Chapter 87

I blinked twice, wanting to ask him to repeat what he said.

More than one wife?

"I'm not sure I understand?" Jules asked, lowering his fork while lifting his brow slightly.

"Well then, there's no better time to explain it. One of these ladies here will be your queen, but once you come across your fated human then you would need to keep them close to you" he turned to his wife with a soft smile, an arm snaking around her shoulders. It was a display that was inappropriate in Grandor, especially in the face of royalty.

"My… fated human? If you refer to love and such"-

-"No. No" he pulled away from his wife as his face looked astonished. And then taking a slow breath he asked, "Like how your father was my sisters fated human and we created a marriage tie between them" he explained as if that was meant to clear things up.

Hadn't that been for alliance purposes?

Jules didn't reply. He stared at the man expectantly, awaiting an explanation.

"You truly do not know?" He frowned at Jules and then at us. "Vampires have fated human partners… to keep harmony between us".

"Is that so?" Jules looked skeptic. I didn't blame him. The elves said nothing about this.

"Your father was my sisters. And Francesca is mine. It's almost a magical phenomenon, but every vampire has one. You'll know who they are. Although it does take half-bloods a while longer. My mother was also human- my fathers fated- so I hadn't realised that Francesca was mine straight away".

"I see. How do I know who my fated one is then?" Jules didn't look interested, but I could see the small twitch in his finger. As if he was agitated.

"Well, you usually feel an abnormal attraction to them".

I froze up.

He carried on.

"You can feel every inch of them even when you're far apart. And their blood…" he gulped looking as his face wore a sly smile, "is more intoxicating than the finest of wines".

Jules hadn't answered right away, he was chewing away on something. Slowly. Deliberately.

My heart had become a palpitating mess.

"Then… would the human know?" He asked and this time the man laughed. His wife looked uncomfortable. "What is it?"

"My apologies. I just recalled how my wife first reacted when I told her. But as for your question- no. I'm not sure why. I always assumed it was because we vampires enjoy a good hunt" he gave a smile that seemed to fit the demons in those old wife tales and i cringed.

A good hunt? I could feel my brain suddenly became a hollow bottle of glass- barely away from breaking into a dozen pieces. Was i over thinking this? There's no way?

"And what if your prey rejects you?" I could feel the accusation in his voice and I held my breath.

"So what. You're fated. It doesn't matter how they feel. Francesca felt the same back and now she's grateful I was so forceful" his words although unbelievable where confirmed as his wife squeezed his hand affectionately.

Forced?…

"I didn't understand the extent of it at the time and brushed it off as playful flirting. But once I understood, there was no going back." She smiled warmly at all of us as if we hadn't heard ground breaking news.

"Then does your highness plan to marry two women?" This question was asked by Charlotte and everyone turned to her. Her poised face was slightly disturbed. After all, what women could share a man with another woman.

Jules face contorted in a vague look of disgust at the very question.

"Of course not. Such an insult to my future queen will not be tolerated" His words made me relax a bit.

"I admire your resolve, but it's truly hard to ignore your fated. I tried to give up Francesca because of our status difference meant giving up the throne, but I didn't care when it meant being without her".

It was rude to say that their affection was way too overwhelming and frankly too blunt.

"Enough of that" his wife laughed, "This food is truly delicious, your majesty".

Jules smiled at her words, but I knew he was as much at a loss as I was. I blushed when I thought of how he decribed his affection for me, how he had asked to drink my blood so helplessly. As my thoughts ran in a turmoil, dessert was served, but before we could take a bite, a clear glass, decorated in golden characters was placed before each of us. I stared at the foreign language, realising it was the empirial language. I could understand enough to know what it said.

'Blessings to our ruler' was the rough description.

Beside it, wrapped in a white napkin was a scalpel of a knife. I cringed when I realised what it was for.

"Please, at your own leisure, offer your blessing to his majesty".