The Alpha King's Claim novel Chapter 35

The Alpha King’s Claim chapter 35 by desirenovel

I had never been a coward my whole life but in the face of a vampire, it was impossible to stay brave, especially if this said vampire had threatened me a number of times.

Yes. The moment Lord Hale filled my line of vision, his words came back to me. Words that he had said while I was half-conscious lying in the guest bedroom inside his lair.

′Queen Serena… I guess it’s time to say goodbye. But don’t worry, we’ll see each other again. You owe me a bite, my queen. I’ll come to collect it in due time.′

I had been too preoccupied with the recent events this morning and afternoon—not to mention the early greeting the king had bestowed on me—that Lord Hale’s memory had slipped out undetected from my mind.

But now that he was here, the fear and panic I had come to feel that time returned to me in full force. He knew I was a human and he promised to bite me.

Those two facts alone made me cling to the nearest support I have: King Aero. He was by far the only person who could contend with a vampire lord. He was my ticket to safety.

However, as queen, I was still on a dilemma. I had to put up the appearance that I was fine with Lord Hale’s visit. I had to show that he didn’t scare me. I couldn’t just run out of the throne, hide in my chamber, or even confess to the king face to face that I feared the dark lord.

That said, the only thing I was able to do was to give my husband clues and hoped he was sharp enough to catch it.

I wasn’t keeping my hopes up, especially knowing how superficial he was with women, but luckily, he did get my clues and I was happy…so damn happy to know I had protection.

The big smile that left me that moment wasn’t because I was acting in front of Lord Hale nor was it because King Aero made me feel safe. No. It was neither of them.

It was because my heart just went over and above and my spirit soared when I heard the king use my name for the first time. I was highly aware of how he avoided using my name from the beginning. I didn’t care at all if he didn’t want to say it, but to hear it now, without coercion no less, made me realize he was slowly accepting my presence in his kingdom. This development was better than nothing. Well, not like I would want to have one, but this was acceptable than living under one roof treating each other like strangers.

Deliberately, Lord Hale guided me away from my husband. He looped his arm around me and pressed one cold hand against the small of my back. I kept myself calm, tried to will my heart to beat normally. If Earthly beliefs about vampires were true, then he could hear my heartbeat just like a bat hears the fluttering of insect wings kilometers away. I’d be done for if that was the case.

I smiled at the crowd, pretending to enjoy the moment. We stopped in an area where there were little couples dancing. It was a spot near an open balcony which was rather convenient especially if this vampire intended to guide me to a place where we could be alone. Since the king and queen’s dance was done, a lot of couples had now begun to join us. Most were werewolves in their human skin. Only a handful of vampire dancers joined in.

We started dancing to the slow beat of the music. In my world, I’d probably call it a waltz. His right hand was still on my back while his left interlocked with mine. This was the same position when I danced with King Aero. The only difference that time was I was filled with an unexplained tingly feeling. It felt good. It felt right. It felt I was made to dance with him forever.

“Have I already told you you look more beautiful tonight?” Lord Hale broke the silence.

“No, Milord, you didn’t, but thank you for the kind words,” I replied, choosing to go with the flow and control my mind from racing.

“So, so beautiful that this world doesn’t deserve you,” he continued, stressing too much of his point.

“Flattery won’t work on me, Lord Hale,” I chuckled dryly.

He shook his head and grinned at me. “No, Your Highness, I really should be straightforward with you.” He pressed me closer and whispered the words gently on my ear, “You’re not fit in this world. You would suit well in mine.”

I pushed myself back whilst frowning at him. “Then I should be blunt with you too, Lord Hale. I. Don’t. Like. Your. World.”

He just shrugged his shoulders in response, showing that he wasn’t at all offended by my honesty.

“You need not fear vampires, Queen Serena. Once you get to know us more, you’ll see how much you are missing in life.”

I scoffed.

“It’s funny how you speak about life when your kind is basically the undead.”

His mouth curved upward, higher than I deemed comfortable. He was thinking of something…something that I was sure wasn’t favorable to me.

“Oh, you are referring to ‘your’ world beliefs.”

The way he highlighted the word ‘your’ ran a chill down my spine. Shit. My tongue fucking slipped. Was he implying about Earth? I was sure he did.

I decided to stay silent. It was my best defense. I certainly didn’t want to dig deeper on my own grave.

“Remember the first time we met?” he whispered closer to my ear again. “Remember my theories? There were four, right?”

I furrowed my brows and tried to remember what he was talking about. Despite the quick movements of our dancing, I happened to catch a glimpse of my husband. He was back on his throne and he was busy…busy observing me dancing with his vampire guest. It warmed my heart. Oh yes, he was keeping his word.

“I was leaning over to three and four, but now I’m certainly choosing four,” Lord Hale continued, pulling my attention back to him.

′What was four again?′ My mind blurted out. When I remembered what it was, my head spun and all my skin hairs stood.

“Come now, my queen. Don’t be too shy to admit it.” He carefully swayed us to the rhythm of the music and led me closer to the portal of the balcony. I was highly aware of where we were going, but it wasn’t my priority to point that out to him. My priority was to try and make a believable alibi–if I could actually make one.

“I already know what you are. Say it. Say that you’re a human,” he went on. His hand on my back hiked up to my nape while his other hand tightened its grip on my wrist. “Werewolves don’t call us vampires undead. Only humans living on Earth use that term to define us.”

Right then, I realized, it was futile to lie when he had already slapped a lot of evidence on my face.