Chapter 67 Chapter Sixty-Seven
Chapter Sixty-Seven
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Zeke
Two members moved to obey.
“You see, from all I've heard about you, you're smart. If anyone touches me, Mt Glacier is going to blow up.” I said, my voice lowering dangerously.
“And do you think that'd dissuade us?” My great-grandfather scoffed.
“Ohh?”
“Bind him!” He ordered again.
I waited patiently, until the members were inches away from me, then I struck forward a kick, and pushed them away. Using their momentary surprise as an avenue, I dashed out through the door. Natasha had already conjured a portal, and together, we ran into it.
When I opened my eyes again, we were at Gavemorth.
“How did it go?” Natasha asked.
“You already know,” I waved my hand. Mirah was shaking by the side, and I went over to hug her.
“Are you fine?” I asked, moving away so I could look at her closely.
She didn't respond, instead she stood on her toe, and kissed me. I was taken aback by the abruptness, but I finally relaxed and kissed her back.
I felt her fear from the kiss.
“It's okay, I'm here now.” I murmured into her mouth.
She moved away. “I thought–”
“It's okay,” I placed a finger against her moist lips.
Natasha cleared her throat behind us. I ignored her.
“As much as I hate to interrupt this moment, my mother wants us at the palace.” She said.
“Get a room, you two.” Qyle grumbled.
I ignored his words, and turned to Natasha.
“She knows we're coming.” Natasha said, before I could say a word.
She made another portal, and when we walked through it, we materialized at the palace gates.
“This place is beautiful,” Mirah breathed, beside me.
“Of course. We adore beauty, unlike the vampires. In the place where they love darkness, we love light.” Nastasha bragged.
Mirah's lips curled into a smile, and I was briefly distracted by her beauty.
See-brids loitered around, some of them regarding us for a moment, while some of them chose not to.
We followed Natasha's lead, all the way to the dining hall. Queen Belinda smiled as we walked in, and my eyes darted to the feast of dishes on the table.
“Welcome, dear.” She rose to her feet, and hugged Mirah, while I took a seat.
“Queen B,” I greeted her fondly, as I did when I was much younger. Her gentle facial features graduated into a smile, her sapphire eyes twinkling.
Natasha got most of her beauty from her except, in the place where Queen B had gentle eyes, her daughter had a fiery spark in her eyes.
“I'm starving,” Natasha groaned, and plopped on a chair.
“Manners, Natasha,” Queen Belinda said reproachfully. Her daughter ignored her.
“Eat dear, we won't harm you,” Queen Belinda said, making me turn towards Mirah who was regarding the food with an awkward look.
“Don't worry, the See-brids would rather swallow bile, than poison someone to death.” I said, taking a spoonful of Italian spaghetti.
“That's not what I'm worried about. Umm, do they-” She paused and looked at me. Understanding dawned on me, and I couldn't help but laugh.
She shifted awkwardly.
“No, Kitten. Blood isn't part of their staple.”
With that, she relaxed and began eating.
I caught Queen Belinda's gaze, and I tensed.
That look. She had something to tell me.
I waited until she excused herself, and then I got up moments later.
“I have to use the restroom.” I said, leaning down to kiss Mirah's forehead. She dodged my touch deftly, reminding me of our quarrel.
Her earlier display of affection had obviously been on the spur of the moment. She was back to her furiousness at me.
I ignored the twinge of pain in my heart, and traced Queen Belinda's path.
She was waiting for me in a large lit room, her hands placed behind her back.
“You have to leave her behind, Zeke.” She said, immediately I shut the door.
I didn't need to ask, to know who it was. “I can't. He'd come for her.” I argued.
She faced me. “Her heart is pure, and she's fragile. This is war and you can't afford a single piece of distraction.
“She's not a distraction, Belinda.” I said calmly.
Her brows knitted. “What if the power tussle becomes too strong for her, and ends her life?”
I fell silent. Not because I wanted to, but because I didn't know what to say.
I hadn't considered that.
“Would she be safe here? I can't leave her in the human realm.” I sighed, and leaned on the wall.
“We can't leave her here, either. We're in this war, together. What we're up against isn't what you can handle alone.” She said cryptically.
“And what are we up against?” I asked, even though I knew she wouldn't tell me.
“You have to choose between leaving her in the human realm, and endangering her life in the war.” She said, effectively changing the topic.
My mouth suddenly went dry.
I couldn't -
No.
I wasn't going to make a rash decision.
I could remember vividly, how I'd almost gone crazy the few times Mirah had disappeared.
“Do you suggest I mark her?” I asked the old queen with a youthful look.
She was silent for a moment. “That's dangerous. Marking her is as good as bonding your souls. He could use her as bait.”
As he'd done once.
I groaned helplessly. “What do you suggest?”
“Make her a temporary vampire.” She suggested, and my eyes widened.
“That's forbidden. I can't -” The dangers were too great.
“It's only temporary, it can be undone whenever you wish.” She continued.
“She could die, if anything goes wrong.” I reminded the See-brid queen.
“That's the only way.”
“No, no, no. I don't think you understand what I'm fucking saying. She could fucking die!” I hissed.
She didn't budge.
“Would you let anything go wrong?” She asked softly.
My breath quickened, as the ancient ritual flashed through my mind. I knew the steps involved, just as I knew the dangers involved.
I'd never survive it, if I killed Mirah with my own hands.
“You have two days to make your choice, Prince Zeke. You of all people should know that we don't have much time on our hands.”
And with that, she left the room leaving me to my thoughts which threatened to swallow me whole.
No.
No.
There had to be another way. Mirah would never voluntarily let me turn her into a vampire.
And I didn't want to do it without her consent.
I'd already failed her trust once. I couldn't afford to do so the second time…