The Vampire King's Fated Mate

CHAPTER 6: UNEXPECTED VISITORS

AMBROSE'S POV

It had been fourteen agonising hours since I'd seen my Nicolette, and I dreaded the additional eight more I'd have to wait to see her again.

I had a run-in with the were-siblings last night, which threw me off my nightly routine, which I carried out without interruptions every night for the better part of a year.

I paced around my office like a caged animal. Confined to the brick walls due to the presence of the sunlight.

Oh, what I'd give to be able to walk freely in the daylight.

It was a marvellous thing I had the windows of the castle sunproof because it was noon, and the sun was highest in the cerulean sky and the rays were like laser beams shooting their heat down on the earth.

I was never one to be angry at the universe.

There was a time when I was content with the notion of not being able to grace the sunlight, but the night the universe introduced me to my Nicolette, it was like I was given a gift, a blessing that I never wished to be away from. But then the daylight appeared and took her far away, yet I had to find peace with it. For after the day always came the night.

My desire to see her grew wild, and my thoughts consisted primarily of silent screams, ricocheting around in my brain. As if the sun could hear my pleas for it to resign so that the beautiful moon could have her time to shine.

I was shifted from my thoughts when my ears registered the breaking of glass. It was loud, chaotic, and it came from the direction of the grand hall.

I sped towards the noise, and my disgust rose to new heights when my vision rested on the two creatures scuffling on the carpet-covered floor.

I stood a suitable distance away from the broken window. I dared not let the sun rays anywhere near my stone-cold skin.

I watched a bit longer, fascinated by the fact that the female intruder had the male's left ear in her mouth, biting down with enough pressure to make him scream.

I scrunched up my nose at the foul odour the mutt's blood was giving off. I cleared my throat, catching the were-siblings' attention.

“Mason and Meera, what are you doing here?" My tone was icy and mellow.

The moment I spoke, Mason stopped whining and his sister removed her sharp teeth from his ear.

Meera untangled her brother's head from her choke hold, and Mason's claws retreated from his sister's arms.

They watched me keenly with the eyes of their beasts. Their black pupils scrutinised me, waiting to see if I was about to attack.

My frame showed I didn't see them as a threat.

I was over a thousand years old. I could easily kill them with the snap of my fingers.

I noticed the look in Mason's eyes. He knew I was angry that they crashed through my window, disturbing my peaceful day. But he also had a hint of confusion on his face, probably wondering how I managed to maintain my stiff frame even though I was furious.

They both settled on their feet. “He started it," Meera pointed at her brother, and he growled. Meera was sporting a look of embarrassment, with a hint of apology in her pretty brown eyes.

“Sorry about the intrusion, Ambrose. We wanted to talk to you, but the guards wouldn't let us in, so we had to find other means of entry." Mason smirked as he waited for me to react, but I didn't.

Meera opened her mouth teasing to add something, but my intense views met hers for a brief moment and the poor she-wolf quickly looked away in sheer fear, closing her mouth and instantly swallowing whatever she was about to say. I softened and turned my burning gaze to the mutt who deserved it.

Mason still had this playful look on his smug face.

“You could have just howled. I would have known it was you." I studied Mason and waited for him to respond negatively, but instead his puppy face transformed into a massive smile. I got bored. “Now, how may I help you?"

“Well – ” he shifted back and forth on the ball of his heels. My cold skin was tingling, and I tried to recall if I'd ever met a more annoying creature. I showed no sign of irritation as he continued. “We kinda were banned from the motel we were staying and —"

“Absolutely not. I don't want your werewolf stench stinking up my castle," I cut Mason off. My tone was laced with venom. How dare he suggest such a catastrophe?

Vampires and werewolves were known enemies. It had been this way since the beginning of time.

There was no way I could entertain a werewolf in my castle as a guest. Furthermore, two.

Our species were not friends, we couldn't be, and no one respected this rule more than me. I am the oldest and strongest vampire in the world.

The look in the she-wolf's eyes almost made me sigh, but then her brother snarled, showing his canines like they were supposed to impress me or intimidate me.

Now I was more bored than I was before. So I gestured with my eyes for them to take their leave.

“I told you, big brother, that he'd say no. I don't have a problem sleeping in the woods," Meera sighed then she turned to me and bowed. “It was nice seeing you, Ambrose. And again, I apologise for the intrusion."

