The Alpha's Mate and the Vampire King
The Alpha’s Mate and the Vampire King Chapter 25

Where is my mate? Viktor snarled at his younger brother.

Luka had ported them to the tiny island where he’d left Eden. It was only a half-mile or so offshore, but it was surrounded in mist. No one would have known she was there.

Baffled, Luka shrugged.

This is where I left her. When she lit herself on fire, I latched on and ported straight to the ocean. Once the fight in her tapered off, and I was sure the flames were out, I brought her here.

And left her. Alone. Viktor’s tone was accusatory.

You would prefer I ported her back to the castle? Maybe to finish the little chat she was having with the dressmaker or to have tea with Bianca?

Viktor grumbled deep in his throat.

Luka rolled his eyes. If she’d been with me when I landed next to you, it would have been you who needed saving. I think you’re in love with the most savage female I’ve ever met. She’s terrifying.

Viktor snorted. Yes, well, I’m not out of the woods yet.

Why aren’t you panicking? Luka asked him suspiciously.

I don’t really think she’ll try to kill me, Brother.

No, why aren’t you panicking that she’s not here?

I’d feel it through the bond if she was being harmed. Wherever she is, she’s not hurt.

By his assessment, Eden was no longer grieving. It bothered him. He’d always been able to glean something of her feelings through the bond. When he checked it once he realized she wasn’t here, he could get a sense of her physical well-being, but her emotions were difficult to figure out.

She’d somehow managed to block him. Either that, or she’d anaesthetized herself. It was something Viktor had done towards the end of Nikolai’s reign. Feeling too much had been debilitating, so he’d learned to lock that part of him away.

He’d gotten so good at it, he hadn’t felt much of anything until the day he found Eden eavesdropping at the door of Theron’s study. She’d managed to get a death grip around Viktor’s heart and he’d die before he allowed her to let it go.

Viktor wished he could go back in time and change the decisions he’d made. If he’d only been a better brother to Luka, he would have trusted him when he originally thought the way out of the contract was to give up the throne.

His sense of self-importance and drive to pay for the sins of his father had clouded his judgement. He had duped himself, thinking he could fulfill every obligation.

Eden was right to be upset with him. If he could only find his little witch and tell her as much, his life might turn out okay.

Well, would you look at that, Luka spoke, his voice filled with awe.

Viktor looked where Luka was pointing. Some distance away was a break in the ocean. It looked like a small hole was cutting through the shallows, towards the beach.

It seems there’s more to my mate than meets the eye, Viktor remarked.

Oh, definitely, Luka agreed. Should we go get her?

No. If we startle her she’ll probably lose her hold on … whatever she’s doing to part the water.

True. Race you to the shore, Luka challenged, porting away.

Kings do not race to the shore.

Viktor’s words dissolved as they were carried off by the wind. He’d yet to inform Luka what he had planned. First, he’d deal with Eden. Then, he’d tell Luka he was about to hand him the crown. He only prayed Luka would not refuse.

---

Eden nearly wept with joy as the sand started to slope upwards. She was exhausted after expending so much energy, first with the fire and now with her power over water. Holding the ocean apart was tough.

As she trudged up and onto the beach, she could see the outline of two large bodies standing in front of the dunes. One was smiling, one was fixed on her with an intensity she could feel down to her bones.

Eden let the parted waters close behind her. Her fingers itched, but she didn’t know if she had enough power to call forth a single flame. An hour ago, she would have gladly set Viktor on fire. Now, she wasn’t sure he was worth the effort.

Luka, she bobbed her head in deference, noticing his arms were already healing. He must have gotten b***d. She angled slightly towards Viktor and curtsied.

Your majesty, she greeted, her cold eyes turning down as she genuflected on unsteady legs.

Viktor nearly reached for Eden. She was close to toppling over. Her body language warned him to stay away.

Her address rankled him. His Eden was warm, loving. He wanted that back. He may have put her in this position, but he would once again have what he wanted from her.

Since when do you address me so formally?

“I’ve long been remiss in my duties as a visiting dignitary. I’m merely rectifying my mistake.”

Viktor recoiled at Eden’s implication her stay in Prajna was temporary. She was no visitor here. He reviled her distant manner.

Leave us, Luka. I need to speak to my sieva alone.

Are you sure that’s a good idea? Luka asked, looking between the two.

Go. I’ll find you later.

Luka’s questioning eyes found Eden’s. She gave no indication she was about to pounce, so he ported back to Castra Nocte.

You’re soaked, Viktor observed. Eden’s multi-colored hair was darkened from being wet. Her dress clung to her curves, tempting him to tear it off her body.

Yes, Luka thought to take me on an evening swim.

Viktor held out his hand. Come, I’ll take you to our chambers and you can have a warm bath. Then we’ll talk.

No, thank you.

Eden, be reasonable.

