22 Not my king.

Both vampire and werewolf paused on the couch from Gabriel's words. Only the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the city outside could be heard, along with what sounded like a small waterfall. Although Esme was intrigued and would love a tour of the place, she would need to decline his offer gently, she did not belong there, and she certainly couldn't stay with a vampire.

A vampire..

No matter how good looking or divine he smelt, he was still a vampire, and she needed to keep her distance.

"Stay here whenever you find yourself in such a predicament again," Gabriel spoke again, as though he was reiterating what he just said. Esme tilted her head to the side with a frown forming on her face in confusion.

"I could not possibly stay here-"

"So, you would rather stay on the street and turn up to work looking like that?" Gabriel snapped.

Was he angry?

Why was he angry?

"Look, I am sorry I turned up looking a mess, jeese; like I said, it wasn't exactly my night, but next time I'll just call in sick, how about that?" Esme stood up; she felt irritated at herself. For a moment there, she believed Gabriel was looking out for her. She scoffed and picked her bag up from the floor.

She was nothing but a speck of dust to the vampire's existence. Even though she worked in such a luxurious place and wore those snazzy clothes, it was nothing but a lie. She would leave in a few months, return to her usual squalor with nothing but her backpack, and possibly take that designer leather jacket.

"Sit down, Esme," Gabriel said quietly, but his voice spoke volumes, resounding loudly in the high-ceilinged penthouse, almost echoing. Esme paused, feeling his voice ripple through her body. She sat down and looked at Gabriel, not realising her wolf's eyes shone brightly back at him.

"I do not care about how you turned up to work; I was talking about your injuries Esme. Even if you fought rogues, this is still a city of vampires. The blood from your scratch could lure vampires to you. As you may be aware, we can be sadistic creatures.. What I mean to say is I am offering you somewhere to go to when you can't return to your place," Gabriel stated simply.

Esme pursed her lips at Gabriel's offer, wondering if she should really take it. She eyed the penthouse warily and shook her head. "And what if I came back bloodied or killed someone?" She stared back at his strikingly handsome face.

"Then it is better you return here than your apartment or the streets where another might seek vengeance on you," Gabriel replied nonchalantly, holding her gaze.

"Why would you do this for me? What do you want in return?" She asked suspiciously, eying him warily.

"You should have a shower and stay here for today. Let me show you to the guest-"

"What do you want, Gabriel?" Esme interrupted, narrowing her eyes. There was no way he was doing this out of his generosity. She was a werewolf and a low ranking one at that-

"Technically a rogue Luna?" Isana added, trying to lighten Esme's darkening mood, which usually led to inner thoughts that cut deep into her self-esteem.

Gabriel smirked at how perceptive she was. "I hear rogues pass information on to each other."

"So you want me to collect intel about werewolves and tell the vampires.. Are you trying to get me killed?" She exclaimed, overexaggerating the situation on purpose.

Gabriel scoffed and stood up, walking to the bar, removing his suit jacket, and flinging it onto the sofa opposite her. "Stop being dramatic. You could be more useful though than working at the bar.." He leaned over the bar and returned with a crystal glass tumbler, throwing a lemon in it along with some fresh water from the jug.

"Thank you," She automatically replied after receiving the glass of water. Her brows drew together as she looked at it. How did he know she was thirsty? Maybe it was a vampire thing. "Look, I need a proper job, and I'm a lone wolf; I don't play well with others."

"Is that why you are on the run?" His question caught her off guard.

Esme almost choked on the water she drank, covering her mouth as she cleared her throat. "The run, you say? Who is being dramatic now? Is that how you perceive all rogues? That they are on the run, oh vampire king?" She smirked, hoping to cover up how uncomfortable she felt from the conversation's change in direction.

Gabriel appeared next to her, sitting on her armrest, leaning his hand on the back seat. Twisting his torso slightly, he stared down at her. Esme's eyes wandered momentarily to his exposed chest, the top two buttons undone. She locked gazes with him after he smirked,

"Do not play dumb. Did you think a she-wolf living among vampires would not attract my attention? Linsberg, Ryton, Asfoy and wasn't the first town called Port Era?" As Gabriel listed the names of towns Esme previously resided at, she felt the colour drain from her face. "You seem to forget who I am, Esme. I am the King. All vampires are under my rule. I receive reports daily but the one of a rogue staying in not just one of my towns but four.. Well, it stands out from the crowd. Care to explain?"

