Back with another chapter and hope you enjoy it <3 <3

3rd POV

Yibo was quietly reading a book about philosophy. Usually, he would prefer a book about martial arts, he has a lot of them, but this time he chose something else simply because he hated it to get interrupted while reading a good book. Martial arts books are always good and Yibo couldn't stand it when he was distracted.

So why was he not reading one of those but something he wasn't much interested in when he was currently sitting on his bed in peace? The answer was currently lying in his bed in another room sleeping peacefully. But why was this a distraction?

That was a question even Yibo had no answer to. He didn't know when it happened but for a while now he couldn't quite concentrate when a certain someone was around. And he was around 24/7 as Yibo had to watch over him.

In the beginning, Yibo was annoyed with the prince. His constant curses, tantrums, and denial of what he was. But that was at the beginning. Soon Yibo started to notice that all of this was not because he wanted to be a pain in Yibo's ass but because that boy was scared. Scared and indeed clueless. And it wasn't even his fault.

Xiao Zhan grew up as a human, lived like a human, and thought and behaved like a human. He nor anyone else knew about his other nature, no one knew about the sleeping vampire in him. Being half-vampire didn't mean that you would naturally go through a transition. Some half-breeds didn't even know they were half-vampires until the day they die. It always depended on how strong the vampire part was, and how strong the DNA and the blood were. It always depended on how strong the half-breed's lineage was.

And Xiao Zhan was the son of the King of Vampires after all.

Xiao Zhan was allowed to be scared and clueless. Everything was foreign to him. And all the explanations from Yibo's or anyone else's side were probably only freaking him out more. Understandable for was he raised with the belief he was human and that vampires didn't exist.

And it didn't help at all that the prince was more or less locked up in Yibo's room until the danger was over. Which Yibo thought was ridiculous. He understood that once Xiao Zhan was introduced to the public, he would get attention from every side. Those, who are genuinely interested in him, and those who weren't. Actually, except for the royal family, Bowen, Leo, that human friend of Xiao Zhan and Yibo himself, there was probably no one who would be genuinely interested in the prince.

But how long would the danger take? For how long did Xiao Zhan have to be locked up here? Wasn't it better to introduce him properly than just announcing his existence? That way, people wouldn't try to sneak around to get a glimpse of Xiao Zhan. People like the Prime Minister, for example.

When Yibo understood that Xiao Zhan was only a victim, one who was innocently clueless, he stopped being annoyed with him and tried to help Xiao Zhan by getting him used to his surroundings. He allowed him to walk around at least during the night. He noticed that Xiao Zhan felt better walking around than having to stay in one room all the time. Yibo even noticed Xiao Zhan's smiles whenever he learned something new. It wasn't much knowledge, he still had to learn a lot but Yibo understood that Xiao Zhan, although he didn't want to accept his nature, he wanted to know more about our kind. Yibo was sure that Xiao Zhan didn't notice this behavior on himself at all.

Seeing those little treats made Yibo angry at Xiao Zhan's mother. But for what? What did she do except for killing two innocent girls? Yibo didn't want to sound like a heartless asshole but he thought that woman killing those girls was a good thing as only because that happened did they find out about Xiao Zhan's existence. And that woman killing the two girls was better than letting Xiao Zhan wake up his hidden nature and kill his mother or his friends. And maybe even more before we would have found him.

It wasn't even Xiao Zhan's mother's fault for falling in love with someone. It wasn't her fault for falling for the King. The only thing she did wrong was probably sharing a bed with a man she knew was married.

That brought Yibo to be angry at the King. It shocked him for was he serving him for hundreds of years. Yibo was a loyal subordinate but he couldn't help but be angry at him. He knew the King enough to know he would never lay with someone else than the Queen. Why would he go against his nature and do what he swore he would never do? Did the King really forget something like that this easily when he went against his belief, his promise, and his nature?

Yibo couldn't understand but that wasn't important. The King should deal with it, not Yibo. His attention solely lay on Xiao Zhan.

Slowly he witnessed him getting cheekier. Just a little but enough for Yibo to notice. It was amusing to see him getting embarrassed after every encounter with the Queen. He noticed how Xiao Zhan would avert his eyes, bite his lips and his face turning red. Yibo noticed how Xiao Zhan's nose was the first thing to turn pink only for the whole face to turn red in a matter of seconds.

