me stay by Daniel's side all the time so that the leash -as she calls Kiana- doesn't have a chance to hit on her brother.

"You may now wear your dress, Milady." The maid said politely handing me the beautiful sky blue full-length gown as the others finished with my makeup and hairstyle.

I smiled at her taking the dress from her hand and heading towards the walk-in closet as they all existed the room shortly after.

The dress was breathtakingly beautiful. It was an off-shoulder sky blue coloured gown. The top part of the gown - near the neckline - had colourful cloth flowers embroidered on them. The bottom of the gown had the same kind of flowers and a bit of silver glitter sparkles.

The dress was a bit revealing for me since I never wore an off-shoulder dress let alone a ball gown but Carla was insistent that I wear this and it was spectacular anyways so I didnt think about it much.

Putting the dress on, I finally took a look of myself in the full-length mirror and couldn't help the surprise that took over.

Is the girl in the mirror really me?

The dress fit me perfectly and the colour also suited me well. My hair was styled into an updo-bun with a few tendrils let loose in the front. My makeup was a natural look with light silvery glitter on my eyelids.

Smiling at my reflection in the mirror, I did a little happy dance on how extraordinary I looked today. With the same huge smile on my face, I got out of the closet but stopped on my tracks the moment my eyes met Daniel's.

Daniel looked dashing in his black tuxedo. His dark hair was combed neatly behind his head that bought out his eccentric blue eyes. He looked like a show-stopper model.

I don't know who was more stunned. He or me as we both stared at each other and then he said something that made my heartbeat accelerate.

"You are stunning."

Daniel's POV

I felt like my eyes would bulge out of my sockets just looking at how beautiful my wife is. I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

'YOUR WIFE, HUH?' I could feel Carlos smirking at me, 'WHATEVER, SHE LOOKS GORGEOUS!!!'

Indeed, she does.

She looks like a goddess descended down from the heavens. My beautiful Ariana.

'MY GOD! YOU'RE SO CHEESY!'

I mentally rolled my eyes at the stupid excuse of a wolf and shut him off. Looking at Ariana, I found her staring back.

"You are Stunning," before I knew it, the words were out of my mouth.

I saw a blush creep up her face which made her look all the more attractive.

"You look pretty yourself," Ari said with her eyes looking anywhere but me.

With an amused smile, I walked up to her and raised her chin to meet her eyes but she still avoided eye contact.

"Pretty? Is that how you describe a good-looking man?" I teased her and it seemed to work as her turquoise eyes snapped to mine.

"No?" There was confusion written all over her face, "I mean, you're handsome."

"Thank you, handsome man's wife," I teased her a bit more to see her cheeks getting even redder. She looked quite flustered to be honest.

Okay, enough of the teasing Daniel.

I retrieved my hand from her chin and wrapped it around her waist. She looked a bit startled but she didn't object nevertheless.

"Let's go. Or else we'll be late. Ariel and the others left already," I said to which she nodded like a doll. She's so pretty cute.

The men in the party are going to go gaga over my girl and for some reason the thought is very unsettling to me.

"You're going to stay by my side the whole time," I murmured under my breath but I'm sure she caught it since she looked at with a perplexed expression. Her eyes wide and her full pink lips slightly parted that looked so...

Snap out of it, Daniel!

I gave her a Cheshire cat grin in return. Nowhere in the hell am I letting her leave my side today.

Ariana's POV

The ride to Veneton was long and there was utter silence in the carriage I and Daniel were riding in. James, Ariel and Cami were in another carriage while Kiana was still in the castle--getting ready.

Daniel said it would be better if she left a bit late after us since no one actually knows she's staying in the Rodriguez castle and Daniel wanted it to remain that way until he finds the right place for Kiana to live.

The silence was defening as Daniel stared out the window with his elbow on his leg and his chin resting on his palm.

"Why are we going in a carriage? Don't you have many cars?" I asked breaking the silence and also because that question had been bugging me for a long time now.

Daniel averted his gaze from the scenery outside and looked at me with a smile, "It's a custom for the royals to travel in a carriage. We do use the car sometimes though but we can't neglect the customs while visiting another royal, right?"

"Right. So, are you and the vampire king like best friends?" I asked for the sake of keeping the conversation going.

"Yes, he's my best buddy," He smiled.

"And Claire?"