Esme's eyes glowed again, but she looked away and concentrated on the floor to ceiling window for a moment before composing herself. Looking back at the vampire who had been watching every little movement of her body, she chuckled and stood up, almost falling back in the seat again after seeing how close they were, but she locked her knees and reached her hand out.

"Gabriel," She caressed his sharp jawline and almost bit her lip after smelling his insane scent and staring into his alluring blue eyes. "Intimidation does not work on me. Why do I need to explain my circumstances to you?"

Gabriel's lips parted, revealing parts of his fangs as his eyes gleamed with arrogance, lowering to look at her lips before snapping to look into hers again. "Because I AM the King." His eyes pierced into hers, and she found it more and more challenging to pull away, becoming heady from their close proximity. But she knew her face wasn't portraying anything except for an enticing smile.

"You are not my King," She purred, refraining from smirking at the anger flaring in his eyes. The specks of red burning brightly.

With one finger under her chin, he tilted her head up even more, leaning closer to her, so their foreheads were almost touching. "While you live here. I am," He growled, grasping her chin with his thumb and staring back at her luscious pink lips.

Her lips parted, but she clamped them shut and glared at him, refusing to say anything.

Esme was like fireworks, so captivating and beautiful, bold, direct and dangerous. Gabriel could see the fire burning in her eyes; her defiance was blatant. No one dared to look at him in such a way nor say such bold comments to him. People trembled in fear or daren't raise their eyes to him.

Was it because she did not know just how dangerous and cruel he really was? Would her ferocious gaze shrivel in fear if he showed her his world?

His eyes flickered between hers. No, he could not bear that sight. Esme's boldness was what made her unique. His gaze swept back to the giant claw marks on the side of her cheek, going from her chin all the way to her ear.

"Vincent, show Miss Esme to one of the guest rooms. She will be staying here until she has recovered," Gabriel said softly and released her from his hold, stepping away from the couch and returning to lean his hands on the bar, not daring to look at the she-wolf again. He closed his eyes, reminding himself that Esme was a werewolf.

His voice had been so quiet, Esme was shocked to see another man standing to the side. How long had he been there?! "This way, Miss Esme," He gestured with his hands away from the couch, bowing his head. Esme swept over his features quickly before jumping up and picking her bag up again.

Vincent had short blonde hair nearly turning white that was swept back neatly with his black suit and white gloves. He also had crow's feet around his denim-coloured eyes, making him appear more human than a vampire; he was not what she expected of a bloodsucking butler.

But then, she had only met young looking, handsome vampires. Of course, Vincent was still good-looking, but he looked to be in his mid-fifties, meaning he could have quite possibly once been human. "Just Esme," She muttered before turning her gaze back to Gabriel's back. "This conversation is not over."

Gabriel chuckled, still not looking at her. "Of course, it isn't. I still have to show you your apartment."

Esme parted her lips to object but stopped herself, deciding it was better to cool down first before she really did say something that would anger a vampire one hundred times stronger than her. Plus, she kind of wanted to have a shower; her body felt sticky and filthy, she was still yet to look in the mirror and needed to wash this 'street' smell from her hair.

"I will see you soon then." Esme followed the butler and was instantly distracted by the décor of the penthouse.

There was a waterfall water feature on the other side of the bar with another large lounge area with low drop mirror chandeliers. She passed down the long floor, coming across a white piano set atop a fur rug in the corner of a curved staircase that led to another floor overlooking the one she was on. On the opposite side to the curved staircase was another floor below leading somewhere and at the far end of this floor was another door, but she was led up the stairs.

To say she was impressed was quite an understatement; the second floor, if that was what she could call it, had a balcony to overlook the lounges. But its grandeur had not stopped showing another open-spaced lounge with bookcases, like a chilled library with a brown leather armchair and a coffee table looking out of the large window. Another staircase led up to a door on another floor above the library, but they stayed on the floor she was on.

Vincent led Esme past the library and to the first black door on her right; he opened it and gestured for her to enter. "If you need anything, please do not hesitate to call me," He bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

Esme stopped and stared at the guest room in awe.

"Can't we stay here forever?" Isana breathed in glee.