The Alpha's Mate and the Vampire King
The Alpha’s Mate and the Vampire King Chapter 26

Viktor dressed hurriedly before flinging the door open. His brother was leaning back against the wall, arms and legs crossed.

Did I, in fact, interrupt something? Luka asked hopefully.

What is the emergency?

Ever the responsible ruler, Luka sighed. Yuri came back. Said it was imperative he speak with you at once.

Where is he?

Luka pushed away from the wall, his lips flattening into an uncharacteristic show of seriousness.

War room.

Viktor’s eyebrows drew close. They hadn’t used the war room in years.

It’s bad, Viktor.

He already told you?

I refused to allow anyone near you until he confided. I wasn’t about to add further strain on you until you’d smoothed things over with Eden.

Viktor was seeing his brother in a whole new light. More and more, Luka was showing he was not as irresponsible or uncaring as Viktor had once believed.

Thank you.

It was nothing. Come, let’s go play warrior, Luka winked and blinked out of existence.

Viktor almost rolled his eyes as he ported after him. Kings do not wink. Or roll their eyes, he mused.

He’d half-expected the room to be filled with battle-ready Prajna, but only Luka and Yuri were present. Luka was standing behind his old seat, hands clutching the back.

Yuri was pacing and spun towards Viktor mid step.

Finally, he blew out in a huff.

Tell me.

You need to come with me, back to the shelter. Put some guards on Eden. Luka should probably stay with her, in your quarters.

Bianca had been the only person to dare going near his living space. Only one of the Sephtis Kenelm would risk venturing close. If this was Yuri’s fear, Viktor wasn’t inclined to leave Castra Nocte.

What did you replace? Viktor demanded.

Yuri hesitated.

Tell him, Luka snapped.

We picked up a scent. Alec said it was the same one they found during Edward’s attack.

Yuri’s eyes had fallen onto the table.

You know whose scent it was, Viktor assessed.

Yuri’s chest rose and fell as he nodded slowly.

Whose scent, Yuri?

The male’s gaze lifted, meeting his King’s stare. A shaking hand pointed to the seat across from Luka’s.

’twas a ghost’s.

Eden had just poured herself a cup of tea when someone knocked softly on the door.

Yes? she called, not wanting to open it. A vampire meaning harm could have gotten to her easily. A soft knock was likely another servant bringing something Viktor had ordered for her, like the tea.

Do you have time to tend to my wounds, dear lady?

Eden tittered at Luka’s ridiculousness. Despite his absurd behaviors, he was growing on her. Luka ribbed her as an older brother might. Irrationally, she liked it.

If they’re that bad, why bother knocking?

I was trying to give you time to cover yourself, the voice spoke from directly behind her.

Eden yelped and sparks shot from her fingertips.

Luka laughed, tempting Eden to throw something at his head. Seeing his arms wrapped in gauze saved him from further damage.

Why would you think I wouldn’t be clothed? Nevermind, I don’t want to know.

Eden picked up the kettle. Tea?

I would love to have tea with my future sister.

Eden nearly dropped the teapot. She had to use both hands to finish the pour.

Do not make such jokes, Luka. I cannot … her throat constricted.

Here, Luka reached for the kettle and set it on the table. He pulled Eden into his arms and swayed back and forth, as his mother used to do when he was troubled.

I didn’t say it in jest, Eden. Someday, it will be official.

Eden pulled away and sat down in the chair that someone had brought to replace the one Viktor destroyed. Luka took his mother’s old wingback.

He’ll be cursed if he breaks the oath, Luka.

He’s not going to break it.

Then he lied to me?

No, not if he told you he wasn’t going to go through with the wedding.

Eden rubbed her temples. She could sometimes stave off a migraine, but this one was coming on strong.

Perhaps it would be best if I go back to Gwydion or to Sanctus Femina, she thought aloud.

You cannot.

I don’t know if I can stay.

Luka slapped his hand on the table. You must stay. He is yours. You are his. Your souls are bound, Eden. There is no end to this for either of you. Do not waste this gift, one others would kill to have.

He ran his fingers through his hair. You have no idea what he’s done, what he’s giving up in order to be with you in the way he wants.

We didn’t have time to discuss much. I promised to stay and hear him out. That’s all I can promise right now.

Luka dropped to his knees before her. He took both her hands in his, his eyes beseeching.

“He’s renounced the throne Eden. The contract with Dmitri was that, as King, he would make her the Queen. If he is not on the throne, the contract is null. He shared this with Yuri and I just before he left.”

Eden had to force air in and out as her heart felt like it had stopped. He couldn’t possibly, not after all he’d done to take control from Nikolai.

No, she whispered.

Yes. He’s already set it in motion.

Who will replace him?

Luka let go of her hands and dropped the weight of his haunches onto his calves and heels, sagging his posture. It was the pose of a child.

His eyes glassed over, the regret obvious.

I tried to tell him no. I’m not the one who it should be. Legally, yes, but in reality? he huffed. I’m no king.

Eden wanted to console him. Luka lacked confidence in his worth.

When he told me it was the way out of the oath, I agreed. For the both of you, I agreed.

Luka, she signed.

“Fight for him, Eden. He’ll fight for you. He is fighting for you. His road has been a hard one and I know he made the gravest of errors where Bianca is concerned and it wounded you deeply. But if you love him, you need to fight for him. Very few ever have.”

Fought for him?

The corners of his mouth turned down. Loved him.

He shifted backwards and rested his spine against his mother’s chair. We only ever had our mother.

You had each other.

For a time, he shrugged.

He had Yuri. Dmitri.

Luka hissed and Eden recoiled. His eyes were a little wild. His jaw ticked.

I’m sorry, he bit out.

It’s okay.

No, you don’t understand the mess it’s all become.

All what?

Luka ported to the small serving cart where Viktor kept his spirits. He poured three fingers of whiskey, downed it, and did it once more. Eden thought his mannerisms were almost identical to Viktor’s.

Luka? her concerned voice grabbed his attention.

He swallowed the liquor and slammed his glass on the cart’s surface.

It seems our beloved Dmitri was a crafty one.

Eden’s brow lifted. While finishing her bath, after Viktor left, she’d been mulling over the oath Dmitri had gotten from Viktor. She found it unusual a vampire, one who had found his own sieva, would complicate his daughter’s chances of replaceing her own.

Dmitri asking Viktor to take care of Bianca made sense. It was the condition of matrimony that did not, not when the Prajna were a faction who had fated mates.

She didn’t know the male, so he could have been shallow enough to simply want to make his daughter a queen for the title alone.

Your tone implies you’re aggravated with Dmitri. I thought he was a friend.

So did I.

Luka looked down at his empty tumbler, contemplating filling it up again.

The pact was made a hundred years ago, so I’m guessing something new has come to light.

More like come to life, he mumbled, tipping another serving of spirits into his glass.

Eden’s fingers dug into the fabric of the chair. Her skin tingled and her posture stiffened.

What are you saying, Luka?

I am saying, dear Sister-to-be, it seems the bastard is not dead, after all.

Luka held his glass up in Eden’s direction. Her pupils dilated, nearly hiding the greens of her irises. Her barely visible shock was a fraction of what Viktor’s had been—and he was the most self-contained being Luka had ever known.

Cheers, he toasted and knocked the drink back summarily.

Eden gave Luka enough time for the whiskey to settle his nerves. His world had shifted drastically this day, much as hers had. She needed more information to fully comprehend Luka’s distress, aside from his hesitancy to ascend to the throne.

When his jaw finally slackened, Eden spoke. I suggest, Luka, you start from the beginning.