A fissure cracked in her mental shields. A small flame tried to sputter from her right hand and she snuffed it out immediately, before Viktor could see it. She pushed everything out, focusing on remaining calm.

Considering what I’ve been through today, I’d say I’m acting quite reasonably.

Eden’s voice was too detached. He’d expected tears, anger, some sign she was affected. Her apathy scared him. It clouded his judgement and he poked at her, needing a reaction.

No, you’re acting cold. You’ve never been cold with me.

You’re right. I haven’t. It was unwise of me to become so enamored, counting every look, every touch, wanting them so badly I would give you anything you wanted just to have a piece of you. I’ll never make that mistake again.

Viktor’s chest rumbled and he took a step towards her. Eden stepped backwards.

Keep your distance, Viktor. You are, after all, exceptionally good at it.

I have never hidden my feelings for you, Eden. I may not have said the words, but our souls are bonded. You can feel my affections for you.

Yes, how inconvenient that must be for your wife, Eden mocked.

I’m not married. I have no intention of marrying her.

Do not lie to me! Eden’s pretense of calm withered and died before him. She could only take so much.

“I will not be misled by you again, Viktor. I saw, with my very own eyes, one very frantic dressmaker trying to get in the final fitting with the future Queen for the wedding ceremony in two weeks. How much longer had you planned to hide the truth from me? Or was I to live eternity in your room, locked away like some dirty little secret?”

Her voice shook. She wrapped her arms around herself, needing warmth and comfort.

Viktor ported directly in front of Eden, grasping her arms, afraid she was about to collapse. Then he ported them up to their rooms and held on until she was steady.

Eden jerked out of his hold and moved to the other side of the large chair, putting the obstacle between them when she really required a mountain of distance.

I was wrong, Eden. I should have told you. I was trying to find a way out of it. Finally, I believe I have.

I do not care.

Viktor blanched. Did you not hear me? I think I’ve found a way out of that damned contract. I’ll not have to marry Bianca.

Congratulations. It changes nothing.

What do you mean? It changes everything! he yelled.

Maybe for you. For me, it does not matter.

Viktor swung his giant arm, launching the chair between them across the room. It crashed against stone, falling to its side in pieces. He stalked towards his mate.

You love me, he growled, backing Eden up against the wall.

She didn’t bother denying it. He was right. Eden did love him. Her eyes burned as they filled with the tears she did not want to shed in front of him.

His large hands grabbed either side of her neck, holding her jaw up so she could not turn away.

“You are my sieva. Mine. You are the most important thing in my world.”

Apparently, not important enough, she whispered, a lone tear escaping down her cheek.

Viktor’s insides twisted. His words weren’t getting through to her. He blasted as much love and adoration as he could muster through their bond.

Eden whimpered, her legs finally giving out from her exertions. She hated she was so weak in this moment.

Viktor grabbed her around the waist and ported them to the bed. His mouth crashed into hers in a punishing k**s as he nudged her legs apart with his h**s.

Though her legs willingly fell open to cradle his body, Eden did not k**s him back. She held very still, her mind warring with her body. Could she give herself to him after what he’d done?

Viktor’s emotions continuously crashed through the bond, besieging her fragile heart. She felt his love, felt it in her soul. Her body overheated, stimulated by his soul’s cry for hers, as well as his frenzied movements.

It was the touch of his soul, so pure in its devotion, that swayed her to return his k**s. It might be the last time she would ever feel anything so rapturous.

Right or wrong, Eden wasn’t ready to let it go.

Her hands fisted in his hair as she held his head in place. She boldly stroked his tongue with her own. Eden felt out of control. Wild. Angry.

He’d hurt her with his lie of omission. It didn’t change the fact she needed him like she needed the air to breath. He ground his h**s into hers and all she could think about was feeling him inside her, even if it was only one last time.

Viktor could smell his mate’s slick desire. Eden’s little m***s against his mouth made him feel desperate.

Tell me you want this, that you want me, he growled, needing to know she wanted to be taken.

I want you, she cried.

His claws slashed away her dress. His fangs descended and he was tempted to strike her neck, to feed while he took his sieva. He refrained, worried he’d weaken her further after her exhaustive trek across the ocean floor.

Viktor tore open the front of his pants tearing just enough to expose his hard length. He rubbed the crown up and down her folds, coating himself before plunging inside.

Eden cried out, her fingers digging into his back. Viktor took advantage of her parted lips and slipped his tongue inside. He g*****d into her mouth.

He loved her. He loved her so godsdamned much. Their love vibrated back and forth, across the bond. Overcome, he was incapable of halting his release.

Viktor reached between their bodies and pressed his thumb on her hardened nub, catapulting Eden into her own climax.

Eden’s shouts of pleasure echoed off the stone walls. Her core spasmed, tightening around him. Viktor continued to spill against her womb as he called out her name.