To hide his embarrassment Xiao Zhan started to challenge Yibo. He tried to provoke him, trying to get rid of the embarrassment. He was getting a lot cheekier with him and Yibo noticed it and let it go. He didn't mind it at all. Honestly, he was curious about what Xiao Zhan would do next. Would he say something stupid? Or behave funny? Maybe he would do something that would bring him more embarrassment than what he thought it would bring him.

But despite being cheeky, Xiao Zhan was still scared and it made Yibo realize that although he was still denying everything, deep down he started to accept that he was different. He just couldn't comprehend that yet nor accept it openly. Maybe he was still hoping all this was just a dream. He would soon realize it wasn't.

Yibo noticed the prince getting more irritated by the smallest things. Also, became quite strong. When they hide in the store room, Xiao Zhan managed to push him to the ground with just one push. Sure enough, he wasn't by far as strong as Yibo. He could have pushed or heaved Xiao Zhan off him and gotten up but he was too shocked at that moment. He was shocked and flustered. Not once was Yibo pushed before. Especially not from someone weaker than him.

What was more problematic was that the prince was sitting on him like Yibo was a chair and prevented him from speaking. Not that Yibo would have been able to speak, too great was the shock. And the embarrassment....

It was a very unusual moment and position. It was embarrassing but Yibo wasn't feeling uncomfortable even though they were hiding in a store room. It was dark in here but he could see Xiao Zhan's face perfectly. He looked up at him, watching him staring at the door with a focused expression, biting his lips slightly while pressing both hands against Yibo's lips, hoping the Queen would leave soon. Which she did.

Yibo heard Xiao Zhan's heart racing. It was a strong one. Strong and loud. And when the prince looked down on him, Yibo thought for a moment, Xiao Zhan had two hearts for the sound became more vivid, echoing each other. But Yibo soon realized that it was his own heart that was racing.

It was ridiculous. Yibo wasn't scared of anything nor was he nervous about something. Or so he thought. It was a very strange moment that felt like hours until Xiao Zhan got up. Yibo was flustered and decided to never tell anyone how he got manhandled by a half-breed. But ever since, Yibo couldn't concentrate on anything else than Xiao Zhan's presence next to him or in front of him or behind him. Which was also ridiculous as it only happened in the morning, barely 6 hours prior.

Also, Yibo had noticed Xiao Zhan drinking a lot. Too much for it being called normal. He knew it was time for him to accept what he was and drink what he was supposed to. He didn't think he would be too late. Or maybe he wasn't late but Xiao Zhan was just very early.

Yibo did hear Xiao Zhan waking up, he heard his heart racing making Yibo worried that he had a nightmare. While he was still contemplating if he should get dressed and check on him, when suddenly Xiao Zhan stood in his room, pale and visibly confused and frightened.

"I didn't hear you at all." He stated. He looked to the door and then at the intruder again. He frowned and got up from the bed. "Did something happen? You look pale."

"It hurts..." Xiao Zhan claimed with a raspy voice. Yibo saw him reaching for his throat and his eyes darkened. He understood.

"I thought we still had time. We didn't find a suitable donor yet...." He mumbled worriedly before passing him and heading for the door. Suddenly his wrist was held in a firm grip.

"D-don't leave... help me... what should I do?"

It pained Yibo to hear Xiao Zhan begging for help. He must be so confused and frightened. Yibo reached for Xiao Zhan's hand.

"It's alright. Wait a moment. I have to notify Bowen and I will be right back." Yibo gently released his wrist and left the room. He heard Bowen near the throne room and run to him at lightning speed.

"Bowen, inform Her Majesty and quickly find a donor. Xiao Zhan won't hold out much longer."

"What? But he was fine this morning..."

"Not anymore! Now hurry up and find someone. Xiao Zhan is in pain!" Yibo hissed making Bowen flinch.

"We have yet to find someone who will not try to take advant-"

"Who cares about that!? We can just lock her up until she signs a confidentiality contract or something. I will protect him so no one will take advantage of him. Just find a donor! Right now!" Yibo growled and run back into his room where he found Xiao Zhan standing at the same spot he left him before.

His legs were shaking.

