Chapter 121: Chapter 5

ADELIE

Maeve’s voice floated to my ears from my side. “If he’s messing with you like that, I wouldn’t exactly call him trustworthy.” We were both lagging behind, making our way to the grand ball that neither of us was particularly excited about. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elias veer off the path and vanish into his room. I didn’t follow him. I just hoped I could slip away unnoticed too.

“He’s trustworthy, Maeve. He just doesn’t appreciate being scolded.” But it did make him a jerk, especially knowing how much Kairos had hurt me. He’d always seemed like such a gentleman. This just made him a little less of one in my eyes.

Maeve shot me a skeptical look. “What makes you think you can trust him?”

Because when Kairos was himself, he did. Leonard had been his closest friend and even took him in when his mind went away. “I just know,” was all I said.

We all entered the grand hall. People all around watched the king walk in and only then their eyes floated to their visitors. We awkwardly stood there while King went away, leaving us in a little crowd.

Once I figured he wouldn’t return I turned to Kairos. “I had a lovely time dancing with you, is what you will tell Alpha King.”

I turned to leave, but was quickly turned back around. His arms now on my waist guiding me to the dance floor.

“What…?” I asked.

He stopped us in the middle of the dance floor where everyone was dancing. “One dance. Too much to ask?” He was smiling sweetly. If he knew how much of an audacity that question had.

“For you, yes.” I looked around me to see people starting to take notice.

I let my pride go and reached for his hand and rested the other on his shoulder. But he wasn’t so quick to react. His eyes were glued to our touching hands. “You were the one to drag me here, now dance.” I rolled my eyes at him in a snappy tone.

He looked at me and slowly rested his free hand on my waist. “Of course.”

He kept looking me straight in the eyes, not saying anything. So I did.

“Do you have a wolf Kairos?” I asked him. And it threw him off a bit.

“I do.”

“How is it that your wolf is also taken from his memories? I am convinced that the wolf soul cannot be mended with.”

He laughed out. “You are smart. But that’s not the case. My wolf doesn’t talk to me.”

“Hm… You must have done something terrible then.”

He spun me around and this time pulled me even closer to him.

“Possibly,” he said. “Tell me, Miss Adelie. Is there a special someone for your heart back home?” he asked and that made me laugh out. The irony in it.

“I am a nymph. Have you not heard? We do not love.” I made sure to whisper in his ear.

His eyebrow slightly raised up. “You do…just differently.”

“Why so interested?” I questioned, in hope that by talking I would be distracted from the inappropriate distance between us.

“Curious about why such a beautiful woman is alone.”

I rolled my eyes at how frustrating it all was.

“What? You don’t like being called beautiful?” he teased with a smirk.

“Not by you.”

“Why?”

My eyes were glued on his. “I don’t like you, Kairos. And I would feel most comfortable in my visit if you didn’t think about me at all.”

His lips turned into a sweet smirk. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. You have captured my attention Miss.” My cheeks swelled up from his comment, so I had to leave before he noticed.

I pushed him away and looked at the side where King and Maeve were watching us.

I was about to leave but at the last minute remembered my promised dance. I stopped in front of him. “Please honor me with a dance?”

Lucy snarled from the side whispering something giggling in Collin’s ear. They seemed very close for Collin being just a beta. But then again I had the same relationship with my beta, Maeve.

The king looked more than happy to take me for a spin. “I saw you enjoyed your little time together.”

He took me in a hold for a dance but I could tell the difference between how he held me and how Kairos did. Leonard was much colder, looser. “Yes, very enjoyable,” I mocked. “Kairos told me I was beautiful.”

He squinted his eyes, confused as to why I would say that to him. “Good for him…and for you.”

“How dear of a friend would you be if you let me play with his emotions?”

“…revenge love? He doesn’t remember either way.”

I shrugged innocently. “Purely for my enjoyment. I could let him love me just as much and leave more painfully. I thought you were a better friend than that.”

