Word Count: 2263

*Mature Content Warning! Proceed At Your Own Discretion*

~Vaela

A knock on the doorframe to my bedroom has me looking up.

"Why don't we go out?" Hale asks, looking wary.

I haven't meant to make it obvious that I'm disappointed that I never got to go out, and that the resolution to my mortality may include ending my own life.

"I don't care where it is, I'm in," I exclaim, kicking my legs out over the edge of the bed.

"Since we couldn't find Kyler, maybe we can find someone else," Hale offers.

He's trying to please me, to draw out the stagnant feelings of boredom and tiredness that plague me. But that bite of cold ice in his eyes is inescapable.

"Or maybe, I just need to get out, even for a night. Somewhere with sun, that's warm," I muse, drawing closer to him.

A physical pursuit with a stranger isn't a feat I've officially given up on. Maybe something simple like a date with one would suffice, but ridding my sexual frustration from Hale with someone else is only going to hurt me.

Hale smiles, simple and sweet. "I know the perfect place."

"No touching, no suggestive remarks and no...no teasing me," I establish. This trip needs to be about removing the tension between us, not adding to it.

"Teasing you?" His eyes glitter, trying to bait me.

I rest my hands on my hips. "You know what I mean. This is just going to be a nice outing."

Hale ultimately decided on a place on the beach to stay in, which couldn't make me happier. The moment we arrived, I spent over an hour just lounging in the sun, enjoying a book.

For most of the day, Hale gives me space, allowing me to go out for a bit before returning at dusk. It feels good, to get a sense of freedom and self control back.

Hale issitting at the house when I returned, which he casually admitted is one of the many properties that belongs to him.

I can't say I'm surprised.

I lean around the doorframe, smiling sweetly at him. "Remember what I said earlier about this just being about an outing, and not about finding my mate?"

His brow raises. "Sure."

"I'm going on a date." All this has come about very quickly, and for once, I'm actually excited. This could be the start of finally distancing myself from what is going on between Hale and I.

"With?"

"A man I met today. His name is Alexander." We met randomly in a small café, and when he brazenly asked me if I wanted to join him for dinner, I couldn't find a reason to say no to him.

He rests his book down, folding his arms over his chest. "Did you touch him?"

"No. But I will, after a nice dinner," I exclaim, ignoring the pressing intensity of Hale's gaze as it follows me into the room.

"Or you could before the dinner, so you can skip the dinner," he notes. I roll my eyes.

"Hale, I haven't been able to do anything for myself in a long time. A date will be nice," I remind him, dipping into the room I've set up in.

I brought one pretty dress, although I figure I'm going to have to cover it with a coat considering my constant cold temperature, even if we are in one of the warmer parts of the land.

Hale stands in the doorway, watching me fuss around. "You're right. You should go, have fun. You deserve it."

"Thank you. I won't be long," I assure him.

He stalks into the room, and for a moment, I'm convinced he is going to push me onto the bed to give me a reason to stay, but instead, he holds his closed fist, and when I open my palm flat, his rock falls onto it.

I wrap my fingers around it, tucking it into my pocket. Drop it, and he knows I wish to summon him. I must have forgotten it back at the cave.

"I'm giving you two hours, otherwise you'll get sick," he warns, to which I only nod.

Alexander meets me at a restaurant not far from the home, and we immediately settle into a warm conversation.

He's handsome, and seems genuinely interested in me. And yet as we talk, my mind continues to drift.

What is Hale doing right now? Has he invited a beautiful woman over because he finally has time to himself where he is babysitting me? The thought makes my stomach turn, until I promptly snap myself out of it.

I'm on a date. He could be my mate for all I know...

And everything is going so well, until my hand bumps past my coat pocket, and I feel the rock fall out and onto the ground.

I stare at it, the implications of what just happened sinking in slowly.

"Oh no," I whisper.

"What?" Alexander asks.

I stoop down, scooping up the black rock, knowing Hale has got an indication that I'm summoning him, and will be here at any moment.

"I dropped this rock," I murmur, holding it in the light so he can see it.

He stares blankly at it, just to decipher why such an item garnered this kind of reaction. "Is it special?"

"Kind of. It's going to summon a very tall man with silver eyes and silver tattoos," I tell him, immediately regretting it the moment it falls from my mouth, although I may as well be honest now, because there is going to be no hiding it when Hale arrives.

He laughs as he takes another bite of his food. "Funny."

"No, seriously. A Pureblood is about to walk in, but I'll tell him to leave right away," I assure him. I know I sound insane, but there's little point to lie.

He shifts uncomfortably. "I don't think I get the joke."

"It's not."

"Pureblood's are just legends, I thought," he muses, examining his steak as if it, itself, is a Pureblood. I sigh irritably, understanding that most don't get the chance to meet a Pureblood, but it's tiring trying to make someone understand that they actually exist.

"I did too, once. Until I got sick."

He frowns, sweeping his hands through his slightly too long hair. "You're sick. Things are starting to make sense."

"I promise I'm not crazy. You'll see in a moment."

I realise shortly after I should probably go out and intercept Hale before he can come in, however, when I glance toward the door, he's weaving through the crowd, scanning the room for me.

Our eyes lock, and the relief is visible on his face. I try to make a motion to shoo him away, yet it seems to go unnoticed, as he slips into the seat beside me.

"Hey, everything okay?" he asks softly, inspecting me with a scrutinising gaze.

"I'm fine, I didn't mean to drop the rock. It kind of just fell out of my pocket," I admit sheepishly.

