The delight in the King's eyes was evident. Lanver saw this and realized that Amadeus was a great king who wanted nothing but the best for his people. It was a shame the human world lacked great leaders like him. But then again, life was not fair. It has never been.
"But I have no idea how to do it," Lanver said.
"As soon as we can awaken your mage blood, then your training will not be that hard for you since you were a trained fighter who had been through a lot."
"Awaken my mage blood?" Lanver was confused. He didn't know if he could ever be accustomed to the terms used in this world.
"Yes. Right now we can only feel your presence as a human. Princess Anna must have sealed it to hide you. However, your blood as a mage must be so strong that it could resist Princess Anna's spell, that's why there were times, as you've noticed, when something weird were happening to you."
"Why would you know what was happening to me back there?"
"Let's just say we have the means to see what is happening in the human world. When we realized we needed you, we looked into your past to confirm if you were really Lord Vincentius' son."
Lanver was sure it wouldn't be easy but since he had decided to involve himself in their chaotic matters, then might as well do something worth his time. He would do what he could to resolve the problem while he was here. As for how he could achieve it, he was sure the King had plans for it.
"To awaken your mage blood, you have to undergo a ritual held by a priestess, which is set to take place this month's full moon, three days from now," Lucius said.
"This ritual… this won't harm me in any way, right?"
"Why, are you scared?" Emery mocked.
Lanver subtly glared at her. "Certainly not, Your Highness," he emphasized how he addressed her remembering how she corrected him the first time they met.
"I just want to make sure you are not trying to get me killed and dishonor our agreement."
Emery's brow rose. "That is still the same."
"I am not a coward," Lanver hissed.
Emery smirked when she recalled how he called him a coward.
Amadeus cleared his throat. "Lanver, as what I have told you, I am a man of my word. So rest assured no one in this kingdom will dare harm you."
"Fine. I will hold you accountable then if anything happens."
"Whatever you please," Amadeus replied with a polite smile.
The door of the hall opened and a servant whispered something to Stuart. Stuart silently went near the table to relay the message to his masters.
"Pardon me for interrupting such an important meeting, Your Majesty, but Prince Vaughn had an unexpected visit and is asking for Her Highness."
"Vaughn?" Weston smirked, looking at Emery. "Didn't you say you already dumped him?"
Lanver nodded to himself. A suitor, huh? He wanted to smirk. He couldn't believe that a man was blind enough to not see that he was barking at the wrong tree. There was no way to deny the princess had a rare beauty, but a sane man would know she wasn't just a beauty. She had a beast within her. He bet she will only enslave his husband.
"I liked Vaughn, though. He always gives me the best blood cherries. You should marry him, Emery," Eloise said.
"I disagree. Vaughn is too arrogant. Besides, Emery only wants virgin men—"
"Mind your words, Weston. Eloise is with us," Amadeus interrupted.
Virgin men… Lanver echoed in his mind in disbelief, remembering the first question she asked him. His dislike for this particular princess had only grown deeper. As if he needed to like her anyway. He would just stay for the time being so why was there a need to like anyone?
"Tell him that His Majesty is not pleased with his presence and is requesting for him to leave," Emery told Stuart.
"Issuing a command on His Majesty's account without his permission is a crime punishable by death, do you know that?" Lucius said in his usual monotone but the ghost of smile in his lips let Lanver knew that although he was telling the truth, he only said it to tease his sister.
Stuart on the other hand didn't know if he would take the princess' command seriously. It was something that concerned His Majesty so he couldn't decide.
"Why don't we ask His Majesty if he would hold me accountable for such a crime?" Emery leaned over the table and spoke with her voice as sweet as she looked. "Will you, Your Majesty?"
She was such a scam, Lanver thought. How could she sound so sweet when she was anything but that? He could only wonder how many men fell for her sweet pretentious acts only to know they fell for an angelic devil at the end.
Amadeus chuckled heartily. "How could I be that heartless?"
"What a luck you have, Emy. I never knew the feeling of being pampered by His Majesty," Weston teased.
"I do not think there is a need to when you have already received so much pampering from your women," Amadeus retorted. Then he turned to the waiting Stuart standing by his side.
"Prepare the dining hall. As much as I want to do as my sister pleases, I cannot offend a royal suitor. Relay my message to Prince Vaughn. He shall join us in our banquet. We will celebrate the arrival of Lord Vincentius' son."