"Bowen knows and will notify Her Majesty. I am sure they will find a donor right away." Yibo saw him frowning and smiled to calm him down. "Drinking blood is nothing bad. Sure, you will have to get used to it but it won't take long. Although you are half-human and lived like one all your life, you were born as a half-vampire. Your body will quickly get used to it. Believe me."

"It will hurt..."

"It won't hurt you."

"Not me... the donor..."

Yibo smiled softly, appreciating that Xiao Zhan was more worried about someone else than himself, despite being in pain.

"I doubt you will get a first-timer, so don't worry."

He looked at Yibo questioningly and grabbed his throat.

"It will hurt people who donate for the first time. Getting bitten for the first time can hurt, but it depends on how sensitive you are to pain and how aggressive the one who bites is. But you don't have to worry about that as you won't get bitten. You also won't get a first-timer to drink from but one who is experienced."

"Does it a-always hurt like this?"

Yibo shook his head. "We drink frequently so no, it usually doesn't. You only hurt because you are starving. Your body tells you what it wants and the longer it takes to drink, the more it hurts until you lose control. But don't worry, I won't let that happen. Trust me. The donor must already be on her way, so please bear with it for a short while."

I hated to see him so scared and confused and ... helpless. Inwardly he was cursing at Bowen for not being fast enough. Sure, the poor Butler couldn't possibly bring someone within a minute Yibo told him the situation but that wasn't Yibo's concern. For a moment he even thought to just grab a servant to bring her here.

Yibo saw Xiao Zhan's glassy eyes and was instantly worried.

"Xiao Zhan?" Yibo called him worriedly, couldn't take his eyes off him, Xiao Zhan wasn't meeting Yibo's eyes at all.

"Xiao Zhan?" He called him again and stepped forward.

Then it happened. Yibo was shocked about Xiao Zhan's strength but that was the only reaction he had before his back met the mattress. The Halfbreed's fangs dug into Yibo's fair skin and almost instantly the latter smelled blood. His own blood.

Yibo wasn't used to this feeling. He had never shared his blood with anyone except one person. Just once, when both had lost control. It happened almost 700 years back and Yibo barely remembered that night except for the pain he felt when she drank from him. It was amusing that Leo hated Yibo for that night even though he wasn't married to his wife back then. He didn't even meet her. But it seemed that meeting the love of his life would make you jealous even of past lovers, or in this case, an unwanted accident.

But it was surprising that Yibo didn't feel any pain today. Was it because Xiao Zhan was a halfbreed? Or was it because he did not yet undergo his transition? It didn't matter.

Xiao Zhan had a rather strong suction power and Yibo could have sworn he felt his blood leaving his veins, leaving his body, only for it to enter the greedy system of a hungry Xiao Zhan.

The vampire wasn't lying in a comfortable position and when he tried to find one, Xiao Zhan's nails dug into his shoulder as if he wanted to make sure Yibo wouldn't dare to move. The sucking became harder, more hectic and Xiao Zhan's body began to shake. Yibo understood.

"Shhht... it's okay... it's okay..." He gently patted the back of Xiao Zhan's head and stoke the latter's hair very softly until he visibly calmed down. He let the half-breed drink from him, not intending to push him away which maybe would have been a better option as his body started to react in a way Yibo didn't intend to. He didn't react like this in a very long time.

Yibo was a strong man. If not, he wouldn't have been called one of the strongest Vampire alive, he wouldn't have been made the Leader of the royal guards. Not only his body but also his mind was very powerful. Yibo had perfect control over both. Or so he thought until now. Today he was taught better when his body reacted in a way normal in such a situation. Normal for everyone but Yibo himself.

What was more embarrassing was that even Xiao Zhan wasn't reacting in such a way. Maybe the latter was too fixated on drinking or he simply had a much stronger mind than anyone else, including Yibo.

Yibo was surprised. He was confused and very much embarrassed. This feeling was foreign to him which was understandable for he last felt like this hundreds of years ago, when he was much younger than today. He wasn't old, but old enough to know that reacting like this was making him feel like he was a teenager. Or someone who didn't mind going further than just donating blood.

Thankfully, Xiao Zhan didn't seem to realize the condition of the much older man beneath him. He was busier to still his hunger, which worked pretty well until the tiredness overcame him. Yibo saw Xiao Zhan's glassy eyes clearing. They became normal and soon their gazes met for a short moment before Xiao Zhan fell asleep.