Something in me stirred, and I couldn't put my fangs on why. But all I knew was, I couldn't have a lady sleeping in the woods, even if it was in her nature. “Ok, you two can stay here, but if I see one flea you are out of here, do I make myself clear?"

They both shook their heads, their lips turning upwards in the brightest, widest smiles I'd ever seen.

My dark soul couldn't take it anymore, so I informed them I'd be in my study for the rest of the day and I wanted no more disturbances.

I assigned one of my ground's keepers to fix my broken window, and I also told the head housekeeper to show the mutts to their rooms, the ones farthest away from my quarters.

My time spent in my study was only to stare at the hands on the clock, counting down the hours until 8 pm. I needed to see Nicolette so badly that I couldn't worry about the hunters or the fact that I would have to go back home to Romania.

How will I survive without her?

I wondered if she'd miss me as much as I would miss her.

I will miss her smile, her scent, her everything.

She was the epitome of beauty.

They say that there's a connection between beauty and love. Most people focused on an aesthetic form of beauty, something that could inspire lust—a thin replica of love based more on desire and conquest. But that's not beauty, for genuine beauty comes from within, and it was only that form of beauty that could make lasting love connections.

So, for Nicolette, I could live infinite lifetimes and desire only her.

She was who the universe chose for me. I needed someone who would hold on to my soul, no matter what happens, no matter how dark and wicked it may be. Someone who would trust me to do the same for them. And in this crazy world, the only one the universe trusts me to care for is Nicolette. That much I was clear on. That made her unique. It made her special. It also made her my twin soul, my companion by divine design. So, this fire of mine that burned all others, will touch her as fine silk as the spark of a pure-spun love.

There was a knock on my door. “Come in." I could smell the repugnant scent the lesser supernatural beings possessed. Mason and Meera strolled inside. What happened to no more disturbance? “What is it now?"

“Yeah, so we are hungry and there's nothing in the fridge but blood," Mason complained, his forehead creased as he waited for me to reply.

“So go catch a rabbit or a deer. There's plenty in the forest," I simply explained. What did he want me to do? I was already giving them a place to stay. I would not feed them too.

“You know we're half human. We need human food when we are not in wolf form," Meera scoffed. Apparently, I insulted her.

Again I softened. Maybe it was the fact that she was as pure as they come. She was shy and innocent. My instincts told me the poor girl had never even been kissed. I wondered why that was. Werewolves must be lining up in her pack to mate with her.

“Ok then, there's a supermarket nearby. You can go shopping for your human necessities."

“Ok, I'm glad we're on the same page, Ambrose. So now we just need—let's say, 50 bucks," Mason stretched his palm out.

I blinked at the audacity of this overgrown puppy.

“Wait! I do not understand. Tell me you two did not travel thousands of miles with no money?" I asked, my tone cutting a bit too sharp for Meera because she flinched at every word I uttered. “How come you two have no money?”

“Because we're poor, plus we've only been on this earth for a little over two decades. Unlike you, who's been on this earth for millions of years. Look at this place. We know you're loaded," Mason deadpanned.

“I am not responsible for you two!" I growled. Mason shuddered a bit, but quickly maintained his composure. Unbelievable! I pulled out the drawer at my desk. I pulled out the note and walked up to the siblings.“Here's a hundred dollars. Make it last," I warned before handing Meera the money.

“Thank you, Ambrose," Meera bowed. She was such a respectful wolf, unlike her annoying brother.

“Thanks, Dad," Mason joked as he wrapped his arms around me in a bear hug.

I didn't think my body could get any stiffer.

“What is this?" I snarled at them. I felt my eyes getting drowned in a sea of red. “Take your filthy paws off me, mutt!"

“Holy Moon Goddess! His eyes are red." Meera shouted.

I didn't want to hurt them, but I was struggling to stay calm. I thought about my mate and the images of her lips and her shiny, curly hair. It seemed to work.

Mason slowly released me from his paws.

Meera held his hand, dragging him towards the door.

“Thanks again, buddy," Mason grinned.

Did he take this as a joke?

“Just get out of here, both of you, before I snap someone's head off."

I turned my back to them and stared at the clock, focusing on the ticking sound.

I counted every second, every minute until I get to see my love again.