Third Person’s Point of ViewHeli had found his new obsession. It was in the form of a 5’9 man with jet-black hair and ocean-blue eyes with lips that tasted like the strawberries he’d been addicted to when he was a child.Ever since they first kissed each other, he’s been looking forward even more to returning to their shared room. Sometimes, Akiro’s already asleep when he gets back, so he’ll just end up kissing his mate on the forehead. But most of the time, Akiro keeps himself awake so they kiss before heading to sleep. It didn’t matter to Heli that in order to keep himself from sleeping, Akiro spent his time in the kitchen with his friend.In the morning, Akiro was already awake, and so they had a morning make-out session that lasted for half an hour. It made Heli wake up earlier to prepare so that once they are done with their new morning routine that consists of just kissing, he’s ready to go.It was exhilarating. Heli’s totally addicted to his mate’s lips. He sometimes feels sor
Third Person’s Point of ViewThe door slammed open, which made Akiro abruptly sit up on the bed, his vision swimming for a moment as the sudden movement made him slightly dizzy. He shook the remnants of his sleepiness away when he heard footsteps approaching in his direction.“What...” he wasn’t able to finish his words when large and strong hands held his shoulders and familiar lips were pressed roughly on his own dry lips.Akiro’s eyes widened.Heli’s lips moved roughly and desperately against him, nipping on his bottom lip when he didn’t respond. So despite being confused at the suddenness, he parted his lips, letting Heli’s tongue explore his mouth.The vampire didn’t waste a second. He immediately dived in, tasting every corner he could. His movements were rougher and so unlike the other times they kissed. Akiro sensed something was wrong with his mate, especially because Heli was never that loud and careless when returning to their room. He doesn’t disturb Akiro when he’s asleep
Third Person’s Point of ViewThe red velvet cake remained untouched for two days. Akiro was in their room’s balcony, staring at nowhere. The red velvet cake he made was on the table that he prepared for when Heli returned home.But it’s been two days since he was called and they left and yet there’s still no news about them. The Queen had remained calm, but the princesses and the fated mates of the princes were getting anxious as well. They said it wasn’t the first time that those involved in a mission don’t return home for a few days— a month is the longest— but that doesn’t mean it gets easier for those who are waiting. Even Heather, who has the ability to reach into others' minds, can’t reach her father or siblings’, lest they’re in the middle of something important and she distracts them.So they were forced to wait without news. Akiro didn’t talk to anyone when Carmela told him about it. He just stayed in their room, mostly hanging out on the balcony if not sleeping. Even his g
Third Person’s Point of ViewThe lack of his mate’s presence is what he thinks will suffocate him rather than the poisonous gas that he consumed when one of their enemies had secreted it in the middle of the fight.Heli feels incredibly guilty at the thought of Akiro, anxiously waiting for him at the palace without any news about their situation. He knew what he was going into when his father informed them about the plan to counterattack the rebels who were planning to attack their kingdom again. He knew what he was facing when they were discussing the details of their plan. He knew the risks of the plan, but Akiro didn't.He never told his mate about their mission because the King said it was confidential. He only informed the Queen about it a week before they executed the plan because, as per what they had talked about, there was no guarantee that they would return alive. But fucking hell if Heli would let anyone kill him. He wouldn’t die just yet, not when his mate was waiting for
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro remembered the time when he was still in the human world and Heli disappeared for a month when in reality, he had just returned to Eldritch for a few days. He remembered how much he longed for Heli back then, not knowing when he would return. The connection they had back then wasn’t that strong to hurt, so it wasn’t much of a pain. But this time’s different. Heli had marked him and he also drank his blood. Every day that passed by without seeing, hearing and feeling his mate, Akiro felt a slight tug on their incomplete bond. It wasn’t strong enough to cause him pain, just enough to make him feel bothered and distressed by their distance.It was like a constant reminder that Heli still hadn’t returned. But Akiro thought that was fine, because at least, it didn’t break. If their bond suddenly breaks, it just means one thing. And Akiro doesn’t want to think of it.He doesn’t need to think and worry about it anymore, because Heli finally returned.Akir
Third Person’s Point of View“When do you plan to tell Prince Heli about your decision?”Akiro paused from putting icing on the cake he baked after hearing his friend’s question. It took him a few seconds before he shook his head and continued what he was doing. “I almost forgot about it. I was just so happy and relieved that he had returned home and I forgot about it.”“Understandable,” Shiro nodded his head. “But now? Do you have plans to tell him?”“Of course. Maybe I’ll tell him later when I give this cake to him,” Akiro responded, then paused again, abruptly spinning around to look at the vampire. “Oh my gosh, Shi! We’re going to complete the process! Oh my gosh!”The vampire laughed at Akiro. “Why are you suddenly fussing about it?”“I just...” Akiro blushed heavily. “You know how the mating process goes! And you know that I-I have no experience with that thing...”“Oh, come on, Akiro. You’re already twenty. You can say ‘sex’ you know?”“Shiro!” Akiro exclaimed, glowering at the
Third Person’s Point of ViewHeli was acting sulky when Akiro told him not to tell anyone just yet. When asked why, Akiro simply said:“Less pressure.” And that’s that. Akiro didn’t expound his explanation. Heli had no choice but to comply.It’s not that he didn’t understand his mate’s reason. Even without further explanation, he immediately understood what Akiro meant by ‘less pressure’. He knew his family could be overbearing with their excitement, and that would put a lot of pressure on Akiro's shoulder especially because he’s the only one they’re all waiting for to decide when he wants to complete the mating process.Heli was just acting sulky because he wanted to shout to the whole kingdom that his mate would finally be officially his marked mate. And then the next he’ll shout will be their engagement! He shook himself out of it. He’s getting very ahead of himself already. He shouldn’t let his mind wander off like that, not when he’s a man on a mission right now.“Heliiiii,” Aki
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro felt immensely satisfied with himself as he walked hand-in-hand out of the palace with the grumpy ice prince who was scowling beside him. The prince took half an hour trying to convince Akiro that he was just joking. Only when he said he'd cook something for Akiro did the human budge from where he was lying down on the bed. The prince had been grumbling incoherently since then, and Akiro found it funny.But he also feels slightly guilty for making Heli keep the mating process a secret. He knows the vampire wanted so badly to tell his family about it, but Akiro was a big coward.He knows Heli’s family won’t pressure him, like how they have never brought it up since he arrived. But they will get excited, and when they do, they’ll keep on anticipating it to finally happen, then they’ll want the details and Akiro is too shy to tell them that. They don’t even know they have kissed already! Akiro will get pressured to decide when to do it, and he doesn’t
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