I clenched my jaw and Lucien glared at a spot on the far wall of the Meeting room that was empty now.

"Come on, Lucien, let's get out of here." I sighed. I'm not in the best of moods either.

"I'm taking out Veta, I'll be back.....sometime before tomorrow morning." He informed me in a clipped tone and I nodded, knowing that he needed it more than me as his outlet to calm down. He headed to the stables without another word. 

I walked out of the room as well, frustrated and ran a hand through my jet black hair.

I can't believe this.

How could my father side by Minister Gallum's strategy? This was outrageous and Lucien was pissed. He was the General, and for the first time in about a century, his strategy or voice had been overruled. Usually, I was the impulsive one. The one who had anger issues and couldn't control his temper. Though Lucien wasn't being transparent about his anger and embarrassment, his demeanor was more clipped than usual and his jaw was clenched so tightly the second Minister Gallum was approved, I though it would lock.

It was only natural that when Gallum suggested we send more troops to the neutral territory and our borders instead of keeping them at the Palace, Lucien and I saw it as senseless and if anything, leaving our Palace gates unfortified. Those places had enough troops, more weren't required. the Palace was a priority that had to be taken into consideration. 

The moment a Palace falls, is the moment a kingdom is truly lost.

So my father agreeing to send more troops to the neutral territory and Celera's borders at the suggestion of Minister Gallum was a surprise in itself. If he wanted to consider Gallum's plans usually, he never ignored what I had to say in the matter as the Prince. Let alone overruling Lucien's opinions.

And its no secret how much Minister Gallum and Lucien hate each other. I'm no exception but being a political figure, trying to act at least civil towards any member of any court is mandatory for me.  For all we know, he's secretly conspiring against the Celeran court and wants the Palace unguarded for some other reason. After all in Royal power play, betrayal can come even from blood.

I'm not the best person when it comes to making calculated decisions, that's how Lucien and I balance out each other. 

If he's a man of few words, I'm one of too many. If he's a cold person, I'm wickedly sinful. If he's unsociable, I'm the flirt. If he's the strategist, I'm the catalyst. If he's feared, I'm fawned. If he's the collected one, I'm the mess. If he's quick and brutally clean, I'm slow and painfully messy for my victim. If he's calculated, I'm the one who's impulsive. 

But we're both powerful and intimidating. Only, we have different roles to fulfill. And those require different traits. But I love him like the brother he's been to me since the start. It's surprising, I know. I'm a cold vampire and vampires don't have a heart to feel love. But we're different. Lucien and me, our bond isn't formed from a few conversations , its based on compatibility and unfathomable loyalty that's been ingrained in us since more than a century.

So, though I'm not feeling the decision as deeply as Lucien is as the General of the Army, I am feeling my fair share of anger and frustration at the unreasonable decision. If there was perhaps a reason, I'd be fine with it. But that's not the case. Still, knowing my father, in this regard I know there's something deeper but Lucien isn't thinking straight. Once he cools down though, then he'll see reason.

But till then, I needed to let out my frustration as well. And I was hungry.

My eyes automatically turned darker and lightning like strikes of electricity danced in them

So using my speed I ran out in a blur till I detected a familiar sweet scent of blood.

Before anyone realized anything, I had my prey by her shoulders and with my extended fangs I punctured her soft skin. Her shrill cry filled the hallways but I paid it no mind, instead I started to suck, knowing the slave would comply.

But then something weird happened.

An extremely intoxicating scent of unfamiliar blood entered my nostrils.

Like lemons and lilacs and sweet honey. 

And the presence that was emanating this scent of unique blood was paying attention to me. I could feel it. How the person's eyes were trained on me, could hear the female's pounding heartbeat, could feel the blood pumping through her veins.

Slowly, I raised my head, my jet black hair falling over my eyes in a hooded manner and my eyes latched onto captivating jade green ones. And somehow, that made the lightning sizzling in my blue eyes even starker and wilder.

I stared at her intensely as I sucked my prey's blood mercilessly. My eyes seemed to have a will of their own, not deterring from the girl's eyes. Onyx black hair was in a tight bun and some stray strands framed her pale face. Hollow cheeks, frail body, a good height and......

