Third Person’s Point of View Akiro’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
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 ViewShiro braced himself when the door of the ice prince’s room opened. But instead of the flaring ruby-eyes that he was expecting, a pair of stormy ocean-blue eyes were the ones his eyes met.“Akiro! Thank goodness—”“You freaking idiot!” Akiro hissed at the vampire. “Heli’s here!”Instead of looking shocked and apologetic like what Akiro expected, Shiro grinned. “I know!”Akiro’s eyes widened. “What?”“I said, I know,” the vampire repeated. “And I know he’s in the bathroom right now!”“If you know, then what were you thinking, shouting at me this early? We just made up, Shiro! We just talked today because he refused to talk to me last night.”Shiro’s eyes sparkled. “Did you finally kiss?”Akiro glared at him, though a light blush adorned his cheeks. “No, we didn’t.”The vampire tipped his head back, groaning in disappointment.Akiro slapped his arm. “Your plan thoroughly failed, and it backfired on me!”“I didn’t say that’s my only plan,” Shiro smirked, lean
Third Person’s Point of View“Take care of your mate, alright? Don’t let him go anywhere alone,” Queen Camilla reminded his youngest son, who huffed indignantly at being reminded of taking care of his mate.“Of course, Mother. You don’t need to remind me,” Heli replied.The Queen narrowed her eyes on her son. “There’s nothing wrong with being reminded, Heli.”“I know, Mother.”Queen Camilla huffed, then stepped closer to her son and kissed his head. “Take care, son. And enjoy it as well.”“I will. Thank you, Mother.”After bidding goodbye to his father, he left the room to find his mate, who told him he’d just bid goodbye to his friend in the kitchen. He met Akiro on the stairs, who seemed to be looking for him as well.“Heli!” Akiro exclaimed. “Are you done talking to your parents?”Heli nodded. “And you?”“Yeah. Though it’s a little bit disappointing that Shiro wouldn’t come,” Akiro pouted. “Maybe I can hang out with him next time instead. He doesn’t really want to hang out with the
Third Person’s Point of ViewAfter the engagement party, there was rarely a time when anyone wouldn’t see Akiro and Heli together. Where Akiro goes, Heli follows. The rare time they weren’t together was when Akiro hung out with Shiro, and even that had been reduced to just a few days a week compared to their daily hangouts before.They became inseparable, still on the high of their engagement. And despite their family and friends’ teasing and protests, neither of them cared enough to change it. Two weeks after the party, Akiro was left alone because Heli had to attend a negotiation with an elite vampire clan in Heldrix’s stead because the older Lancaster had been tasked with something else at the last minute.In his boredom, he suddenly came up with an idea. He quickly went to Shiro to ask his opinion.“What do you think?” Akiro asked.“I think it’d be good for you,” Shiro answered. “You’ve been cooped up in the palace ever since you arrived here. You seldom go to the town. You haven
Third Person’s Point of View“To our honored guests, I deeply apologised for the ruckus earlier, but I assure you all; everything’s been handled already. If you wish to continue the party, you may do so. Those who wish to leave, you may do so as well. My Queen and I will escort you out,” King Vladimir announced when he and the rest of his family returned to the hall. Just as he expected, Regia Astara’s allied kingdoms, Regia Terrania and Regia Valexia, had left soon after them. Only Regia Solaria’s allied kingdoms remain, as well as the only kingdom where merfolks live, Regia Zepharia. It’s also the only kingdom that is neutral. No enemies, no allies. Being the only merfolk in Eldritch makes them practically the odd ones out, so the others tend to ignore or leave them be.The party continued with only four kingdoms remaining, though Regia Zepharia left an hour later, leaving the allied kingdoms on their own.“That’s insane,” Aubrey commented after Akiro finished telling them the reas
Third Person’s Point of View“Had I known those humans’ filthy offspring were the one engaged to the ice prince, I wouldn’t have bothered attending their party!” Queen Amari exclaimed as she stomped inside their bedroom. “What a waste of time and effort!”“We should pay more attention next time,” King Lorenzo said. The Queen scoffed. “I knew there was a reason I wasn’t paying attention during the introduction. My gut was telling me it was a piece of shit that was in front!”In truth, she didn’t pay attention because she was busy trying to identify the weird scent she could smell amidst the hundred mixed scents floating inside the hall. That particular scent stood out though, and it grated Amari’s nerves because it was so familiar, but she couldn’t pinpoint why.And then, coincidentally, she almost bumped into the owner of the weird scent. Upon seeing the owner’s face, a memory from nearly a lifetime ago flashed in her mind.Her first love. Her first mate. Her first heartbreak. The o
