“How have you been since our last visit? Has anything interesting happened in your life as a royal vampire?” Evan sat on his bed, back against the headboard, fingers running gently through Mizak’s hair where his head rested upon his thighs.
“No, nothing yet. I still refuse to hold any sort of conversation with my parents and Volak is still the worst asshole of a brother to ever walk the Earth, so, there’s that.”
“And your other siblings? How has your sister been getting along with her mate?”
“Eh they’re okay, I guess. Haven’t really bothered sticking around them at home. Not since I’ve been spending most of my time coming over here to see you. Not that I’m complaining! I love seeing you every day.”
“I love seeing you too.”
The two looked at each other briefly before Evan turned his head away in embarrassment.
“Evan…Can I ask you something?”
“You just did.”
“You know what I mean, loser.” A playful tone in Mizak’s voice despite the somewhat worried look he portrayed.
“Yeah, yeah. What’s up?”
“Would you mind if we talked about, well, us? About our future as mates? If you even WANT to be mates?”
The hand that had previously been combing through his hair stilled as Evan froze. Sitting up quickly, Mizak grabbed his mate’s warm hands in an attempt to ease his possible worries slightly.
“Wait, we don‘t have to right now if you don’t want to! It’s just something that’s been on my mind for-”
"Yeah, no no, I get it. It’s something that’s really important to vampires, so of course it’s worrying you. So uh, what do you…”
“Right…”
The silence that followed was almost painful, neither of them felt brave enough to start the conversation that might break them both until, finally, Evan gathered his courage and spoke in a soft, shaky voice.
“Do you want me to be your mate?”
“I DO! I-I’m just scared that’s not what YOU want.”
“What? Why would you think that?”
“I’m different, Evan. The runt of my kind, more or less an outcast. There has never been a vampire with albinism. Don’t let my whole ‘Royal status’ fool you. It does nothing against the words of those who speak ill of me. Becoming my mate will no doubt subject you to this scrutiny as well, only, not just from my kind.
You can be free of me, go out and find a nice human woman…or man, I suppose. Settle down, and go have a normal family. Live your life. I would never keep you back from doing what you want. All you need to do is reject the bond.”
“What happens to you if I reject it?”
Mizak felt his world come crashing down at this one question but he didn’t dare show weakness. If this was what his mate wanted, he had no right to stop it. After all, he was the one who suggested it in the first place.
“I- I suppose I would fall into a state of depression for a few months. BUT ONLY A FEW! I would be fine. Of course, so would you. You needn’t worry about that.” A blatant lie if he’d ever told one. He knew more than well that the effects would be far more than a mere state of depression. The pain he’d endure would be endless, until it finally reached a point where the only thing that would quell his hurt was his own death. Evan needn’t know such details, however.
Evan stayed silent.
Mizak Nolva…the youngest Vampire prince of the Central faction. His mate. Since the moment he’d first seen the man, his heart had raced from his beauty. The gentle yet firm tone of his voice made him weak, while the soft gaze of affection from those lilac eyes made his heart race at speeds he didn’t think were considered healthy.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
“Okay.” He knew his decision. He didn’t need the pros and cons. He knew what he wanted.
“Okay?”
“Let’s do it?” Who, he wanted.
“...Reject the-”
“NO!!” Evan’s loud shout startled them both, and Mizak’s eyes widened at the volume, the question dying on his tongue. “I- Sorry. No, I’m not rejecting it, or you, so stop worrying about that. What I’m saying is, okay, let’s…be mates. I accept you-” His words were cut off by a tight embrace as Mizak buried his face within his mate’s neck.
The human male, after recovering from his shock, wasted no time in returning the hug, his hold on the vampire filled with care.
“You thought I was going to reject you?” Evan stroked his mate’s back as the elder tried his best to calm his ragged breathing.
“I…Sorry. I just don’t see why you would ever want to be with me. I’m-”
“Perfect exactly as you are. Don’t ever question that.” Mizak only indeed, nosing against the younger’s neck in an attempt to breathe in more of that calming scent.
“So, what about you? Any doubts about being my mate?” Mizak shook his head violently, his nose pressed against Evan’s neck rubbing againtn a ticklish spot for the human who tried his best not to flinch with laughter during the serious moment.
“I’ve waited for you since the day I turned 18. I’d gladly wait even longer. I’m not rejecting our bond.”
“Well, that’s that then.”
“Guess so. What happens now? Is there something we’re supposed to do to finalise it?”
Mizak’s face felt warm despite the cool atmosphere that encircled them both. His mind wandered to the lessons he’d learned during his daily classes with his sister that were held by his parents.
“We…We don’t really have to talk about that at the moment. Not really necessary, you know?”
It was impossible for Evan to not notice the reddening of the boy’s ear, his curiosity more peaked than ever.
“What? Then why are you so embarrassed? Is it weird?”
“Kinda…let’s talk about it some other time though, okay?”
“Alright…well then is there anything you’d like to do during the rest of your stay here with me?” Mizak thought it over for a while before a stroke of genius hit him.
“Would you like to go somewhere with me?”
“Outside of the manor?”
“Yes. I promise to keep you safe though! And it won’t take too long. Just an hour…or two.”
“Alright. Let me just tell my parents. Oh! Would you like to meet them?”
“Would they be okay with meeting me? Do they even know that we’re bonded?”
“Nope.”
Without another word, Evan pushed away from Mizak before happily skipping his way to the door on a journey to find his parents, completely missing the way the young vampire had somehow gone even paler.
************************************************************************************************
Lord Kas’s POV
Ever since the conversation…well.. argument with Mizak, it seemed a rift had been slit between my family. Idati, as she didn’t understand the things I did, had more or less prohibited the servers of the castle from assisting our youngest son. If ever he felt he was isolated in his life, this would by far take the first place.
“Kas!” I heard the lovely aforementioned voice call for me before Idati stepped into our shared bedroom.
“Yes, my love. What seems to be troubling you?” I knew quite well that the situation with Mizak was causing her anger to grow exponentially, but, when her temper reached the level it was currently at, it was best to allow her the time to rant.
“Your son is what’s troubling me. Mizak has gone in search of that human boy once more. Why have you not ordered him to stop? Nor have you tried in any way to stop him. You have tens of thousands of elite vampire warriors at your disposal yet you refuse to send even one to stop him.”
“Idati, my love, I’m sorry but I cannot stop Mizak when it comes to his mate-”
“MAKE HIM REJECT THE BOY, IT IS NOT THAT HARD, KAS! That HUMAN is a WEAKNESS to us. Do you not understand that? You as the faction leader should more than understand that the position we are in is far less than ideal.”
I very well understood that. I myself told Mizak these same words during the night of Malara’s birthday, but there was nothing I could do to get him to see that.
Releasing a sigh, I figured the best choice of action would be to tell my dear wife of what I knew. So taking a stand from where I previously sat, I stretched my hand out for her to take.
“Ida…there is something I need to show you. I suppose now is as good a time as any to show you.” Her face was one of confusion but I could tell her curiosity was also present. She slipped her hand into mine, grasping tightly onto it as I led her to the bookshelf that sat against the wall at the farthest end of the room.
“What-” I stopped her before she could end her question, tapping a series of books in a specific order before the shelf began to shake. Within seconds, the wooden structure shifted forward and to the side revealing a space behind it.
“I need you to trust me and follow me into this passage. Everything will be revealed in there. Can you do that for me, my love?” She nodded, tightening her grip on me. She was nervous, I could tell, but she needed to know. Too much time has passed with me keeping this secret and I refused to keep something such as this hidden any longer from my mate.
The journey into the room began.