(Zachary) ONLY this girl could save me from my own chaos. When I saw the bite mark on her shoulder, the fear that instantly gripped my heart upon knowing that I could lose her again anytime took me by surprise. The rage I felt next had overpowered me until I lost control. But when she held me, I began to see things clearly. I began to calm down. Unlike others, Kate just keeps on saying the opposite of the things I want to hear. And it really pisses me off, but when she looked at me, when her tears fell down along with the walls she surrounded her heart with, for a moment, I saw how vulnerable she was. I saw how rattled she was. She needed me. She needed more than my blood. Those were the things she would never say out loud, but I felt it when she kissed me. I felt her quiet desperation and her fears. When I released her mouth and looked into her eyes, I was greeted by her tough façade once again as if she was determined to see this whole thing as a task which she needed to do in
Ten years ago…“YOUR MAJESTY!”In the middle of the pouring rain, I heard my subordinates’ voices, anxiously calling for me from wherever they were. I could hear them even in my head, but I didn’t want to answer. I didn’t want to get up or to even lift a finger.Now that Leonel Dela Torre was dead and the threat in the city was gone, maybe it was time I disappear. I had a castle I could go back to, but tonight, I preferred the company of the grass, of the mud surrounding my exhausted body over the comfort of my own bed.As the coldness began to sink deep into my bones, I had wished to stay here like this, unable to feel anything than go back to the biggest and grandest place in the world only to feel the heat consuming my entire being. In a few days, the curse would activate again.I would not be ‘me’ again.As the rain grew more intense, I found myself laughing sarcastically.Damn that witch. Damn the world. Damn everything.I just wanted to disappear. Forever.The Council members wo
Present TimeWHEN everyone had left, I closed the door as quietly as possible and walked towards the bed. How many times did I imagine seeing Kate back in my chambers? In my bed?How many nights did I wake up wishing I could go back to that very first night she slept here? Just seeing her sleeping on my bed was enough to make me warm inside.But I wanted Kate here not for this reason, not in this condition. I wanted to bring her back here as naturally as possible. I wanted to take my time, to win her over first.And yet, this shit happened.There was color in her cheeks now, but I still feel restless. And I know this restlessness would stay inside me unless that goddamn bite mark on her shoulder magically disappears.No matter how I looked at it, the bite seemed like it came from a young Vampire. Was she bitten by a child of a Rogue? Was that why she seemed protective of her attacker? Because it was a child? But how come the child’s bite was as fatal as mine? For that to happen, he or
“YOU DON’T know anything about revenge then. It’s getting thrice the thing you are owed. Remember that, Kate. That’s revenge 101,” Zachary replied as he stared at me with those eyes. It was as if he was already doing wicked things to me in his head.I had almost forgotten how ravenous His Majesty was in bed.Last night, someone must have changed my clothes and I didn’t want to know who that person was anymore. Like Zachary, I found myself wearing a silk robe although mine was white. And I… realized it just now but I didn’t have any underwear on.The pervert King just grinned.“You were sweating so much last night. I didn’t have the heart to let you sleep uncomfortably with your clothes on,” Zachary said as if he read my mind.“And so, you changed my clothes for me?”“Who else do you think would do it? I would never let anyone else see your body even if it’s a woman,” he replied possessively. “You are welcome, by the way.”“Must you really include my underwear, too?”Zachary looked at
“YOUR majesty, General Damon is requesting an audience in the main hall. He said it’s code red,” the butler outside the door announced which broke the rising tension between me and Zachary.Of all the times Damon appeared, today was the day I feel truly thankful. Code red meant there was something that required Zachary’s immediate attention.He stood, annoyed.“Why does he have to do that? This is beyond him. He is never the kind to do things in a formal way. If it’s code red, we could communicate directly. What the heck is wrong with Damon these days?”“I… have no idea, your majesty. Pardon me,” Larry replied.“Go back and tell him I would meet him in a while,” Zachary ordered.“As you wished, your majesty.”“And Larry?”“Yes, your majesty?”“I remember telling you that I don’t wish to be disturbed when I’m resting in my chambers. You only had one job and you still failed to do it properly. I don’t want to hear your voice or even your footsteps here tomorrow morning and all the morni
MIRA was a very bright and curious child, she always had questions for almost everything that’s why her silence made me worry. If I wouldn’t agree with Violet’s suggestion, Mira might end up doing things she would regret, things that would make her hate herself. And that was among every mother’s worst nightmare.I can’t believe I’m putting the fate of my child onto a stranger’s hands, but the situation leaves me no choice.I opened my eyes and typed, ‘Proceed with the spell. I will see both of you in a month, Jonathan. Please thank Tau and the Mage for me. I will contact you often for updates.’My phone was password protected, but for added protection, Jonathan had me install an app that automatically deletes messages once read by the recipient.I put the phone back in my sling bag and took it with me before leaving Zachary’s room. Every servant I saw bowed their heads upon seeing me, but I noticed how much they were against doing it.They had always treated me with hostility. They ha
