“He is a Pure,” I repeat mostly to myself to be certain that I did not misunderstand.

“Fortunately for you, he is not the oldest son. He is the second born and the youngest is a girl. They are all very influential both in the vampire and the human world,” Blood Moon explains with a smirk.

“You are sure about this?”

“Yes, if my sources are still correct, there are two Pure’s family in this country and that man’s family is one of them,” Blood Moon explains making me nod as I rub my temple. I can already feel a headache coming.

Nikolas is a vampire. As if the situation isn’t bad enough, he has to be a Pure! This is not a joke anymore. I wonder if he will let me if I say that I want to cancel our contract?

“That will be all,” I sigh feeling extremely tired and thirsty. “Here’s your money,” I take out an envelope from my back pocket before handing it to him. The older man takes the bills out and starts counting.

“The children will have a feast tonight thanks to you,” he smiles as he looks at the boy which eyes gleamed with anticipation and joy. “Take him back to the front door will you?” he asks the child next to him.

“Of course!” he nods before grasping my hand and pulling me out of the room.

As he leads me toward the exit, I stare at the person in front of me. He must have had his growth at a very young age. Blood Moon is one of the two Preceptors that I know personally since it takes a lot of energy and time to raise a newborn vampire. A Preceptor is a vampire that takes care of the newborn that he or she just turned. He once said that he goes to an orphanage and adopt a child once or twice every year. Then, he will feed them, take care of them and finally turn them into vampires. Some of them will not survive to the growth. I heard that it is extremely painful since I personally don’t have any memories about it. But if it happens to survive, his Preceptor’s words are law. The “children” won’t be able to disobey his Preceptor unless their bond together is broken.

“Will you come visit us again?” he asks innocently as we reach the door.

“I don’t know, maybe,” I answer without thinking which makes the boy look at his feet.

“I will never see you again isn’t it…” he mumbles as tears slide down his cheeks. “Only Blood Moon will stay with me. Everyone else will be leaving us behind.”

This is why I hate children. They are way too clingy, noisy and dirty. They are living germs. “If you stay with him, you will probably see me again,” I answer even though I will not be able to answer when I will specifically come back.

“I will! I will be waiting to see you again Micah!” he cheers up and he lifts his pinky finger, “Promise?”

I inwardly roll my eyes, they are so childish, but I still lock my pinky with his as I answer: “Promise.”

“Bye bye!” he waves his hand as I walk back to my car.

I ignore him and gets into my car without looking back. As I get back on the road I glance in the rear-view mirror and see that the boy is still there watching me. If he doesn’t want to be alone, he just has to get out of there. What a weird child.

Back in the city, I am greeted with the usual traffic. At a snail pace, I make my way to Nikolas’ house. How should I abort the subject concerning the cancellation of our contract? Should I just pack my things and disappear without a word? As if I can get away from a Pure. I guess that I have no choice, but to face him.

Since there is still a few hours before sunset, I roam without a goal in the streets of the city. My mind is so clouded with the thoughts of meeting a Pure that I nearly burn a red light and killing some pedestrian at the same time. Some of them glance at me cautiously as other glare at me thinking that I must have been texting or something. Ignoring them, I anxiously tap my fingers on the driving wheel as I wait for the green light.

In front of the gate, I push the call button and wait for someone to answer since I don’t have the password. Without any questioning, the gates start to open by themselves. The guards must have recognized my car. I slowly drive in and park at the same place than this morning. Since his cars are all here, I suppose that Nikolas is here in the mansion.

Great.

As I walk up the stairs, Ania’s smile greets me after opening the main door. Now that I think of it, she may also be a vampire if she works for that man. How she knows every single one of my movements creeps me out. I know that there are cameras installed on the property, but it is still creepy as hell.

“Welcome back Sir Micah. Sir Nikolas has been expecting your return,” she greets before I can even pass through the threshold of the house.

“He does?” I ask with my brows furrowed, “Has he waited for a long time?”

“After dinner, he has asked for your whereabouts. Of course, I have told him to call you, but he insisted to tell you directly. He is waiting for you in his quarters presently,” she explains as I thank her.

“Would you please lead the way?”

“Of course, follow me.”

As I follow her through the hallway, up the staircase and through more hallways, we finally reach a set of wooden doors. Ania knocks on the door, “Sir Nikolas, Sir Micah is here,” she says loud enough before waiting for an answer.

Soon after, the door handle turns and the door opens, “Thanks, Ania.”

After she leaves us alone, Nikolas invites me into his bedroom, “Make yourself at home.”

I look around the master bedroom and notice that the design is rather minimalist even though the size of his room is bigger than mine which is what I have expected. As I sit down on an empty chair near the window, Nikolas comes back with two glasses in his hands. He hands me one, before sitting down on a chair facing me. I bring the rim of the mug to my lips as I taste the characteristic taste of black tea.

“I hope it is to your liking,” says Nikolas after a sipping in his own cup.

“Yes, thank you. Why did you call for me?” I ask not wanting to stay alone with a Pure.

“I have been thinking that the contract may not have been necessary,” he starts making my heart skip a beat. If the man wants to cancel our contract by his own will, I will gladly accept it.

“What are your intentions?” I ask since we have been staring at each other in silence.

“My family’s history runs deep inside my veins and I think it is foolish of me to not share it with you, my betrothed,” he answers making me frown not knowing where he is heading.

“What do I still have to know about you and your family that the media hasn’t already said?”

“Only the media?” he tilts his head making me nervously swallow my own saliva. “Anyways, as you must already know before I was born, my father founded NorthStar Imperial Company. Only after a few months in the business, his company has been slowly gaining influence, but it was still not enough. Then he met my mother. She was once and still is one of my father partners. Together, they merged their companies together to only give you the NorthStar Imperial that we all know today.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I ask still not understanding his intent.