Lanver had no choice but to join them. Though, he was surprised when he saw different dishes on the long table as if it was a feast made for humans. Emery, who took the seat across from him, must have noticed the curiosity in his eyes when she raised her eyebrows.
"What? Are you thinking we vampires only drink blood?"
Lanver didn't say anything because he really thought so. All the reading and movie materials in the human world portray vampires as monsters who could only feed on blood. How could he think of something else when he was raised as a human?
Eloise who was sitting beside him explained, "Blood is what we consume as a primary food, but we can eat anything like humans."
"Oh," Lanver nodded. Vampires were not as horrible as he thought.
"I hope you enjoy the feast, Lanver. I have asked to make a specific drink for you and rest assured not even a drop of blood is mixed with the dishes," Amadeus said as if he knew his doubts.
"Still, I advise you to be careful as you might end up choking in your seat." Emery smiled at him. The kind of smile that would send shivers down anyone's spine.
"How hospitable you are, Your Highness."
Why did she seem to hate him so much? Lanver couldn't help but ask himself. His dislike toward her was reasonable given how she treated him on their first encounter but as for hers, he couldn't understand. It was her who offended him but why was she making him feel as though it was the other way around? This woman must have a serious attitude problem.
"Your Majesty," spoke an unfamiliar voice.
Lanver turned his head to see who it was. The man bowed his head in respect to the King before he went to the seat next to Emery. Lanver's eyes squinted. The man must be the "Prince Vaughn'' they were talking about earlier. At one glance you would know he was a prince with his clothing. The man also had that air in him that screamed arrogance.
"It's a pleasure to have a glimpse of your beauty again, Princess Emery." Prince Vaughn was about to reach for Emery's hand, must be to kiss her knuckles as a gesture, but Emery took the wineglass and sipped on it as if she didn't see his hand coming.
There was an odd sound, like a suppressed chuckle. Lanver noticed Weston was trying to not laugh as he was receiving a warning look from the King.
"The past week most days you were here for hours, Prince Vaughn. I suppose that was enough 'glimpse' of me," Emery said that made Lanver almost wince. For a man's ego, that must have hurt.
But Prince Vaughn was quite persistent in his conquest on taming the princess.
"Nothing will ever be enough, Princess. I would always look forward to our every encounter. Is there even a sane man who would get tired of seeing you?"
Cold and shivering, I slumped to the ground with my head feeling dizzy. It was seven days since I left my pack, Moonraven, and ran to the vast outskirts of Seattle from Vancouver, scared that Benedict's men must be hunting me down. But I guess this is the farthest I could get with no money and food.I leaned on the tree and closed my eyes. The light from the horizon was starting to fade and I could barely see a faint light from where I was because of the tall trees surrounding me. Sure, it was a good place to die, somewhere peaceful and calm. But should I allow myself to just die like this after my parents sacrificed themselves for my freedom? Should I put their efforts into waste by giving up?I don't think I have the heart to do that. But I also don't know where I can get strength in the middle of wilderness.I can't help but ponder about some things. Too much trust and kindness were my father's weakness. He trusted Benedict and the people surrounding him too much that he was blinde
I've always felt the weird demeanor Benedict has all those years of him acting loyal to my father. He's handsome, quiet, I think the quietest man I've ever met, he's most of the time serious, and he never looked at any girl in our pack. He was either training the men or handling the pack's affairs.I didn't have casual conversations with him even though he was often invited to our house for dinners and parties. I'd always seen him in the town, and back when I was still studying, we went to the same school. I didn't give him much attention then, but I knew he was good at academics. Well, he's good at everything he does if my memory serves me right.Although his beta father died early, with his contributions, everyone believed that he was the only man worthy of my hand. They said we were perfect for each other. I couldn't disagree more. I had never pictured myself marrying Benedict Allen. I could stomach Tyler, his geek cousin who couldn't even throw a punch, but not him.Even though he
[Three months earlier...]She was destined to marry the King. Melrose had pinned that in her mind ever since she turned fifteen. Lord Lewis, her stepfather who had been her only family since the age of five, had never been tired of reminding her that.For a lady without a fetish for romance, it was the best the world could offer. The King was, after all, a young man with a pleasant character and outstanding physical attributes. He was crowned at the age of sixteen, and has been ruling the country for six years now. He was doubted by many at first as he was only a palace maid's son, but over the years he had gained the respect and trust of people.Melrose believed he was the best choice among the most eligible men in town. Not only because he was the most powerful and desired by most women, but because she had known him for years. She was sure he'd make a good husband.As Lord Lewis had always envisioned Melrose marrying the King one day, he raised her in the best way he could. Only th
