005

A knock at the door comes, and Amara steps inside. "Sire, the food is ready."

"I'll be down in a few minutes," I answered and fixed the paper scattered on my desk before I followed Amara downstairs.

The six kids were already sitting at their respective high chairs digging at their food, and the rest of the vampires staying in the castle bowed their heads as a greeting.

I sat at the head of the table, and a servant quickly placed a plate of fooKING LEROY

A knock at the door comes, and Amara steps inside. "Sire, the food is ready."

"I'll be down in a few minutes," I answered and fixed the paper scattered on my desk before I followed Amara downstairs.

The six kids were already sitting at their respective high chairs digging at their food, and the rest of the vampires staying in the castle bowed their heads as a greeting.

I sat at the head of the table, and a servant quickly placed a plate of food in front of me and a glass of blood. I looked at my little mate, and I chuckled to see her face full of spaghetti sauce. Her and Cheche's food was cooked separately with us, while we also ate the same food except with additional spice, fresh blood.

She wanted to eat alone and didn't want others to feed her. She grinned at me, but I ignored her. I'm still mad at her.

"Erry" (carry). She mumbles and reaches out her hand at me, but I ignore her and eat. I know I'm being childish, but you can't blame me. She's my mate, whether a child or a grown-up woman. I want her to always side with me and not with others.

" You want me to carry you?" Hunter offered beside her when her lips quivered.

"Hunter, go back to your food." I glared at him. He pursed his lips and softly patted my mate back and resumed eating, but my mate wiggled on her chair, and I mentally cussed when she slipped down her high chair, but thanks to my vampire speed, I caught her before she fell on the floor.

"You!!! I glare at her and put her down on the floor. But she hugs my leg now, crying.

"Erry...

"No! Go away, you're dirty." Her lips quivered more, looking up at me.

"Come here, little princess. Uncle Raul will carry you," Raul offered, walking toward us.

"Don't ant...ike re." ( Don't want I like Sire) She stomped her little feet on the floor like a brat.

"I don't want to carry you." I scoffed. I glared at Raul when I heard him chuckling, followed by Louis, that was behind him shaking their head.

"She's just a child, Sire." Luther joined in and sat down on my left. I ignored them and returned to my seat, with Sadie still hugging my leg. I chuckled, as well as the other, when she climbed on my lap.

"What are you doing?" I raised my eyebrow at her now, sitting on my lap, leaning her head on my chest. She pouted and wiped her tears away. She stood up on my lap, holding onto my shoulder, smiling.

"Get down, I'm eating, and you're dirty." But she kissed my right cheek, and I instantly melted. She is just a child right now. How much more when she gets older?

"Get down. I'm eating," I said again, but she planted another kiss on my left cheek. I saw Raul roll his eyes, and Amara was giggling. I glare at them and ignore my little mate, whose hand is now wrapped around my neck, leaning her head on my shoulder, and resume eating, ignoring the mess she causes on my shirt and face.

"Sire, can you carry me too." Lauren pouted, looking up at me. I sighed and picked her up. She giggled and kissed my cheek, too. Lauren is four years old, while Bella is five. I tried to give them equal attention to avoid others noticing why I provided special attention to my little mate.

"How can I eat now?" I asked, looking at the two children in my arms, both grinning at me.

"I feed you, Sire." Bella joined us, pulling her high chair beside me. I pursed my lips and waited for her to settle down on her chair with the help of Luther, and she picked up my fork and fed me.

"Thank you." She grinned and continued feeding me while Lauren and Sadie just laid their head on my chest, with Sadie sucking her thumb while Lauren was playing with the button of my shirt.

"Sire!!! Cheche shrieked, and I jerked as well as the other. It happened so fast that even the others didn't see it. I fell to the floor with Sadie and Lauren on my arm when Cheche pushed my chair, and another loud thud echoed when Bella fell on the floor, tears streaming down her face and in pain. A silver arrow pierced her chest.

Sadie and Lauren burst into tears as well as Hunter and Emmett. All vampires inside the dining room quickly scattered around to find whoever shot the arrow.

"Bella!! I let go of Sadie and Lauren and quickly scooped her up.

"Sire. That was the last word she spoke before her eyes closed. I let out a feral snarl, baring my fang, and my nails sharpen. My eyes turned bloody red, furious at how I did not notice the arrow flying toward me. How can I let this happen? Bella died in my care, inside my home. I let out another animalistic snarl again, trembling in anger, but a fearful cry snapped me out, and I looked at my little mate, and she was looking at me, trembling in fear. Sadie never sees me being like this as well as the others. I make sure that everyone never shows their fangs to her.

And now I'm the one showing it to her. She looks terrified. She was screaming and crawling backward away from me, and it pained me to see it.

I stepped toward her, but she let out a terrified scream, turned around, and crawled as fast as she could toward Amara, trembling.

"Bring me whoever shoots the arrow now," I screamed in anger, causing Sadie to cry more and hug Amara tightly and bury her face in her chest, don't want to see my face

"Bring her to your room, Amara and Cheche. How did you see the arrow when no one was?"

"It sparkles when the moonlight hits it, Sire," She murmured, head hanging down.

"Sire, we were sorry to fail you. We must protect you, but we failed." Raul whispered.

"Call Bella's parents, and make sure to catch whoever shoots the arrow, and find out how they passed the guards around the castle, now.

"Yes, Sire." He bowed his head and scampered away, followed by the other.

Whoever did this? I'll make sure they die painfully. I thought, looking at the lifeless body of Bella in my arms."

"Yes, Sire." He bowed his head and scampered away, followed by the other.

Whoever did this? I'll make sure they die painfully. I thought, looking at the lifeless body of Bella in my arms.