Meeting  

[Catherine's POV]

A day passed like a blur, and I was finding myself in a daze, still not over what happened between Charles and me in the bathhouse.

As much as I wanted to focus on ways to delay the mating bond that would happen in a few days, I couldn't. Part of me still couldn't believe that I would be mated with Charles, thinking he was just joking. And another part of me still clung to the belief that the mating bond wouldn't happen.

But a tiny part of me that I was desperately repressing was eager for it to happen.

And now, I found myself torn, sitting on a chair and being lectured by an old Vampire woman about the mating bond.

"All the pureblood will be present when Lord Charles claims you," she said.

I was okay with that. I thought it was like in Seraphim that all nobles and higher-ranking authorities or even the King was present during the union of two powerful houses –– until she continued.

"You'll both be naked on a bed. And when the bloodmoon rises, you two will become one and mark each other on the neck."

". . . Pardon?"

She peeked through her glasses with a solemn face. "You're once human, and it's your first time, so pay attention."

Her voice was like the scratching sound of a cat clawing on sheets. It was apparent on her face that she didn't like me and the tone of her voice said that she also disapproved of this mate thing.

I hope she can tell that to Charles.

I couldn't blame her. Even I didn't want this mate thing to happen, and it seemed like it was only Charles who approved of the idea.

Charles is a pureblood. An entity that was so high for the likes of me. But since I was his mate, no one was vocal about their discontent.

Apparently, Charles and the other pureblood were supposed to have children with Beatrix. The only pureblood Vampress left in the Razim Kingdom. They were just waiting for her to mature since she still had a body of a child.

But since Charles would mate with me, his chances of making babies with Beatrix were now close to zero. Once a vampire found his mate, he would stick to her for a lifetime, and not even the allure of the most beautiful woman in the world could tempt him to be disloyal to his mate.

The only woman in their eyes would be their mate and no one else. They wouldn't even be able to 'get it up' if it wasn't their mate.

Same like the werewolves. I thought.

I knew of this information just now, all thanks to my lecturer, who preached about the disadvantages of me being Charles mate rather than talked more in-depth about the mating ritual.

I was even more confused about the part that Charles would fuck me in front of the other purebloods.

"Did I hear it right?" I interrupted the older Vampress, "Charles and I are going to . . . i-in front of . . . ?"

I couldn't even form the sentence without losing my tongue. I thought it would just be a simple ritual of biting each other's neck and sucking each other's blood.

"It may seem strange to you since you're once human. But that is how the custom is in here. Since Master Charles is a pureblood, the other pureblood must also be present to witness your union.

"Be glad that Master Charles only allowed the purebloods. With his standing, even the elder and higher ranking vampires should attend and witness your union."

". . ." I think I was going to puke. "Excuse me." I bolted to my feet and didn't mind the old Vampress when she scowled at my lack of etiquette.

I need air. Fast!

I got out of the study room and ran into the hallway. I didn't know where my feet would lead me, but I needed something to get out of the suffocation that was gripping me by the neck.

In my haste and loss of thought, I bumped into someone when I rounded the corner.

It didn't hurt, but it felt like I bumped into steel. I recoiled and caught my foot. "I'm sorry."

Looking over to see if the other person was alright, I caught my breath when a pair of ruby eyes encased in crystals stared at me. His long hair was black as night, and his skin was pale as snow. And I was bewitched by his charm that was unmatched.

However, alongside the awe, I felt came danger. His aura was oppressive, and I felt he could kill me with just a flip of his hand.

W-who . . . who is this person?

He stared at me for a moment with a blank face before his brows furrowed a little. "I see . . ."

He then turned to his heels and strode along the long corridor. And when I blinked, he was gone.

W-what just happened?

It was the first time I saw that person in the castle, not that I knew everyone in here from my lack of interest in exploring and getting acquainted with every vampire I met.

I felt like his regality, and overpowering aura was something else.

He must be like Charles.

A pureblood.

"My lady."

Mille and Millie were in front of me in a flash. Their skin was dark, but their faces were pale, covered in sheen sweat.

"Are you okay, my lady?"

I never saw Millie worried as she did now. There was also something else on the twin's faces. Something like fear and concern.

What's going on?

"I'm fine," I said and asked, "Who was that man just now."

Mille and Millie looked at each other first, eyes pooled with anxiety and hesitation. They faced me with serious faces and shaking voices.

"That's Rhazien diz Razim. King of all Vampires."

(Pic)

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A/N

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