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So... Double updates? I must be sick, huh? Nope. I just wanted to celebrate with you guys because you are the most awesome people in the whole wide world.

I actually wrote The Heart of a King for a sequel competition on Radish. The person who earns the most number of coins would win.

And guess what? I won! I freakin' won!

Because you guys purchased chapters. And thank you so much for that. This story earned the most number of coins for the sequel competition. But it's not going to be announced because as you guys know... I work for Radish. So it's not going to be this story which is going to be announced. I'm first place but I won't even be able to say it (except here)

So technically... That feeling when you won but not really. And it's fucking sad.

I do understand though because I'm a mature person who understands a lot of things.

So I decided to celebrate with you guys... With this double update! Thank you for all your support. I will not have the glory but I have you guys and you are the most awesome readers anyone could ever want.

Thank you!!! From the bottom of my heart.

Love always... AerithSage



CHAPTER 14 - POSSESSION

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

Dimitrios led Ailara through several winding corridors with rooms that she couldn't keep track of.

Most of them were covered with a fine layer of dust which meant that they have not been used for a long time now. It wasn't this way when she was younger and she visited the Wolfen keep to learn more about Dimitrios and the way of his people.

She remembered this castle to be very beautiful and bustling with activity. Servants would always be hurrying from one point to another, guards standing on all corners, children of aristocrats running around, and so much more!

"I know what you're thinking," Dimitrios told her. Ailara was examining one of the old paintings and became lost in thought.

"Yes, your highness?"

"You're remembering this place the way it used to be... a long time ago."

Guilty. Ailara looked away. "My people... we are not the same way we used to be before. We suffered a great loss and I'm not sure if we've ever really moved on," Dimitrios told her.

Ailara closed her eyes as a wave of pain coursed through her. She knew that event like she knew the back of her hand. It was that day when an army of Cerran and Vampyres attacked the city of Aphelion.

And she led that army.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Dimitrios." It was the only answer she could give him. She saw his eyes flash and for a moment, he lost the calm mask he wore. But that could have been her imagination for when she blinked, the mask was back in place.

"Let's go back to your room. You haven't fed today," Dimitrios told her. She nodded. If she told him she was still full, it would turn into a full-blown argument once more.

They walked back to the tower, each lost in their own thoughts.

Once more, Dimitri sat on the edge of her bed and held out his wrist. Ailara stood before him and then started to kneel. Dimitrios stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Sit beside me," he commanded. She frowned at the sudden request but followed his order and sat beside him at a distance. Dimitrios moved nearer and offered his wrist once more.

Gently, she held onto his hand and licked her lips. She heard Dimitirios' sharp intake of breath. Because today was a good day, she decided she would take it easy on this stubborn man instead of hurting him with her bite.

She licked the skin on his wrist and Dimitrios' arm clenched in response. A Vampyr's saliva had the ability to numb the skin. Gently, she sank her fangs. The taste of his blood flooded her mouth and she closed her eyes in bliss.

This was sheer heaven.

His blood was like the finest wine – heady and addicting. The taste and the metallic scent of it drove her crazy and mindless with lust.

Was it always supposed to be like this? Ailara thought.

She opened her eyes and looked up. Dimitrios' entire body was tense and he also had his eyes closed. At least this whole situation did not only affect her. She wasn't exactly sure what this whole thing was between them. Lust? Passion? Whatever it is, Dimitrios was in too deep—just like she was.

Ailara increased her suction and heard Dimitrios gasp. "Gods, Ailara!" he exclaimed. She stopped drinking for she thought it caused him pain. She pulled away but Dimitrios wrapped his arm around tightly around her.

"You drive me insane," he hissed.

And then his lips were on hers.

It wasn't a tentative, shy kiss. It was rough and demanded submission. His tongue licked her lower lip and she gasped. He took it as his opening to plunder her mouth with his tongue. All thoughts fled and her hands went to his shoulders—her sign of surrender to this Alpha king.

She wanted this... badly. She needed his kiss like she needed air to breathe.

His hand went to her waist and squeezed. The action bunched her dress in his palm and it lifted the hem several inches upward. Dimitrios' hand touched her leg and slid upward. She jerked against his hold when she felt his warm hand against her inner thigh.

"Dimitrios..." she gasped, breaking the kiss.

