The Alpha's Mate and the Vampire King
The Alpha’s Mate and the Vampire King Chapter 4

The vampires were not fond of others knowing they had the ability to teleport from one place to another. It wasn’t a secret, per se, but they did not flaunt it and rarely, if ever, did it in front of those who were not Prajna.

His long legs glided fluidly towards the temple. Vampires moved smoothly and soundlessly—so much so they were often accused of being able to float or levitate. It was a strategy of war to keep one’s enemies guessing.

Viktor remained alert, listening for signs of others in the building. Once he reached the stairs, he heard Theron’s voice, along with several others.

Vampires had impeccable hearing, maybe even better than the wolves. He didn’t have to be in the building to make out what they were saying. He didn’t even need to be in the same room to hear their heartbeats.

He recognized King Edward’s vocal sounds immediately. He was one of the few elementals Viktor had ever met. Edward was well-liked and appeared to be a respectable ruler. Their interactions during meetings at the temple had been pleasant enough.

The gravelly tones of the third voice were distinctly wolf—Kellan’s Second, if memory served correct. Well, then. It seemed the wolves and the witches had also come to pay a visit. Viktor did not believe in coincidences.

The males were discussing the state of Imperium. Viktor did not want Theron disclosing things the Prajna did not want known. He trusted the old man, but only to a point. Viktor did not get to his current position by being naïve.

Rather than waiting for the meeting to finish, Viktor decided to join it, curious to know how much the foreigners would share with a vampire present. He moved silently up the stairs and turned right towards Theron’s study.

His steps slowed when he saw a small female standing outside the door. From her size, he knew she must be an elemental. Female wolves and vampires were much taller, their bodies broader, designed to take impact in battle, and to withstand the l**t-filled aggressions of their males.

She was obviously listening to the exchange inside the study, and his mouth flattened at her impudence. Viktor could easily hear the exchange, as well, but it was because his hearing was enhanced, not because he was skulking about, eavesdropping. She should be taken over someone’s knee, grown or not.

He visualized it being his hand reminding her of her manners. Viktor’s palm tingled as he pictured it coming down on her round bottom. It stung as if he’d actually performed the act.

His muscles flexed and bunched as he fought the urge to pounce. It made him uneasy. Viktor never had to fight with himself. He was cold. Calculating. His actions were never unplanned.

Inch by inch Viktor closed the distance. He reigned in his unbridled l**t by slamming down his ironclad shields over his emotions. Centuries of practice living under his father had made it second nature.

Once he was fully in control again, he paused to study the female.

Her long hair swayed as she tilted her head. The light coming in from the skylights above reflected strands of gold and copper among the mass of light brunette waves.

It was the most unique head of hair he’d ever seen. He briefly wondered what it would feel like in his hands.

It was at this moment his cicatrice forced his palm up, towards the female. It sent reassuring waves of encouragement through his body, that he should continue his path. Touch her. Caress her. Teleport her to his rooms and claim her.

Viktor froze. The reality of what was before him hit with the force of a thousand ocean waves. Only his strength due to his age kept him off his knees—the eldest of the Prajna were the strongest.

Viktor was seeing his sieva for the first time. She was close enough to touch. Well, that certainly explains the need to spank her, he mused.

He forced his arm down, knowing he should not touch her. Not yet.

If his cicatrice touched hers, the soul-bonding would begin. They would both be powerless to stop it. Here, outside Theron’s study, was not the place to perform such rituals.

Somewhere in the recess of his mind, he remembered this was the complication he had wanted to avoid. Finding her now, after all these years, put him in an awkward position. His shields buckled.

The cicatrice pulsed again, this time with a soothing balm, wiping away his troubled thoughts. No, replaceing her was right. Finding her was a blessing. He would handle whatever came as a result.

Desire like he’d never known shook his body, pushed him to move towards the small creature. He worried he would break her in half once he had her alone. She was so petite compared to him.

He also knew he would probably frighten her. Most of Imperium feared the Prajna, especially the elementals. He did not want her to fear him. It would interfere with his plans for her in his bed.

Viktor fought the need to grab his little mate and port her away to the privacy of his chambers. No, if she was here at the temple, it meant Edward brought her. Viktor would not invite trouble from the King of Gwydion.

Still, this female belonged to Viktor. When he left the temple, she would be leaving with him. Freely, and with the Good King’s blessing. He presumed Edward would relent once he knew Viktor and the female were mates.

He wanted to see her face. He also wanted to see how she would react to the nature of his personality. Not many sought his company for the sake of his company. His gruff persona ensured others let him be.

Viktor widened his stance and crossed his arms, trying to strike a pose that would prevent him from reaching for her lithe form. He kept his voice quiet so those in the study would not interrupt.