That content gaze of Xiao Zhan and his soft smile was something Yibo didn't expect. Or rather, he didn't expect that it would bother him so much. Yibo was not moving, it was like he was hypnotized by just one simple smile of Xiao Zhan's.

He thought that this was the first time he saw Xiao Zhan smiling in such a carefree and happy way. He thought that this look suited Xiao Zhan a lot. He thought that he would like to see that smile more often from now on.

But most importantly, Yibo thought that he needed to do something to take care of the rather embarrassing situation he found himself in. And he needed to do that before Xiao Zhan would wake up.

He thought hard about what to do, thinking of different methods to place the prince on his bed to not wake him up and most importantly, to make him sleep comfortably. He was so immersed in his thoughts, that he neither heard someone approaching and entering his room, nor how that person left rather quickly again without being noticed at all.

If Yibo would have realized he had lost track of his surroundings and time, he would have blamed himself for not doing his job and protecting Xiao Zhan enough. It didn't matter who the person was that intruded. So what if it was the Queen? It shouldn't have happened.

Butler Bowen saw Yibo vanishing right in front of his eyes making him understand that it was a pretty delicate situation. The prince needed a donor as soon as possible. Too bad Leo left already so all he could do was to either find a way to make Leo bring in a donor or find someone suitable within the palace walls. To find someone wouldn't be a problem. There were enough people inside the palace that could donate their blood, but who could make sure that they wouldn't make trouble?

Bowen knew every servant and he knew them well. They worked hard, rarely made a mistake and all of them were very helpful and friendly. But! None of them would miss a chance to get the royal's attention.

Bowen could list a few servants that openly tried to flirt with either the Queen or the King, even the princesses weren't pardoned when they visited.

It didn't mean that all of them were bad, not all of them had a hidden agenda. But one couldn't be careful enough and therefore none of them was a good choice.

Before finding a donor, Bowen had to notify the Queen which he did immediately. If she wasn't in the throne room, the king's office, or their bedroom, she could only be in three places.

The kitchen, sneaking around and trying to make the cook prepare something delicious for her, which he always did.

The Garden, walking around either alone to get some fresh air and relax from her stressful job as Queen or together with the King, having a little date with just the two of them.

Or she would be in the library where Bowen found her this time as well.

"Oh?" She looked up with a soft smile. "What happened for our Bowen to be in such a hurry? Don't tell me you are running away from an admirer. If yes, please do tell me her name. I would like to get to know her better."

"Not in this life," Bowen answered shortly.

"Well, I can't blame you. If I lose my Luo Jin, I won't ever be able to feel the joy of life."

"I am here because of Xiao Zhan. It seems he needs a donor."

"I know. I already sent out Leo to investigate and look fo-"

"Immediately." Bowen interrupted her. "Yibo came to me and said Xiao Zhan has no time. He is in pain and-"

Even before he finished the sentence, the Queen was gone. He didn't need to search for her to know where she went. Since the prince arrived here, her thoughts were mostly with Xiao Zhan. On him and the King, of course

Bowen stayed where he was until the Queen returned not long after. She came back and wore a surprised and relieved expression on her face. But there was something else, an expression he knew all too well. Curiosity and interest with a visible hint of mischievousness. Yes, Bowen saw a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, I shall look for a servant who-"

"No need. For the time being, Xiao Zhan is ... satiated. I guess we have a few months to find someone who could act as Xiao Zhan's personal donor. Or maybe we already found someone....?"

"Your Majesty? Did something happen?"

"If something happened, you ask.... Well, the prince was saved in time before he could undergo quite a few difficulties, that is for sure. But somehow I have the feeling new difficulties might emerge from today's actions."

"Pardon?" Bowen didn't understand the Queen, all he figured out was that there must have been someone who donated his or her blood to the prince just in time. Seeing the Queen not worrying about the who meant she trusted that person enough to believe he or she wouldn't take advantage.

"You know, dear Bowen, I know Yibo for so long. When I met that brat for the first time, he was still pooping in a diaper.."

"Your Majesty, please refrain from using such vulgar language. You are the Queen!" Bowen reprimanded.

"Oh, come on. You are the only one who listens and even if not, who would dare to reprimand their Queen for a little foul language?" She looked at Bowen. "Except you, of course."

