Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro smiled as he continued staring at his sleeping mate. They’re cuddled in their bed with Heli’s arms wrapped tightly around Akiro’s waist. He couldn’t pull away because the vampire’s hold was tight even while sleeping, so he was left with no choice but to remain lying down on Heli’s arms.And Akiro is absolutely not complaining. It’s been a while since he stared at Heli’s face, and it felt like he'd forgotten some of the vampire’s features. So right now, all he did was to commit every detail of Heli’s face to his memory all over again.Akiro was so preoccupied that he failed to notice that Heli cracked an eye open and immediately caught his mate staring intently at him. There was the look of— dare he say— fondness and admiration in Akiro’s eyes that made Heli’s heart flutter.He took advantage of his mate’s obliviousness. He shamelessly stared back, enjoying the sight of Akiro’s morning look that he had been secretly cataloguing inside his mind. Even w
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro’s hand tightened around the spoon he was holding, his lips pursed into a straight line as he pointedly avoided the stare coming from his left side. It was at that moment that he hoped he had long hair so he could hide his face from the vampire that was shamelessly staring at him with that ridiculously handsome smirk on his face.He’s gotten used to Heli’s stares. That’s like the vampire’s favorite thing to do when they’re in the same room. He had stopped being self-conscious at one point, knowing very well there was nothing he could do or say that would make Heli stop staring at him if he was into it.But this one’s different. He feels so shy and self-conscious that he can’t help but to tremble as he tries to eat casually, as if there’s no certain vampire that was watching his every move. Akiro hurriedly ate breakfast, not bothering to join the conversation on the table. The others seemed to notice some sort of tension hanging around the two of them
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro returned to their room, planning to take a bath. He lost track of time while he was talking with Shiro. He enjoyed the vampire’s company, finding him a breath of fresh air. So he got engrossed in their conversation and abruptly ended it when Shiro was called by his parents. With a promise of returning later in the evening, they parted ways.As soon as he entered the room, he got pulled inside, and he barely heard the door getting locked before he felt a large, muscular body caging him from behind.“Were you hiding from me, Aki?”Akiro froze, his heart racing violently against his chest. A shiver ran down his spine when he felt his hot breath brushing against the skin of Akiro’s neck. His arms were wrapped possessively around his lithe waist. Swallowing nervously, he responded, “N-no. Why would I hide from you?”The low hum of the vampire sends a thousand volts of electricity coursing through Akiro’s heart. He was pretty sure Heli could hear how his
Third Person’s Point of View“It’s dinner time, Heli.”“We’ll eat here.”“What? Why?”“Because I said so.”Akiro gave the vampire an unimpressed look. “And your words are the law; is that what you’re saying?”Heli’s lips curled dangerously near into a pout. Akiro pushed down the amusement brewing in him at the sight of Heli squirming uncomfortably from Akiro’s stare.“No,” Heli mumbled after a moment. “But I just wanted to eat with you! You disappeared for hours after breakfast, and then you didn’t join us for lunch. It feels like I barely spent time with you today.”Akiro’s lips twitched in amusement at how Heli almost sounded like he was whining. The vampire would vehemently deny it if he tried to tell him about sounding petulant, so Akiro didn’t bother teasing him about it.Instead, he blurted out something else. “Well, I got excited after having a new friend.” He shrugged, feigning nonchalance. It drew the reaction he wanted to see.Heli’s brows furrowed tightly into a frown, his
Third Person’s Point of View“H-his Highness!” Shiro exclaimed in surprise when the door opened and revealed the ice prince. He quickly looked down, his heart racing fast against his chest. He knew the prince was in his room, but he expected Akiro to be the one who would open the door. Because of all the times he served the youngest prince his meal in his room, he never once opened the door for the servant.Heli stared down at him blankly. Shiro could feel his red eyes drilling holes in his duck head. Despite feeling intimidated, Shiro still chanced a quick glance at the guy, which he deeply regrets. Because Heli was glaring at him, as if he had just pissed on their bed. “Tss. Bring it in.”With a stuttered response, Shiro pushed the cart inside with his head still hung low. He set it on the small table on the side of the room where the ice prince always eats whenever he doesn’t feel like joining his family at meal times. Shiro carefully set the plates down, arranging the utensils pr
Third Person’s Point of View“I want to go to the town,” Akiro muttered. “Do you think Heli would let me go there without him?”Shiro scoffed, shutting the faucet close and setting aside the dishes he was washing in favor of facing Akiro, who was sitting on a bar stool on the kitchen island. “He’d go absolutely ballistic if you tried to ask him.”Akiro glared at the vampire. “You’re not helping.”“I’m not actually trying to,” Shiro replied, cackling loudly when Akiro groaned. He shook his head before returning his attention to the dirty pile of dishes. “Besides, why would you go to the town without Heli? You’d get swarmed by the vampires there, and that’s dangerous seeing you’re still human. You need to at least bring a dozen knights with you.”“Dozen!? That’s too much! Heli was only man when we went out last time!”“That’s because he’s a prince, and he has far more authority than knights. Civilians tend to be more afraid of them than knights who have literal swords on their side,” Sh