CLAUDIA and her followers hated me with passion. They were all giving me a death glare as they walked towards the small bridge that connects to the tower. I managed to wriggle myself out from trouble before because His Majesty would constantly show up by my side like a phantom who quietly wanders around the castle. Unfortunately, that knight-in-shining phantom was busy today. I would have turned the other way if only they weren’t quick to see me. When their leader smiled, I knew I was doomed. I forced myself to keep walking until we met on the middle of the bridge. I stopped and against my better judgment, I lowered my head to greet Claudia. “Greetings, my lady,” I said in a polite tone. “So, the rumors are awfully true. The weakling had transformed. You look… a little decent now with all those expensive clothes His Majesty had wasted on you, but you are still an ugly and a dirty bitch in my eyes. Did you know how happy you made me when you suddenly disappea
(Damon)“YOU didn’t seem surprised, your majesty,” I said as the king quietly browsed the photos on the table. Jonathan sent all of them in my email this morning.The photos were about the black roses, rogues, and mages who were found with marks on their necks. Twelve of them were said to be strangled by an unseen force during their sleep. That was not their only common denominator. Those people were also associated with the Vampires. The Mages who died had recently allied with the Vampires and the Black Roses were the new scouts we hired to work for us. But those allies and scouts were all gone now.As for the Rogues, they could live and die and we won’t care at all.The photos were the evidences which Jonathan had gathered until last week.‘This is to show my gratitude for what you did for Katerina,’ he said along with the photos.Katherine Dela Torre was Kate’s name as a Hunter. Her birth name was Alena Katerina Gregory that’s why Jonathan sometimes calls her Katerina as a reminder
(Zachary) IT WAS almost five in the afternoon. It was time to pick up swan from her campus. I was about to call the twins who were running around the lawn when I saw how Mira swooped in and carried Alain in one hand and Algernon in another. The twins were playing with their guards who were now sweating so hard. After getting caught by their sister, the boys pouted and lowered their heads. Their playfulness had never worked on my eldest. “What time is it now?” she asked the twins. “Five,” Alain answered. “It’s still three minutes and eleven seconds before five in the afternoon,” Algernon added. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Mira asked again. The twins gasped and together, they said, “It’s time to pick up Mommy from the human realm!” “You finally remembered. Now go to your rooms and fix yourselves. Don’t come to her campus looking like that. Both of you were the ones who insisted on picking her up today and yet, you forgot?” The t
(Kate)IN THE middle of checking the photos the butler had sent regarding Algernon, I noticed Jonathan peeking at his wristwatch. There were more photos to look at. Others were about Mira. She sent the pictures herself. She was getting along really well with her friends. She had completely adapted to her hybrid life.Whenever I’m away, I can’t be at ease unless I see the reports about my children. Even with the blood link, the trauma the witches and the hunters had caused me will take a while to get rid of. And I was glad that Mira understood. She was the one who volunteered to send her daily pictures to me to keep me posted especially whenever they had school activities.But in time, I know the trauma will disappear.The other photos were regarding my husband and Alain who had caused troubles in the office. Violet sent them to me after giving me a call since she visited Damon there and brought him his blood bag. He caught the general in the l
“GREETINGS, your majesty and the prince,” everybody greeted. The women held onto the bottom of their skirts because the wind kept blowing them away.I held my little guy’s hand and put it down. The wind vanished. But when he looked up at me, he looked like he was about to cry as if I ruined his fun.“Don’t look at Daddy like that. Here. I brought your favorite toy,” I said and gave him his teddy bear. His smile came back as he grabbed the toy.The people sighed, relieved. But the aftermath of the trouble my son unconsciously caused was still palpable. I snapped my finger. In a blink of an eye, everything had turned back to normal.When we rode the elevator, Damon caught up to us. After bowing to give his greetings, he looked at me curiously.“My wife is in a meeting. I can’t leave the twins under the servants’ care. They already looked so stressed. I had to bring one of them. That’s the only way to appease my wife as well. I didn’t want her to worry all day,” I said before he could as
