I quickly looked away before I would succumb to it even further, I knew gaping at him would not help right now, it would only worsen the situation... so now I can’t even look at him anymore? gods! I rubbed my temples, taking a deep breath before chugging my wine, this was getting so frustrating and I was getting pissed.
"You two seem to be chewing on nails" at the voice I turned, seeing Alaric beside me, a charming smile against his lips, in the highlights now he looked dashing, he was well polished and dressed, these two were obviously twins, their amazing features were captivating, it was like staring at a rare jewel, and trust that because you won’t seem to look away.
He raised an eyebrow and I quickly realized I was gaping at him for too long. "F-Forgive me for staring"
"Not at all, I’m charming," he said cockily before winking at some ladies who gaped at him, they blushed and giggle when his eyes fell on them, they were continuously fanning themselves as they would faint just by his looks, I grimaced at their action.
"You surely have your way with the ladies, they seem possessed by your mere presence" I commented.
"Well I’m unmated, this sort of happens, surely you must not think I keep to myself... I enjoy the beauties"
"You’re unmated?", that seemed impossible because this man was like a god of looks just like Nicklaus, I finally found someone who marched up to his handsomeness, and yet he was unmated?
His dim green eyes fell on me and I noticed the purple highlights in them that seemed to drown most of the green, it moved in a most alluring way.
"I was mated once"
"Really?"
"I thought I was"
I blinked puzzled. "A mistake?"
He shrugs. "You could say so"
"Does that happen? I thought mates were very sacred things for vampires," I said, remembering the studies I did on their ways.
"I suppose," he said in a simple tone but not driving further. But I have always been a curious Fox.
"What was she like? The lady you thought was your beloved"
A smile crossed his lips as he brought the wine glass to his lips. "A wild creature and yet so gentle... and kind"
"She must have been amazing, but how did you come to the conclusion that she wasn’t yours?"
His smile broadens. "Rather than talk about the past, how about the present? You and Nicklaus are trying effortlessly to avoid each other, I think" his gaze fell behind me, and then I turned, Nicklaus was talking with some officials but then his eyes fell on me and I quickly looked away.
"A simple lovers tiff?" I said.
"A lovers tiff" he mused like the words were dancing in his voice.
"Our views don’t currently align" I add.
"Ha... the Mortal thing and the god thing"
"You’re as knowledgeable as you said you’re or it’s just obvious that everyone sees," I said with a downhearted chuckle, his eyes narrowed.
"Both parties haven’t accepted the difference yet" he began dropping his wine on the table, hand behind his back, his pose was always that of composure and cleverness, I pondered if anything could faze him.
"Both gods and goddesses the first and now gods and Mortals... different views will most certainly apply"
"But that doesn’t mean we should let it cause a rift... I mean" I took a deep breath.
"When a Vampire male finds his mate, his long-dominant part of him which is his beast grows quiet for the first time, at that very moment all he sees is solitude and then the hunger awakens, the unquenchable taste and desire for his mate and when he distances his mate for a long time..." he faced me.
"He grows unhinged" I answered, he stroked a nod.
"Do not blame Nicklaus for the way he acts, he is scared and also confused, the beast recognized you as his mate, but years without you has made it unstable... So what should you do?"
I opened my mouth to speak but words didn’t come off and then he gave me an answer.
"You provide solitude, one which you did the first, not stir it with desires... but with the heart and mind... then desires can come to it, a circle, not a one-stop" he explains.
I took in his words deeply. "You seem..." I shook my head. "...Expert in this"
"I’m knowledgeable, as I said Empress" he gave a slight bow, a smile crossing my lips.
The music changed into another piece of instrumental. "We haven’t seen the Emperor and Empress take the dance floor, it’s a loss and unromantic"
I was about to say something but he placed his hand on my back guiding me towards Nicklaus and then a sudden familiar feeling rushed through me, I gasp facing him but his gaze was up ahead, a smile on his lips, my eyes shook, why? Why do I feel this way, the warmth that flushed his hand to my body, why does it feel so familiar?
"You both have finally found each other after thousands of years", his orbs finally landed on me. "You must not let this moment pass you by... love, Empress, love is the most magical thing you both possess," I saw a glint of something within the faint purple color in his green eyes.
He faced ahead. "Brother" he mused.
"Alaric," Nicklaus said before his eyes fell on me.
"The Empress had no courage to ask you to dance so I brought her here," he said, giving me a slight push to stand in front of Nicklaus. This was his idea, not mine!
My wide eyes were on Nicklaus. "I didn’t..." I faced Alaric but he was nowhere to be seen, great!
"Wife"
"Husband"
We stared at each other for what seemed like moments, none of us making a move towards each other, the lights in the hall dimmed as it was all about dancing now and the platform emptied, awaiting I and Nicklaus to take the dance floor. I was hesitant, my heart slamming loudly in my chest, I didn’t know what move to make or what to say.
And then Nicklaus brought his hand for me to take.