Chapter Four

Chapter Four.

Zeke

I listened to my father as he rambled on. I was sure he could see the disinterested look on my face, but he didn't seem to mind.

“Surely, you wouldn't mind introducing her to us?” My stepmother, Wendy, asked beside him. She sipped her glass of blood, and winked at me.

“I don't want you guys to scare her. I'm having a hard time, already.” I forced the words out.

I hated explaining myself to anyone, and that didn't exclude my father.

King Elliott chuckled. “I just want her to know this place isn't meant for her. A little scare won't hurt, son.” He relaxed on his throne, and I almost cursed.

“I brought her here, Father.” I said through gritted teeth.

“And I'd send her away. Fair enough.” He shrugged, turning to smile at Wendy.

I could still feel Mirah's presence. Her scent even. It comforted me, and helped me keep my temper at bay.

Seeing the look of mockery on my stepmother's face, I was sure she was waiting for me to flare up. To add strain on the already strained relationship with my father.

“I've always respected your decision, Father. Allow me do things my way for once.” It was surprising how I got the words out, without a yell or growl.

The casual look wiped off my father's face.

“Respected my decisions? I think you're misunderstanding something here, Son. You didn't respect my decision to marry Darcel. Nor did you respect my decision when I banned you from visiting the human world. If you had, we wouldn't be having this discussion.” With each sentence, his voice rose a notch higher.

But I wasn't worried about the guests listening in to our discussion. A normal vampire couldn't hear the discussion of the royalties, no matter how enhanced their hearing was.

I opened my mouth to retort, when I froze. I looked back sharply, towards where I'd left her. Her presence got fainter, as I hurried back.

I ignored my father's furious calls. Not wanting to waste time, I teleported over to her table instead. And what I saw, made my blood run cold.

She wasn't there. Instead, there were two glasses on the table. I picked them up, and sniffed the sides. Two scents mixed with each other.

Buzzing sounds filled my ears as I realized what'd happened. She'd drunk blood.

I trailed her scent, rushing into Alex's room just as his fangs were about to sink into her skin.

Totally seeing red, I pushed him off, limiting my strength a bit. Shock and fear melded in one, covered her face as her gaze met mine.

My heartstrings tugged, and I wasted no time in dealing with the bastard.

I didn't stop until I felt her hug me from behind. My breath caught in my throat, her scent enveloping me, filling me.

At that moment, however, she slid off and fell to the floor. I glanced at Alex, whose casual look had disappeared. He now had a wary look on his face.

“You gave a human, blood?” I hissed, hurrying over to her. I couldn't afford to waste time, else, Alex would've been eating his balls as dessert for the night.

“She hadn't declined. And be sure that I'd report you to the royal council for assault, Brother.” The last part was filled with mockery, and though anger surged in my veins, I couldn't be bothered with his trashy talk.

I was in our room within seconds. Placing her gently on the bed, I pulled at her dress. Seeing her milky skin sent blood rushing to my cock.

Fuck.

Her eyes were tightly closed, and she didn't move, until I was done undressing her.

I regretted leaving her in the first place.

That bastard, Alex. He was going to pay for touching her.

An hour later, and Mirabella was looking at me with wary eyes. I stretched my hands, trying to touch her. But she moved away faster than she'd have, if she'd been about to come in contact with fire.

Anger burned through my chest. Low and hollow.

But I didn't let any of them show. She'd had enough trouble tonight already, without me adding to them.

“I told you not to eat or drink anything,” I said quietly after a while. I'd already moved some distance away from her, but the wary look didn't wipe off her face.

She hugged herself, dipping her gaze a bit. “You let me all alone in the midst of lots of strange people.” She muttered.

Her words tore at my heart. “You don't think I'm strange, too?” I couldn't help asking.

She looked up abruptly. “You saved me, in a sense. I trust you.” She finished off the last part in a soft voice.

I trust you. The words reverberated through my being. How long had it been since I heard them? But I didn't want her to trust me.

I didn't even know what I wanted. Maybe something more. I wanted her.

As the realization dawned on me, my chest constricted. It's your fault. Don't blame her for being guarded around you.

“If you do, why don't you want me to touch you?” I asked. I could still recall how I'd felt when she'd hugged me at Alex's room.

The way her scent assaulted my thoughts. Sandalwood and lilies.

I was constricted. Torn between my identity as a vampire who should never fall for a human. And that little part of me who craved for some love. And warmth.

She sighed, and turned away. “Who was that man? And who are you?” She faced me, her jaw set in a prim line.

“And I'd advise you not to lie to me, Zeke.”

I started. Hearing the sound of my name on her lips ignited feelings which I'd locked up for centuries now. It felt smooth, and velvety. And I wanted to hear her say it again. Scream it so hard.

I reined in my thoughts, as I stared at her. “Are you sure you want to know?” I asked her.

She didn't blink. “I've never been so sure. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have asked you in the first place.” She bit her lower lip, and I cursed inwardly.

She obviously had no idea how such a simple move from her could affect me so much. Or how being in the same room with her had me picturing different scenarios, none of which weren't sexual and steamy.

A momentary silence reigned in the room, before I rose to my feet.

“My name's Prince Zeke, a vampire royalty.” My hoarse voice didn't sound anything like my usual self. I waited for her reaction. Half expecting her to be scared. To beg me to take her away.

But there was no way I was going to acquiesce to the last part.

She was here now, and she wasn't going back. Never.

And then I heard it. I had to look at her, to be sure I wasn't hallucinating. But I wasn't. She gasped for breath, as the sound echoed through the room. She was laughing.

“Please-” She panted, holding her chest and falling onto the bed. I stared at her, sure I hadn't said anything funny.

“What do you take me for? A child?” When she finally calmed down, she asked.

I blinked twice. She hiccuped, and laughed harder. “A vampire? Let me guess, you're more than a hundred years old?” She asked, between bouts of laughter.

“Nine centuries, actually.” I said softly, and she collapsed into fits of laughter again.

“Of course.” She laughed harder.

I was beside her within seconds, grabbing her slender neck, choking back the rest of her words.

Her widened eyes met mine, and she went still. I bared my fangs at her, and my claws were out in the next second.

Fear…shock…surprise.

The expressions alternated on her face, as she breathed harshly.

“Do you still think I'm joking?” I snarled, brushing against her neck. Her eyes widened, and her breath turned raspy.

“What do you think you're-” Her words trailed off, as she looked into my eyes.

She suddenly moved and my claws cut into her skin. I breathed harshly, as the smell of her blood permeated through my being.

Fuck, I was a moment's away from sinking my fangs into her neck and draining her dry.

My eyes turned a bright shade of red, and the fear on her face increased. She tried moving away, but I held on.

I was losing my rationality. Her blood. It beckoned to me.

The smell of it was fucking intoxicating. Just a single drop-

“Zeke-” Her voice was faint, but it did snap me back to reality alright.

I'd been choking her, and her face was now pale. I moved away quickly. Not trusting myself to speak, I jumped down the window without sparing her another glance.