Vampire King's Pet

Chapter Eighteen: Earth and Violets

Alexei's POV

For the next few days, and with great reluctance I gave Avery some space. I also took it upon myself to change her guard. Marcus was overstepping, he knows he isn't allowed in her room and I'd caught him in there more than once since that day in the dining room.

I put him in the stables to teach him a lesson. My word is law. Hell learn to obey me. And if he doesn't, then I can just kill him like I have in the past with men who can't follow orders.

I moved my eyes away from me and my late wife's wedding photo and down at the ringing phone on my desk. Seeing Yuri's name flashing I picked it up and answered the call. "Alexei" I sighed.

"Boss, your girl won't eat the food you had the chef make." I fought back a snarl.

"Did she say why?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"She said there's something in it that she cannot eat. An allergy, I think!" I gripped my phone a little tighter and sighed heavily. I needed to speak to Avery about what she can and cannot eat. She's been here a few months and I haven't even thought about her having allergies, I just assumed that her being a witch that she was as healthy as the rest of us supernatural beings.

"What was on today's menu?" I asked him, my mind was too consumed with work to remember.

"She'd eaten breakfast so that was fine, I guess. But for lunch the chef prepared a truffle soup." My mouth watered just thinking of the delicious meal. I wondered what was in it that she didn't like or couldn't eat!

I leaned back in my chair. "I'll take care of it. Just leave the tray of food on the trolley by her door.x I told him and hung up the phone.

I stood up from the seat id been in for nearly five hours and stretched. My back cracked and a groan left my lips. Damn, that felt good. I rolled my shoulders and neck before slipping my phone in my pocket and walked around the large desk and out of my office.

I was glad I had Avery up here only a few doors away so I didn't have to go far. I spotted the trolley with a tray of food on it that was covered with a silver top.

Upon reaching her door I noticed it was open, well it was mote cracked, but still open. I peered into the room quietly. Avery was sitting in the bay window seat with a book in her hand. The window was also cracked so I could smell the fresh air as it whisked through and blew her hair some as the wind blew past. If I had a heartbeat it would have stopped briefly at the sight of her. I knew she was too young for me, but this new bond we have had me thinking things that I shouldn't when I would shower or lay in bed at night.

The wind picked up more and I closed my eyes as her earthy scent hit me. She smelled of earth and violets in the morning breeze. It was intoxicatingly mouthwatering. Avery must've sensed me staring and turned her head and saw me. I heard her heart rate increase and she quickly looked away. "H-Hi Alexei.." she murmured and looked back down at her book.

"Hi Aves." I murmured back, then opened the door wider and then reached for the trolley and pulled it into the room with me as I entered. She glanced over to see what I was doing then rolled her eyes. She didn't think I'd noticed, it but I did. I smirked at her small rebellious acts when it came to me. Or anyone for that matter that tried to get her to do something.

"Yuri said you-"

"It has mushrooms in it." she mumbled, cutting me off and refusing to look at me. I closed my mouth and moved my eyes from her to the tray. I picked up the lid and marveled at the smell of the delicious soup. I picked up the bowl of steaming truffle soup and inhaled deeply.

"I'm allergic to them.." she whispered even softer.

My gaze snapped to her then back to the food I was holding. Did she think I'd get onto her for not eating something that could potentially harm her? Damn. I didn't want her to fear me this way, I only wanted her to listen. As much as I disliked her tone or her disobedience I don't think I'd survive if she died. Especially over f*****g mushrooms. This magical bond we share is strong. Genevieve tied her life to mine so that she would live as long as I did. Even as a witch and not an immortal being like me, she would still live and grow old, but at a slower pace.

"You should have told me, I would have let the chefs know not to put mushrooms in your food. Infact," I set the bowl down and pulled my phone from my pocket. I scrolled through the contacts and hit call on the contact I wanted to speak to. He answered on the first ring.

"Yeah?" he gruffly answered.

"Go to the kitchens and have the servants throw out all the mushrooms, That includes things that also contain it." I ordered Marcus.

He was silent for a moment and Avery's head popped up from her book and stared at me with parted lips. Was that shock on her beautiful face?

"I'll get on it." Marcus said.

I ended the call and smiled. I picked up the lid to the tray and covered the delicious smelling soup. I'll eat it when I'm finished here. Once it was covered I looked back over at Avery, a soft smile on my lips.

"One less thing to worry about." I murmured walking around the trolly and over to her bed that was closest to the window she was perched in. I sat and glanced at the book in her hand. "Treasure Island?"

She shrugged and placed a book mark on her page and closed it. "It was this or the manual to the ice maker."

I chuckled. "I have a wide selection of books in the library."

"You have a library?" she asked, excitement in her grey eyes that had specks of glacier blue and hazel. Gods were they beautiful! How had I never noticed the different colors in them until now?

I cleared my throat. "Yes, it's a floor up. Would you like to see it?" I asked. I was hoping she'd say yes, so I could get a break from my work.

She went to nod her head, but stopped. "I-I...no thank you, I have chores I should get back to. My break is almost over." She told me, glancing at the clock on the wall.

"I'm thinking that the King would let it slide this time." I said.

As she stood, I did as well. "Seriously Avery, you can-"

"I have to go, King Alexei. Sorry." She mumbled lowering her head. As she went past me I grabbed her elbow, stopping her. She stiffened up but didn't pull away. "Please..." Avery whispered pleadingly. "I've done everything you've asked. All I want is to be left alone." I gritted my teeth and she whimpered. A pang of guilt hit me so hard I reluctantly let her go.

"When you're finished come see me. We have to speak about why you are keeping things from me." Avery nodded her head I waved a hand at her and she scurried out of the room and disappeared when she turned the corner.

I seriously had to speak to her about what happened a couple days ago and why it needed to happen. She's young, and I don't mean two decades younger than me, but she's at least a hundred and fifty years younger than me. She's a literal baby compared to me. She isn't used to being around vampires. Her dead boyfriend may have been a vampire too, but he wasn't like me. As an older vampire I crave human blood everyday. And without the herbs Yuri gets for me I'd probably go into a blood rage whenever I'm close to her. And if it wasn't for those herbs then the smell of her innocence and the sound of her heart pumping that delicious blood through her system I'd lose control.

I shook my head to rid myself of the last time I'd drank from her beautiful neck. I shouldn't have then, but she needed sleep and so did I. Maybe it's a good thing Mom has Dad coming to stay for a couple months next week. Perhaps I need his guidance when it comes to what Genevieve did to her and I. Or maybe he can try and figure out how to break it? I'm sure Avery would like that very much.