“I think it’s pretty important to know who’ll I’ll have to call Queen one day.” Mihai snapped.
“You can’t just show up with?—”
Alek grabbed a two-sided sword off the wall as easily as picking up a paint brush, while turning it slowly as he pointed the tip to Mihai’s throat. Mihai swallowed lowering his eyes
“-You should have at least warned us.” He continued lamely.
“If you and your brother are so displeased with my choice, then challenge me.”
Mihai looked up at him in surprise.
“Why are you looking at me as if you’re shocked by my words?”
“You—, I would never.” Mihai’s speech faltered, he averted his gaze.
Alek clicked his tongue, pulling the sword away from his throat and replacing it on the wall. “You and your brothers must stop relying on me. There is great strength that comes with being what we are, but also many weaknesses.”
Mihai didn’t move, “You will always be our Monarch. Father.”
Mihai didn’t see the painful look Alek sent him. “You and your brothers, really don’t have any intention of letting me rest, huh?”
“What?”
He faced his father straightening, but Alek had already moved on.
“I didn’t tell you brats about her because I didn’t want any of you to mess it up. I know it’s hard to adjust to the idea of having a step mother, especially one so very young.” Alek spoke as he turned away from the display of weapons toward the other wall where a set of portraits hung. The frame held the likeness of his first wife. “I’ve thought it over and over, since I laid eyes on her.” His moonlit eyes drawing across the face that once stirred his heart, and now it merely stirred up old memories. He glanced at his son. “I could pretend not to have found her and continued on with my duties but-.”I am tired.
He didn’t speak these thoughts aloud, having sensed the string of weakness in his children long ago. They feared losing him, just as they feared the loss of their mother. The flames haunted their dreams as they did his. Only he’d hoped focusing on dominating the streets of the Veil and creating their own powerful existence would fulfill them.
Yet even still they turned back around to see if he was still there to congratulate them on their success. He sighed, “I’ve decided to be a bit more selfish,” turning around he brought his hands together behind his back. “So, give your ol’ father at least this.”
Mihai’s blue eyes darkened. “Fine. I won’t act against it.”
“There, that’s my boy.”
Walking toward him he placed his hand on his shoulders before pressing a fond hand against his cheek. “You know, out of the four of you. You’re the easiest to reason with.”
Mihai pulled out of his hold. “Right, so are you interested in knowing where your next target is?” He asked, pulling his cell out of his back pocket. “Because it looks like you’ll need some form of release soon.”
Alek gave him a look of wide-eyed innocence. “And what makes you think that?”
“Because you cut my throat a bit,” Mihai said brushing the blood that been slipping from the cut away.
Seeing this Alek offered him an apologetic smile, “Sorry, I must be a bit more eager than usual for a killing.”
Mihai focused his attention on his cell. “I’m sending the info to Dmitri. Just hurry up and seal this bond before you slaughter your servants in a fit of annoyance.” Giving Alek a wave, he quickly left the vault.
Alek watched him go, glancing down at his right hand that shook. He held it steady by putting his palms together. He then closed his eyes while gritting his teeth together. He needed tocontrol himself, the memory of his blood sliding into her mouth and down her throat turned his human visage savage. He wanted to drag her to his side and cut off all sound and light from her and become her only source for survival.
He breathed harshly through his nose, letting his dark thoughts run rampant through him to complete their course. Opening his eyes, they remained pure silver. Releasing his right hand, he lifted it and wiggled his fingers seeing they were steady again as he scoffed. “Maybe I should hurry.”
He left the vault allowing the door to shut behind him with a loud thump.
LANIAS
“Mm, this is good,” Lanias exclaimed with pleasure as she took a bite of the cheese and ham sandwich she’d made. She’d been searching for someone to cook for her only to remember the servants she’d spotted left at five every day. So, she’d headed for the kitchen, well Alek’s kitchen to find food.
She’d been so shocked at the sight of ingredients she’d almost danced. Since the man was a blood sucking Vampire, she’d assumed he’d have nothing. Happy with her meal, she reached for a chip only to have her hand captured.
