■ TWELVE ■

"Are you sure?" He asked, his hand tapping on the arm of his throne.

"Yes, my Lord" the blonde haired Vampire said, glancing briefly in my direction.

"When will the priestess arrive?" The King asked, drawing the Vampires eyes back to him.

"Three days time" the blonde replied.

I shifted uncomfortable on the throne that had appeared out of nowhere. Clearly, the King had prepared for the slight chance I might've said yes to his proposal. I mean I did, but that wasn't the point.

The crown on my head seemed heavy and weighed me down terribly, I glanced at Mekhi. He was used to wearing the crown but it sat crooked on his head, forcing his black hair into his eyes.

I tuned out their conversation and tried to remember why I had agreed to being the Vampire Queen.

I wasn't a Vampire but somehow I knew that was going to change at some point. I would've been scared, I would've begged to remain human but I had nothing left to be human for.

Mekhi had told me he would guide me through the transition of maid to Queen and from Human to Vampire.

The blonde Vampire bowed and walked away and I glanced back at Mekhi. His hood was drawn and the royal rings on his fingers glinted in the light. "I don't think this is for me" I said quietly.

The King didn't look at me but tilted his head to let me know he heard. "This is just so you can get used to being up here and dealing with matters of great importance" he replied. 

I frowned. "My Lord, I do not know enough about this world or Vampires for that matter to be making decisions like a Queen has to" I replied.

He glanced at me. Silver to blue. "I suppose you're correct," he trailed off, looking away.

"My King" a voice announced.

We both looked up to see an old man, stretching out a huge grin on his face. "Henry! What brings you here?" The King asked, straightening in his chair.

"I heard you found a Queen, news travels fast for us Vampires, you know that" the man, Henry said.

"She is not yet crowned, this is Celene" the King said, introducing me to him.

I wondered who he was to have the King's friendship and respect. "Hello" I said, looking back at the old man.

He grinned. "You are truly stunning, my lady" he said, bowing his head in respect.

I looked down at his compliment. The King watched Henry carefully as if looking for his approval. I made a mental note to ask him about it. "I have conducted a beautiful song and would appreciate if both the King and Queen would dance to it" Henry said, shooting the King a smile.

Mekhi's fingers twitched. "I'm afraid neither of us are quit-" he was saying before I cut him off.

"We'd be honoured" I said firmly, standing up.

The King looked at me, narrowing his silver eyes. Henry bowed as I gestured to the floor. Sighing, the King stood up and lended me his elbow.

We walked down the stairs to stand in front of the musician. "I hope you know how to dance because if you make a fool of me-" the King was saying as the music began.

Mekhi and I joined together and began to dance. I knew how to dance. After years of sitting in front of the television and watching dance shows, I picked it up quite easy. "You continue to surprise me" the King muttered.

"I will take that as a good thing, you might need to believe in me if you want me to succeed in being crowned" I said firmly as we danced.

Mekhi seemed to pull me closer. "I could easily replace you" he replied.

A shot of hurt ran through me but I squashed it down. "If you wanted to replace me, you would've done it already" I replied as the King dipped me slowly.

I came back up and Mekhi definitely held me closer, his voice and cheek brushing my ear.
"I see you already assume you know me, just because I asked you to be my Queen and just because you know my name does not mean you know me" he said in my ear.

A shiver went down my spine. Two could play at that game. I leaned in closer too. "Just because you can read my thoughts and just because I agreed to be your Queen, does not mean you own me, I have always been free.. I've chosen to stay here" I replied in his ear.

I pulled away and spun, laughing as Mekhi caught me. He dipped me again and the song finished, my hand on the King's chest. "I do own you Celene, I think you keep forgetting that" he growled.

"Whatever you want to think, my Lord" I said before giving him a wink.

I pulled away and turned to Henry. "That was beautiful, I adored it" I said gently.

Two pink spots showed on his cheeks. "Thank you, my Lady" he said, bowing.

Glancing back at the King, his silver eyes watched me. "My King" I said teasingly as I sunk into a curtsey.

I smiled as I strode from the room. I continued down the hall and spotted Natalie dusting some shelves. "Natalie!" I exclaimed.

She turned around and her eyes widened. "My lady" she said quickly, curtseying.

"Don't curtsey, it's just me" I said, frowning.

The head maid cleared her throat. "You afe the future Queen Celene, you're no longer a maid, I need to show respect" she said stiffly.

"Not when it's just us, you don't, we're friends" I replied.

She seemed to relax but immediately straightened her back. "My King" she said, her eyes darting over my shoulder.

I whirled around and Mekhi stood in the entrance, his silver eyes stormy and sparking like lightning. "Natalie, please continue your duties.." he said, firmly.

I frowned and Natalie curtsied and scuttled off. I folded my arms. "I was just saying hello" I said as he slowly slunk into the room.

He suddenly reminded me of a tiger, watching me closely. "You're trouble" he said calmly.

I raised my chin. "Did you just figure that out?" I asked, a little sarcastic.

"I am still your King, and you still need to show me a sign of respect, you are not my Queen yet" he growled.

I bit my lip, drawing his eyes to it. "Henry took a liking to you, says you have spirit and thunder in your soul" the King continued, stepping even closer.

"I was not aware that I was to be pleasing him" I replied, stiffly.

Mekhi stood in front of me and reached up to grasp my jaw. He held it gently but somehow I could feel his touch burn my skin. "You are to please no one but I" he replied, harshly.

Inner me laughed and it couldn't help but bubble out. "I'm glad the dance had any effect on you" I replied, as he held me still.

He leaned in. "That was not very lady-like to leave a man like that" he said, leaning closer still.

Our mouths were a breath apart. "Whoever told you I was a lady, seriously lied" I replied.

In one swoop, he captured my mouth and forced me back. My back hit the wall behind me as Mekhi deepened the kiss. He groaned as my hands went to his hair and accidentally knocked off his crown. It fell to the floor with a clang but neither of us cared.

He let go of my jaw and bent a little, picking me up and holding me firmer against the wall. I wrapped my legs around him, as much as I could in this ridiculous dress.

Mekhi left my lips and pressed hot kisses down my neck until his stopped at what I knew he felt my pulse. He pulled away abruptly but I held him. "It's okay, I'm not scared" I said, as his upper lip began to pull back.

His eye widened as I leaned in and kissed him, deliberately knicking my tongue on one of his fangs. Mekhi moaned. Pulling away, I gazed at him.

I wasn't scared at all, I felt at peace. "Don't take too much" I said, before tilting my head.

"Celene" he rasped out.

"It's okay" I promised.

Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to my pulse and I closed my eyes before wincing as his fangs pierced my skin. A drawn out gasp left me, as ecstasy filled my entire body.

He held me tightly for a moment and my eyes rolled back before he pulled away, licking his lips. The sight of blood always had made me hurl in the past but now it was incredibly hot. It was either the pleasure running through my half running brain or something else completely that made me pull Mekhi back into a kiss. My blood stained both our mouths and I felt high.

I never wanted this feeling to end..

A/N

Another chapter... ooo..
I wonder what's going to happen next!

Stay tuned!
Also I totally would make out with Mekhi if he drank my blood and wanted to kiss me. He's like super hot.

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Lots of love, Tavana xoxoxox