Evelyn
"Evelyn."
I heard Catherine's voice. I turned to her and smiled. She smiled back.
"Are you ready for the castle tour?" she asked, looking enthusiastic.
I nodded. "Yes, I would love to." It wasn't a lie, though this place looked haunted and majestic at the same time, like it was holding so many secrets that made me curious.
Catherine is giving me company today since Damian said the electricity wiring would be installed in my room. I still remember the human faces he hired for that work, damn, they looked so scared, like one wrong move could cost them their lives.
But that's how supernatural creatures are, They threaten others. I hope those workers are fine. I still can't believe Damian fulfilled my wish so soon after I requested it.
"Let's go," Catherine said.
We made our way through the castle. She showed me many places along the hallways. I saw many vampires, Jacob too,he bowed to Catherine but threw me a nasty glare.
Then she took me to Damian's room. I felt a shiver run through me as we entered. It was more depressing and gloomy than anywhere else I had seen, with only one torch lit, but the room was more spacious than any other. A king-size bed sat at the center, black silk sheets spread across it. The whole room was filled with his scent, which drove me crazy.
'Wow, our future room is so beautiful', Eva said. She had been quiet and more vigilant since we arrived, seeking any kind of threat, but the moment we stepped in here she became completely carefree.
'This is not our room, Eva'.
'Yes, I know, that's why I said future room', she retorted.
"How is the room?" Catherine asked as we were leaving. Eva hadn't wanted to go and had been pushing me to lie down on his bed.
"It was nice," I said simply not to look affected.
"This is my room," Catherine announced, opening the door down the hall. Her room was an entirely different story. Every single window was open and sunlight poured through freely. We sat on the sofa beside the window, and the view outside was breathtaking.
"Wow, finally a room that looks normal," I said.
She giggled. "If you like my room that much, you can have it. I'll take yours."
I shook my head. "That's so kind of you, but I'm fine."
She really is kind. In just a few days we had already become good friends.
"Did you meet your mate?" I asked her. But the moment the words left my mouth, her smile dropped and she went quiet.
As far as I knew, their bloodline curse only applied to men, females could still find their mates.
"If you don't want to talk about it, that's completely fine," I said quickly. I didn't like the quietness that settled over her, or the pain that flickered behind her eyes.
"I met him," she finally said, breaking the silence.
"Oh, that's wonderful! Who is he?" I asked cheerfully, even though something felt off.
"He was a vampire," she said with a rueful smile.
I nodded, but then it hit me 'was'. My gaze moved to her tearful eyes.
"He's no longer with us, Evelyn," she said, and the pain in her voice was intense. Her tears finally slid down her cheeks.
Oh my goddess. I covered my mouth with both hands, horrified, my own eyes filling with tears. I wanted to ask her how, when, but instead I just pulled her into a hug. She sniffled.
"His name was Victor," she began softly. "When Damian was hiring warriors, Victor was among those chosen. The moment he arrived at our castle, we both recognized each other instantly. I was so happy, Evelyn, like I finally had everything. He was happy too, but he hesitated because I was a princess, royal blood. He thought he wasn't enough for me. But I didn't care. He was mine. I convinced him, and we both accepted it. We mated and marked each other."
She paused, and I felt her shiver as she was remembering that black day.
"Then one day.., some vampires attacked our kingdom with the help of wizards. Damian wasn't present in the castle. The attack was sudden, no one was prepared. The fight broke out, and this place turned into a massacre.
Three vampires were aiming to kill me. I could have taken them down easily because I'm more powerful than most of the vampires, but Victor jumped between us to save me."
Her voice broke.
"My whole world was taken from me right in front of my eyes, Evelyn."
After saying that, she completely broke down. I held her tightly and cried with her. I couldn't imagine what she had endured in the past.
"I wanted to end my life," she whispered after a moment. "But Damian wouldn't let me. He took my revenge on the vampires who killed my Victor. But life felt like nothing without him. I cried for months and prayed constantly to our god to give me back my mate."