His intense, burning gaze was on her and she could see how badly he was fighting for control. But with the way he shook and panted, it was as if passion was winning.

"Madness... You drive me to distraction," he growled. Then his hand resumed its slow glide upwards. Just a little more and he will be able to feel how wet he made her. The delicious thought sent shivers down Ailara's spine.

"Tell me you want this," he told her.

In response, she reached for him again. This time, it was her who put her lips against his. This time, it was her tongue that invaded his mouth. Dimitrios groaned in reply. And then he took over the kiss.

"Answer me," he commanded, breaking the kiss yet again.

"I want you."

Quicker than she can blink, Dimitrios hauled her to his chest. To keep herself from falling, she wrapped her legs around his waist. "Ailara..." Dimitrios moaned. And once more, he kissed her like she was the very air he needed to breathe.

Without breaking the kiss, Dimitrios walked towards the nearby table, swiped his arm to empty the top of its contents and then placed her against it. Then, his kisses travelled down her neck while his hands undid the ties to her bodice.

In the haze of her lust, Ailara heard a knock on the door. But what she didn't want this to end. Even though it wasn't right, she wanted Dimitrios with every fibre of her being. As he held her and kissed her, she felt that she was right where she belonged.

☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾

The one knocking on the door was very insistent. But Dimitrios ignored it. He didn't want to let Ailara go.

This was the first time he experienced pure, raw lust in such a long, long time. He didn't want this moment to end. He felt like his balls might burst if he was denied release again. For days now, it was as if he was in a permanent state of arousal especially when he was near Ailara.

"My king!" a voice shouted. That voice penetrated the fog of his lust and it was as if someone poured an ice-cold bucket of water over him.

It was Nayah.

He pulled away and took several deep breaths. Ailara was looking at him through half-lidded eyes and parted lips. Her lips were red from his kisses and her dress was bunched at her waist.

It took all his willpower not to wrap his arms around her once more. But then the implications of his actions rushed through him and he took several steps back.

This was the very thing Argus warned him about.

"Make yourself presentable," he hissed. He saw the confusion in Ailara's gaze. Then hurt, betrayal, and shame.

She slid off the table and righted the ties to her bodice. And Dimitrios? He readjusted his pants to take some pressure off his aching manhood. He took several more deep breaths and then ran his hand through his hair.

"What is it?" he barked.

"My king, Argus sent me to summon you. He says the scouts you sent went back with some news and also... a prisoner. They are convening in the throne room now and asks for your presence," Nayah answered.

Dimitrios opened the door and promptly closed it. He didn't look back at Ailara. He did not trust myself not to take her in his arms again and resume where they left off.

Nayah caught up with the king and walked beside him. "Do you know who the prisoner is?" Dimitrios asked her.

She shook her head. "I only had a glimpse as they brought him to the castle. He was covered in a thick black cloth—which could only mean he's a Vampyr."

That roused Dimitrios' curiosity. He hastened his foot steps and went to the throne room. Warriors were gathered in the middle of the throne room where a figure covered in black slumped.

The windows were closed and the room was lit by candles.

"Remove the blanket," the king ordered. A pale, bruised, and bloodied Vampyr with blonde hair and green eyes was revealed. The moment the blanket was removed, he snarled and bared his fangs.

"Who is this?" Dimitrios asked.

"We found him lurking in the woods near the small town of Bering. He had several men with him but they escaped," one of the Wolfen warriors answered.

Dimitrios stepped closer. "Who are you?" he asked the prisoner.

"Listen, your highness. We came to Bering to warn your people! We saw an army of Cerran camped several miles near Bering."

One of the warriors punched the Vampyr. He fell flat on his back and spat out blood. He tried to sit up once more but his hands were tied. One of the other Wolfen warriors hauled him by the scruff of his clothes.

"I asked your name."

"My name? It is not important! We came to warn your people! Listen to me or they will be slaughtered!"

"How is it that a Vampyr is concerned with the well-being of the Wolfen?" Argus spat. Other warriors snickered.

"If only you can see beyond your prejudice you will realize that the Wolfen and Vampyr are more allies than enemies," the Vampyr answered.

"Pray tell why?" Argus asked in a mocking tone.

"We should unite against a common enemy which is the Cerran."

Argus bent low and kicked the Vampyr in the chest. He groaned with pain and spat out more blood.