A Silern dagger clutched in her hands?

The moment she noticed my eyes travelling down, she swiftly hid the dagger beneath her clothes and I narrowed my eyes. Wait, what?

When my eyes locked with hers again, I realized something.

I was craving. Craving her sweet scenting blood and the intoxicating pull her blood had towards my carnal side. I wanted to drink from her. I wanted a taste of that very blood.

The realization was like a kick to my stomach. How long had it been since I craved something? Truly craved it?

But I had made up my mind, and I knew. Sooner or later, I'd be tasting the lemon and honey scented female and her blood that sang to me. 

And my eyes conveyed the same sinful promise to her that she seemed to be able to read, her heart rate picking up as she gulped tightly. She was starting to feel afraid, yet she didn't avert her eyes. Interesting.

A vase on the far end fell and broke. I blinked. 

Shit. 

My powers. How could I so get carried away that my power was unleashed without my consent and control? That was.....unnatural and unusual. Having lived with the power of controlling deadly lightning for more than five centuries, I've gotten quite the control over it.

Slowly, without taking my eyes off the green eyed girl, I retracted my fangs from my prey's neck and slowly and sensually licked the blood that poured out of the wounds. My prey whimpered but the green eyed girl's lips parted as she watched the movement and a shaky breath was released.

And I hated how I loved it. How I was craving even that reaction from her. I slowly smirked when her eyes were back on mine.

I let go of my prey in a rough motion and took a slow step towards the girl I had my eyes on. Instead of breaking eye contact or cowering away in fear or backing away, if it was possible, her chin rose the slightest bit. She wasn't trying to get attention, no. But she wasn't giving in either. 

My smirk grew.

 There was nothing special about her. Yet her blood sang to me. Her mere presence attracted my attention and that in itself was nothing normal.

But before I could do more, a voice I was in no mood to hear called out, "Ah! Prince Damien! There you are! I've been looking for you and the General for quite a bit."

"Couldn't you keep on looking?" I gritted out without thinking about formalities for once. 

This was not the time for me to face Minister Gallum again. I was trying to calm down after what he'd managed to pull, but by interrupting me when this green eyed girl was calling out to me, would surely get a rash decision from me.

I took a deep breath and the girl glanced momentarily at Minister Gallum. Something like recognition flashed in her eyes.

Hmmmm.

She glanced at me once before she lowered her eyes, finally breaking our contact and backed away into the shadows submissively. Almost as if trying to blend in with them. Her persona too seemed to have changed from when it was just me and her. And I didn't know why, but I hated it. My anger rose.

"Now, now, no need to be rude, Your Majesty." Gallum's tone was reprimanding. I turned around slowly to face him, my hand clutching the pommel of my sword till my knuckles turned white. There was more than enough reason for me to be rude. I swallowed my anger. Or at least I tried.

"Any reason for you seeking me out, Minister Gallum?" I gave him a sharp smile and my voice was edged with hostility and impatience. He smiled smugly.

He ignored me and glanced about the deserted hallway. I narrowed my eyes. The audacity of this asshole! 

"General Lucien doesn't seem to be with you?"

I clenched my jaw. The asshole was rubbing it in.

"Ah, I see. He's bitter, perhaps, over what happened? Taken Veta out, has he?" His voice was laced with smugness and triumph was written on his face.

My nostrils flared and my gritted my teeth before I gave him a fanged grin. "Well, unlike you, he's not experienced in that regard and never will be. He's feeling one-hundredth of what you've been feeling for the past centuries since you got undermined by him, so it's only natural."

Minister Gallum turned red and glared at me. I politely smiled back.

As polite as you can look when you're flashing your fangs.

"Now, why are you here? "I asked seriously and rose a brow.

He sneered, "Your father requested the General and your presence in his chambers. I wonder why?" There was another triumph gleam in his eyes and I narrowed my eyes dangerously at him. He bowed and exited.

I made my way out in the silent hallway and before I turned the corner, I stopped to glance back at the sweet smelling human.

She was looking right back.

I smirked daringly at her.

I'd be back for you, my sweet.

