Chapter 164

While they spent time together once again, a displeased soul watched from the dark.

For Akeem, his ability to remain unnoticed for as long as he wished and to wield the dark to his will, was starting to feel like a double-edged sword.

It pierced his heart to watch his High Pillar with another, sharing moments that he had begged for but never received.

His own Sire.

Enough!

He had seen enough to shatter his heart, therefore, he disappeared to deliver the extract he had in his fist to the Queen.

Even as he left, their whispers from the bar room followed him and haunted him. Her laughter floated to his ears, through the hallway as he departed.

If only she would ever laugh with him that way -at the things he said, if only she would ever allow his embrace without rebuking him and telling him that his feelings weren't what he believed them to be.

If only she acted with him, like she was doing with the wolf.

If only.

"Your laughter reminds me of something---" the wolf's voice drained out with the distance between him and the room till he couldn't hear them any longer.

That should bring him relief, but it didn't.

___

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In the bar room, a lighthearted feeling filled the room. There was no tension, just ease and peace. Like they had been best friends for many years and had gone through all the highs and lows of their lives together. Like they had seen each other at the best and worst times, and there was nothing to hide or any need to even do that.

So peaceful.

So right.

"Reminds you of what?" Delice asked, trailing a claw around the mouth of her cup. It was half empty, but she still appeared to be in a better shape than George's wolf.

He rested his head on the table, his eyes trying to focus on only her as he tried to remember his line of thoughts.

"This..." he paused, a twinkle of a smile in his eyes, as if he was about to say the most ridiculous thing, "...bar." He laughed. "It's ridiculous--I--" then he paused, grabbing his head from the ache that suddenly jammed in it.

When blood drizzled down his nose, Delice jumped up from her stool with fear. The smell of his blood was enticing, it smelt of life, far better than the blood in those packaged sachets.

It smelt warm, like it would be the most tasty thing. It reminded her of the different purposes he could serve.

He was food.

It was an intrusive thought she had no control over.

He sat up, attempting to wipe the blood away in his drunk state, not at all shocked by it. His attempt was sloppy though and he ended up smearing it even more across his face, as he watched the instinctive thirst in her eyes grow with candy-like delight. As if he had forgotten that in this situation, he was the prey.

"You look hungry for me."

She blinked and stood up, quickly. "You are drunk. Your statements are illogical and dangerous... for you. The game was lovely but now, we must draw the curtains. Have a great night."

His hand latched forward, over the table, as he jumped to his feet and held her wrist.

Delice stiffened, her eyes widening, when she took note of their contact and the stain of blood it left on her dress.

"You cannot --" the words blurred from the next thing that happened.

He was right in front of her, backing her to the table.

What was going on?!

"Dangerous for me?" There was a glint in his red eyes. Heat pooled beneath her skin, and she slid to sit on the surface of the table effortlessly.

She felt a little lightheaded herself and it just helped that she was sitting.

"Yes. I can state many more reasons why this conversation must end. I am a bit foggy with the alcohol. I am tipsy and you are drunk. Let us call it a night. Tomorrow, your mind will be fresh, you will see the situation differently and be able to connect things the way you should. You will accept your daughter with ease. You might have to battle with a little headache when you wake up though." A ghost of a smile shadowed her lips. "Goodnight, George's Wolf."

"Ka'ik." He pulled closer, the wafting of the smell of the alcohol and his blood rushing into her lungs.

"What?" The closer he moved, the more distracted she became. The distraction increased even more when he planted his palms on either side of her, trapping her.

"In my lineage, every beast has its primal name." His red eyes glinted with excitement that she couldn't fathom. "Mine is Ka'ik."

"Ka'ik?" Never had she heard of a primal name before, even though she had once been part of a pack. It was probably something unique to George's lineage alone, because it didn't seem like the Queen had something like this either.

"Yes?" He said as he threaded her fingers between his own.

She gulped, despite herself and how much control she had learnt from her Sire.

This game had led to something she would never have prepared for.

For a long time, Lady Delice had only fed from sachets and rarely from life sources. Once upon a time, they fed from Life Sources, but that wasn't a time she wanted to go back to for many reasons. The Dark Times wasn't something anyone wanted to revisit, despite its little perks.

She had banished that time away in her mind along with the little pleasures that came with it.

This was something she had already taught herself to forget about.

But now, at this moment, temptation stood in front of her and was luring her.

His blood smelt rustic and the memory of the raw pleasure it would bring, lit in her mind.

Never had she been this tempted.

"My forbidden Bloodsucker---" he chuckled, lightly. His focus was now on their intertwined fingers.

"What is it like to be fed from? It is as pleasurable as they say? Zezi has never said anything about pain and she is definitely---" he paused, then looked at her. "Will you feed from me?"

"You hate vampires," she sounded breathy.

He shrugged, running his thumb over her lower lip, his thumb that still had his blood on it. She licked her lips and her eyes slid shut immediately from the sensation, before she snapped them open just as quickly.

Her struggle was obvious against the wildness that unleashed in her eyes.

For a vampire, her control was fantastic.

That control was something Ka'ik needed her to lose.

"My hatred is so much I want to know how it feels like to be fed from, so I can have one more reason to hate. So the pain will remind me." His voice lowered with a gruff as he moved his bare neck towards her lips. "I don't hate you, so you do it."

When she didn't move, his fingers slipped into her hair, and he angled her head so her lips were pressed against his neck.

In a flash, fangs dug beyond his skin, his eyes rolled back, a groan resonated in his chest and his legs buckled.

The rumours were true.

This was pleasure.