All Chapters of Annesa, Vampire King's Mate: Chapter 121 - Chapter 126

The night began with the quiet, familiar rhythm that had governed the High Manor for centuries. In the warmly lit study, the crackle of the hearth fire danced along rows of ancient, leather-bound tomes. Annesa sat comfortably on the plush velvet chaise, a delicate crystal glass of sweetened blood resting on the side table beside her. Opposite her sat sixteen-year-old Althea, her rich, dark brown hair falling over her shoulders in soft waves as she turned the yellowed pages of a heavy arcana ledger. The striking red eyes of mother and daughter flickered in rhythm with their reading, shared silence speaking volumes of their quiet bond. Across the room, near the wide stone balcony, Lucas sat on a low wooden bench surrounded by his tradecraft. The soft, rhythmic scrape of an oily leather cloth against dark steel filled the air. With sharp, calculated precision, the sixteen-year-old prince wiped down the blade of his longsword, his long, waist-length silver hair sweeping over his shoulde

The journey to the southern border was long, stretching across two to three days of continuous travel. As the convoy moved farther from the High Manor, Lucas, Eryx, and their contingent of vanguard soldiers traversed a series of quiet, sprawling villages tucked beneath the mountain shadows. For now, peace still reigned over these lower valleys. Here, the boundary between species blurred. Vampires lived alongside mortal humans in relative harmony, and scattered throughout the crowds were those of mixed lineage—the half-blood vampires. Lucas did not need to see their faint, diluted features to recognize them; his sharp, refined senses caught their distinct scents immediately. The scent of a half-blood was a unique blend—the metallic, copper undertone of immortal blood softened by the warm, fragile rhythm of a human pulse. As the royal procession passed through the cobblestone streets, townspeople bowed their heads in quiet reverence. Everyone recognized the High Guardian and his heir;

The dawn sun rose slowly over the northern frontier, casting pale golden light across the endless grasslands beyond the kingdom's borders.Lucas rode beside Eryx in silence.The revelation from the previous night still lingered heavily in his thoughts.The arrow.The explosion.The ancient oak tree reduced to nothing but smoke and ash.Even now, Lucas struggled to understand what had happened.He had fired thousands of arrows throughout his life.Never once had an entire tree vanished.Yet Eryx seemed less surprised than concerned.Not fearful.Concerned.The difference mattered.Because Eryx knew exactly what kind of blood flowed through his son's veins.Ancient blood.Royal blood.The blood of Annesa's lineage.Power that had survived countless generations.Power that even Gareth had only partially understood.Lucas glanced toward his father.Eryx's expression remained calm, but Lucas recognized the thoughtful look in his eyes.The King was planning.Calculating.Considering possibi