"The King's father would be another." Bowen reminded her.

"True. He would be shocked and most certainly displeased with me but... I know a perfect way for him to forgive me everything."

Bowen sighed, giving up trying to lecture the Queen, who smiled at the butler's defeat.

"Anyway, I knew him for so long. You could say I am a second mother to him, although he would never dare to even think of me like, he would never dare to drop honorifics or not call me by my title..." She frowned in displeasure before she smiled again.

"And because I know him so well, I know what kind of person he is, I know what he did over the years and I know what he did not. Yibo is a person who would never act rashly, he would never let people treat him with disrespect of any kind. He would never do someone a favor unless Luo Jin or I ask him to, he also would never get bribed by anyone. He is the most loyal to us. Even more than Xuan Lu."

She frowned again. "This brat should have arrived already... where is she? What is she doing? She said she would come right away...?"

She shook her head and concentrated on what he wanted to say before her thoughts of her oldest daughter interrupted her.

"He is almost obsessed with his work as a guard, he loves it that much. For him, he has no time for anything else but for that. If he has no task, he would train until he had one. He would train or read something that would profit him during training or in combats."

"Your Majesty, may I ask what it is you are trying to tell me?"

The Queen smiled. "Nothing. I am just... think of me as a mother who was able to find out something new about her oldest son."

"And that is?"

"I found out that our Yibo is not as cold as most people think. He is good at hiding his emotions. He is so good, that I too thought he was rather cold. I thought, except for his job, he would never be interested in something else. But today... today I saw him in a different light and I have a feeling from now on we will see many new sides of him."

Bowen tried to figure out what the Queen meant. "Yibo donated his blood his Highness, I presume?

The Queen didn't answer but the glint in her eyes was answer enough. Seeing her like this made Bowen feel that a lot of things would happen shortly. Changes would accrue.

"Did you find out anything?" The Queen asked and her voice was colder than just seconds before. Bowen understood the change of topic immediately.

"I found the guard. He is working here for roughly 100 years. He is the youngest legitimate son of a rather prominent family. His father is one of the ministers. I assume the Prime Minister met him due to that. His family isn't poor and they have enough influence that there wouldn't profit much by getting bribed so I don't know what would make him switch sides. Shall I get rid of him right away or do you want to interview him?"

"Neither."

"Then...?"

"Ignore him." The Queen ordered.

"Your Majesty! We can't possibly let-"

"We can and we will. We need him. If he is gone, how will the Prime Minister sneak in his daughter? Ignore him for now, but keep an eye on him. I have a feeling that it won't take long for those people to act."

Bowen knew the Queen had her reasons, she had a plan, an evil one. Or maybe not. She wasn't even doing anything. She was helping people to get what they wanted after all. Or rather, what they deserved. He knew of that plan as well but he still thought it could be a danger to the crown prince.

"Do I look like I would endanger him?" The Queen asked gently.

"No, you wouldn't."

"Exactly, so follow the plan. It's time for all of us to have a little fun. Everyone in a different way."

"Do you think it will turn out how you want it to?"

"It will." The Queen smiled. "It definitely will."

The Queen was a good person, friendly, charming, funny, and mischievous. She spread happiness wherever she could. She also was smart, serious, and determined. Although she wasn't very fond of being the Queen she accepted that title and her job, because leaving the King wasn't an option. Rather would she die. And being Queen had a few advantages too. Despite having a lot do to and being under stress, she still smiled and was able to joke around.

She was the perfect Queen, the perfect wife, the perfect mother.

But she could do it differently too and right now, that smile on her face, wasn't a friendly one. If someone threatened her, the King, her family, or anyone dear to her... pray. That was all you could do. Not that it would help much.

The Queen was a very protective woman. Protective of everyone dear to her. If she had to, she would turn evil just to protect them. But the plan wasn't necessarily an evil one.

The Queen had learned from the past...

"Then we shall wait and see." Bowen bowed and the Queen nodded with a smile.

To be continued...

We all know Yibo is a little slow (Well, Xiao Zhan can be too... ) but don't u worry, more YiZhan will be in the next chapter. 

Actually, a lot will happen in the upcoming chapters. Three main-events. 

Who can guess what those are?

If you liked this chapter feel free to leave a vote and a comment or two ... or three.