Chapter 66 Protecting Kate.
DOMENIC'S POV.
I was supposed to be working.
I've been away from the human world for so long and ledgers lay open across my desk, figures inked in careful columns, shipments, accounts, favors owed and favors collected.
It always amazes me how the empire I had built in the human world thrived on details like these. Precision, control and power. Yet none of it held my attention.
My thoughts were on Kate. They had been for weeks now.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling of my study as if it might offer answers. Kate still refused to forgive me. Every attempt I made to earn her forgiveness turned out to be nothing but a failure. Ranging from waiting outside her school everyday after school and offering her flowers, to carefully timed appearances, gifts I knew she likes but would always reject. Everything I do was met with the same cold shoulder.
She barely looked at me when we crossed paths. She barely even spoke to me nor acknowledged my existence.
And goddess help me, I found it endearing.
She was playing hard to get. That stubborn tilt of her chin when she sees me, the way she refused to be impressed by my effort to win her over warmed something in my chest I had once believed long dead. I had ruled the human Mafia empire for years with fear and respect, commanded loyalty with blood and steel. Yet here I was, undone by a human girl who wouldn’t even smile at me just because she felt i abandoned her when I pushed her through the portal.
I never thought I would ever fall in love with a human.
It was one of my rules. One of the many I’d written for myself when I realized just how weak and fragile humans are. Loving one meant inviting loss, and I've killed any intention of associating with them in a humane way. I stopped myself from caring, or even feeling pity for them when they suffer under the rule of my own people.
But Kate had shattered every rule in my book, and I found I didn’t want to rebuild them. Not if rebuilding meant losing her.
I smiled to myself, already imagining the look on her face when she finally forgives me. She may act all tough and play hard to get, but I know I'm close to winning her back.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. "Come in,” I said, my voice already slipping back into its usual authority.
One of my men stepped inside, rigid and respectful. “Boss. There’s… a strange man asking for you.”
I didn’t need him to say more.
The air had shifted seconds before the knock. A familiar scent lingered in the air, and the unmistakable presence of someone who did not belong here. I sighed. “Let him in.”
The man hesitated. “Boss, are you sure?”
I glanced at him with a hard stare, and that was enough. He bowed and left without another word.
Moments later, Lysander was escorted into my study.
He looked exactly as he always had. Tall, composed, red eyes sharp with intelligence and devotion. His posture rigid and alert, probably because he was in a strange place for the first time in his life.
Seeing him here, felt surreal. What is was he doing here anyway?
When his gaze met mine, he bowed deeply in respect. "Your highness."
I waved my hand, dismissing my guard. He left and shut the door. Silence enveloped the room the moment he was gone. “Enough of that Lysander,” I said. “we are not in the palace anymore.”
Lysander straightened, a faint smile touching his lips. “You're still the prince you know.”
I studied him carefully. I was glad to see him—truly—but his presence unsettled me. Lysander never left the supernatural realm. I'm sure there is an important reason why he did. “What are you doing in the human world?” I asked.
“First,” he said, looking around with open admiration, “I must say—I’m impressed. The empire you’ve built here is remarkable. Humans bow to you without knowing why.”
“As they should,” I replied dryly. I was more eager to know why he is here. “Now tell me, why are you here?”
His expression sobered. "Its about the king; your father.” Lysander said.
I felt nothing at the mention of him. I have already closed that chapter of my life. He made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with me if I attacked Giron on my own and rescued Kate. “What about him?”
“He plans to marry Camille to Giron.”
The words settled heavily in the room. I remained outwardly calm, but something sharp twisted in my chest. Giron out of all vampires, out of all monsters, it had to be him. “So,” I said evenly. “father has finally lost what little sense he had left.”
“It’s worse your highness,” Lysander continued. “The marriage is meant to secure Giron’s claim to the throne. The king intends to make him ruler.”
That got my attention. Was father really considering making Giron the king after him? It seems he has truly lost his mind. “Where does that leave me?” I asked even though I already knew the answer.
Lysander hesitated. He seems reluctant to say the words, but he did anyway. “Your father has already renounced you as heir to the vampire kingdom.”
I laughed softly. Just as I thought. “Is that all?"
Lysander searched my face, perhaps expecting anger or pain. He found neither. Losing that crown for Kate's sake was worth it. Without Kate by my side, the throne meant nothing to me. But Giron wearing it? That troubled me deeply.
“And Camille?” I asked quietly. The name tasted unfamiliar on my tongue. I’d told myself for years that I hated her. That she was nothing to me, but the fact that she never hated me made me sort of restless and guilty. She didn't have to, but she helped me rescue Kate from Giron's coven. I have always been jealous of her, but now I can't help but think that I was being unnecessarily childish.
Camille was powerful, but she was kind. Unlike me and the rest of the vampire world, she felt sympathy for the humans. To be forced to marry a monster like Giron who would probably defile everything she believed in broke something inside me.
“What was my sister's choice? She refused didn't she?" I asked knowing that Camille would never marry someone who intends to bring more pain and cruelty upon the humans.
Lysander nodded. “She refused we both escaped.”
My eyes snapped back to him. “Escaped?”
“Yes,” he answered. “We crossed into the human world, but something went wrong. The portal scattered us. Camille was sent elsewhere.”
A cold weight settled in my gut. Camille has never been to the human world before. What if she's lost somewhere dangerous and alone. The humans may be weak and fragile, but some can be dangerous and evil. I've witnessed all of these in my years of being among them.
“Do you know where she is?” I demanded. There's no doubt that Giron and even father would go after her. She'll be safer here.
To my disappointment, Lysander shook his head sadly. “Not yet, but we can find her.”
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to think logically. The human world is a big place. It would be hard to find Camille in here.
I must trust in my sister's ability. Camille was many things, but weak was not one of them. “Lets leave that for now Lysander. Camille can take care of herself,” I said, though the words rang hollow. “She always has.” She lived in the mountains for years surviving on animal blood alone. What else can't she do?
Silence stretched between us before Lysander reluctantly nodded in agreement with my words.
I straightened in my chair. "Good,” I said. “Then, it's time we move as well.”
Lysander frowned. “Move where?”
I stood, adjusting my jacket. “You should prepare yourself. You and I are about to become students.”
He stared at me all the more confused. “Students?”
“Yes.”
“At a human school?” he asked incredulously. “Your highness, aren’t we… too old for that?”
I smirked. “Age is only a number, and believe me Lysander. We don't look that old.”
His confusion deepened. “But why would we do that?”
"First of all, I want to be closer to Kate and do everything within my power to make her forgive me."
Lysander tilted his head in wonder. "What did you do to anger such a cute, sweet and innocent human?"
I glared at him noticing the teasing tone in his voice. "That's none of your business Lysander." He only smiled and shook his head at me. I cleared my throat and continued, "also Giron would stop at nothing to secure his kingship, and I'm sure he would not only go after Camille but also after Kate and I. He would want to use my weakness against me. That's for sure. Now is the time to protect what matters,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “And to do that, we have to stay close.”
Understanding slowly dawned on Lysander's face.
“We’ll attend the same high school as her,” I continued. “We'll watch and wait. And we'll make sure no one gets near her, especially not Giron. He took her once, I sure as hell would not let him take her again.”
Kate’s face flashed through my mind. My sweet beloved human.
No one will touch her.
Not Giron, no one! Not this world or the next.
Not on my watch.