Third Person’s Point of View“What the fuck are you on?” Heli growled at the woman, pushing Akiro behind him. The miniscule respect he had for the woman quickly faded the moment she yelled insults towards his mate.“That man you’re hiding from me!” the woman continued yelling, uncaring of the crowd that gathered around them to watch. “Why the hell is he here!?”“This man that you’re pointing at is my mate and my soon-to-be-husband,” Heli snarled, glaring viciously at the woman. “And if you forgot, you’re a ‘guest’ here at ‘our’ engagement party. So if I were you, I’m going to watch my fucking tongue before I cut it off.”The woman’s eyes widened, both in surprise at how the ice prince had talked to him and at the fact that it was Akiro who Heli was engaged with.“What...”Akiro narrowed his eyes at the woman, thinking about what made her angry. He was sure it was the first time he had met her, but she seemed to know him. And then there’s her anger that he had no idea where it came fr
Third Person’s Point of ViewHeli knew his mate was itching to find his friends and greet them. He knew Akiro was slowly getting bored with meeting different people from different kingdoms. But he couldn’t find himself to help his mate get out of their situation. Akiro has already fulfilled his part of the tradition, and he can go to his friends now after the introduction. But Heli didn’t want him to go.This was supposed to be about them, but Akiro would eventually spend more time with his friends than with Heli, who knew he’d be stuck with socialising with the other kingdom’s rulers.Heli knows it was selfish of him to keep his mate by his side when Akiro clearly wanted to escape, but he didn’t want the man to go. He didn’t want to see him spending time with other people while he wasn’t there.But upon seeing the longing look in Akiro’s eyes, when he finally saw his friends gathered at a table, Heli relented. He would rather feel jealous than see his mate look like that.“Go on,” H
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro stood on the balcony of their room, watching the guests trickle inside the palace gate. None of them were permitted to arrive directly in front of the palace. They all needed to pass the gates with the invitation card given to them with the kingdom’s sigil.He felt his excitement rise when he saw Terrence and Aubrey along with the rest of the royal family of Regia Obsivia. He was itching to leave his room and approach them when Regia Luximere followed just a few minutes after. His friends were here! He was dying to talk to them, but because of Regia Solaria’s tradition, he could only show up once they were called. He wanted to meet his friends first! He hasn’t had the chance to talk to them since the meeting. He misses them.His excitement dwindled when he saw another kingdom appear. Even though he never saw them, he immediately knew who they were.Regia Astara’s royal family. Even from afar, Akiro could see the way they carried themselves. Their po
Third Person’s Point of View“Do I really need to do this?” Akiro asked, face pleading at his mate, who smirked at him.“Of course. We’ll dance in front of the guests and our family. We have to give them a show.”Akiro huffed. “But I can’t dance!”The vampire raised an eyebrow. “Oh? But I can still perfectly remember you dancing with a stranger in a bar,” Heli said. “Sexy dance, if I might add.”Akiro blushed at the reminder. “T-that’s different! I’m drunk then! I didn’t know what exactly I was doing!”“Uh-huh. And yet you still kept a cool head to stop the girl when she was about to throw herself at you,” Heli’s eyes turn dark at the memory of the girl’s pathetic attempt at flirting and seducing his mate, who wasn’t even into girls. “That’s because even in my drunken state, I know my preferences.”Heli raised an eyebrow, dark eyes staring intensely at his mate. “Oh?” he mumbled lowly. “So if it was a guy, you’d flirt back?”Akiro’s eyes widened, knowing full well he had made a trap
Third Person’s Point of View“Do you think he’d agree?” Queen Camilla asked her husband, brows furrowed in concern.The King glanced at his wife, smiling reassuringly. “He will.”The Queen bit her lips, still hesitating. Thousands of negative thoughts swirl inside her mind, and her heart aches at the thought it’d be his son who would suffer the consequences if it fails.Though it seemed the King had noticed her internal crisis, his hands reached out to his mate’s face. “It’ll be alright, Cami. He’ll agree; I’m sure of that.”“How? Even I hadn’t See it happening,” the woman replied.But the King just smiled. ###Akiro groaned. “Stop being annoying and just help me with this, will you?” he grumbled at his friend, who was cackling maniacally after teasing him about his burnt cookies.“How the hell can I help you with that? It’s not salvageable anymore!”“And whose fault is that? You distracted me when I was supposed to get it out of the oven!”“Oh, please. Stop using me as an excuse fo