19. MERCIFUL

THIRD PERSON POV

The door burst open and Xaiter returned with a tall slender man in a white coat. "Your Majesty, forgive us for not attending to your mate sooner," the man said his eyes wide with fear. "I am the head doctor, Dr. Sooj."

"Cut the shit and attend to my fucking mate," Alexander shouted his voice like thunder.

Dr. Sooj flinched but quickly composed himself. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will do everything I can to help him."

"See that you do. I want a full report on his condition, and I want it now."

Dr. Elwes nodded, his hands shaking slightly as he began to examine Nikolas. "It appears he has severe lacerations on his back, deep tissue damage...and possibly some internal injuries."

Alexander's face twisted in rage. "What do you mean 'possibly'?" he snarled.

"The wounds are too deep," he said, " And I am not sure if he is going to wake up anytime soon."

Alexander's face twisted in anguish. "What do you mean?" he demanded.

Dr. sooj hesitated before speaking. "Because he is human, Your Majesty. If he was like us, he would have woken up by now. But humans are fragile, and their bodies can only take so much trauma and I will need to run some tests, Your Majesty. But I assure you, l will do everything I can to save him."

Alexander's gaze turned cold. "You better do because I am holding you personally responsible for his care, Doctor. If he dies...you all die."

"I understand, Your Majesty. I will do everything in my power to save him."

Alexander stormed out of the room, his long strides eating up the distance as he made his way to Lady Victoria's quarters. His mind filled with anger and his heart heavy with worry for his mate.

He walks through the door, his presence commanding attention. Lady Victoria looked up from her seat, a look of calm innocence and surprise on her face.

"Oh my God , Alexander, what's wrong?" she asked her voice dripping with sweetness.

Alexander's gaze narrowed, his eyes blazing with fury. "You know exactly what's wrong " he snarled, his voice low and deadly. " And what happened to King Alexander "

Lady Victoria's expression didn't change, but a hint of fear flickered in her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about, Your majesty," she said, her voice steady.

Alexander's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Don't lie to me, I know all about your little scheme. You are going to pay for what you have done to my mate."

Lady Victoria's face paled as she realized that, that human is Alexander fated mate but she remained seated, her eyes fixed on Alexander. "You can't prove anything" she said, her voice dripping with malice. "And even if you could, I have the support of the Supernatural Committee. You can't touch me."

Alexander's hands closed around Lady Victoria's neck, his grip tightening as he lifted her from her seat. Her eyes widening in shock and fear , she had that thought Alexander wouldn't dare lay hands on her, not only because she had the elders blessings but because she was also the daughter of Lord Raven.

"You think the Elders can harm me?" Alexander's voice was low and deadly, his red eyes blazing with fury.

Lady Victoria's face turned red as she struggled to breathe. "Let me go," she choked out, her voice barely audible.

Alexander's gaze turned icy. "You hurt my mate, and I am not merciful," he snarled, his fangs bared.

Lady Victoria's eyes darted back and forth, searching for an escape. "Please, Your majesty," she gasped. "I didn't know he was your mate"

Alexander's grip tightened. " Well now you know"

"If you kill me the elders will kill your little mate " Lady Victoria spat.

The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Alexander's fingers dug deep into her skin, his nails extending into sharp claws. Lady Victoria's face turned a deep shade of crimson as she struggled to breathe, her mouth opening in a silent scream.

With his second hand Alexander reached into her chest, his fingers closing in around her heart. Lady Victoria's eyes widened in horror as Alexander's hand passed through her chest, her mouth opening in as she screams but with a swift brutal motion, Alexander dragged her heart out of her chest, the organ bloody in his hand. Lady Victoria's body crumbled to ashes, her eyes frozen in a permanent scream.

"You shouldn't have touched my mate," Alexander said, his voice cold with his eyes blazing red indicating the presence of his beast.

He turned to leave the room with the bloodied heart still clutched in his hand, his movements fluid and deadly .Lord Raven stood in the entrance, his eyes fixed on Alexander, a mixture of shock , rage and fear on his face.

"Alexander, you fool," Lord Raven spat, his voice trembling with rage. "You will pay for this!"

Alexander's gaze turned to Lord Raven, his eyes flashing with a malevolent light. "I am just getting started and you should had warned your daughter to not cross me ," he said his voice dripping with venom as he throws the blooded heart to the floor near lord Raven feet.

With that, Alexander leaves the room leaving Lord Raven to ponder on the fact that he had just lost his daughter to the deranged king but he will make sure to avenge his daughter death. The atmosphere seems to be charged with the promise of violence and retribution.

* * * * {DREAM}

Nikolas' legs pumped furiously as he sprinted through the dark forest, his bare feet pounding against the damp soil. His body is in so much pain, his back a mass of raw, bleeding wounds, but that did not dare slow him down because he knew that if he stopped even for a moment, the red eyes would catch up with him.

The eyes had been haunting him for what felt like hours, their glowing red orbs always lurking in the shadows ,watching him, waiting for him to come near. Nikolas breath came in ragged gasps, his lungs burning with exhaustion, but he pushed on.

Suddenly, a branch snapped beneath his foot and Nikolas stumbled, his arms moving wildly as he struggled to regain his balance , he couldn't fall, not now, not when the eyes are so close.

They were closer now, their glow illuminating the dark forest like embers from a fire.

"No," Nikolas whispered, "Please, no."

He forced himself to run faster, his legs screaming in protest, but he didn't dare look back. He knew what he would see: the eyes , the same eyes that killed his parents were burning with an otherworldly hunger, closing in for the kill on him too.

Just when Nikolas thought he couldn't run again he saw a glimmer of light in the distance. With a new hope of survival he burst through the trees and found himself back in his own bed surrounded by the familiar walls of his bedroom.

But as he looked around Nikolas realized that the wounds on his back were all too real. He tried to turn around but a wave of pain washed over him, and everything went black.

In the darkness, Nikolas heard a voice, faint but familiar. "Nikolas my love, please wake up , I promise to always be here to protect you."