4

The moment Melody stepped into the adjoining room, her eyes immediately found her father.

“Dad!”

She rushed toward him.

Her father looked much better than before, but not by much. His arm was heavily bandaged, cuts covered parts of his face, and he looked exhausted.

The second he saw her, relief flooded his features.

“Melody!”

He stood up so quickly he nearly stumbled.

She threw her arms around him.

For several moments neither of them spoke.

Her father simply held her tightly as if reassuring himself she was alive.

When he finally pulled away, his hands immediately moved to her face.

“Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Dad.”

His shoulders sagged.

“Thank God.”

Then his expression hardened.

“We’re leaving.”

Melody blinked.

“What?”

“We’re leaving. Right now.”

His voice left no room for argument.

“Dad—”

“No.”

He grabbed his coat from a nearby chair.

“I don’t care who these people are. They’ve helped us and I’m grateful, but we’re going home.”

Melody hesitated.

Her father narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you standing there?”

“Well…”

A terrible feeling settled in his stomach.

“Melody.”

She smiled sheepishly.

“I may have found my true love.”

Silence.

Her father stared.

“What?”

“My soulmate.”

“What?”

“The handsome vampire.”

“…”

“The one with the pretty eyes.”

“…”

“The one who saved us.”

“…”

“The one I’m probably going to marry.”

Her father slowly sat back down.

Not because he wanted to.

Because his legs gave out.

Melody smiled brightly.

Her father looked toward the ceiling.

“Dear God.”

“Dad?”

“I think the head injury got worse.”

“Dad!”

“You’ve known this man for one night!”

“Technically less than a day.”

Her father groaned.

“Oh, it’s definitely brain damage.”

Melody crossed her arms.

“It’s not brain damage.”

“You just told me you’re planning to marry a stranger.”

“He’s not a stranger.”

“Melody.”

“I know his name.”

Her father rubbed his face.

“What’s his favorite food?”

“…blood.”

“What are his hobbies?”

“…being handsome?”

Her father looked ready to cry.

Meanwhile, standing quietly near the doorway, Alexander wasn’t sure whether to laugh or disappear forever.

“Dad, trust me.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Dad—”

“No.”

“He’s my mate.”

Her father pointed at Alexander.

“That sentence is exactly why we’re leaving.”

⸻

Later that evening…

Alexander stood before the massive doors of the throne room.

The summons had come only minutes ago.

His father wanted to see him.

That was never a good sign.

The enormous doors opened.

Alexander entered.

His father sat upon the throne.

King Viktor.

One of the oldest and most powerful vampires alive.

His silver eyes settled on Alexander immediately.

“So.”

Alexander already knew where this was going.

“You found your mate.”

“Yes.”

The king’s expression remained cold.

“A human.”

Alexander stiffened.

“Yes.”

Disapproval flashed across the king’s face.

“No.”

Alexander frowned.

“No?”

“No.”

The king stood.

“You will reject her.”

The room instantly grew colder.

Alexander’s crimson eyes narrowed.

“You’re serious.”

“Entirely.”

A bitter laugh escaped him.

“You’re the one who spent decades telling me to find my mate.”

“I expected a worthy mate.”

Alexander’s jaw tightened.

“Melody is worthy.”

“She is human.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It matters greatly.”

King Viktor descended the steps.

“She is weak.”

Alexander’s hands clenched.

“Enough.”

“She cannot rule beside you.”

“She doesn’t need to.”

“She will age.”

Alexander’s chest tightened.

“Father.”

“She will die.”

The words struck like a blade.

For a moment neither spoke.

Then Viktor continued.

“You need someone strong.”

Alexander already knew what was coming.

“Rosalie.”

There it was.

Rosalie.

Beautiful.

Powerful.

A noble vampire from one of the strongest bloodlines.

The perfect political match.

“Rosalie would make an excellent queen.”

Alexander said nothing.

“She is strong.”

Silence.

“Intelligent.”

Silence.

“Respected.”

Still silence.

The king frowned.

“Are you listening?”

Alexander was.

Technically.

But every word entered one ear and left the other.

Because all he could think about was Melody.

Melody laughing.

Melody calling him handsome.

Melody trying to plan their wedding less than twenty-four hours after meeting him.

A small smile tugged at his lips.

The king looked horrified.

“Did you just smile?”

Alexander blinked.

“What?”

“I am discussing the future of this kingdom.”

“Oh.”

The smile remained.

His father stared.

Alexander’s vampire instincts were restless.

Possessive.

Protective.

Every instinct he possessed screamed the same thing.

Mine.

His mate.

His Melody.

And no amount of arguments, politics, or royal expectations was going to change that.

For the first time in centuries, Alexander wanted something more than the throne.

And that frightened his father far more than a human girl ever could.

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