•○•

I narrowed my eyes at my father as he took a measured sip of the dark liquid and I took a seat beside him.

"So, what, was the reason, Father?"

He glanced at me, "Impatient much?"

I gritted my teeth. This day was wearing on my nerves now.

He sighed. "Everything I do, I do for the welfare of Celera. And it has a reason, Damien." 

I couldn't argue with that. No matter how my father was, he loved the kingdom. He was a vampire yes, but his loyalty for Celera was surprisingly sincere. That's exactly why I wanted in on the reason as soon as possible.

"Yes, father, I'm aware."

He looked out of the window. "Do you know the Witchlands representative bailed?"

I frowned, "What? When?"

He took a deep breath. "We got the message yesterday."

"So, only Arion will be there?" I couldn't help my snarl. I hated that bastard. After THE Battle, he had a kingdom he had to rule and his rankings just went higher. Like that other bastard. But Lucien remained true to his word and our friendship, still his name was always as a General and I know the Fae would have preferred having him on their side. And me? I was still a fucking Prince.

I didn't crave having the power of a King because it came with many responsibilities and neither did I have problems regarding the throne with either or my parents. And I had no siblings so I was the only heir.

But I did not like being undermined by that Fae bastard. In any way. 

My hatred was on a complete different level and for a different reason. 

"Yes, Damien." King Harold rolled his eyes and I looked away.

"Anyways, sending our troops to the border and the neutral territories is the smart move right now."

"My only question is, why?" I asked my father with narrowed eyes. He narrowed his own at me in return before rolling them.

"I wonder where you get that authoritative attitude from...." He mumbled to himself while taking another sip from the glass and I couldn't help but snicker. "The Palace can't be protected when it will come down to that but the borders can."

"Can't be–What?" I was truly confused for I couldn't understand what he meant.

King Harold steeled his back and looked at me. "The witches switch sides as fast as a chameleon switches colors. Those who are not loyal to us, will go up against us and the other territories. We need to ally with the Fae no matter what so the meeting we were to have in three days will still happen but only with the Fae King."

"And the Werewolves?" I asked, understanding his words towards the witches but not liking the way this conversation was heading in. 

My father's features hardened. 

I sighed. "Still can't get a hold of him? I don't know how he actually manages his territory without even interacting with the masses."

My father threw back his glass of Fae wine and gulped it down in one swift move before looking out of the window towards the Palace gates again. I kept my eyes on him.

"He's rising, Damien."

My blood went cold. "What?" That couldn't possibly be. "Impossible. And if it's indeed true....then neither of us supernaturals can take him on. We all know that. The last time....But I thought...." I scowled and my breathing pattern increased. It had been horrible.

My father didn't respond for a few minutes then: "I know, son. But it's true."

"Gallum knew, didn't he? Why does he know stuff Lucien and I should've known from the start?" I narrowed my eyes, things a bit clearer yet blurred.

"There are reasons for everything, Damien. And you're forgetting he's one of the oldest living vampires."

"But I'm one of those that actually fought." I growled, unable to contain my growing anger anymore.

My father gave me a cold look. "You don't know a lot. And it will remain that way till she chooses to reveal the truth herself."

"She? What am I not aware of? Father!" I knew my anger was getting the best of me but I closed my eyes and took one last deep breath and asked a question I hoped he would gave me a clear answer to. The one that seemed the most important among the other questions that were bubbling inside me.

"How will we even defeat him this time around?" My voice grew quieter.

My father's cobalt blue eyes that mirrored my own, looked into mine with something odd in them. "Lucifer's son is rising. Killian will not rest until he achieves his goal." He narrowed his eyes. "And the queen needs to gather her army." 

I frowned, much more confused than before. I wanted a straight answer. Not another riddle to confuse me further.

What exactly is brewing in the world of Vammal? 

•○•

AN~ 

Thank you for so many reads and votes and comments you amazing guys! Please keep it up! I know, cliffhanger right?! What do you think is going on? So much mystery no??? And besides, it was such a long chapter too and a cliffhanger you'll probably have to endure for some bit. Hope you're liking it so far though. 

Anyways, please lemme know what you think of this chapter. And do vote and comment and share!

~Skyler