I stayed silent and let her continue.
"Finally, one day, the god Zudious came to me in a dream. He said he could not bring back the dead. It is against the laws of nature , but he granted me a different wish. Victor would be reborn as a human. And when I feel a desire to go to the human world, that will be the sign. That will be the moment we reunite."
She said it with a small, hopeful smile. I wanted to ask if it was truly possible, but seeing that smile on her face, I couldn't bring myself to.
"You are so brave, Catherine," I said.
We both wiped our tears. Slowly, the atmosphere settled back to something lighter.
"Alright, enough about me." She smiled and turned to me. "Did you meet your mate?"
"Umm… no, I haven't," I lied, avoiding her eyes.
She studied my face, then shrugged. "It's okay. One day you will. I just wonder what Damian will do when you find him." She giggled.
"He won't do anything. After all, I'm just a guest," I said, and I meant it, confidently.
"We'll see," she replied, her tone carrying a challenge, like she already knew something I didn't.
My day with Catherine was wonderful. We talked a lot, but my heart still felt heavy after hearing her story. It's not easy to survive without your mate.
"Little wolf."
I heard Damian's voice. A moment later he was standing in front of me, and before I could think of anything, I hugged him. He hugged me back immediately.
"What happened? Did someone say something to you?" His voice was filled with concern, his hands gently moving across my back giving me comfort and solace.
Could I survive if anything happened to him? The mere thought shattered my heart into a million pieces. I already knew the answer. I held him tighter.
"Little wolf"
"I'm fine, Damian. I'm just hungry. Can I have dinner?" I cut him off before he could ask further.
"Are you sure?" he asked, still unconvinced.
I nodded.
After dinner, he walked me to my room and opened the door. I stopped. My whole room was filled with LED bulbs and pendant lights, and beside the bed a large electrical board with charging points built in.
I turned to him with a big smile on my face. "Wow. Thank you, Damian. This room actually looks like a human space now."
He muttered something under his breath, like he despised the light and the room was better before.
"Do you want something else, little wolf?" he asked suddenly, like he had read my mind.
I blushed. How did he always know?
You're becoming greedy, Evelyn, Eva accused me. I ignored her, the same way I'd been doing nowadays.
"Umm," I hesitated.
Damian chuckled. "Just ask, little wolf."
"Can you.., teach me how to fight against vampires? How to read their movements, anticipate when they're about to fight or run?" I glanced up at him through my lashes.
He narrowed his eyes, but a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Why, little wolf, are you planning to attack me?"
"No, of course not, King Damian. I just want to learn. I have to be prepared in case a vampire ever attacks me. At least then I could read their movements."
His eyes turned red. He pulled me into his arms. "No one will touch you while I'm alive," he said, possessive and certain.
I gulped. "Oh Okay.., but I still want to learn. Will you teach me?"
"If that's what you want, then I will."
A grin spread across his face. "But what do I get in return?"
"What do you want?"
"I'll decide that myself, little wolf."
He let that linger in the air. "Ok starting tomorrow evening, I'll teach you."
"Really? Thank you, Damian!"
I jumped forward and kissed his cheek without thinking.
And then I froze.
Oh no.
"Okay, we'll meet tomorrow," I said awkwardly, already stepping back.
He moved closer, eyes red, voice low. "Do that again."
"What?" I played dumb.
"Kiss my cheek again."
I shook my head.
So he leaned in and pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth instead.
I stood there, wide-eyed and completely still. Ohh goddess
"You denied your king, little wolf," he murmured. "That was your punishment. The future holds far worse for your rebellions, night"
And then he was gone.
God, this man. I wanted to be annoyed, but I was smiling before I even realized it.
My eyes drifted around the glowing room.
The room is perfect. He is perfect.
I found my dead phone and plugged it in, damn Mom and Dad must have been worried. I hadn't called in two days. Once it had enough charge, I called them and assured them that I was fine.
I'm already looking forward to tomorrow. And something tells me this training is going to be helpful in future.