"Carla said, didn't she?" I nodded to see his smile grow wider as he shook his head, "She really can't keep her mouth to herself. Well, about your question, yes again Claire's also my best friend though I'll warn you, she's a little overbearing and too annoying but good at heart."

"Sounds like a great person."

"Yeah, right." He said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes.

I smiled at his lack of enthusiasm but then a question appeared out of nowhere in my mind.

"Daniel?"

"Hmm"

"Do you still love Kiana?"

Daniel looked taken aback by my question as his smile fell replaced by a confused expression, "I really don't know anymore."

"I see," I looked away from Daniel towards the passing outskirts feeling a sense of hurt in my heart.

Could it be he still loves her and can't get over her? Is that the reason he's still shutting his feelings from others?

But he's different around me. He's more sarcastic and sweet rather than cold and arrogant. That still doesn't mean anything, right? Maybe he's free around me 'cause he sees me as a friend.

For some reason the thought sent a wave of pain through my heart. What in the world is wrong with me?

The rest of the ride passed in uncomfortable silence. I almost fell asleep by the time we reached the vampire king's vast mansion.

When the carriage entered the gates, I couldn't believe my own eyes at the beauty of the mansion. It was a very big castle-like mansion. The mansion was built on a large ground, beautiful garden surrounding it. It was Manificently beautiful. It looked kind of a fairytale palace.

Daniel descended down the carriage once it halted and extended his hand for me to get down. I placed my hand on his only for him to tug me ahead resulting my face to go crashing with his chest. His other hand wrapped around my waist.

"You did that purposely, didn't you?" I asked perplexed when I saw him smirking.

"Did I now?" His smirk grew wider as he let me back on my footing and stood beside me wounding his arm on my waist while I simply glared at him.

I felt tingles rush through my body at our close proximity but I just ignored it as he lead us inside the castle. I also saw Ariel and James going in along with little Cami.

As we stepped in, I could see big portraits of scenerios and unfamiliar people hanged on the walls. The interior was somewhat gothic which made it look intriguing. The mansion had a large hallway which lead to a ballroom.

The ballroom was grand, lights burnt luminously on the walls and also from the large crystal chandelier that hung at the centre of the ceiling. Many people had already arrived at the party, women in their designer dresses and men in suits. Attending a party like this was something new to me. I haven't actually got a chance to visit a party in my life due to my father...

"Ariana!"

My brows ceased up at the familiar voice. I looked around the ballroom. A slow smile grew on my face when I finally spotted her. I took away Daniel's vice like grip from my waist and walked in my werewolf speed towards her.

"Elina?" My smile was wide by the time I was in front of her.

"It's great to see you here, Ariana! I didn't know it was you who was Daniel's wife!" She gave me a bear hug while I hugged her back.

"And I didn't know the king's mate Elina was actually you. This is great! The vampire king is lucky to have you as his mate," I rambled as we moved apart from our embrace.

"He is lucky indeed," Elina winked at me.

Elina and I knew each other since we were small. Her uncle and my father were friends. Unlike father, her uncle was a really good man just like Elina. They never knew how my father treated his family since father made up this huge facade of a happy family in front of everyone.

"You two....know each other?" Daniel's voice made both our heads turn to look at him. When did he even come here?

"Yes, we're friends, Danny," Elina wound her arm around my shoulder.

Daniel just nodded in reply.

I spoke with Elina for some time and all the while Daniel was standing close by without a single word pretending as if he wasn't listening to everything we were speaking.

"Heyo, people!" Came a girl's booming sound. I looked at the owner of the sound to find a stunning red-head with lovely green eyes making her way towards us.

"Hey, Danny and Miss beauty!" Giving a dazzling smile, the red-head wound her arms around mine and Daniel's shoulder standing in between us. Her action caught me a little offguard but Daniel seemed unfazed as if he was already used to this.

Daniel slowly pried the girl's hand off his shoulder which made the girl scowl openly and make a face as she jut out her tongue at him when he wasn't looking. Her actions made me want to laugh but I held it back.

"Hello to you too, Claire," Daniel said with lack of enthusiasm to which the red-head rolled her eyes.

So she's - as Daniel would say- the overbearing and annoying Claire. She's cool though. She has a cheerful personality.

"Such a rude man. Whatever, nice to meet you, beauty. I'm Claire Ronson. Lord Evan's cousin sister." Claire took her arm of my shoulder and extended her hand for a handshake with a huge smile on her face.