He faintly smirked at me. “You wouldn’t do that, you still love him. Am I wrong?”

I let go of him. “You have no business in this, so stop. You are a professional, then act like it,” I snarled at him. I didn’t want him to arrange anymore dances, anymore meetings. He had no business in my love life. Or the love life I had.

“You have power. Power I can only dream of. But I still need something to let you know you are in my territory. Respect me and you will be respected,” he said in a serious and demanding tone. He then smiled widely. “Please enjoy your night,” he leaned down and kissed my hand.

MAEVE

The king had gotten way too many drinks and started to bother everyone.

His beta, Collin was patiently standing there and waiting for the king. Adelie had already left but King insisted I stayed. Not sure why because I kept back not far from his beta. But we didn’t talk. Haven’t talked with him since I arrived.

We were both betas, but still a different situation. I was a made beta from being an omega while he was a beta from his bloodline. Generations of serving the Alpha King.

He, a true werewolf. And me, a mixed cold-blooded vampire. Scandalous to others that a vampire would be a beta. Of course Adelie never feared the judgment. But it didn’t change the nature of things. It was unnatural, sick, twisted and plain wrong.

The king stumbled upon Collin. “Come dance, Collin!” he took his hands, swinging them around and dragged him toward me. He barely managed to keep on his feet.

“Come dance with Maeve,” the king said excitedly, looking at me through his eyes that I wasn’t sure could even see me clearly considering the state he was in.

I shook my head, drifting my eyes down to my dress and smoothing it out. Not that it needed any but I didn’t really want to engage in this conversation. “No, thank you,” I instantly refused, clasping my hands together in front of me and looking ahead of myself.

Collin was looking at me, I felt his gaze, but I didn’t return it.

He looked over at his side, he must have mind-linked someone, his eyes shifted. Was I that awful that he needed someone to get rid of me? Also, didn’t he have a mate if the king was so freely offering him a dance with a random woman?

And to think about it, I never heard a mention of his mate. Maybe he didn’t have one.

“Collin, come on. Look at how pretty she is,” the king was waving his hands to me. as if his movement would make Collin notice me.

King was doing some convincing on Collin while he didn’t really reply to him. After a short moment Lucy approached. “All right. I think it’s time to go,” she sweetly said. She wasn’t mad. Very caring. She took him by the hand but he didn’t go with her.

“I’m not leaving until they dance,” he turned to the music band playing. “I need a love song,” he shouted out.

The band shifted their notes and a slow melody started playing.

Collin let out a defeated breath and walked over to me. He offered me his hand and I once again glanced at Alpha King.

I was about to argue but I was pushed from behind, forcing to latch onto his hand. I managed to stay on my feet but looked back noticing Kairos with a smirk walking away, his hands in his pockets.

Collin led us forward. People were watching us. More so me. Because they all knew. I was a vampire and werewolf hybrid. In other words. A sinful creature.

Collin spun me around. His hand latched on the naked skin on my back, making me regret my choice in the dress tonight. It was simple enough to not draw attention but the back was open.

I awkwardly put my hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand. I couldn’t remember the last time I danced. It wasn’t rocket science. It was just different for me.

And we started our dance for King’s enjoyment. I kept looking right over his shoulder. Everyone was trying their best to discreetly catch a glimpse. They all failed. I could see every curious whisper.

Probably thinking how hard it was for me to control my thirst. Or maybe they were just watching to save Collin in case I decided to bite and drain his blood.

“They’re not used to seeing vampires,” he said. My gaze shifted to Collin, who was now observing me.

“Huh?” I responded, taken aback, or perhaps just surprised he chose to speak.

He met my gaze and stumbled over his words. “That’s…that’s why they’re staring.”

I didn’t respond. There was no need. We were only dancing to keep the king happy.

“Your eyes…” he said, scrutinizing each of my pupils. “Vampires usually…have a more lifeless look,” he noted.

“I’m not lifeless,” I retorted, annoyed.

