Blake, The Vampire King

"How did it go?" Ana asked as soon as Blake and the gang stepped into the palace walls.

"How do you think, little girl?" Andreas retorted as he ruffled her hair.

"Blake kicked some ass," Jessica joked.

"I hope he did more than just kick the Carrywell's ass," Ana muttered, her eyes going black in seething anger.

"I killed him, Anastasia," Blake told her flatly, his voice detached, his face schooled into an impassible mask. "Now be a dear and bring me a shirt. I don't want to appear like this in front of your mom."

Indeed, Kyle's blood covered his shirt partly, and he didn't want Maria to wonder whose blood it was he had spilled. Admittedly, he'd come clean about it soon enough.

"Sure dad," her daughter told him sadly.

She wasn't used to see him this detached, this cold... and it was only just starting.

********

"I will not sleep with you," Maria blurted out the moment she saw Blake enter the room she was in after a quick escape from Kelly.

"It's okay," he let out in a murmur she was able to hear for some reason.

You're a vampire, silly, a voice made itself heard in her head.

"We may have conceived a daughter together, but I don't have any memory of you," she explained. "neither the good nor the bad remained." "It's okay," he repeated, a lazy smirk stretching his lips. "It's okay."

"It's not okay," she bulged her eyes as a way to mock him.

"I have no intention to sleep," he said amiably.

She was quick to judge him then. "Ew! Disgusting pig!"

"That was not what I meant, cara," He chuckled. "Get your head out of the gutter. I want to talk," he shrugged.

"Talk about what?" She inquired, her head tilting to the side.

"I want to talk openly," he said flatly.

"About?"

"About the feelings you inspire in me, about what awaits us both if you don't remember... pick the subject you fancy, cara." He had the nerve to smirk at her.

It was a panty-dropping wetness-inducing smirk, Maria could admit that much to herself but she'd be damned if she were to tell him that out loud.

"Would you just stop calling me cara already?" She snapped at him instead.

"I remember a time when you said you found the pet name cute," the words were spoken in such a matter-of-fact tone, one would have been mistaken to believe he was unaffected... but his eyes betrayed him. There was only pain in his forest green eyes.

"I must say that I don't... remember I mean."

"I know. I know. I'm confusing you, aren't I?" A sardonic smile tugged at his lips.

Somehow, she knew it was the best apology she'd get from him.

She had heard a great deal about him. Not only was her mate a badass vampire, but a royal and soon to be crowned king at that.

"A little bit," She puffed as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"I have a confession to make," he said sheepishly.

"What kind of confession?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "What did you do?"

"I didn't cheat if that's what you're worried about," he teased her.

She rolled her eyes at him.

"At least that has not changed," he muttered.

What's he on about? She mused inwardly.

"What has not changed?" She wondered out loud.

"You're always rolling your eyes at almost everyone."

She smiled at him. "So, about that confession?" she asked after a short comfortable silence.

"No pressure, sweetie. But you have to remember. Not only for me, but for you as well," he said.

Why? Maybe I'm better off without you? If it was that easy to forget you, maybe it's for the best? Was what was projected at him and his easy smile slipped off his face. "Why so?" She said instead.

She didn't want to hurt his feelings. He didn't know if he ought to feel special or not. His mate was a sweet little thing who wouldn't hurt a fly after all.

But still a part of him hoped she remembered instinctively what they shared which was the reason why she spared him.

"As selfish as this may sound, I don't want to lose you. Not in this lifetime, not in the next," he deadpanned.

"Why would you lose me?" Am I not a vampire?

"A curse always has - how do I put this into words? - two edges. It's either you fulfill something or you face something."

"Okay," her facial expressions spoke volumes of how puzzled she felt by his words.

"In a way, you weren't the only one cursed. I was too. I have to make you fall for me again, or else I'll lose you. Forever. And that is not something I can live with," he said in the same breath. "No pressure, huh?" She found it in her heart to joke.

"Tu as le cœur à rire, moi je lai à pleurer," he said grimly. (*You've found it in your heart to laugh, I just want to cry).

She snapped her fingers in front of her as she said, "Je la connais cette cantine!" (*I know this lullaby).

"I know, honey. I know," he said bleakly. "Now, please, let me hold you," he was already bringing her to her feet.

As she allowed him to hug her close and tingles erupted on contact and butterflies started swimming in her belly, she knew that this man had to have had a big place in her heart if a mere hug affected her so.