"There was an alliance before! And your people... and your princess broke it!" Argus shouted.

"And you all assumed that is the truth. Again, you fail to understand that some things aren't as they seem to be. Let this not be about who broke the alliance. Your people hunted mine almost to extinction but—"

This time, it was Dimitrios who punched the Vampyr. The warriors stood back and let their Alpha have his way with their prisoner.

"Do not speak to me of alliances and deaths. We have our own share of that because of what your people did!" Dimitrios roared.

"My people – what's left of us – we're trying to set things right and to defeat an enemy for the greater good of all. Heed my warning, King of the Wolfen. More lives need not be lost because you refuse to listen."

Dimitrios threw back his head and laughed. "Great words from a prisoner." The king bent low and hauled the Vampyr upright once more. "And how do I know this is not a trap? My scouts have travelled far and wide and there's no news about an army of Cerran."

"Then you are all fools. The Cerran are shadow-dwellers. You will not see them unless they spring their attack. And they've killed so much of my people that they have the ability to trace," the prisoner spat.

It earned him another punch from Argus. He fell and this time, did not try get up. His eyes were open and he seemed to be breathing but maybe he has accepted his defeat.

"I warned you. I did everything I could. Now, the deaths of your people will be in your hands and not mine," the Vampyr whispered.

Argus growled and reached for him again. The Vampyr glared at all of them. "Kill me, then," he hissed.

Suddenly, the doors to the throne room burst open. Dimitrios saw a flash of silver and in the blink of an eye, Ailara stood before him.

"Vicenzo!" she shouted. Then, she got down on her knees before the prisoner. Without any preamble, she bit her wrist and offered it to the Vampyr she called Vicenzo.

"Ailara," Dimtrios growled. It was as if she did not hear the king. She continued giving the Vampyr her blood. Immediately, his wounds and bruises began to heal.

"Ailara! What are you doing?!" the king hissed.

"He needs help!" she answered.

The Vampyr pulled away from her. He had an awed and disbelieving look in his face. "Princess... It has been so long. Too damned long," he whispered. His tone lost all its arrogance and now it held a tone of reverence.

"Stop talking and drink. You need to heal," she ordered in a soothing tone.

A roar pierced the silence. Everyone in the room turned to their king. They all noticed how he was on the verge of shifting to wolf. His claws elongated and his fangs were bared. Several warriors took a step back. The only ones immune were the two Vampyrs in the room.

"Princess... I never thought I'd see you again. We received word that you've escaped Heilen and we've been looking for you ever since. But there's also news that you've died."

"Drink, Vicenzo," Ailara replied. She pushed her bleeding wrist towards him again.

"Move away from him, Ailara!" Dimitrios shouted.

"Please, my king. He needs blood or he will die. He needs to heal."

"Move away!" Dimitrios repeated.

The power, authority, and hostility in his voice made her jump. Before she could say anything, Dimitrios' hands were wrapped around her arms and he was dragging her away from the Vampyr. He moved her behind him and flung an arm so she wouldn't move.

"You do not touch any male without my permission! And you never share your blood with anyone!" Dimitri shouted.

"My king, he's a friend—"

"Mine," Dimitrios snarled.

He shook with rage and then a thick black fog enveloped him. When the fog cleared, Dimitrios' wolfen form was in place...

...And it looked even more pissed.



********************************

In case you didn't read my note above.

So... Double updates? I must be sick, huh? Nope. I just wanted to celebrate with you guys because you are the most awesome people in the whole wide world.

I actually wrote The Heart of a King for a sequel competition on Radish. The person who earns the most number of coins would win.

And guess what? I won! I freakin' won!

Because you guys purchased chapters. And thank you so much for that. This story earned the most number of coins for the sequel competition. But it's not going to be announced because as you guys know... I work for Radish. So it's not going to be this story which is going to be announced. I'm first place but I won't even be able to say it (except here)

So technically... That feeling when you won but not really. And it's fucking sad and it's breaking my heart.

I do understand though because I'm a mature person who understands a lot of things.

So I decided to celebrate with you guys... With this double update! Thank you for all your support. I will not have the glory but I have you guys and you are the most awesome readers anyone could ever want.

Thank you!!! From the bottom of my heart.

Love always... AerithSage

So... champagne in the comments, guys?