I walked out with a smile on my face. I hope she likes the dress since I picked it out myself but I don't know if I should talk to her too much. She'll probably think I'm clingy and choose Avian over me. I seriously think that those two have a thing going on.

Not anymore, lol.

I paced around the ballroom overlooking the preparations for the ball. Her parents will be there too and I'm definitely not the kind of guy who you introduce to your parents. Clarence, or else old goat as I call him in my mind, will definitely not approve of his daughter staying with a bastard like me (his words, not mine).

Her mom is kinda hot tbh.

! My vamp-side Lucien snapped.

I chuckled and shook my head. "Are you daydreaming about her?" An amused voice asked from behind me. I glared at Adrian as he teased me about the blush on my cheeks. He's the whipped one even though his mate isn't alive yet. The cocksucker even personalised a room for his mate who doesn't even know that he exists.

"He's probably fantasising what he wants to do to her tonight," Avian smirked.

"Dude," Adrian and I snapped at him.

I'm nervous about this whole mate thing but I'm too much of an ass to admit it. I stared outside the window. The birds were flying like they owned the fucking sky. I shut my eyes and watched a a lightning bolt broke through the grey clouds and struck the bird. It lifelessly fell to the ground.

"Killing a bird won't help you escape your problems," Adrian mused. I sighed. He's right. "What if she's not my mate? Milan could have made a mistake," I murmured softly, not wanting to hear my own words. Adrian started coughing.

"You don't know if she's your fucking mate?" Avian whispered harshly.

I glared at him and looked away. I don't know much about mates and I'm sure as hell not interested in learning about them let alone having one. "You'll have to let her go if she isn't yours," Adrian warned although he sounded dejected. My family had taken a liking to her way before knowing that she's my mate.

"No I won't," I said firmly.

"Dude," Avian said with an awkward tone. "You know that chick that you were in love with when you were ten?" He looked up from his phone mischievously. I wanted to dip myself in acid and die. "Saumya?" I asked.

She's one of my best childhood memories but I hoped that I wouldn't have to see her today since it will be weird introducing my mate to my first love and all. "Her father's bringing her tonight and my parents are trying to set me up with her," he said.

"With you?" I snorted.

"Exactly my reaction," Avian smirked. "I'm gonna tell mom that I'm gay," he murmured, looking out into the distant sky. Adrian and I took a step away from him with eyes as wide as saucers. "I fucking knew it! You owe me ten thousand dollars, man," I grinned proudly. Avian always seemed uninterested in girls so I assumed that he isn't as straight as he looks. Adrian huffed and wrote me a check. "Guys, I'm hurt, I-

"Hush, you've done enough good for today," I slapped him on the back.

"But I'm not-

"Dude, I love you and stuff but you're a fucking piece of shit," Adrian said.

"What the fuck? I'M NOT GAY!" He shouted exasperatedly. This is awkward. Adrian pulled his check from my hands and smirked victoriously. "That's what I'm telling mum to keep her off me. Wait that sounds wrong. I'm not involved with my mum in that way. You guys...."

I smelt the sweet vanilla scent and turned around fully aware that my blue orbs now had swirls of gold in them. She looked like a daydream. And also my worst nightmare. I took in a sharp breath. "You look perfect..." I whispered with a sigh. I heard Avian mutter 'gay'. "You look perfect...ly dressed for tonight," I corrected.

Adrian walked up to her and kissed her cheek. I could've strangled him with his own hands but I didn't want to freak her out. Should I walk up to her?

Six steps? No that will make me seem desperate.

I'll take four steps so that she doesn't think that I'm into her.

Isn't that too much of cleavage? I mean I think it's sexy but so will my men and I can't kill all of them because you can't rule a kingdom without have subjects to rule over, right? "Shall we?" I asked, extending my hand. She nodded nervously and walked down, placing her hand in mine.

What should I say to her? I snapped back.

"You look good," she said shyly. "I know." We both looked at each other awkwardly. "I-I umm thank you," I murmured.

Now he'll think you're an idiot. Come on Ally, he always looks nice. He's probably heard that a million times! She scolded herself.

I grinned sheepishly. So I'm not the only one feeling like a complete idiot. I don't want to violate her privacy so I stopped listening to her thoughts. "Arian!" A voice called out. I turned to see Kyle in his classic leather jacket and dark jeans with boots. The man doesn't know the meaning of a formal ball.

"I'm Kyle, your new bodyguard. It's great to finally meet you, my queen," he grinned.

Yeah, it's not like I wasn't going to introduce my mate to him...

She blushed and shook his hand. "You can call me Ally. I really love your t-shirt," she smiled. I looked at his shirt with distaste. It had some stupid quote on it. I glared at the two of them as they looked at each other like long lost lovers.

I need to have a word with you, later... I mind-linked him.

Sure... he laughed.

Kyle's a prick but he's a good warrior. The guards opened the door and we were greeted by a round of applause from all my people. A few other kings and queens from neighbouring kingdoms had come too.

"My father doesn't like you a lot," she whispered the moment she met her father's glare.

