That proud bastard, how dare he degrade my daughter after using her? Valen trembled in rage. His gaze shifted towards Minister Kristoff as he sent a message through his eyes. Minister Kristoff nodded, subtly at Valen's message. He turned swiftly as he walked towards the other exit his face cold and eyes plotting.
**********
"You really are something, Lucien, scaring your ministers like that," Cassien said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"They don't look scared enough though"
A faint grin played on Lucien's lips as he uttered those words.
Cassien chuckled but said nothing.
"Your majesty, Who is this woman who you referred to as your queen?" Sir Damon, the chief royal Knight questioned. Damon was reserved, he was a psychic vampire that feeds on emotion rather than blood.
Lucien stopped in his tracks, his blue eyes seemed more icy at Damon's statement and the air turned freezing cold.
Damon sensed the coldness, and deciding that the matter of the queen can be laid to rest for now.
"Apologies your majesty if I have offended you with my question"
Lucien face gave nothing away as he resumed walking.
"Summon Lady Lilith"
"Yes your majesty" Damon said turning to carry out Lucien's command.
Lucien remained silent throughout his walk to his chambers. The doors to his chamber opened upon his arrival. Luciens chamber was massive, the ceilings were vaulted, with a gothic chandelier hanging high above, casting a dim glow over the dark room. The velvet drapes and blood red tapestries beautifully and embroidered with Vampire symbols. The floor was polished, black marbles, lined with crimson. The bed, had an ornate headboard carved from ancient black stones inlaid with red gems. Black silk sheets and velvet blankets laid over it. Beneath the towering bed lay thick silver rug bearing the royal crest–a silver bat encircled by a crown and a sword. On either side of the room are arched doorways leafing to side chambers, one for his personal library another for a private bath chamber. An obsidian pool supplied by underground hot springs that were scented with myrrh and night blooming jasmine. Behind the heavy drapes, a balcony overlooked the Vampire kingdom, high cliffs, endless forests and stormy skies. A desk was situated near the always buying fire place.
Lucien stepped inside, moving to the balcony that overlooked his kingdom. The sound of the door opening and closing was heard and a woman stepped in, she wore a revealing open back black dress. Knowing where to find Lucuen, she headed for the balcony where she placed an arm on Lucien's shoulder.
shoulder.
"Your majesty, you sent for me." Her voice was sultry, dripping with seduction and vileness.
In one split second, Lucien had her back against the balcony rail, his canines grazed over her shoulders, and he sank his fangs into her neck. Lilith whimpered at the intrusion, her face contorting in pain. Lucien continued drawing her blood until he felt her growing limp and her breathing uneven. He retracted his canines and ran his finger over the length of it, wiping off her blood. Lucien's eyes seemed colder and unsatisfied; he released her weak body and left the balcony—he felt nothing, not even the usual thrill of bloodlust that accompanied his feeding. As he stepped into his room, a familiar emptiness gnawed at him. The silence of the darkened space enveloped him, amplifying his sense of disconnection from the world outside. He sank into the bed, grappling with the unsettling void that had replaced his once insatiable hunger. Lilith struggled to get herself together and followed after him, cautiously approaching him.
Slowly but seductively, Lilith unzipped her dress, letting it pool down at her feet. She wore flowery silk underpants, but her breasts were bare of any form of clothing. She walked closer to him and sat on his thighs, wrapping her slender arms around his masculine shoulders as she leaned in.
"I made it clear. Didn't I?"
"About what, your majesty?" She replied, blinking innocently.
"I only need your blood, Lilith; don't cross that boundary."
"I wouldn't dare, your majesty."
"Get out!" Lucien commanded.
Lilith stood up, clumsily wearing her gown; she zipped her dress halfway and sprinted out of the room.
Lucien stood up, heading towards the balcony, his favorite place, to contemplate the chaos of his life. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the kingdom, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that Lilith's presence would linger, whether he wanted it to or not. As he leaned against the cool stone railing, he pondered the fine line between power and vulnerability, aware that the game of blood and trust had only just begun.
A man appeared from the shadows, his head bowed as he spoke.
"Your majesty, there was another attack on the protected human territory."
"Who was it this time?"
"I recognized them as Minister Valen's men; they seem to have discovered the territory."
"Tighten the border's security; no one goes in or out."
"Yes, your majesty."
"Is that all?"
"The portal...it's breaking.
A flick of dark light passed through Lucien's eyes, and his hold on the balcony rail tightened. The portal was a magical barrier, an enchanted glass-like transparency. It was unseen by humans and kept vampires from venturing out to the human realm except the purebloods. The only ones who could break it were purebloods or elder vampires.
"Who do you suspect is responsible?"
"Minister Valen, your majesty."
"It can't be him; he's too foolish for that. Discreetly get the names of all the elder vampires."
"Do you have a person in mind, your majesty?"
"I do," Lucien replied shortly.
"Do you want to visit them now, your majesty?" The man asked, referring to the protected humans.
"I shouldn't; it's too risky."
"As you wish, your majesty." The man replied, retreating back into the shadows.
Lucien hid a group of humans captured by noble vampires; he kept them in an unknown village before the vampires could turn them, but now it seemed Minister Valen had gone snooping around, and Lucien would make him pay dearly regardless of his daughter, Lilith.
A guard walked into the room, he stood by the door as he announced.
"Your Majesty, protector of the night realm, Her Majesty Queen Dowager Thalia requests your presence."
"I'm receiving no guests."
"Yes, your majesty."
Lucien knew his mother came to see him about Lilith, but now was not the time. He was becoming more like his father: cold, tortuous, and wicked. And he hated that; the mere fact of the late King Draconis being his father made his blood boil.
The image of the girl with a coat on, her silvery black hair swaying in the wind, appeared in his mind's eye, and his boiling blood and raging heart immediately calmed.
Lilith felt humiliated; she knew she was the one meant for him, but she didn't get why he kept pushing her away. Lucien loved her, she was sure of that, but he was yet to realize that, but she would make him realize it, slowly but surely.