The First King
Chapter 24

Vihaan led Lorelei through the woods. Though she struggled to see what lay beneath her feet, he was able to guide her with ease. One of his hands rested on the small of her back while the other held one of her hands. Though his coat was wrapped around her tightly, Vihaan could not help but occasionally glance down at her chest. From what he could see, she was thin, perhaps a tad bit malnourished.

Lorelei's eyes went wide as the vampire keep came into view. It was a small castle that was constructed against the base of a mountain. Torches were lit up all around, illuminating the vampires that were around. It caused her to freeze in her tracks as anxiety took over.

"They won't hurt you," Vihaan assured her as he rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand. "Do you trust me?"

"I feel like I shouldn't," she admitted softly. "But I do trust you."

"Good," he smiled as he urged her forward. "Now come. My home is your home for as long as you'd like. No one shall harm you nor mistreat you. Whatever you want, I shall grant you."

"May I have a bath first?" She eagerly questioned.

"Of course," he chuckled softly.

As they neared the keep, an older vampire approached. His fangs extended, excited for the meal that their Vampire Lord had brought, but then he froze. Though vampires could not talk over mind link like wolves, they could easily discern body language. And Vihaan looked as if his eyes would shoot daggers at any moment.

"My Lord," the vampire greeted as he bowed.

"I've brought a guest," Vihaan explained nonchalantly. "Have hot water brought to the upstairs tub and tell the cooks to prepare a meal for a human. And replace me Anthony!"

"As you wish," the man grumbled as Vihaan walked inside.

Lorelei gripped onto Vihaan's hand tightly as a bat flew overhead. He could not help but chuckle as the girl gripped tighter onto his shirt, her chest heaving against his side. As she was led upstairs, Lorelei began to look around slowly. The walls were adorned with portraits, paintings, pottery, and other various items. For a moment, she felt as if she was back at Sella Castle. Vihaan then led her through a set of large doors into a lavish bed chamber.

There was a four-poster bed with curtains that blocked the mattress from view. Expansive windows overlooked the woods to the west, and in front of them were several chairs. Her eyes widened as she looked at the books that lined one of the walls from the floor to the ceiling. As she continued to turn and look around the room, she saw a tub that was being filled with buckets of hot water.

"This is such a grand bed chamber," she uttered in shock as she looked at Vihaan. "It is so large and elegant!"

"Well, I would hope so," he laughed as he finally released her from his grasp. "This is my bedroom after all."

"Y-y-your room?" She stuttered.

"Vampires don't sleep, and we don't get guests often," he replied with a flick of his wrist. "I figured you would be more at home and comfortable in my room."

"If you don't sleep, then why do you have a bed in here?" Lorelei questioned. Vihaan smirked and stepped closer to her. He leaned his head forward until it was against her ear.

"What do you think, little wolf?" He countered with a smirk.

But he did not intend for her to answer him. Before she could speak, he left the room. Once the tub was filled and a dress brought in, the doors were closed. Lorelei let out a deep exhale, feeling more comfortable with the privacy that she was given. With the water still hot, she wasted no time climbing into the tub.

As Lorelei was bathing, Vihaan stood in the corridor. He placed his hands behind his back as a cloaked individual approached him.

"Anthony," he greeted.

"Vihaan," the man replied with a quick bow of his head. "What do you require of me?"

"I need you to go alert Evie and Thayer of my guest," Vihaan answered with a smile. "I believe that they would replace her interesting."

"Can you elaborate?"

"Tell them she is someone that they have been searching for," he explained as his voice became a whisper. "She is one of the nine."

"And you are certain?" Anthony inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Do you think me stupid?" Vihaan retorted angrily. "If I say she is one of the nine, then she is. Now go. Fetch your masters."

"Fine," the man hissed as he slowly faded away from view.

Vihaan leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms. The rest of the night would be a waiting game for him. If he were lucky, he would have the entire night with the wolf girl. But then he would relinquish her to Evie and Thayer. Vihaan wondered what it was they would want her for. What could that weak wolf accomplish for them?