"The feeling's mutual," I assured her with a smirk.

"Arian," she sighed defeatedly.

"Fine," I sighed annoyedly, "I'll behave."

I'll just make fun of everyone in my mind.

A few Vampires in the room had caught onto our conversation and chuckled making the humans glance around weirdly. We walked up to the throne and took our places. I felt Alaska shuffle a bit before settling on a comfortable position. I chuckled.

We were greeted by a few people but remained seated at the throne. None of her close ones came to see her. I'd found out a little bit about her and to be blunt, she's kind of a loner. This is really sadistic but I'm glad because that means I'll be able to spend more time with her. If she's my mate.

Then she came.

Heads turns to look at the mystery lady entering the room, looking utterly gorgeous as she was since we were kids. "Saumya," I murmured, a small smile taking over my lips. I got up from my throne and walked up to her. She wrapped her around me and sighed. "Arry," she laughed softly. The mistake didn't strike me until I heard the whispers.

'He left his mate alone to greet another lady?'

'Seems like our queen has competition.'

'Wasn't she the king's first love?'

I turned guiltily to look at my mate who looked shattered but she looked away once I began walking towards her. Shit, I'm such an idiot. I probably screwed up the only chance that I'd get with her. I followed her as she walked out of the room.

I felt her presence at the main balcony. "What do you want, Arian?" She asked angrily, not wanting to face me. I bit back a smile. She's totally jealous. She stiffened and held on to the railing tightly when she heard my footsteps nearing her. I smirked.

"Do you seriously think I'm gonna push you off?" I asked curiously.

"Yes," she replied honestly. I stood next to her, staring at the night sky. It was like an unending ocean with the most exclusive diamonds floating in it, tempting onlookers to reach out for them. But my diamond's right next to me and by the looks of it, she's planning to cut me up.

"I won't do it unless you piss me off," I assured her with a teasing smile.

She looked at me and smiled. "Arian," she murmured, lost into my eyes. Many girls have taken my name before but when she says it, it sounds like more than just a name. It's a promise to something that we both haven't figured out yet. "I'm tempted to throw you off." She sighed.

I was kind of hoping that she'd let this slip and just move on. But no, she's a girl. Girls just don't forget. They remember when and where a girl touched you and also for how long. Do they remember when you tell them who Ragnar is? Nope. That's not important enough. Girls can be jerks too sometimes.

"Can we forget about this?"

Yup, she's definitely going to kill me.

Pfft, I'll come back and haunt her.

"I can't. You claim me as yours and then you get touchy with some long lost love of yours. If you expect me to know my limits, so should you. I'm not going to let you use me, Ice. I'm not the selfless type. I know that I'm the only one that will be good for you and you know that too. If you don't want this, just say the word and I'll be gone."

Okay, I was not expecting that.

"I'm going to say this once so listen carefully. I respect the bond between us and you should know that. I'm a man of my word, Ivanov, and I'm giving you my word today. As long as we're together. I shall not touch or even see another woman," I said. Boy is she red. "I'll save the inappropriate thoughts and words for you," I added with a smirk.

"I do have three words to tell you," I grinned. "Three little words, Miss Ivanov," I murmured softly, pulling her to me by her waist. Her hands gripped my shirt tightly as her doe-eyes stared at me widely.

Her deep breaths encouraged me to continue what I had in mind but the sound of Allison's footsteps stopped me. Something tells me that my mate doesn't want my step-mom walking in on us. I chuckled.

Allison walked in and gave a very flushed Alaska a quizzical look. She resembled a tomato. Speaking of vegetables, you shouldn't call a girl a potato (speaking from experience). They don't like it for some reason. I think being a potato is an honour. Everyone loves potatoes.

! Lucian groaned.

You like potatoes too so fuck off; I rolled my eyes.

"Alaska I thought I'd tell you this myself even though it will be announced today evening in front of everyone," Allison said with a comforting smile. Well, that's what she tried to do. She looks like she's planned something that I'm not going to like.

"The Deltorian Empire has been following this ritual for centuries now. To see how compatible their King and Queen are, the people give the royal couple three challenges each to fulfil. So the Battle of the Royals starts from now," she grinned.

I fucking swear, these people could legit declare painting with your toes as a competition. My people are fucking stupid sometimes. I'm sure they'll unleash hell on me because I can be a jerk to them (sometimes).

"And if I don't complete the challenges?"

"Then I'll rip off their heads and make you my queen anyway." I rolled my eyes.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • •

: You guys have to suggest one (or more) challenge(s) that both Alaska and Arian have to fulfil.

Eg: If you say jump off a cliff, both have to do it; not only one.

1. You can't say something that has already been said (duh).

2. Nothing rude or mature is allowed.

3. It should be something that can be done in front of an audience.

The more creative you are, the better!

:

: A follow, votes and comments on your story.

I've got plenty of time to read because I've been sick since like a week. Plus, the guy that I like just admitted to liking another girl who's (obviously) pretty and liked him too. But she's dating another guy now. I'm literally laughing at my luck😂🤦🏻‍♀️

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