He chuckled softly. “I figured. Your skin is warm.” I could feel his fingers tracing my back, as if trying to sense my warmth.

“How does being a vampire-werewolf work?” he asked.

And so it began. “Ask what you want,” they always initiated their conversations like this. As if they were simple inquiries. But they were only trying to confirm if the horror stories were real.

He nodded, suppressing a faint smile. “How do you feed your vampire side?” he asked.

“I drain everyone that crosses my path. Suck their blood dry,” I shrugged. “About two a day,” I informed him.

“Ruthlessly,” he remarked, amusement lacing his tone. That was a first. Others usually took my words at face value.

“How do you really? I need to know if you’re going to be living among our people.”

His comment stung more than it should have. He was so concerned about me preying on his pack mates. As if I could actually drain anyone of their blood.

I was about to pull away from his grip but his hold tightened, preventing me from leaving. “I don’t mean to offend…” he began, but I cut him off.

“You think I’ll attack?” My voice was laced with contempt. He was just like the others.

His expression mirrored mine, no longer warm and friendly. “I simply don’t know you.” His voice remained steady.

“Well, maybe you should be more cautious. You don’t know what I’m capable of,” I retorted, my voice low but firm.

He drew me into his chest and stared at me. “You’re quite bold considering your position.”

I furrowed my brow. “What does that mean?” I asked.

“You’re a natural enemy to werewolves. You can’t go around speaking so recklessly.”

“Let me go!” I demanded, but he didn’t budge.

Even as a half vampire, I possessed the strength they were known for. I wrenched my hands free and rushed outside. To my dismay, he followed. “Maeve!” he called after me. Anger surged within me.

He grabbed my hand, spinning me around. “It’s my duty to ensure the safety of everyone here. You’re in the king’s territory. And I’m telling you that you can’t speak so freely knowing that our pack might not be as understanding as yours.”

“Well, it’s not exactly a secret what I am, is it!?” I yelled. “I don’t need to be understood or controlled. If they feel so threatened, let them try to tame me.”

He glanced around, raising a finger to his lips. His voice barely above a whisper. “Your stubbornness and temper won’t get you far here!” Now he was the one getting angry.

I laughed at him. “You think that because I’m in the king’s territory I must obey him? I only answer to my luna. You know why? Because she’s the only one who’s ever seen me as a person and not some monster like everyone else, including you!”

“Is that how you think I see you?” he asked, his jaw clenched.

“No, of course not,” I said sarcastically. “I’m sure you ask everyone here about their dietary habits,” I snapped.

“You want to know what I think of you?” he asked angrily, not waiting for a response. “You’ve been a vampire for several years now but you still haven’t accepted it. You want to know how I know? Because you let everyone get under your skin.

“You let your insecurities show. You let a few people’s judgment cloud your mind when in reality no one cares that you’re a vampire. Yes! They find it intriguing and different, of course they will stare. But in your mind, people’s judgment will never change because that’s where it all is. In your own mind!”

“How dare you! Lecturing me on a subject you know nothing about? You don’t know anything. Not how it is, not what people say, not even what I think. You might be the Alpha King’s beta but that means nothing to me. Don’t think you have any right to speak about my life when you know nothing of it!”

“Then tell me. Tell me how wrong I am. Tell me that you’re not your own worst enemy while trying to cope with your life? Tell me that the most judgment doesn’t come from yourself. That you’re not the person who hates who you are the most.”

…I couldn’t.

He stared at me and I stared back, seething.

“I also think good things about you. Wonderful and beautiful things,” his voice suddenly softened. “But I never thought I’d feel so disgusted to say those things to anyone.”

He turned and walked away, his steps slow and nonchalant, while I stood under the lantern lights.

I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. Anger? Fear? Surprise? Shock? Or maybe it was too much all at once, and I hated that the most. Not understanding what was happening.

I was so angry… And now I was.. confused.

Was I that transparent? If I was, why hadn’t anyone else ever noticed it?

Why was Collin the only one who could articulate how I felt?