Chapter 64

ALEXANDER

The human stood in front of me, gripping the horse’s reins tightly. She met my gaze. In all the years since I had seen the child, I had not expected her to look like the young woman looking at me.

Her skin was light tan, and her hair was dark brown, cut short above her shoulders, curling around her heart-shaped face.

Two piercing eyes gazed up at me, bright green, flecked with blue, lined with black, exactly like the opal she wore around her neck.

She wore simple clothes, shorts that had ridden up her thighs, and a white shirt knotted at her waist, showing off a sliver of skin. Her chest heaved from her riding.

Her scent was the element that truly knocked me back. She was mouthwatering.

I remembered her taste, the soft skin on her shoulder that I had bitten through, the hot, spicy, tangy, sweet blood that I had sucked in before she was ripped from me.

Smelling her again, I had an overwhelming desire to bite her. And maybe take her against the tree. There was something about her. She was sexy. She was beautiful.

I had never found a human sexy or beautiful before.

“Eleanor, I take it?” I asked, arching one brow. She had stopped walking, her grip tightening on the reins, she pursed her lips.

“You seem to have me at a disadvantage. You know me, but I still don’t know your name,” she replied, her heart beating at a calm rate. She wasn’t afraid of me. Probably the first human not to be.

“Of course. Where are my manners?” I snickered. “Alexander Lucius William Night at your service.”

Her eyes widened a little, and she looked me up and down again. She gave me a small smile.

“Do you want me to bow to you?” she asked, smirking just slightly. The child obviously had no respect for royalty. That would have to change.

“I’ll teach you,” I said, quickly grabbing her arm. I spun her against me, her back flush with my chest. She let out a surprised gasp.

Forcing her hand into a fist and pressing it to her chest, I rotated her back, grabbed her head, and bowed her down to me. She was scowling when I let her go.

My hands tingled with her warmth, her scent overwhelming me, the feel of her body against mine.

“Thanks,” she replied dryly, stepping away from me and continuing down the path to the castle.

We were very close to it. I could hear her family awakening. Phoenix and I had arrived at sunset. She had gone straight to the castle to see her twin.

I matched my stride with hers. “You are delectable,” I told her. She bristled.

“I get that a lot,” she answered. I chuckled.

“I remember how you taste,” I continued. She faltered a little in her steps and glanced up at me. I grinned at her.

“I don’t remember...” She frowned. I moved behind her before she could react and pulled the top of her shirt down, gazing at her shoulder.

Her skin was perfect, with no scars, no marks. I was disappointed I hadn’t left my mark on her. She squirmed away from me.

“The bite on the shoulder,” she breathed. “I remember now.”

“It’s healed,” I noted. “Who healed it?”

“I don’t remember,” she snapped. I nodded and let her continue walking. I strode beside her.

“I would like to drain you, child,” I told her. She picked up her pace.

“I’d rather you didn’t. I assume you’re here for the wedding. You can ignore me.” Her racing heart betrayed her fear.

“I can’t ignore you, child. You are much too interesting to ignore. You have my full attention,” I insisted.

I watched her bite down on her bottom lip. She was obviously restraining herself from saying something stupid.

But there was something about her biting her lip that made me want to bite her lip, suck on it—maybe push her up against the tree and fuck her, make her scream my name. Feel her soft, warm skin again.

“Does your father want me dead? Or turned again?” she asked suddenly, her gaze meeting mine, knocking me out of my reverie. I smiled at her.

“Grandfather,” I corrected. “Mostly, he wanted confirmation that you are still alive. I have confirmed that. I really don’t think he cares whether you are turned or dead.

“You’re just a random human hanging out with a pureblood family to him. He really doesn’t care about the Mcnoxnoctis pet unless he decides to make an example of you. Again.

“Others might as well. Your dearest grandmother comes to mind. The king is, however, extremely angry with the person who saved you.

“Care to share who did it?” I pressed, gazing into her eyes.

She pursed her lips. “Nope.” She continued walking. I followed behind her.

“I will find out, child. Don’t worry.” I chuckled. “So, where have you been hiding all this time?” I pressed. I placed my hand on her shoulder, and she tensed under me.

She was soft. I could feel her heart racing.

“Here and there,” she breathed. “Please, don’t touch me.” She met my gaze, her lips pressed in a firm line.

“I want to,” I told her. “There’s something about you, child. Something that makes me want to be around you.”

I stepped closer to her, pushing her against her horse, dipping my head down to inhale her rich scent. She trembled.

“You really need to step away now,” she growled. Her hands pressed against my shoulders and pushed me. I didn’t budge, watching her eyes widen in horror.

“How about this, I take you to my chamber, and you tell me all about your life these past fifteen years? Then I’ll drain you. Or would you rather I turn you? Then you can be mine forever. Deal?”

“Get off me now,” she snarled, pushing me again, in vain. I tsked my tongue.

“Sweet child. Your struggles are futile. You know that, don’t you?” I stroked my finger down her soft, warm cheek. “I’m a prince of vampires. I get everything I want.”

“You don’t get me,” she snarled, her opal eyes flashing with anger.

“Get the ~fuck~ away from her,” a low voice growled behind me.

I hadn’t even heard him arrive; I had been so distracted by the human.

“Aric!” the human cried.

Aric was seething, his eyes bright crimson, meeting mine straight on. No bowing, no signs of respect. I hissed at him.

“She’s my subject, is she not? I can do whatever I want with her,” I answered, slipping my arm around her shoulders and pulling her against me.

She let out a small shriek and squirmed in my grasp.

“Get off her,” Aric snapped. “Now, my lord,” he insisted, giving me a pointed look.

“I believe I won’t. Aric. Have you been keeping her safe all these years? A true testament to brotherly love.” I chuckled.

“Give her to me ~now~,” Aric insisted, stepping closer to us. I frowned at him.

“You needn’t worry. I’m not going to kill your sister, Aric. I have to extract some information from her first.” I let out a small chuckle.

The human beside me was trembling, her heart racing in her little chest.

“My lord, I have to insist, give her to me now.” Aric’s voice was very calm, but his eyes still raged red. His hands were balled into fists. He was ready to pounce on me.

“Why should I do that?” I asked him.

“Because I claimed her. She is mine. Give her back,” he snapped.

My brows shot up in surprise. I let out a low wolf whistle and glanced down at the human.

“Do you know what that means, little human? The big bad vampire has claimed you as his. I’m not allowed to take you to my bed anymore,” I mocked.

Her eyes were wide, her expression growing more serious, less frightened. I let her go, and she marched slowly toward Aric. He wrapped her up in his arms, glaring at me.

“I’ll show you to your room, my lord,” Aric growled, grabbing the horse’s reins, pushing the human ahead of him, and guiding us to the castle.