“Do you know when NorthStar Imperial was founded?” he answers my question with a question.

“I do not. Strangely, no one seems to question about it.”

“Shame, but you must have an idea since you went and met the Blood Moon today,” he states making me choke on my tea.

“How did you know?” I ask after regaining my bearings.

“This city is my entire territory. I can see and hear everything that you or any other vampire do,” he answers normally before adding, “I also know about your small escapades in the forest. Did you think that the police wouldn’t have discovered your identity if it wasn’t because of me?”

“I did not ask for your help as I can perfectly take care of myself,” I argue annoyed.

“Can you?”

“Do not think because you have affinities with magic that I will not be able to protect myself. Every living being, vampire or not have a weakness,” I threaten as I put the glass of tea back down spilling some on the table.

“You don’t need to look so aggressive, I can smell your fear,” he states as calmly as when we have started this conversation.

“If you knew about my identity, then why?”

“Do you even have to ask? I guess being so young left you clueless about your own instincts,” he sighs as he put the cup on the small table separating us from each other, “But I can’t blame you for that. Who’s your Preceptor?”

“I have no reason to tell you.”

“I hope that spark in your eyes will not fade away when our bond will be formed.”

“Bond?”

Nikolas stands up and walks around me as a predator would with his prey. My body stiffens as my canines push on my gum as I feel his scent permeate all inside the room. This is bad, really bad. If I unleash my scent, I am certain that I will lose the battle of dominance. A vampire’s scent can control someone’s mind, but if it comes from a Pure, it is much more powerful and intoxicating. I have no chance of winning this show of testosterones. Even though I want to fight, every single one of my senses tells me to surrender. Never a scent has ever intimidated me so much. As the man slowly approaches me, it becomes harder to stay still. All I want is to get out of here.

“Is my aura intimidating you?” he leans forward, so we are facing each other.

Too close, he is definitely too close. He is so close that his scent is overbearing, making my mind go all fuzzy and clouded, “If you will please tell me why we did not need the contract anymore? If not, I will take my leave,” I state as I try to sound confident enough. Just let me go already!

“We do not need a contract because you are mine,” he says possessively as his eyes start to glow a dangerous red.

“I don’t belong to anyone and especially not you,” I retort as I try to stand up while pushing him away at the same time. But he pushes me back down as if I am weighing nothing.

“You are my mate. You may as well surrender, you will never be able to win against me. Accept your fate and be mine.”

Mate? Did he just say, mate? Oh hell no, I will not be a man’s bitch. Especially not after her. She was everything we, I had and she just left. She left us behind without caring about our well-being. Even if she said she loved me, so many time. Never again, will I live through that again.

“As hell I am! Go find someone else!” I hiss angrily at the man towering me as I can feel my fangs and nails extending.

“There is one thing that I do not tolerate and it is disrespect,” he growls as I find myself unable to breathe. The air is so dense and thick with his scent that it makes me gag each time I try to breathe, “You don’t seem to understand how a mate is important… Do you?” he pauses as I struggle to take a breath of clean air. “We do not find a mate in every corner of the streets. For us vampires, there is only one person in our entire immortal life that can fill that role. And it happens that we are made for each other, so suck it up, brat,” he explains slowly, but with intensity before stopping his aura from pouring out.

Finally able to breathe, I take a few deep breathing. I can feel myself coming back to life after being deprived of air for so long. Still, when I have gained back my composure, I glare at the man.

“I still don’t intend to be your bitch,” I answer making his nostril flare and for a moment, I thought that he was about to hit me, but it just never came.

He turns away and paces around in the room for a minute or two before stepping back in front of me, “I can’t blame you for your ignorance. With time you will come to accept your fate, but in the meantime…” he eyed at me, “I shall teach you some discipline.”

“W-what are you planning?” I ask my voice betraying my nervosity as I eyed the door, my only way to escape.

“Some training,” he smiles showing his monstrous canines.

Acting on pure instincts, I sit up with so much force that I have knocked the chair down. I need to get out of here. I jump back, so I can create some distance between us until my back is stopped by a wall. I need to get out of here. As the man watch me without moving an inch, I slowly make my way toward the door. I need to get out of here. When there are only a few meters separating me from the door, I lunge on the doorknob. I need to get out of here. But before I can even turn it, something has grabbed my arm and pulled away from my only hope of escaping.

Without a word, he forces my mouth open and pushes a finger into my throat making me gag. I start to claw at the man’s arm hoping it will release me from its hold. Then I taste it. The familiar taste of blood, but this time something is different. My mouth starts to salivate and my pants start to get tighter. Before knowing it, I am greedily sucking on his finger to get more blood out. But he only pulls it away way too soon. I whine in protest as I hear his chest rumble.

"You want more?"

“Please!” I answer without thinking. Drinking a man’s blood has never sounded more appealing and mouthwatering. He puts his now healed finger in front of me and instinctively, I start sucking and nibbling on it, “Please…”

"You don't mean it, but you will soon,” he hushes me and strangely, I find myself complying.

He grips my arm before easily tossing me on his shoulder. I am shivering when my bare back comes in contact with his hand and drooling because of his blood. Suddenly, he tosses me on his bed. I try to sit up, but my arms don't have any strength anymore. I lay on my back and watch the man do something by the corner of my eyes. I hope he will give me more of his blood. It tastes so good. When he returns, he clips a long chain on the wall before sitting next to me. Without a word, he slips something around my neck.

"Now, behave."