He breathes out, long and slow. "I'm relieved."

Alexander clears his throat from the other side of the table, I see him looking at Hale with wide eyes. He must be trying to make sense of how a Pureblood just walked in, considering his look is similar to those surrounding us.

"Ah, Alexander, this is Hale," I introduce.

For once, I wish he wouldn't have worn black, and wouldn't look so intimidating and out of place. I swear, there must be something magical going on, because his eyes are a brighter shade of silver than ever before.

"You're the Immortal Prince," Alexander marvels, sounding breathless.

Hale's nose scrunches up. "People still call me that?"

"You can go, by the way. Everything is okay here," I assure him, gently pushing his shoulder, hoping he will get the hint and let me resume the date.

Hale leans back in his chair. "There's only half an hour left, so I think I'll stay till the end."

"You don't have to," I grit out, going to kick his ankle under the table, but he moves it just in time. There is going to be no hope for me to get a second date when Hale is lingering about, staring at Alexander with those judging eyes.

He turns his head, winking at me. "I insist."

If I fight back harder, he's only going to make this more miserable for me, so instead, I straighten, turning my attention back to my date.

"Ignore him. Hale thinks he's my bodyguard," I say, trying to make light of the situation, but Alexander looks mortified, staring at Hale like he's going to lurch over the table to strangle him.

At this point, I'm not ruling it out.

Hale doesn't bother smothering his smile, motioning between Alexander and I. "Resume, by all means."

I glare at him, just as I feel his hand rest on my knee, the cold touch of the glove making me shiver.

"Hale..." I mumble threateningly, trying to shake off his hand, but his grip only tightens.

Slowly, he draws his fingers upward, slipping beneath the hem of my dress. I shift, trying to move his hand away, knowing that as much as my body flares with heat, desperate for his touch, now is not the right time.

"Hmm? Something wrong?" he asks, drawing Alexander's attention to me, just as he presses his fingers right between my legs, the proprietary touch nearly having me jolting from the chair as pleasure blooms through me.

"No, everything is...fine." I cough, trying to clear my throat, as Hale inches closer to me, watching my blushing face with a quiet smirk on his face.

Bastard.

"So, Alexander. What do you do for a living?" Hale asks, keeping his fingers pressed against me, gently moving while he maintains eye contract with my date.

Alexander swallows, looking uncomfortable that Hale is now looking at him. "I'm an artist."

"Me too, although I imagine not in the same sense," Hale muses.

"How is that you exist?" Alexander suddenly blurts out. He's been holding that one in, desperate to know. I don't blame him, I still struggle to understand how Hale exists, but with his fingers expertly moving against me, I don't care right now.

Hale seems amused by that question, tilting his head. "I've asked myself that a lot."

"Do you have magic?"

"I do."

Disinterested in the conversation with my date, Hale turns his attention to me. "Now Vaela, why don't you tell the table about you. How did you occupy your time in Death's realm?"

"I worked," I mutter. I'm not really concentrating on our conversation, too busy focusing on the tight circles he rubs against me, increasing in pace with each word out of his mouth.

"Doing?"

"I don't know," I whisper, sounding as though I'm begging, which I practically am.

His eyes darken, very aware of what I'm going through, daring me to continue a proper conversation with him while the man I'm meant to be on a date with watches on, unsure of what is going on.

"Come on," he presses.

"I taught. I've always loved teaching," I grit out, glancing at Alexander. A frown creases between his brows, trying to decipher what the relationship between Hale and I is, and whether he should intervene.

"You okay Vaela, you seem unwell," he asks.

"Sorry, sore stomach," I breathe, tightly gripping my glass of water, trying not to give into the feeling building up inside me, as his fingers continue their unrelenting movements.

"Did you have a relationship at that time?" Hale asks me, sounding genuinely curious, while maintaining his unbothered expression, as if he isn't touching me beneath the table.

"Yes."

"What was his name?"

I sigh through my nose, fidgeting in my seat as I try to avoid my release as it's build up increases in intensity, threatening to push me over the edge. "I can't remember."

"How long were you together?"

"Eight years."

"And you can't remember his name?"

Alexander is looking at me like I've lost is entirely, which I almost have. He's probably observing this conversation from an entirely different perspective. I feel bad, but all I can think about is Hale.

"I...I-"

He leans over, whispering in my ear. "Come for me."

I stand abruptly, Hale's hand falling away, my legs trembling as my built up release falls away into nothingness.

"I'm so sorry Alex, but I need to go," I say, resting my palm against my sweaty forehead.

Hale stands also. "Yes, it seems about that time. Now you two, touch."

Alexander startles. "What?"

"Touch her," Hale mutters irritably. He doesn't care about Alexander, or this date. He cares about me being his all over again, never having a chance to be with anyone else.

Wordlessly, I reach my hand out over the table, hoping Alexander doesn't see if shaking. Despite being completely weirded out, he brushes his fingers over my hand, confirming what I already figured.

"We aren't mates," I mumble hopelessly.

Hale smiles, resting his hand on the small of my back. "That settles that. Goodbye Alexander, Vaela and I have some business to attend to."

🤎••🤎

As always, the story will be available 10 chapters ahead on Radish!!!

You can also find it on GoodNovel (:

• A DEMON'S KISS IS OUT NOW ON WATTPAD•

"You...You what?"

Kastriv examines my husband with an unforgiving, ice cold gaze. "I want to fuck your wife. And you're going to let me."

~Midika 💜🐼