The Vampire King's Mate

Chapter 13

Ivory POV

The adrenaline from the mugging was still buzzing in my ears, but it was quickly being replaced by a familiar, sharp irritation. Daniel was standing there, looking like a dark saint under a flickering streetlight, acting like he hadn't just watched me almost get kidnapped for his own amusement.

"I am not interested in your silly games, Daniel," I snapped, my voice echoing in the empty street. I gripped my bike handles so hard the metal bit into my palms. "It’s either you tell me why you’re following me, or you get the hell out of my way!"

He didn't move. He didn't even flinch. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out, letting it dangle from his fingers. The silver chain caught the moonlight, shimmering like a spiderweb.

"Really?" he murmured, his voice a low, teasing vibration. "So I am at fault for trying to return your necklace?"

My breath hitched. My hand instinctively flew to my collarbone, searching for the familiar weight of the small silver locket. My skin was bare. My eyes widened as I stared at the jewelry in his hand. How the hell did my necklace end up with him?

"Oh, yeah," he said, stepping into my personal space until I could smell the cool, crisp scent of him again. "When you were on my lap, baby... it slipped. I would have given it back to you at the diner if you hadn't jumped up like a scaredy little cat and stormed off."

The "baby" made my stomach do a traitorous somersault, but I pushed the feeling down. "Okay, fine! Give it right back!"

I reached for it, lunging forward, but he lifted his hand high above his head, leveraging his height over me with an effortless smirk.

"Not so fast, Kitten," he chuckled, the sound deep and dark.

"Daniel, give it!" I jumped, trying to snatch it, but he stepped behind me in a move so fluid it felt like he’d teleported.

"Let me put it on you," he whispered against the back of my neck.

I spun around, my face heating up. "No! Don't wear it for me. Just hand it over."

He shrugged, making a move to put it back in his pocket. "So you don't want it back?"

"I do! Of course I do!" I felt a lump of desperation in my throat. "It’s the only thing my father left me before... before he died. Please."

His expression shifted for a fraction of a second—the mockery fading into something heavy and unreadable. "Then hold still," he commanded. "Let me wear it for you."

I hesitated, looking at his calm, handsome face. After a few more seconds of silent back-and-forth, my shoulders slumped. "Fine. Just... be quick."

I turned my back to him, pulling my hair over one shoulder to expose the nape of my neck. I felt him step closer—so close I could feel the cold radiance of his body. When his fingers touched my skin to fasten the clasp, it wasn't cold. It felt like a live wire.

Sparks. That was the only word for it. Everywhere his skin grazed mine, a frantic, electric tingle erupted, spreading down my spine and making my toes curl in my sneakers. It was a physical jolt, a magnetic pull so strong I had to remind myself to breathe. My skin felt hyper-sensitive, every nerve ending screaming in response to his touch.

"There," he murmured, his fingers lingering on my neck for a second too long before he pulled away.

The walk the rest of the way to my house was silent, but the air between us was thick enough to choke on. When we reached my porch, the door swung open.

"Ivory? You are late—" My mom stopped mid sentence, her eyes darting from my wine stained shirt to the boy standing next to me.

"Good evening, Mrs. Walter," Daniel said, and I swear, the transformation was nauseating. He stood up straighter, his face morphing into the "Perfect Golden Boy" mask. He looked polite, responsible, and utterly charming. "I am Daniel. I am a friend from school. I saw Ivory being harassed by some locals and wanted to make sure she got home safe."

I stared at him, my jaw practically on the floor. Friend? Responsible?

Mom’s face softened instantly. She didn't see the monster; she saw the hero.

"Oh, thank you so much! That's so kind of you. Please, you must come in for dinner. It’s the least I can do."

"I would be honored," Daniel said with a winning smile.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell her he was the reason I was covered in wine, but the words felt stuck. I watched in horror as my mother—a great judge of people's character—innocently invited the wolf into our kitchen.

"Indeed Everybody makes mistakes"

Dinner was a nightmare.

How could one person have two such different personalities? Daniel sat at our modest wooden table, chatting with my mom about school, "important investors," and community projects. He was articulate, witty, and so charming he had my mother laughing within ten minutes.

He looked at me over his glass of water, his eyes sparkling with a private, malicious glee. He was doing it on purpose—pissing me off by being the "perfect guest" while I sat there picking at my food, fuming in silence.

"You have a lovely home, Mrs. Walter," he said, his voice smooth as honey. "Ivory is lucky to have such a supportive environment."

"She's a good girl," Mom beamed.

I choked on my water.

When he finally stood up to leave, he shook my mother's hand and gave me a look that promised he wasn't done with his games. "Thank you for the meal. See you tomorrow, Ivory."

The second the door clicked shut, I let out the longest breath of my life.

"What a lovely boy," Mom sighed, starting to clear the plates. "Why didn't you tell me you had such handsome friends?"

"He is not my friend, Mom," I muttered, grabbing my bag and practically sprinting upstairs.

I collapsed onto my bed, my heart finally slowing down. I reached up, touching the locket he’d fastened. My skin still tingled where he had touched me. As sleep finally started to pull at me, a terrifying thought crossed my mind: He's a monster who knows how to act like a human. And he's already inside my house.