Third Person’s Point of View“That is all for today; you may all go,” the King dismissed the council and the princes.Heli didn’t waste a second. He immediately stood up, turning on his heels and walking away from the Council Chamber where they had decided to meet instead of the Throne Room. But just as Heli stepped out of the room, someone had slung an arm over his shoulder.“Why is my little brother in a hurry?”Heli harshly removed the arm on his shoulder, shooting Heldrix a glare. “None of your business.”Heldrix laughed. “What’s got your pants in a knot, lil bro?”“Don’t call me that,” the younger vampire hissed.“Eager to see your mate, eh?” Heldrix continued to tease him, but Heli chose to ignore his annoying brother then, quickening his pace. He’s quite agitated these past few days because he hasn’t spent so much time with his mate. He leaves early in the morning and his mate is still sleeping, so he tends to just watch Akiro for a few minutes and kiss his forehead before lea
Third Person’s Point of ViewHeli woke up with the best sight in the world, one that he hopes remains forever.Akiro was facing him, tucked safely in his arms that were possessively wrapped around the man. His face was tilting up a bit, which was the first thing that Heli saw when he opened his eyes. The madness inside him is slowly melting away as he continues to look at his mate. He remembered clearly what happened yesterday and what he said last night. He felt disgruntled at the reminder he still had to tell someone about his absence.He muttered incomprehensibly as he pushed himself off the bed. He just has to make it quick before Akiro wakes up. He didn’t bother stripping himself off his sleepwear. He went to his parents’ private chamber, knocking on the door impatiently. His mother yelled ‘wait!’ which Heli ignored, not wanting to waste a single second away from Akiro, who might wake up at any moment.“Who the fucking hell are you among my fucking idiot children—”“Tell Father
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro sometimes hates himself for being so... compassionate. It drives him insane whenever he’s putting someone else’s comfort before himself, but he keeps on doing it anyway because he can’t bear the guilt of putting his own comfort first over someone who’s clearly in trouble.Like right now.It’s been two hours since Heli left and he still hasn’t returned. Akiro’s bored out of his mind in the first hour he’s alone, but the next hour that follows suddenly made him nervous and anxious.He doesn’t know what is troubling Alliah and why it’s taking them quite a while, but it makes Akiro nervous. As to why he’s feeling that way... he’s not entirely sure. Is it because of Alliah’s tone when she was asking for Heli’s help? Or is it because Heli and Alliah have been together again for the past two hours? Akiro really didn’t know. Maybe it’s both.It was when another hour had passed that Akiro decided to leave the room in an attempt to search for his mate. But he
Third Person’s Point of View“So you mean to say that werewolves have their own way of getting their own mates? Like how vampires have the Crystal of Fate?” Akiro asked his werewolf acquaintances.“Yup! In our case, it is believed to be the Moon Goddess who gave us our fated mates,” Savannah responded. “And unlike vampires, where there’s a Crystal that would show them who their mates are, werewolves just have to hope they cross paths with theirs.”“One way to know who a werewolf’s mate is when a certain scent gets too strong. They’ll know immediately what it means when, among a crowd of mixed scents, there’s a certain one that you smell so clearly and profoundly,” Pierce added. “Their wolf’s instinct would move on its own when they sense their mate is around.”Akiro nodded in understanding. “That’s kind of... uh, how do I put it in words? Difficult? Because you’d have to be lucky to cross paths with your mate then. Is there any case where a werewolf never meets their mate?”“Lots,” Wa
Third Person’s Point of ViewHeli was never the friendly type. He can count on one hand the number of people he considered friends. The rest were just acquaintances or just mere beings living in the same space as he is.One of his friends he considered was this woman clinging on to his arms. “— and it was so annoying, Helios! Alphas are just so infuriating, you know? All they want is a hole for their disgusting knots! I don’t want that! I’m not just an omega they can bed!”“Was it really disgusting?” Heli replied dryly. “I remembered you telling me before how you love being knotted.”Alliah glared at him, though her cheeks were tinted red. “Of course, it is! You know it’s only the heat talking.” She scoffed.Helios snorted at that, totally not believing it. Alliah pulled away from him, much to his relief, because he didn’t have the heart to push her away. “We haven’t seen each other for months and this is how you’ll treat me? You are so mean!”The vampire rolled his eyes, looking ex