SEEING my wife like this reminded me of the phone call I received while I was still inspecting the border. That was around six in the evening.‘Your majesty?’ she asked in a low voice.I smiled and loosened my tie. There was something in her voice which made me feel hot even if it was windy outside. ‘Yes, swan?’‘What time are you going home tonight?’‘I’m not sure. There are still areas we haven’t visited yet. Why? Do you miss me already? What’s up with this sudden call?’ I teased.I never needed phone calls when I could always teleport whenever I miss her which happens constantly. Most of the time, I would show up in her workplace or in the twins’ room to steal a kiss from her and if I get lucky, we would do it quickly. I just could not get enough of her.I guess I never gave swan the chance to miss me that’s why after two years of our marriage, this was her first time calling me first.‘Nothing. I just called to say that… I’m not wearing any underwear tonight. And I’ve already prep
Two years later…I KNEW I would find her here. These past few months, I rarely see my wife in our chamber. She was constantly in Alain and Algernon’s room. Even if our twins had their own servants, she was still hands-on when it came to them.It was past eight in the evening. I normally come home at five in the afternoon but today, I went with the knights for the monthly inspection around the borders. Mira greeted me at the doorway a while ago and told me that she already had an early dinner with her mother. Still, I caught her stealing a blood bag in the fridge for a snack.When I heard that her mother was sleeping upstairs, I sent our eldest to bed after her snack and after monitoring her mana and her blood intake since today was Thursday and it was my turn to monitor it to keep her mana and her powers in check. The kingdom may be peaceful now and there were no more threats but after what Kate and Terrence had experienced, it would not hurt to be careful.Our children’s blood was li
(Zachary)I FINALLY get it. What they say about family, about parents. I thought I knew enough about parental love after being a father but Dayanara Gregory had shown us what a mother’s love was and why it was important.I had seen it when Swan covered for Mira after she bit her, when she looked at our daughter with wonder and affection in her eyes as she watched her play in the garden, when she brushed her hair, when she worried whether she had taken her meals or not, and when she kissed her at night as she wished her a sweet dream.Lastly, I saw it the night Swan was shackled. I saw how she strived to make sense of the situation when Mira ran to her, barefooted and with tears flowing down her cheeks. I saw how she broke her heart to appease our daughter’s heart while I stood there, unsure what word to say and what step to make, because I never understood the gravity of having a parent and losing one.All I understood was the pain of a husban
(Damon)ON the way to the castle, no music could be heard. Unlike before, there were no festivities. There were no children playing on the streets either. All the establishments were closed. The people I saw were wearing white.They hung lanterns in every house as their way of sending the queen off believing that the lanterns will light up her path towards another world.I continued to drive and stopped in front of the castle. The gates were opened for everyone who wished to visit the queen. There were more and more people coming by. I stepped out of the car and instantly heard the sound coming from the flute. It was from Jonathan who was in the garden, her highness’ favorite spot.He looked so lost as he played the flute which gave off a heart-wrenching sound. He hadn’t spoken a single word since yesterday. He hadn’t changed his clothes either. The queen’s blood on his uniform was still there. Even his hand still had her blood on
I KNOW it was wrong to feel this way because swan is still alive. She has to be alive or else, all those traveling, all those twelve duels just for one silly flower would not mean a thing, or else I would regret not being by her side for the past two days as she waited for me while enduring so much. “Swan, hang in there,” I whispered and forced a smile. “We are about to reach the top. Just take a nap for the meantime. I know you are tired. I will wake you when we get there.” It was already bright when we reached the top. I took the final step and stopped to look around us. The wind blew. My chest felt like it was being squeezed when I said, “Wake up, swan. Open your eyes, come on. We are on top of the mountain now. We fulfilled your wish. Do you see it? The scenery is as lovely as you said.” Again, there was silence. “You also said that it would feel liberating when you are one with nature like this. But swan, I don’t feel liberated at all. The beauty I
I WAS stunned. I could not move. I could not even speak.But when Kate was about to fall, my body automatically moved to catch her. The wind and the rain had stopped at once. The hunters vanished one by one as if their lives were linked with hers. Blood was still gushing from her chest when she tried to open her eyes.They were back to being blue.Jonathan pulled out the sword from her and kneeled before us.Kate proudly smiled at him and said, “T-thank you, Jonathan. You did well.” And then she turned to me. “Where have you been? I missed you, my husband.”I held her hand. “Doctor Juno is preparing the medicine. Wait a little more, swan. I will take you back home and-““No, Zach. I don’t think I could survive this anymore,” she whispered as she caressed my face. “Love, what took you so long? Where were you? I waited for you.”Tears streamed my cheeks. “I’m sorry, swan. I’m sorry for leaving your side. But why did you do that? I don’t need to live forever! What the hell am I going to