Chapter 9 Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
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Zeke
“Let's go.” I stretched out my hand towards her, and she flinched. She hung her head low, avoiding eye contact with me. Master Damien had left a while ago, but not without throwing me a cold glare.
I could tell she was shaken by what just happened.
“You don't want to?” I asked in a hoarse voice.
“I-” She paused and finally looked at me.
Without hesitation, I did something which I hadn't done in years. She let out a surprised yelp, as I scooped her into my arms.
“What are you-” She looked up at me, with widened eyes and instinctively grabbed my shoulder.
I rose into the air, my hand supporting her shoulder, and the other encircled around her waist.
The scent of sandalwood and lilies messed with my head, as I flew us home. The air whooshed past, as I doubled my pace.
Master Damien. It was already years since I last saw him. And when I finally did, it was over the matter of a human. Of her.
I needed no one to tell me that he was going to report what happened tonight to The Prestigious Royal Circle. I swallowed hard, as I visioned Alex's sly smile, and mocking expression.
The Prestigious Royal Circle was a group of old vampires, holding different ranks, and who governed the affairs of the kingdom. They were in charge of appointing a new king, when the need arose and they were as strict, as their name implied. I was one of the members, and so was Master Damien.
Known for his sleazy behavior, what'd happened tonight, wouldn't surely go down well with him.
If the other members of the Circle unanimously voted that I erred, it'd threaten my position as the next Vampire King. And it'd enrage my father to no end. But it wasn't like I cared about his opinion.
After the last war between the rogue vampires, and our kingdom, frolicking with humans became forbidden. Mainly because the one who'd caused the war was a human.
I was merely a few decades old, when the war had started. My father, who was the next king-to-be had fallen in love with a human- my mother. But it hadn't gone down well with my uncle, who'd fallen in love with the same woman.
Coupled with his anger at the position of being snatched away from him- which wasn't true, my uncle had waged war against my father.
It turned out he had many hidden allies within the palace, and within the kingdom. Many had lost their lives, and on assuming his position as king, my father's first order had been to banish my uncle and declare him a rogue.
Whenever I recalled the gory details of that night, it induced a shudder. No one had seen my uncle for centuries now. Word had spread that his existence had ended.
“It's cold,” Mirah's soft voice broke through my thoughts. I looked down at her, clasping tightly to my shirt, and burying her head deeper into my embrace.
I subconsciously slowed my pace, moving at a normal tempo.
“Who was that?” She asked, just as I spotted the high towers of the castle.
“Who?” I asked, distracted by the softness of her body.
“That man. He looked scary.” She shuddered, and my heart went out to her. But it was only temporary.
I was obviously having a soft spot for this woman, which wasn't part of my earlier plan. My plan to make her my sex toy.
I couldn't afford to…fall in love. If that was even possible.
Love wasn't a thing. It was a foolish phenomenon, used by gullible people to delude themselves into believing their feelings for each other was forever.
My father had fallen in love, and what'd happened?
She died, he almost lost his life, and he declared his brother a rogue.
I didn't see myself doing any of those. Didn't see myself losing myself over a woman. Worse still, a human.
A sharp tug at my shirt, made me lower my head. Mirah was now looking up at me, from within my arms.
For a moment, I pictured how her luscious lips would taste.
“No one to worry about.” I said as a response to her earlier question.
She nodded, and thankfully, she didn't press on.
The castle was quiet as always, as I drew nearer. I took the back route that led straight to my window. Pushing the shutter away with my right hand, I jumped in.
I let her down carefully, and she wobbled on her feet.
“Sorry, I'm just tired I guess.” She smiled awkwardly.
And afraid. I sighed, and carried her to the bed. Once she was safely tucked in, I turned towards the door.
For the sake of my sanity, I wasn't going to stay in the same room with the woman whose scent tormented me to no end. Worse still, I knew I wouldn't be getting an iota of sleep throughout the entire night.
But just as my hand landed on the doorknob, her soft voice called out, “Zeke?”
I froze in place, at the sound of my name on her lips. I didn't turn.
“Hm?”
“Can you-” She paused, and I turned back to face her.
“What?” I prompted.
“Can you stay with me tonight? I can't sleep alone.” She added the last part in a barely audible voice.
I closed my eyes, as the rational part of me battled with the other side- the irrational. The part who wanted to throw all care to the wind, pin her against my wall, and fuck her senseless.
But I knew that if I did, there was no going back.
Her ashen face, and fearful look earlier on, prompted me into making a decision.
Just this once.
I moved towards the bed, and climbed on it, maintaining a safe distance away from her. But I knew it was useless.
Her scent and presence would always stand out, even in a room full of thousands of people.