“You know, eavesdropping is impolite, mala vestica.” Little witch, he’d called her.

She turned so fast he had to school his features to hide his shock. Elementals weren’t known for their speed of movement. This was no ordinary witch.

The hand over her mouth stifled her reaction. Her eyes were wide, but only for a second. As she lowered her hand, she masked her fright.

Viktor’s breath caught. She was beautiful, more beautiful than any image he could have conjured in his mind. He’d always considered Bianca to be stunning with her white hair and dark brows; she was nothing compared to Viktor’s mate.

Her flawless skin made her look almost doll-like, giving the impression she was more fragile than was probably true. Her irises did not match, but it only made her more attractive, more exceptional. They were the same hypnotic hues from his dreams.

The right eye was undeniably the trademark emerald of his own, much like all Prajna. Nature had given the vampires eyes that were hard to look away from. It made catching and hypnotizing prey much easier.

He quirked an eyebrow as she looked him up and down, then boldly met his eyes. It was a far cry from the frightened reaction she had when he’d startled her. She was a delightful mixture of contradictions and she hadn’t even opened her sinful mouth.

Eden’s perusal of the enormous Prajna revealed she was not so immune to the male gender, after all. His hair was dark and cut short. The sharp angles of his chiseled face gave him a stately appearance.

He was tall. So very tall. His face had to be a foot and half above hers. His build matched his height, making him an imposing figure. He was by far the largest person she had ever seen, bigger than King Kellan.

As opposed to a sturdy sequoia, this male was built like the coastal redwood. Just as strong, but towering to the point all that muscle was lengthened, giving a false impression of lankiness.

He was dressed impeccably well, donning a dark suit of a fashion that seemed a bit antiquated for their time. The darkness of his clothing accentuated the arresting color of his eyes. Emerald green, so radiant they shined.

Her entire body flushed with warmth. At first, she assumed it was anger heating her skin. The dampness between her legs told her otherwise. For the first time in her life, Eden was attracted to another. No, not just attracted. Enthralled. She’d never felt anything like it.

Instinct told her to close the distance between them, to touch him. Her mind insisted she stay put. Eden’s hand practically moved of its own volition and she had to force it to remain at her side. Her mind would always win over her instincts. She’d spent most of her life practicing, ensuring it would.

Once she felt she could constrain her reactions to the Prajna, she finally responded.

“And, as I am sure you know, calling an elemental a witch is most insulting.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. Eden wondered what it would take to get both corners to stretch across his face.

You know the Old Language? he asked, wondering how old she was. The Gwydions did not live nearly as long as the other factions of Imperium. He assumed few of them spoke or even knew the native tongue of the early peoples. The demons were the only ones who used it habitually.

More or less. A lot less than you, I’m sure.

Indeed.

He leaned forward a few inches. Not enough to invade her personal space, but enough to be sure he held her full attention. He inhaled, needing to know her scent, wanting to taste it upon his tongue. She smelled like a summer rain falling upon the ocean. It was his favorite aroma in all the world.

He heard her heartrate increase, then, slowly decrease. It sounded as though her heart was pumping hard, but her b***d refused to move. It was … unnatural, almost as if it was forced.

He noticed a faint trace of magic in the air. Did she compel her b***d to slow with magic? He’d never heard of such a thing. Viktor worried she would damage herself internally.

He was about to command her to stop whatever it was she was doing to her b***d when the door swung open and Theron stepped through. Two other men stood behind him.

Viktor straightened his spine. He didn’t like his mate being between him and the three males, but the female didn’t so much as flinch when the door opened. It was obvious she did not view the interlopers as dangerous.

Theron’s multi-colored eyes met Viktor’s. They moved to the female, then back to Viktor, who remained still, allowing Theron to assess the situation and speak first. It was the only diplomatic tactic his father had ever taught him.

The priest’s long white hair was as unkempt as ever. Viktor knew the Theron’s appearance was a façade. There was great power under his disheveled guise.

No one knew from which faction he had come. The colors of the irises usually gave it away. But Theron’s were like a kaleidoscope, constantly moving and mixing colors. It had taken years for Viktor to get used to it.

Scent was the other way to identify which race Theron was, but he never smelled the same. The last time Viktor was here, the old man smelled of cinnamon. No being in Imperium smelled of cinnamon.

Today, he smelled of earth. It was faint, but definitely earth.

Viktor, Theron greeted him. Welcome.

Theron, Viktor replied. He peered over the priest’s shoulder to the men behind him. It seems I am late to the festivities.

Theron smiled, his eyes twinkling in delight as he looked at Viktor’s mate, who hadn’t moved an inch since the door was opened.

On the contrary, I’d wager you’ve arrived at the exact moment you were meant to.