The De Noir manor was situated at the southern part of Arden, near the woods and without any neighboring houses or small villages.The King offered Lord Knight to stay at the palace during his vacation but he refused the offer and told the King that he wanted a place where he could be at peace, and the palace, being the center of political affairs and eyes of many, wasn't a place inclined to the word "tranquility" for him.So the King, as generous as he was, sought for a solution and offered Lord Knight places where he could stay for the meantime, including the De Noir manor, a property owned by his late mother, Princess Celestine.Now that Lord Knight decided to stay in the manor, people were more cautious to not stay near the property for folks felt his domineering and dangerous presence as if he would eat anyone alive just by his look.Besides, the townspeople tend to avoid the said place just as much as how everyone avoided North Ridge, for they believed that the manor had dark en
With a big hat on her head, Melrose followed Arianne closely and asked, "Are you sure I won't be recognized by people, Arianne?"Arianne, who was dressed up the same, answered, "With how big that hat of yours, your face could hardly be seen. Just keep your head low and don't act too stiff or people might get curious.""Are there even women who wear hats inside the club? And we are dressed so poorly that one will think we are lower than servants. Ladies in a gentlemen's club for sure, even those from the lower class, could have worn better clothes than this. I doubt this is your way of keeping low or getting us busted.""Silly girl," Arianne held her arm as they approached the entrance of Spade House. She grinned at Melrose. "Mellie, trust me, okay? I will have this Mr. Harris tamed today that he will forget about the duel he is supposed to have with my foolish brother. And about our clothes, I made this on purpose so that not a single gentleman will bother taking interest in you. I do
"I hate you, Arianne. I really do!" Stepping out of the carriage, Melrose continued her lament. She couldn't get over how embarrassed she was in front of Lord Knight.Arianne only laughed at her fuming friend. "I must say you are so courageous to force Lord Knight to keep your secret. I doubt if I could say a word if it was me! I am bold but the lord is obviously someone not easy to deal with.""And I was crazy for agreeing to your ridiculous plan. Now let's pray that he won't open his mouth or else I will be done.""Fret not, Mellie. If I have to beg the lord not to spread a word, I shall do it on bended knees."That day ended up a tragedy. Melrose could only hope for Lord Knight's vacation to end quickly so he would return to wherever he came from. She wanted to do nothing with him because for some reason she could feel that he hated her.She could understand why those ladies hated her, that was because of envy, but this one, she couldn't think of a sensible reason. Or maybe Lord Kn
Melrose wanted to return right that moment and kill her best friend. The last one who touched her belongings was Arianne and she must have replaced the book she brought with this filthy one. Her grip on the book tightened and all she wanted was to disappear from Lord Knight's sight. She couldn't believe she embarrassed herself in front of him again. What a mishap!"Look, my lord, you got the wrong idea. I don't read this kind of stuff—""But you were reading it before I interrupted you with my words, weren't you?""Yes—no, I wasn't!""What were you doing, then? Staring at a page without reading a word in it, yes Lady Lewis?"Her cheeks heated. How could she explain that she only pretended she was reading because couldn't bear the sight of him and she had nowhere to look?She sighed, reminding herself not to start an argument and spoil her mood further. They haven't even arrived in East Brownsville yet."If I'm reading this kind of stuff, then so what?"His look darkened. "Books like t
In the midst of the night storm, she stood there in front of him, his eyes fixated to hers. She could still hear the voices from her nightmare but when he held her an inch closer as he led her to the rhythm he wanted, the shouts haunting her turned to whispers.Her father never knew what she had been going through all these years. Not that she didn't want to tell him, but she just knew he wouldn't understand, nor would he care. Lord Lewis was the kind who paid little to no attention when it came to women's thoughts or feelings. He never even asked her if she liked the King enough to marry him. It was because even if she said she didn't, he would still push her into doing what he wanted.And in truth, even though the King was the best choice for her, a small part of her couldn't help but wonder how it would be if she found someone she truly wanted. Someone who would understand the deepest part of her soul."I thought you already left," she uttered silently and the thunder drowned her v