CLAUDIA sobbed along with her friends.Twelve knights and five ladies were both tied for every town people to see. This was to set an example. Anyone who would defy me again would suffer the same fate.The average Vampires could not stand the sun. Unlike in movies, Vampires don’t sparkle. They don’t easily die in the sun either although they get extremely weak and they burn. And the wounds they get from the burn don’t heal right away.In the past, only selected Vampires could enjoy the sun. It all changed during Valentino’s reign. His wife Dayanara, crafted a gem that would enable the average vampires to live like humans. The gem had a special spell in it. She then ordered the Mages to create the same gem and gifted it to the Vampires. She was a good queen, the first in the vampire history. She always thought about the welfare of her people.Unfortunately, when Dayanara died, the Mages who worked under her left the city. They did not want to join us in maintaining the peace anymore. T
(Zachary)‘YOUR majesty, the governor, some of the council members, and officers are at the gate. They said they heard about Lady Morelli finally waking up. They are requesting for the return of their daughters’ gems.’While I was in the bathroom, I heard Emmet’s voice in my head. As my righthand-man, he was the one who was currently keeping the gems we took from the nobles.‘They are pleading, saying that their daughters would not survive for another two days under the sun,’ Emmet added.‘Send the guests away. I don’t want to be disturbed when I sleep. As for their daughters…’ I grinned. ‘Since Kate still has a slight fever, let them burn for a day more.’‘As you wish, your majesty.’I dried my hair using my wind ability before coming out of the bathroom. Kate was sitting on the bed. She patted the left side of the bed, but instead of using the pillow, I rested my head on her legs.If heaven was real, this must be it.“By the way, what’s with the countless guards earlier? It seems to
“LORD Valencia and Lady Morelli seems to be getting along well,” Emmet commented while I was studying reports about the recent activities of the Hunters.“They need to get along. They will be together most of the time,” I replied without looking at him.Today was Kate’s first day as my secretary. Today was also the day Jonathan Valencia went back to his post. This morning, I introduced the two of them to each other and gave Jonathan his first mission: to ensure Kate’s safety. He had officially become her personal knight today.After some time, I heard Emmet gasp. “For some reason, Lady Morelli’s smile reminds me of the former Queen. She also has this smile that could melt hearts.”“And how would you know that? Kate does not smile at others so easily.”“But she is smiling right now, your majesty.”“What are you talking about?” I looked up and found Emmet staring at the window.I rose from my seat to take a look as well and got the surprise of my life seeing Kate… smiling at the back ga
BEFORE I even knew it, I was already following Zachary’s gentle demands. His hands had already found their way inside my blouse. In an instant, he was able to unhook my bra. He tossed it on the sofa. He lifted me and brought me to his wide mahogany table.Zachary wiped the papers on it with one hand before he made me sit there. And when he let go of me for a second to sit on his swivel chair, I had the chance to escape.But my body was at Zachary’s mercy. One look at me and I couldn’t get away. It was like he had me imprisoned by just those eyes alone. He finally took the drinks and the snacks away from me before he pulled his chair closer to the table, closer to me.He kneaded my breasts with his expert hands.“They claimed you are a wild cat, but when I do this…” Zachary rolled his tongue over the tip of my breast. And when I moaned, his expression softened a little. “You become a defenseless rabbit in front of a starving wolf.”His ravenous tongue assaulted the tip, leaving me gasp
“WHAT kind of book are you looking for?” Jonathan asked as he stood a few steps away from me inside the king’s library. “Maybe I could help you find it.” Zachary left the castle after our conversation. He had a private meeting with a woman named ‘Astelle’ at lunch time and since he didn’t know what time he would be back, he told me to take the rest of the day off. I didn’t know who that woman was, her name was just written on Zachary’s planner which Emmet handed to me this morning. Worse, he didn’t bring any guards when he left the castle which meant that he would be meeting with him… alone. When I first became his secretary, he would bring me wherever he goes whether I liked it or not. Even during his meetings with the Council where humans were forbidden, he was crazy enough to let me in and to have me occupy the seat closest to him. That seemed to have changed now. I am inside the very place I had always wanted to visit alone. In the past, I only got to en
EVERYONE who saw Zachary’s car in the streets stopped whatever they were doing and kneeled on the ground. The cars all gave way as well to make their king’s trip as smooth as possible.No matter how tinted the windows were, these Vampires could still see us from the inside. They knew who their king was with. But as always, Zachary didn’t care as he drove with one hand. It even seemed as if he was parading me for every Vampire to see.He looked like he was in a better mood having me as his passenger while I was in the middle of having a nervous breakdown having him drive because everyone was looking at me with contempt in their eyes. I thought I wouldn’t care, but tonight, it was especially hard for me to ignore their stares.“You should have at least given me a heads-up about tonight, Zachary. This is embarrassing,” I said after sometime.I didn’t know I would feel bothered like this. Damon told me that Zachary had never taken a woman out before. This was His Majesty’s first date… and
MY HEART… was suddenly so full that I was afraid it would burst. I’ve tried to deny it so many times, but at night, when the king was sleeping with me in his arms, I would lie awake and just stare at his handsome face, feeling guilty for this warmth and this tingle in my chest that I feel because of him.I sniffed and closed my eyes when I couldn’t bear to keep staring at Zachary. I was afraid that he might see right through me and feel that it was the same for me. I was barely alive all these times until I saw him in the forest.It was so cold in his city, but he kept me warm with his smiles, his laughter, and with his presence that was so huge it occupied the entire office.Even then, the king would always find excuses to hold my hand. And I’d let him because I wanted the feeling of his large calloused hand against mine. Even then, I’d wondered what this fuzzy feeling was, why I’d let him touch me when I’d flinch if it was other men.I knew it wasn’t just about work, wasn’t just abo
(Zachary)“I DIDN’T want to fall for you,” Kate bit out, frustration was evident in her eyes. Before I could ask, she added, “Because you are blind. I really hate that about you. You only see the pretty things about me. I’m a nervous wreck, Zachary. I’m damaged. I have tons of things I haven’t told you yet about myself and I’m afraid that once you find out about them, you’d leave me.”“And what are those things? You could try telling them now and see if I leave. But you have my word, swan, I will stay. Whatever it is. No matter what I hear.”Instead of answering my question, Kate’s tears just fell. She was changing. She was more open about her emotions in front of me now. She no longer hides her frustration, her fears, her anger, and her… love for me. And tonight, as she says those things, I could see her completely stripping off her mask.“I’m a coward, too.” I heard the bitterness in Kate’s voice when she added, “See? Even if I love you, I couldn’t even tell you anything now.”“I co
(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