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Chapter 16 - The Legend of the First Wolfen also posted on Radish today! This is Sylvan and Aerine's story told by the Wolfen who are their direct descendants.

For those who have been my followers for a while, Sylvan's story was supposed to be the prequel to The King's Slave and then the Heart of a King the sequel to TKS. But I cannot continue Sylvan's story (For Eternity) for a long time so I removed it for now. Someday soon, I may continue it.

But the legend of Sylvan and Aerine's story is in Chapter 16 of The Heart of a King and it's the longest chapter in this book so far. Please head over to Radish! I would appreciate it if you can buy the chapter. Thanks! <3



CHAPTER 12 – MINE

Castle Xanthe City of Aphelion, Wolfen Territory The Realm of Xathos

"You were thrashing in bed just a moment ago," Dimitrios told Ailara in a calm tone.

Ailara dropped her gaze and looked at the bed. The furs were scattered everywhere and the sheets were twisted in her legs.

Immediately, she felt her face flame.

"I was having a bad dream," she answered calmly.

"You were calling my name in your dream."

"It was a nightmare, then," she retorted

The corner of Dimitrios' lips turned up in a smile. For a moment, Ailara was stunned. This was the first time he smiled at her like that. Come to think of it, since she became a prisoner in this place, this was the first time she's seen him smile.

Then, she realized the consequences of that crooked smile and she flushed.

He knew.

"Are you sure it was a dream, Ailara? Because I could smell your desire and how wet you are right now underneath all that clothing."

Good thing she was saved in replying when the door burst open. Several of Dimitrios' warriors filed into the small room. Instinctively, Ailara backed away. Dimitrios stood up and faced the warriors.

"My king, we just came here to thank the Vampyr," one of the warriors said.

Ailara's jaw fell. "What?" she whispered.

From behind one of the warriors, emerged a child. Ailara recognized him as the one the Cerran captured—the one she saved.

"If it weren't for the Vampyr, my son would have been taken away from me," the same warrior spoke.

"Thank you for saving our children and also our elders," another warrior added. Ailara observed that they all looked uneasy. Perhaps it was hard for them to thank a Vampyr. Even harder because now they would think they owed her a life debt.

Then, they crossed their right arm over their chests and bowed to her.

"Errr..." Ailara mumbled. She was dumbfounded at the situation and words escaped her.

"Your gratitude is noted." Dimitrios answered for her.

He nodded and the warriors started filing out of the room. The child Ailara saved waved at her before he exited the tower.

There was silence for a long time before Dimitrios sat by the edge of the bed once more. He just sat there, still as a stone, as he looked out the window directly at the moon.

"I'm not sure if I understand..." he said softly after a length of silence.

"Understand what?" she asked.

"What your motives are," Dimitrios replied. He faced her and the ocean-blue eyes she loved so much were hard as stone. Lesser men and women would have flinched and backed down from his intense stare.

"I saved your people, Dimitrios. That's it." It was Ailara's turn to look out the window so she wouldn't be the subject of his gaze.

"I know you saved my people. But, why?"

She did not reply.

"Why, Ailara? When you led the slaughter that decimated almost half of my kingdom before? Why did you save them when you have been with Heilen all these years?"

Ailara leaned against the wall. She lifted her knees and wrapped her arms around them.

"Perhaps because all you know about me was wrong?" she answered softly.

And for a long, long time... there was silence once more. But it was not uncomfortable. It was not stifling. It felt just... right.

Then, Dimtrios spoke. "How would I know when you don't tell me anything?"

Because I can't.

Ailara closed her eyes and leaned her head against her knees. No matter how much she wished she could tell Dimitrios everything that happened, she literally can't. Heilen's enchantments bound her to him.

She winced as she remembered the cruel king. Tears filled her eyes as she recalled how he got into her head again earlier.

"Tell me this, Ailara. Why did you save my people tonight?"

Silence.

"Is this a ploy for me to trust you? Or do you want me to let you go? Let me tell you this: I will never let you go."

One lone tear made its way down her cheek. Good thing her head was bowed and he wasn't able to see this one weakness.

"I can't tell you the truth you seek, Dimitrios. And even if I was able to tell you, you would never believe me..."

"I still want to know."

"What's the point then? Me telling you when you won't believe a word I say and you'll still refuse to let me go. I'm just transferring from one prison to another."

Dimtri frowned. "Prison? What prison?"

Ailara waved her hand to indicate the entire room. "This."

Dimtrios stood.

"I always get what I want, Ailara," he snarled. Ailara tried her best to ignore him and looked away.

"From now on, you won't be fed anything else but my blood—" Dimitrios held up a hand when Ailara opened her mouth to speak.

"I will bond you to me in the Vampyr way. You will drink nothing else but my blood. You will crave me, be dependent on me. I will have you bound to me. And maybe when you are in so deep, you will do everything I ask."

Shock had her bolting upright. "Dimitrios, no! Please!"

In the blink of an eye, Dimitrios moved from the door and then stood in front of her. His hands gripped her arms tightly.

"You don't have the right to call me by my name. Let me remind you that you are my prisoner. I am your king," he spat.

Then, he pushed her back to the bed and exited the room. She cried until she fell asleep and until the nightmare of reality shifted into peaceful dreams where she was back in Dimtrios' arms.

☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾

Ailara woke up in the middle of the day.

Even though the drapes were closed, she knew it was daylight. It was something instinctive for the Vampyr. She should be in deep sleep now but something woke her up. The same thing made her feel uneasy – as if there was something wrong.

Right on cue, she heard a roar from the other room.

