Chapter six ▪

id he really ask how I have been?

"Where do you live?" He cleared his throat before speaking. He was probably expecting far more of an outburst, but I was tired and that champaigne over there was calling my name, and so were the soon to be chocolate-dipped strawberries. And the rest of the food, of course.

"In Summersville."

"Where is that?" He asked.

"Aren't you supposed to know your country?"

"I can't possibly remember every small town in America. So, where is it?"

"In Wonderland."

"Peter Pan? "

"No, Tinker Bell. You're Peter Pan."

"Oh ok. Can you show me where Wonderland is at?"

"You're Peter Pan, you're supposed to know that."

"Do I look like Peter Pan?"

"Both of you don't age. And you are both ."

He chuckled.

"Now, will you move so I can get to that champaigne and the food?" I looked behind him at the lovely table full of food.

"Of course."

We went to the food table and I picked a strawberry with a small fork and put it in the chocolate fountain. The chocolate spilled over the edge of it and the light reflected in it's gloss.

I brought it up to my lips and bit down on it.

This is so good.

"What is it like?" He spoke after I chewed up the strawberry and opened my eyes to see him smiling at me.

"This is the best thing ever. Seriously. Try it." I spoke, ignoring the burning blush on my cheeks. I dipped another strawberry in the chocolate and held it up to his mouth. He hesitated but I ushered him by poking him with the strawberry and that made him open his perfect soft lips and I stuck the strawberry in his mouth.

"It is good." He agreed while nodding and chewing the strawberry. He had chocolate on his lips from me poking him and I cleaned it with my thumb. As I went to clean my now dirty thumb on a napkin, he took my wrist in his hand and sucked the chocolate off my finger while remaining eye contact.

I think I need my inhaler.

"I just ran through the woods and you licked my finger." I faked a disgusted face as I wiped my thumb on my dirty ripped dress.

I know I look like a cavewoman, but nobody really dared to look at us, considering I was with a very obviously powerful vampire.

"I had to run through the woods because a vampire was chasing me and I may have staked him, but I aimed for the shoul-" I rambled, before he cut me off. The poor newborn was still out there.

"I was there, remember?"

"I thought that you were passing through. " I was confused.

"No, I was following you as soon as you got out of that car. "

"But how'd you know what Lord Hudson was doing if you were following me the whole time?"

"He found his mate so I felt it through the bond."

"But how'd you know he was doing that with Vanessa?"

"Lucky guess. If you were a vampire, we'd be doing the same thing."

"Thank God I'm not a vampire, poor me wouldn't have any control because of some silly bond." I chuckled nervously as I chugged the whole glass of rose, bubbly champaigne. It was getting to my head, I probably drank a bit too much.

He laughed and a blush tinged the tip of his pale ears.

His eyes suddenly turned red.

"Are you Dahlia?" I doubt it was him speaking.

He either has a split personality, or his beast is out.

Wait, what is his name?

He moved his hand along my neck.

"Stop, that tickles." I laughed and pressed my cheek against my shoulder.

"Tickles?" He looked confused, but the smile on my face made him smile as well.

I might have to smile more often, because he is art when he smiles.

"Yes, it tickles."

His face soon turned sad.

Was he crying?

I dragged him out of the ballroom and into the gardens so we could have some privacy. I don't think that seeing The King crying was a good look.

"Hey. Look at me. What's wrong?" I spoke gently to him with a confused tone. Was he bipolar?

"Did someone else tickle you?" He sniffled, though he didn't allow any tears to leave his eyes.

"What? The only person that has ever tickled me is my family and now you. Does it matter?"

"Really?" He spoke with wide, innocent looking eyes.

"Yes."

"I think I love you. I'm Thanatos. " He hugged me and twirled me around. My dress was everywhere.

So that's his beast's name. Thanatos.

Death.

Thanatos means death.

"Stop, someone is going to see my underwear." I whisper yelled at him, but it was a happy type of yell, not the angry one. At that he immidiately put me down and wrapped his long coat over me. It reached down to a bit lower than my knees. You could still see my silky dress peeping through it, but now, it was caked with mud.

"We should get you home to pack your stuff so we can leave sooner."

I guess the beast is gone and The King is back.

"Leave where?"

"To the palace."