Destined: the Vampire's Soulmate
A human girl full of secrets, a vampire, and a city where both can live free. * COMPLETED * When Julia appears at the city gates, she's tired and scared. All she asks for is shelter, and she's willing to accept anything to avoid going back to the hunters. She brings with her a secret that would cost her her life. Leo is the one that senses her presence, and he doesn't like how all his instincts draw him to her. Yet, he can't resist it. When his urges become invincible, he proposes a contract. In exchange for protection and safety, he wants her everything. In a world where races are at war, two souls meet. Can love bloom from a bond that was forced from fate? Can their feelings become genuine, even if determined by destiny? WARNING: smut Cover from Heather_ANARE *** I caress her arm, reaching her hand. I bring it to my mouth and prick her forefinger with my fang. When a single drop of blood spills out, I pass my tongue on it, healing the wound I made. «Just as I thought,» I whisper. «Delicious.» Julia opens her eyes but soon turns her gaze to the side, light blushing covering her cheeks. Her breath is heavy, but she tries to hide it. It's that excitement from before, that feeling of expectation for something that won't happen. «But I won't bite. You can stop freezing every time. As you can see, I can control myself.» «You don't have to,» she mumbles, and I almost grab her again. Is she really this naive, or just stupid? But most importantly, does she say that every time someone aims at her blood? «You shouldn't say these words to a vampire.» «You're thirsty, and I am prey. I understand how you feel.» «You don't understand a thing.» «But I know that this is how things work. You need blood to survive, and I happen to have plenty.» «I don't want your blood.» She winces, and her smile falters. As if I've just offended her. Yet, she doesn't want to make me notice. «Sorry for not being to your taste,» she shrugs. What the hell? Ah, I just wanted to comfort her. Why is she pretending to be sad now? I grab her shirt and push her against the wall. I don't use any strength; I don't want to hurt her. I just want her to notice my presence, to feel cornered. To realise that she shouldn't say words that she would regret later. When she lifts her eyes to look at me, I kiss her lips with more strength than I have initially planned to. Though she doesn't complain about that. *** You can chat with me on discord: bit.ly/discordxiaohai Instagram: xiaohai_23 Facebook: Xiao Hai or Xiaohai_23 (FB page) Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/xiaohai_23 (you'll find my short stories here) My other stories on Webnovel: * Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen (historical romance, completed, ~350 chapters) * The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen (historical and fantasy romance, ongoing) * Unexpected Gift (sci-fi romance, ongoing, free to read, 1k chapters expected)
Sustainability ratio (Julia)
When I wake up and open my eyes, I freeze in place. Somehow, I've rolled on the bed while sleeping, and now I'm clinging on Leo.
To be more precise, I tried to climb on him during slumber. My leg is latched around his. One of his arms is folded behind the head like it was when I fell asleep, but the other supports my head. He's looking at the ceiling, blinking from time to time.
He must have endless patience if he lets me sleep like this.
When he turns towards me, I use all my concentration to not wince. If I retreat now, he'll think that I'm embarrassed and start teasing me for that. And he's surprisingly warm after drinking blood.
«Good morning,» I whisper with the most natural tone I can summon.
He continues to stare at me, so I just move an inch further. This way, he can get up when he wants.
«Staying here will become complicated,» he starts. «I'll find you a room not too far from here.»
I bend my lips downwards, and he snorts, ruffling my hair.
«Don't look at me like that; it's better for you. I can't bite you too often, or you'll feel dizzy.»
«I feel all right,» I say before realising it. I should keep quiet about it, but my body has already recovered. Since I don't know how to explain the reason for it, though, I'm forced to stay silent and just nod at his decision.
It really is for the best.
I can't continue to have dirty thoughts and over-react at every single skin contact. Instead of helping me, Leo's proximity is seeming to increase the effects of the link.
«Also, you should make some friends. It won't happen if I'm always with you.»
I nod again. Friends seem like a good idea. It's a pity I'm not good at socialising.
But I'll do my best. If Leo thinks that I'm doing fine, he won't have any reason to keep me at a distance!
I shake my head, getting rid of those irrational ideas.
«I'll teach you how to fight,» he continues, pretending not to guess my thoughts.
Fighting? Seems interesting.
«You personally?» I inquire, just to be sure.
«Yes,» he nods. «I can't risk someone hurting you.»
«Thank you!» I grin.
«But first, you need some clothes. You can't continue to use mine, and the set I brought you is not enough.»
«I don't have money,» I point out.
«I do.»
So what?
Since he doesn't look like clarifying, I have to ask.
«Will you lend me some? I can work to pay you back...»
«Work? What can you do?»
«At the base, I worked in the laundry.»
«Without electricity?» he inquires and grabs my hand. «Why are your fingers so soft, then?»
«Because I take care of my skin,» I utter fast.
«Get ready,» he says all of a sudden and walks to his desk.
We get out of the school and head in the streets. It's the first time I see Fortress. It's not too large of a city, and its buildings are rather old.
The street lamps are quite strong. To make humans feel safer, I guess.
«Are there many humans here?» I ask, trying to start a conversation.
«The majority. There are around a hundred humans for each vampire.»
«Oh, are the numbers like that to make it sustainable?»
«Most of the humans here are refugees. They fled from another town or had their homes destroyed after the war. The vampires don't have close relations with them, usually.»
«You have your own society, right?»
«Something like that. Two to three people are enough for a single vampire, so most cities where vampires live have numbers that go from five to twenty humans per vampire. They are slaves, though, in those cities. Here, they're citizens.»
«Now I understand why Amadeus is so lenient with humans,» I chuckle. «Because he once loved one.»
«I think he had always been like that.»
We stop in front of a small shop, and we get in.
«Here works and lives one of my contractors,» he explains, and I somehow feel bothered by his words.
«How many do you have?» I inquire with calm, even though I'm not unconcerned.
«Three. Well, now four.»
«Do you visit them often?»
«Ah?» he mumbles, surprised.
«I mean... How often do you need blood?»
«Once or twice a week; it depends on the mood.»
Oh, so not that often. I thought it was everyday. And if Leo is good with a few drops like yesterday, then it's not that expensive. I thought they were insatiable beasts.
A woman walks in from the back of the shop and shows us a polite smile when she sees Leo. She's around twenty-seven. Maybe twenty-eight.
Mhm, she's the same age as Leo. But the latter didn't age, so he looks way younger.
«Hello,» she greets us. «Are you here for the transaction?»
«No,» Leo shakes his head. «I'm here for clothes.»
I don't like this girl, even though she's nice and pretty.
«And who is the lady?»
«She's the one that will wear the clothes.»
«Oh,» she murmurs in surprise.
Yeah, he's buying me clothes. Problems?
«Come with me, then. You can come back later, Leo.»
She closes the door and leaves the vampire alone at the front of the shop. She takes out a tape measure and starts to write down my numbers.
«You sew clothes?» I say, amazed. «I thought you sold pre-made pieces.»
«It's the first time I meet another contractor,» she starts to talk. «Leo is always so silent that I wondered if he didn't like me in the beginning. You must be special, though, if he's taking care of you this much!»
Before I have time to inquire about the link between this girl and Leo, I realise that she's a chatterbox. She doesn't stop talking unless she asks me some questions.
After all, she's not a bad person.
If only I can manage to erase from my mind the image of Leo biting her white neck, I could even try liking her.