**Ch 75: Vows of Devotions

As Kai's friends disbanded to say farewell to their fathers, grandfathers, and elder brothers, Kai hurriedly approached his Dad and Grandpa with a pout forming on his lips. "You're leaving already?" Loneliness clouded his eyes. "But you've only returned!" he whimpered.

"I know we have only just gotten back, but you know the outcome would be unforgiving if the enemies were to reach us," Mr. Collin frowned as his strength magnified through his indefatigable spirit as a father devoted to protecting his family.

"I know, Dad," Kai sighed, shutting his eyes tightly to withhold his tears.

"Our visit may have been cut short, but we at least got to spend some time together," Mr. Collin replied, peering at him with a heartwarming smile.

Kai blinked once as the unbeknownst mighty warrior glowed within him. "Can I come with you?" he asked with a mettlesome chiming bravely like rays of shimmering light.

"You aren't old enough," Mr. Collin smiled warmly, and Kai pursed his lips, grimacing in disappointment.

"I want to help," Kai murmured, glimpsing away from his father as a hint of his intransigent mood was apparent.

Mr. Collin touched his shoulder. "You can help by looking after your mother and sister for me." He glanced at his wife behind Kai and faintly smiled at her as she wiped her tears away. "The vampiresses in the Coven need your help with the little ones," his father concluded, leaving an unshakeable ache of emotions lingering in Kai's heart.

"I understand," Kai muttered, briefly lowering his head in further despair as the weight on his heart was palpable.

"How about this? I will entrust you with the full responsibility of leadership with the vampiresses and the offspring in my clan," Mr. Collin declared, bestowing upon him a significant amount of responsibility that would be particularly challenging for any fifteen-year-old.

Nevertheless, Kai's eyes lit up with determination. "My friends and I won't let you down!" he vowed, and Mr. Collin proudly smiled at him.

"I know you won't," Mr. Collin beamed. "You are old enough to shoulder this responsibility for me and my warriors."

"I'll ensure everyone is cared for while you all leave for war," Kai guaranteed, gleaming with pride as he was determined to make his father proud.

"Do you think you can help your Grandma with the Coven for me?" Vlad asked, entrusting him with a greater significant challenge. To be tasked with watching over the whole Coven is a burden for any teenager. However, Kai took this vow upon himself as akin to that of a true leader in which he will grow to be.

"My cousins and I can handle that," Kai affirmed eagerly with determination, reflecting in his gaze.

"I see greatness in you," Vlad praised, and it was evident that Kai shared a closer bond with his grandfather compared to his cousins. Surprisingly, they didn't seem jealous. Instead, they were too preoccupied with saying goodbye to their fathers and older brothers. Meanwhile, Serena's heart overflowed with gratitude for Kai's willing assistance. I couldn't fathom the depth of the loneliness she faced in her responsibility to lead the vampiresses and the offspring to safety while Vlad endured the war. Though, I'm confident Kai's extra help fortified her battered spirit.

"Victoria!" Kai's voice called out to me from the present, but I remained silent to avoid being heard by his younger self. "Come to my voice."

Where my time gap had mentally transported me here to the past, the surroundings faded before my eyesight. Upon my return to the present time frame, I found I was still at the sink with my hand on the faucet where I had grasped it, but the water was now turned off.

"Easy, you're alright," Kai gently soothed me, his hands clutching my backside as I swayed from dizziness.

Blood dripped into the sink from my nose, so he handed me a few tissues from the box on the marble countertop.

"Are you alright?" Kai inquired, examining my face through the mirror.

"I'm good," I confirmed, cleaning the blood from my nose and then tossing the tissues into the trash can.

"Maybe we should cancel the meeting," Kai suggested. Weariness flushed his complexion, and worry quickened the beat of his heart.

Before he could take his phone out, I grabbed his hand, turning towards him. "No, I promise I'm fine. This meeting is too important for the Coven." I affirmed, pursing my lips into a smile.

"You are important to me," Kai affirmed, brushing his fingers through my hair. "Don't ever forget that."

Despite the sharpness in his words, he solemnly underlined his love for me.

"I know, but this is bigger than us. We must do what is best for the Coven. It's what your grandparents would want. It was just a nosebleed," I proclaimed in a mere whisper, and admiration filled his gaze.

"You've come a long way. You are becoming the queen I need by my side," Kai expressed with the radiance of his love as his gaze dotted onto me.

"I love you, and I promise to be all that I can as a vampiress for the Coven," I vowed.

"Once I transform you into a vampiress, you'll be more than you can imagine. Most importantly,

you'll be free from Orlando's snare to fully love me as it should have always been," Kai softly uttered as his heart pressed with deep sadness.

The fact that our hearts couldn't fully connect because of Orlando's snare killed him, and I, for one, couldn't bear seeing him carry so much heartache and guilt because it killed me as well.

"The grip of Orlando's snare on that fragment of my heart may torment us, but it will not conquer us as destined mates. Unlike before, he no longer blinds my eyes from the truth. You and our unborn babies are my world, Kai, and my love for you is undying," I asserted, aiming to make my thriving devotion clear to him.

Half of my heart isn't clouded by Orlando's spell, and Kai seems to forget that part. That unsnared piece of my heart is in utter love with my husband.

Despite his ensnare strangling the light out of my heart, my profound love for Kai will always prevail to conquer whatever Orlando throws at me. As a vampiress, I will incinerate the chains of Orlando's interlocked tapestry from my heart and set myself free.

Kai was drawn speechless on what to say about my remark. A faint loving smile curved his lips as the love in his eyes flickered brighter than a light sparkling through a crystal.

Full-hearted passion outpours from our hearts upon my words, and my lips latch into a tender kiss with his. Time stopped by every second as our infused lips melted together. For the mere duration, Kai and I had taken this time to delight ourselves with the adoration we shared as we parted our lips and entangled our tongues into a tender motion.