I accepted her hand with my own smile, "I'm Ariana."

Her smile widened as she held my hand for a few minutes not letting to go of it. For a minute, I even felt as if I saw her eyes sparkle blue. Maybe it's just because of the lighting.

"You're pretty and sweet. No wonder Danny has a thing for you," Claire said with enthusiasm while Daniel glared at her.

Wow! She's really is something.

"Where's Jacob? Why isn't he accompanying his annoying wife?" Daniel remarked.

"Haha. Very funny, Danny." Claire made a face before shrugging off, "Anyways, Jacob, Stephen and Olivia are on the duty to look after the kids."

Kids? Oh, yes. We're here on Lord Evan's daughters birthday. That means, Elina's daughter's birthday. I would love to meet her kids.

"I'll go wish the birthday girl. Excuse me." I excused myself from them and walked towards the group of kids near the cake.

I saw a little cute girl with brown eyes and brunette hair dressed in a lovely red ballgown with a huge black bow in the back who Cami was giggling with. She must be the birthday girl.

"Happy Birthday!" I bent down to the girl's height and handed her the gift I bought.

"Thank you!" The little girl smiled showing her teeth as she received her gift.

"Andy, this is Ari, my friend!" Cami introduced me to her supposed friend.

The little girl whose name is Andrea -I guess- stared at me for a while before a huge grin broke on her face.

"She's really pretty! I want to be beautiful like her when I grow up!" Little Andrea said in an ear-piercing yet excited tone.

"Me too," Cami agreed nodding her head.

"I'm so flattered. Now if everyone becomes like me than how will I be able to see such cute little faces," I pouted pulling both of their cheeks gently resulting them to giggle.

Daniel's POV

I was staring at Ariana who was talking to the kids making them laugh and giggle.

Ari is really good with children. She'll be an amazing mother. If she has a daughter than she would be pretty like her and if she had a son than he should have a lovely personality like hers.

Mother? Daughter? Son?

What the heck am I thinking?

"Danny! Danny!" Claire's loud voice buzzed in my ear making my eardrum almost peirce due to how loud she was.

"What the hell, Claire? Can't you speak slowly?!" I snapped at her while she rolled her eyes at me.

After having some talk with Elina and Evan, I was happy with my solace as I stood next to the drinks counter having a drink myself and staring at Ari. But ofcourse, Claire being Claire loved to annoy me just like that annoying Carlos.

'HEY I'M NOT ANNOYING!'

I shut him off before he could bug me again.

"Don't snap at me. I've been calling you for a while now but you were busy staring your beautiful wife. You really like her, don't you?" Claire's question took me a little off guard.

I took a look at Ariana. What's in her to not like? She's simply amazing. But ofcourse I'm not going to say that to Claire.

"I don't. We are just together because of the truce-"

"Keep that crap to yourself. You can't fool me like you did with Elina. And you don't almost kiss someone you don't like," she had a sly smile on her face as she said that emphasising the word 'kiss'.

I narrowed my eyes at her, "You jogged Ariana's memories," my tone was accusatory.

Claire rolled her eyes yet again. She does a lot of that, doesn't she? I wonder how Jacob handles her.

"Hey, don't look at me that way! I have an ability and she so happened to shake hands with me so I just couldn't help it. Don't worry, I didn't see much. It was like a fast forward movie with a few snippets. I just saw the water balloon fight, the breakfast together, the day she fed blood to you through her mouth, you teasing her, the almost kiss you both had..." she rambled on.

She literally saw every freaking moment I and Ari had together. Annoying woman! Doesn't she know the thing called 'privacy'?

I opened my mouth to give her an equally annoying retort but she spoke instead, this time with a much serious tone.

"Look! That Alpha Anthony is trying to woo your girl. Ariana looks uncomfortable," Claire said pointing in Ari's direction.

Not far away, Anthony was standing a little too close to Ari for my comfort. He was asking her something to which she shook her head but then he grabbed her hand almost forcefully.

What the actual fuck?! Why is he holding her hand?! I feel like ripping his hand off his body for touching what's rightfully mine.

Why did I even let her leave my side?

Without waiting, I strode towards towards them. Released the damn Alpha's hand off of hers harshly before grabbing her hand myself.

"You owe me a dance," I said dragging a confused Ariana towards the dance floor away from Anthony's watchful eyes.

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Next chapter will be updated on Sunday \_>_<_/

The next chapter is my favourite;)