Third Person’s Point of View“So... why haven’t you marked that bull-headed vampire yet?” Akiro abruptly turned around, eyes wide at Savannah’s question. “Uh, what?”“Come on! Don’t act clueless, cutie. We can smell him on you, but we don’t smell you on him,” the blonde said. “Not that your scent is strong. Humans do have weaker scents than vampires and shapeshifters, like merfolks. Well, merfolks smell like saltwater, so I don’t think that’s the right comparison.”Akiro just got even more confused by the blonde’s rambling. “I’m not acting clueless. I’m just quite surprised at how forward you are considering this is the first time we met.”The blue-haired man laughed loudly, while the other two just chuckled at the pouting Savannah. “He got you there, Sav,” the blonde man said.“Not even an hour since you met, and you have already asked him a personal question,” the blue-haired man shook his head. “It’s not my fault! I’ve been dying in curiosity when I saw Helios’ neck was still un
Third Person’s Point of View“This is all good and fun, but can anyone introduce that handsome man right there to us? He looked extremely delectable just standing there by himself.”Almost immediately, all attention was on Akiro. He instantly blushed as several pairs of eyes watched him awkwardly stand there, avoiding everyone’s gaze.“Shut the fuck up.”Akiro felt goosebumps all over his body when he heard his mate’s cold voice. His tone was harsh and sharp as he glared at the man who spoke. The blonde-haired man merely raised an eyebrow at Heli, unfazed by his tone and glare.“What? I just wanted to know his name,” the blonde said.Heli growls viciously at the man and, in a blink of an eye, was already on Akiro’s side, arms wrapped possessively around the confused human. “Helios?” Alliah looked so confused as she looked at Heli and Akiro, a frown on her face.But for the first time since they arrived, Heli ignored her. He continued glaring at the blonde man as he spoke. “This is my
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro was expecting days of traveling on a carriage or horse when they said they would travel to another kingdom. He was expecting days of seeing new places and scenery and meeting new vampires. He was expecting to rest in an inn or what after hours of traveling.It didn’t occur in his mind that they would arrive in the middle of the Kingdom of Regia Luximere’s courtroom in a matter of a few seconds once they all exited through the secret backdoor of their kingdom.He completely forgot that one of the Lancaster siblings has the ability to teleport to other places, which means an easy and quick travel without the hassle of carriages and coming to stop at some rest stops. Akiro wanted to facepalm as he forgot once again how different this world was, and how the vampires' abilities are so convenient to their way of living.He wondered if it was so easy to travel to different places, then why can’t he just go home after the meeting to check on his grandparent
Third Person’s Point of View“Grandma? Grandpa?” Akiro knocked on his grandparents’ door before he slowly opened it. He saw the two were just sitting on their bed with their backs leaning on the headboard. They were both holding a book.“Akiro. Come in, son,” his grandfather greeted him warmly.He smiled at them before approaching their bed.“What brings you here, Aki?” his grandmother asked.“I’ll leave later for the monthly meeting with the allied kingdom, remember?” The old couple frowned for a moment, as if remembering, before recognition flashed in their old eyes. “Ah. So it’s later.”Akiro nodded. “I wanted to spend time with you before I left. The next three days, my friend Shiro— you know him, right?” The old couple nodded in response. “He’ll be the one to bring your meals here. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell him, alright? And if you want to walk around the palace garden, just tell him as well. He volunteered that he'd escort you along with a few knights if you
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro woke up early the next day despite sleeping late, though Heli was already gone when he woke up. He assumed Heli was in the training room like what he usually does in the morning. After washing his face, Akiro went down to the dining hall for breakfast. Shiro was usually asleep this early in the morning so he decided to eat with the others today. There were already a lot of them inside, just chatting idly with each other. Heli wasn’t there, which means he’s not yet done in the training room.Akiro sat beside Carmela and Alter who were silently talking in the corner. “Good morning.” He greeted them.The two immediately turned to him. “Good morning, Aki. What a miracle that you joined us here,” Carmela teased him, which made him blush.“Well... Shiro’s still asleep so...”“It’s no problem, Aki. You don’t have to explain to us,” Alter gently said.Among all the Lancaster siblings’ mates, Akiro feels the most comfortable with Alter. He didn’t know if it
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro sat quietly on the chair beside Heli. The whole family was gathered in the private sitting room, which is their first gathering since the Lancaster men had returned from the fight. Despite knowing he didn’t do anything wrong, Akiro can’t help but feel nervous as the room slowly fills in with the family members. He glanced at each of them but no one looked as nervous as he was. It just made him even more nervous, which of course, Heli noticed.He slid an arm on his waist as he leaned closer. “Don’t be nervous. The King and Queen just have an announcement to make.”“What announcement?” “Our engagement.”“WHAT?” Akiro stood up in surprise, his blue eyes widened comically. Heli laughed at his reaction, followed by the others who seemed to hear their conversation.Akiro blushed so hard he felt like his face would explode any second by now from how hot it feels. Damn Heli!“I was just kidding. Sit back here,” Heli said, still grinning.Akiro glared at h