Chapter 2

**VLADIMIR**

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A stick cracked, and it pulled me out of the dark hole the monster inside of me had thrown me in. I could pull myself from my slaughter, and for a semi-second, I felt like me again and less like the beast, and then the wind shifted, and I was flooded with that wonderful scent again.

I glanced back; she was standing behind me, my dark angel. She had beautiful mahogany brown hair that was put back in a bun; I wonder how long it is, I thought to myself. And her doe shape eyes were a beautiful turquoise green, the specks unique in their way; I saw flicks of yellow and knew she was battling her wolf.

I felt something stir inside me that I haven’t felt in a long time. Is this desire? Is this what having an actual mate feels like? Could I be lucky to have a soul keeper and a mate? Could I be closer to destroying the curse placed on my people so long ago?

I stood up from my kill and walked towards her, she backed away from me slowly, and I could feel the beast starting to stir; if she ran, the hunt would begin.

“Don’t run.” I heard myself telling her. “If you run, I can’t control him.”

“Yeah, right,” she said, crossing her arms and staring at me. “If I don’t run, you’re still going to eat me.” But she didn’t move from that spot. It’s like she was frozen to the ground.

I stopped mere inches away from her, not knowing how long I could keep the beast at bay.

“Vampire King Vladimir.” She spat with a sneer on her face. “Really, Moon goddess.” She shouted, throwing her hands in the air and staring at the moon. “I bet you think you’re really fucking funny right now.”

I was beginning to understand that werewolves were a rare breed; I don’t think I will ever completely grasp their bond to their goddess. I stepped closer and brought my hands up to her face.

“D…d… don’t touch me,” she trembled, fear in her eyes.

I couldn’t resist the urge; I wanted to see her hair down and run my hands through it. I wanted to see what it would look like while it was down and underneath her while she lay naked on my bed.

I brought my hand up and undid her bun before dropping my hand again. Her hair had a slight wave, which was longer than I’d thought, resting below her hips. Letting her hair down was a bad idea on my part. Her scent was so intoxicating, and it was the only thing I could smell.

The woman glared at me. Irritated. “I said don’t touch me. Do you vampires not have any manners. You’d think since you’re thousands of years old, you would have acquired some by now. No means no, Fangy.”

I couldn’t help myself but smile. She was a fierce one. It had been a while since someone besides Guinevere had spoken directly to me and told me exactly what was on their mind.

“My apologies, angelus, I couldn’t stop myself. I had to see what your hair looked like down. I won’t take such liberties again.”

“I’m sure you won’t.” She responded, still irritated, while rolling her eyes at me.

She mumbled something about mates and always overstepping boundaries under her breath, but she said it so quickly I couldn’t understand her. I had an urge to grab her in my arms and kiss her senseless, I wanted to wipe that grumpy pout off her face, but I also wanted to sink my fangs into her neck and taste her and take my fill from her. So I decided this distance was okay.

“I don’t get it.” She spoke up, interrupting my thoughts. “You have a Queen, a werewolf hybrid Queen; why would the moon goddess match us. What type of shit is she smoking up there?”

“Guinevere is the keeper of my soul. She is a part of me. Our relationship is strictly platonic.”

“You’re trying to tell me that you haven’t fucked the Queen?” She snorted, her eyebrows raised. “That’s hard to believe. She’s gorgeous, and you were here alone with her for two weeks.”

I felt my irritation rising; I wasn’t used to being questioned like this.

“No,” I growled at her, inching forward.

She licked her bottom lip, and I knew she was more affected by me than she was letting on.

“Does it make you jealous to think that I “fucked” the Queen, as you put it,” I asked, making air quotations with the word fucked.

Her eyes flashed yellow again, and I knew I was stirring her wolf, but they quickly returned to her normal turquoise color.

“No, I’m not jealous. It would have been relieving to know that you were in a committed relationship with Luna Guinevere; it would have made rejecting you easier.”

I raised an eyebrow at her.

“You’re going to reject me? But you don’t even know me.”

“I don’t need to know you; all vampires are the same.”

I felt a stabbing sensation in my heart; since meeting Guinevere, my emotions had turned more human and less beast-like. I knew I was not too fond of this emotion I was feeling.

“Before you reject me, let me take you on one date. Let me prove that I am not the same as every other vampire. Let me show you.”

She sat there for a moment, pondering my suggestions.

“Deal, I don’t see how one date would hurt.”

I felt relief wash over me. I hadn’t lost my chance yet.

“You know my name Angelus, but I do not know yours.”

“My name is Myra, Myra Faerie.”

No, it couldn’t be, had my past come to haunt me in the form of my mate?

I wanted to say more to Myra, get to know her more, but then I smelt it fire... Pain and Agony washed over me, and I knew it was coming from my link with my pack.

‘Nikolai, what’s going on?’

‘There was an explosion at the dining hall. We’re under siege.’