Ailara moved the blankets away and stood. She crept towards the door and listened for any guards. She heard no one talking and heard no heartbeats. It was probably because everyone stayed late last night because it was the night of the full moon and also because of the Cerran attacks.

Maybe the warriors just went to their beds when dawn broke.

Slowly, Ailara opened the door. She was surprised when she realized it wasn't locked.

First, she checked if any of the windows were open. When there were none, she slowly walked towards the direction of the sound she heard. She heard another roar and this one sounded even more agonized than the one before.

At the end of the narrow corridor, Ailara found another door. Finding it unlocked as well, she crept inside...

...And saw Dimitrios.

He wore only his breeches and his body was covered in sweat. The covers were twisted around his legs and the top half of his body was fully uncovered. He thrashed and clawed at his chest leaving red streaks on his skin.

Without further thought, Ailara approached his bed. Cautious against touching him, she stood a safe distance.

"Dimitrios!" she called out.

He was still gripped inside the nightmare and continued clawing at his chest. "Dimitrios!" she repeated. This time louder.

Ailara made the mistake of stepping closer. The king bolted upright and grabbed her in his sleep. He twisted and she ended up beneath him. His eyes were open but they seemed to be unfocused

"Dimit—"

"Ailara? What are you doing here?" he whispered. He looked around his room, confused.

"I heard you and went to investigate," she answered. He still didn't move off of her and she wasn't sure she wanted him to leave. Ailara recalled her vivid dreams but nothing compared to feeling Dimitrios' entire body against her.

She could feel every inch of him that was molded to her body. She could feel his erection pressing against her core. Just like in her dreams, she wanted to move her hips against him.

He must've realized the scandalous position they were in for he quickly stood up and moved away.

"Don't ever come here again," he spat. Dimitrios grabbed a cloth from beside the bed and wiped away his sweat. He also splashed some water on his face.

"Yes, my king," she answered.

She moved towards the door but Dimitrios stopped her. "Wait," he called out.

She turned and faced him once more. He now sat on the edge of the bed and held out his wrist. "Drink," he commanded.

Ailara shook her head. "I think I've had enough last night, my king. No need to feed me again so soon."

"Drink," he repeated. "It is a command. Not a request. The more blood you take, the sooner you'll be bonded to me fully."

Ailara's eyes widened. "Please, Dimitr—"

"What did you call me?"

Ailara bowed her head. "Please, my king." She corrected herself. "Don't do this."

One elegant eyebrow rose. "Why not?"

"I don't want to be dependent on anyone."

"But this is different, is it not? I am bonding you to me."

Ailara shook her head once more. "A Vampyr bonding is sacred. It is blessed by Selene. It is only for mates," she answered.

Dimitrios inclined his head to the side. "Good then. You are still technically my mate in the eyes of the law."

"But, my king!"

"The law, Ailara. Be sure you remember that. You are mine in the eyes of the law. You are my mate. But only in the eyes of the law and never in my own. Now, drink!" he commanded.

"Please... You do not know the consequences of doing this," she warned.

Dimitrios smiled. "Are you sure about that?" he taunted. "Oh but I know, Ailara. I know all about it," he answered.

At those words, Ailara was rendered speechless once more.

He couldn't know about Vampyr bonding, surely?

But maybe he did.

Maybe when he was younger, he was also educated about the Vampyr culture for he was supposed to rule both the kingdom of the Vampyr and the Wolfen. When she was younger, she also had to learn about the Wolfen culture and their traditions. And even now, several years forward, she still couldn't forget all she learned for everything was very fascinating to her.

"You are not ready to face those consequences," she countered. She hoped he would falter and that would show that he was just bluffing and really knew nothing about Vampyr bonding.

She was referring to how the sharing of blood always led to sex for the bonding cannot be completed with just sharing blood. Also, the ultimate pleasure could be achieved when sharing blood during the act.

One more thing was that drinking a mate's blood for a long period of time triggered a Vampyr female's heat and made her fertile.

But that was for Vampyr couples. They were a different case. There was never a Vampyr-Wolfen hybrid before so being fertile might not be a problem for them—if ever something actually happened between them.

Once more, past insecurities rose up. She loved Dimitri with all her heart when they were younger. She used to think he was the moon of her life—she wouldn't exist without him. She cannot wait to be married to him fully and rule by his side.

But then they were both condemed to live a barren and childless life. It was a sad thought back then but now perhaps it's for the better. If Dimitrios truly wanted to bind her to him then sex would inevitably be involved.

She didn't want to include a child in their messed-up situation.

Dimitrios' eyebrow rose again and the corner of his lips lifted in a smirk. "Who said there was going to be any consequences?" he asked in a low voice.

Ailara reeled as if she'd been slapped. How could he make a mockery of her ways!

"If there were... I see no problem in it. You are my mate after all. And you are to stay here forever. Now, drink."

Ailara stayed rooted to the spot as a thousand thoughts fought for dominance in her head.

"It's your choice, Ailara. Drink of your own free will or I will come and make you," he threatened.

With a heavy heart, Ailara walked towards him and knelt on the floor. She took the wrist he offered and held it with her hands. Then, without further warning, she struck.

She did not even lick the skin to numb it. She just bit directly—ensuring that this was going to be very painful.

But Dimitrios didn't even flinch.

Instead, his eyes grew heavy-lidded with desire once more.



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Thanks for reading! Please do head over to Radish if you want to read more chapters (especially Chapter 16) which is Sylvan and Aerine's story. Thanks to those buying chapters on Radish!

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