Chapter 37

A bite that never came.

The next thing she heard was the sound of the door swinging open and the King's boots against the floor as he walked away.

No. That didn't seem right.

He wasn't going to mark her?

This was just torture.

He was playing with her.

Keeping his hold of a bloodoath on her while he tormented her with his power.

He wanted her to actually beg still?

She hated him.

Seeing that the door was open and he hadn't rushed off like he used to, it meant that he wanted her to follow him.

So, she did.

He must be taking her to see her family.

When they finally got to a door downstairs, and along the hallway, she discovered that she was right.

She could smell her daughter and George. Their scent was sharper than it usually was and she could feel their presence more than she usually would.

She reached for the doorknob but it swung open before her hand could grasp it.

"You are awake, Lady Zezi. That is great." Lady Delice said, her eyes twinkling with excitement, then her gaze shifted behind her and she bowed immediately.

"Your Majesty."

"Delice." He acknowledged her greeting, his voice clear to Zezi's ear.

Zezi could pick up how Delice seemed to get increasingly nervous since she had noticed him, her slightly shaky hands as she brushed them over her long-sleeved brown gown, the corners of her lips as her face stretched into a meek smile.

The aura around her seemed to have changed too.

This blood in her system was really messing with her.

She was suddenly so aware of everything!

Including the King's bland emotions to all of this. If she could observe this by just having a few drops of his blood in her system, how much more could he observe?

How much more did he know?

It made her feel uncomfortable, and she reached towards the door again, trying to move around Lady Delice.

The move made Lady Delice aware of her once again, and she turned to Zezi quickly.

"I was so worried about you. How are you feeling this morning?"

"Great." A thought crossed her mind as she looked back at her. "Thank you. Gwen told me about what you had done for my family, and for me."

She smiled, looking a little brightened by the appreciation.

Of all the vampires presently in the castle, besides Gwen, Delice was the only one that seemed to have any aura of life around her.

But she still was a vampire, one in love with the one that the Moon Goodness had destined for her. As much as she didn't want her mate, it was foolish to assume that someone like Delice would be entirely harmless.

Zezi wasn't foolish.

There was no doubt that Lady Delice would consider her as an obstacle that needed to be gotten rid of.

It was even a surprise that Lady Delice had decided to help her. She must have a motive, for sure, like that evil friend she was always flocking around with.

But Zezi was busy with the most important thing right now, her family. She would figure out Lady Delice's motive later.

"They are fine."

Zezi sighed in relief.

She couldn't smell pain or anguish in the air, so for the first time since she had been told about her family's state, she truly believed.

"I tried to take care of Mira but George---"

Zezi snarled, her brows knitting together into a sharp frown.

There was just a sense of familiarity in how she had said George's name that she didn't like.

Or maybe it was because she was now overly sensitive to everything?

Anyways.

That changed nothing.

She still didn't like it.

"Your mate--"

The anger that surged through her was immense.

Boiling.

Deep.

That anger was not hers.

Zezi looked back quickly; the King's face was passive; he looked as calm and in control of his feelings as he used to.

No one would suspect a thing.

She frowned.

She hated feeling his feelings.

It was so annoying.

Also, the thought of his evil blood running through her veins made her want to cut herself and watch the blood flow in satisfaction, knowing that the vile blood would bleed out of her too.

"I apologize for that." Delice offered with a smile, not because she sensed the King was angry though, but because she had just caught up on what using the term had insinuated. "He wouldn't let me take care of her. Also, I fixed her teddy, and I reminded your..." She paused, catching herself in time. "...him, to feed her some medicine from Doctor Bruce."

Zezi suppressed a smirk.

That had seemed pretty intentional. She couldn't be that forgetful. Maybe she was right about Lady Delice after all. She really should be weary of her.

"Overall, they are fine."

"Great." Zezi pushed through her teeth, feeling agitated once again. Could all these vampires just stop getting in her way?!

She was tired of this nose poking Delice too, and just wanted her out of her family's business.

"Thank you, Lady Delice. Now will you please stop standing in my way so I can finally see my family."

Something crossed her eyes, like she had been hurt by her words.

As if that would trick Zezi into offering her sympathy. This particular vampire was starting to really annoy her.

She seemed pretty manipulative. In fact, right now, she seemed to be worse than Laura who showed her emotions easily.

The nicest ones were always the most dangerous after all.

"Of course, of course." Then she bowed, greeting the King again before she took her leave. "Your Majesty."

With that she departed, allowing Zezi to finally swing open the door.

Her eyes watered at the sight before her.

On the floor, with Mira in his arms, while he looked around with high alert in his eyes was George.

With wolf speed she ran to her, kneeling on the floor to wrap her hands around them.

"Oh, by the Moon, my family!" she cried, holding onto the tensed body in her arms that soon pulled her into a tight embrace.

Then she heard that voice, realizing only now how deeply she had missed it.

"My love, you are alive."