How do I start my mission without raising the suspicion of the sharp-eyed vampire demon sitting across from me? We’ve been in the drawing room for almost half an hour, and Chaos hasn’t uttered a single word. Instead, he’s been staring at me like a hawk since he walked in. Doesn’t he know it’s rude to stare? Or has old age caught up to him so much that he doesn’t even realize how uncomfortable I am?
I glanced at him suspiciously. He’s undeniably handsome—the kind of face that would make most females swoon. But his rigid personality and piercing gaze make it hard to appreciate his looks. Why did he even invite me here? To intimidate me? Well, guess what, dude? I’m not scared. Not even a little.
I stared back at him, refusing to blink. I made sure to look as fierce as possible. I’m not going to lose to you, bro.
He must have noticed my defiance because his gaze sharpened, and his face flushed slightly. Hah! He’s struggling to keep up with me. I was on the verge of victory when the door suddenly opened, causing me to blink involuntarily.
I lost.
Servants filed into the room, carrying trays of food. My stomach growled at the sight, betraying me completely. I shot Chaos a glare. This had to be planned. He distracted me by having the servants interrupt our staring contest, and it worked. Ugh, I hate losing!
“Eat,” he said, his voice calm but commanding.
“Why?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. Was this some kind of trick?
“You’re hungry.”
“I’m not,” I lied, just as my stomach growled again. Even my own body was against me.
“Eat,” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Reluctantly, I picked up the spoon and fork. There was no point in pretending anymore. I was starving. I started with the soup, then moved on to the beef, pork, and chicken. Every dish was cooked to perfection—no burnt edges, no undercooked meat. This must be one of the perks of being royalty. As I devoured the food, I noticed Chaos had stopped eating. A faint smirk played on his lips. Is he laughing at me?
“Is there something funny?” I asked, offended.
“You,” he replied without hesitation.
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t get me wrong,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I just appreciate that you don’t pretend in front of me.”
Is he calling me shameless? I grabbed a glass of water and drank deeply, then wiped my mouth with the napkin. “Why did you invite me here?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground.
He studied me for a moment, his crimson eyes intense. “I wanted to spend time with you.”
Okay… I searched his face for any hint of sarcasm or deception, but his expression was unreadable. “Why do you want to spend time with me?”
“I want to know more about you.”
“Why?” Does he still think I’m a spy?
“Because you’re my mate,” he said, his voice low and steady.
My breath hitched. I couldn’t deny the intense emotions I’d felt when I was with him—the way his touch sent shivers down my spine, the way his presence made my heart race. But I couldn’t let myself get swept away. Not again.
“Says who?” I challenged, trying to distract myself from the memories.
“You,” he replied simply.
What? Did I say something to him while I was unconscious? Or during… that moment? “Me? When?”
Instead of answering, he stood and walked over to me. He leaned down, his face inches from mine, and gently cupped my cheek. Before I could react, he kissed me—a deep, passionate kiss that left me breathless. It lasted only a minute, but it felt like an eternity. When he finally pulled away, he whispered, “I have to leave now, love.”
And just like that, he was gone, leaving me flustered and frustrated. Ugh, can’t he stop messing with me?
After finishing my meal, I decided to visit the garden to clear my head before returning to my room. But as I walked down the hallway, a group of female vampires blocked my path.
“Bitch!” the one with yellow hair sneered. I couldn’t help but notice her hair was clearly dyed, as were the others’. They looked like a walking rainbow. Not that I had anything against hair dye—I had red hair, after all—but their color choices were… questionable.
“Yeah, bloodsucker?” I shot back.
“How dare you!” the green-haired one snapped. “Do you even know who we are?”
I tilted my head, pretending to think. “Uh… no.”
My answer only made them angrier. They huddled together, whispering furiously. I caught snippets of their conversation:
“I told you it’s impossible.”
“I can’t fathom why the King would like her.”
“She looks dumb.”
Careful, girls. You’re treading on thin ice.
Finally, they turned back to me, their noses in the air. “It seems we’ve had a misunderstanding,” the blue-haired one said. “There’s no way the King actually likes you.”
“You’re a wolf,” the yellow-haired one added.
“You’re dumb,” the green-haired one chimed in.
“And your hair is red,” the blue-haired one finished.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. I really didn’t have time for this drama. I tried to walk past them, but the blue-haired one grabbed my arm.
“What’s so special about you?” she demanded. “Don’t think the King actually likes you! He’s never paid attention to any female demon.”
Great. “Do you know why?” I asked, curious despite myself.
“Because the daughter of the prime minister likes him,” she said smugly.
For some reason, my stomach twisted into knots. Did I overeat?
“Are they engaged?” I asked.
“No.”
“Are they together?”
“No.”
“Are they even dating?”
“No, but—”
“Then the King is free to be with anyone he likes,” I said calmly. “Even a red-haired wolf.”
I pulled my arm free and walked away, not wanting to hear anything else that might ruin my day.
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