They held tight to one another, chests heaving and skin damp with sweat. Viktor withdrew, but remained on top of her with his face buried in her neck. When their breathing evened out, he ported them to the bathing chamber.

After Viktor opened the faucet, he set Eden on the side of the bathing pool. He removed her boots and what threads of fabric remained attached to her body. Then he removed his own.

It reminded him of their first day together when she’d willingly tied her soul to his. She’d never questioned it, putting her blind faith in a male who would later wound her heart. It was the only thing her father had asked him not to do.

He scrubbed his face with both palms, ashamed he hadn’t been able to fulfill that request. He eyed her over his fingertips.

Can you warm it or should I … Viktor nodded towards the heating rocks.

I can do it, she answered quietly.

Eden lowered her hands into the cool water and pushed out enough energy to heat the water.

I assume this is far less taxing than parting an ocean, he tested, trying at humor to lighten the mood.

She nodded, but she did not meet his eyes. He scratched across his chest, the tightness becoming unbearable. Viktor didn’t know how to bridge the gap growing between them.

He walked down the steps into the bathing pool and moved to the edge where Eden was sitting. He reached for her. When she didn’t protest, he pulled her into the water.

Viktor sat on one of the steps, resting his back against the stone and holding Eden sideways on his lap. He pulled her against him and let his hands drift over her skin.

Eden tucked her head under Viktor’s chin. She was confused. She was hurt. She was also close to passing out.

I have a few things I need to say, Eden. First, I realize now how poorly I have handled everything. I should have been forthcoming and I wasn’t. For that I apologize.

Her eyes stung and she blinked hard.

“More than that, when we first met, I made the monumental mistake of thinking I could bond to my sieva and fulfill my contract with Dmitri by marrying his daughter.”

Eden stopped breathing. Her fingers twitched.

“Hold off on burning me until I’ve finished, mala vestica,” he requested.

Eden huffed at his second lame attempt at a joke.

I never wanted to marry her, nor did I believe I would ever find my sieva. I put the ceremony off as long as possible. It’s been looming over me for a long time. Then, one night, five years ago, my cicatrice awoke. It was a complication I didn’t need.

I’ll bet.

Viktor ignored her biting tone and continued. Then I found you and all I wanted was to spend every second with you. I’d never imagined the soul-bond would be so intense. I was consumed and I nearly forgot why it was a complication because I was so damned happy. Then Bianca returned and I wrestled with what to do. Both Yuri and Luka have been trying to help me find an out. I even went to Bianca and demanded she release me. Dmitri gave her an out. If she didn’t want me, she didn’t have to marry me.

Eden sighed. Let me guess, she still wants you, even after soul-bonding to me.

Unfortunately.

So you didn’t find a way out, Eden griped, trying to sit up and put a little distance between them. Viktor held her in place.

No, I did, but I’ll get to that in a minute. The night I took you to the lagoons, I knew. I knew beyond all doubt that whether or not I found a way out, I wasn’t going to marry her. How could I when I was so in love with you?

Eden’s heart banged against her ribs. It was the first time he’d declared his love aloud. The bittersweet moment affected her, but she couldn’t bring herself to return the sentiment.

You should have told me the entire truth of that contract, Viktor.

He sighed, unable to deny it. Eden was right.

Yes, I should have. My only excuse was I didn’t want to hurt you. In the beginning, I was sorely delusional. Once I knew I loved you and you felt the same, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’d planned to figure a way out and tell you after the fact. The truth had to come out eventually, especially if I violated the terms.

I thought breaking a magical oath was virtually impossible.

It is. When you break one, you suffer greatly. It’s thought the magic that enforces the oath creates a curse of equal weight.

You were willing to curse yourself? she asked incredulously, her voice rising an octave.

I was. I—

A loud bang came from the door. Viktor spun and placed Eden behind him.

Hate to interrupt, Brother, but you need to come quickly, Luka’s muffled voice carried into the bathroom.

Laughter erupted and Eden rolled her eyes at Luka’s immaturity. Viktor’s mouth quirked. His brother was going to be the worst king the kingdom had ever known. Well, perhaps not as bad as Nikolai.

Eden’s tentative hands fell on his h**s and he realized he didn’t really care. Luka gave a damn about the fate of Prajna. It would have to be enough.

He twisted in Eden’s grasp and hugged her close. I have to go. I left Kellan and the others in the woods. I need to get back.

I understand.

Please don’t … leave.

Eden craned her neck to see his worried face studying hers. Had he meant don’t leave the chambers or don’t leave him?

I don’t really have any place to go.

We’ll talk more when I return. I swear it. Please be here when I come back.

Okay.

His shoulders lowered. He hadn’t realized how tensely he’d been holding himself. Viktor planted a chaste k**s on his mate’s lips and hauled himself out of the bath.