Vihaan's eyes then turned to look at a human servant carrying a food tray. He admired the bite marks that dotted the girl's skin. She was used as a source of blood, one that he had used before. His eyes then glanced down to the tray, and he noticed two goblets. One was regular wine, and the other was wine infused with blood.

"Is that your blood in that cup?" He inquired with a flirtatious grin.

"Yes, My Lord," the girl whispered as she tried to hide her blushing cheeks.

"Be sure you eat; I want you replenished for me tomorrow," he instructed gently. Once she nodded her head, he knocked on the door. "Are you dressed, little wolf?"

"Almost!" Lorelei called out as she hurriedly got out of the tub. She hastily dried off and put on the wool dress. Once she smoothed out her wet hair, she went and opened the door. "I'm sorry I took too long."

"After the day you've had, you deserve a nice long, hot bath," Vihaan insisted as he took the tray from the human. He walked it in and placed it on a table. "Come eat; I'm sure you are quite hungry."

"I'm famished," she stated as she followed him. Her mouth watered at the sight of the roasted chicken legs. Next to it were boiled vegetables and several slices of bread. She gasped when Vihaan placed one of the goblets of wine in front of her. "Is that for me?"

"Of course," he chuckled as he took his own cup. "If I am drinking, then so are you. Now sit, eat before it gets cold."

Lorelei didn't need any further instructions. She sat down and began to eat in earnest. The emptiness left behind by her rejecting Konrad was now being filled with the warm food and the attention that Vihaan was giving her. All of this kindness, this compassion was unlike anything that she had expected. She glanced at her savior, taking in a good look at him. He had dark gray hair that was short and slicked back. There was no beard but a thin mustache resting on his lip. Lastly, she saw a few wrinkles on him, but he did not look old.

"How old are you?" She inquired curiously.

"Do you want to know my vampire age or the age at which I was turned?" He countered as he swirled the wine in his glass.

"Both."

"I was changed when I was 51," he replied as he thought to himself. "But I have been on this Earth for 356 years."

"Do you ever get tired of it? Of living?" Lorelei questioned as she sipped on her wine. It burned going down, but then it brought a warming sensation to her chest.

"I don't know if I have ever been asked that question," he stated, surprised by her question. "Everyone always asks what I plan to do with my immortality, but no one ever wants to know if I am tired of it."

"Are you tired of it?"

"Not yet," he answered honestly with a smile. "But I am sure I will. The vampire who changed me killed himself out of boredom some hundred years ago. When you live forever, there is only so much that you can do. I am sure, given enough time, I too will tire of living."

"What is it like? Living forever?"

"You are so full of questions, aren't you?" Vihaan chuckled as he set his empty cup on the table. At his statement, Lorelei looked down, thinking she had upset the man. It made him curious to watch her tremble slightly under his gaze. "It is… different. I don't need to breathe, though I sometimes replace myself doing it just to feel normal. I can't sleep, even if I want to. Everything feels cold, and there is always a metallic taste that lingers on my tongue. Even if I go without eating for a few days, the taste is always there."

"So, why become a vampire?" She wondered as she listened to him. To her, it sounded as if he was uncomfortable in his skin, especially after being a vampire all these years.

"I wanted power," he admitted.

"Well, it seems as though you've gotten it, Vampire Lord." Lorelei teased with a grin.

"And yet, there is always someone with more power. Take the King of Kings, for instance. He controls how many packs and kingdoms?! That is power that I never imagined would exist." Vihaan proclaimed as he looked from Lorelei to the window.

"What power," she scoffed as she slammed her fork to the table. "It is just a title, nothing more."

"Is that so?" He questioned as he poured more wine into her glass.

"Konrad would have to ask the Leader Council for permission to do anything. He has no power; he is just a puppet for all of the humans. They even gave him the Kingdom of Guilford to rule, but really, the previous human king still does everything."

"You think the humans are the ones pulling strings?"

"What do wolves stand to gain?" She countered before she chugged her wine. When her glass was empty, Vihaan reached across the table and wiped her mouth with a napkin. "The humans can get land, ports, trade. Things that make money. Wolves, we might get some meat. The only reason the Alphas joined in was for protection. We don't have the numbers or resources to fight the witches… or vampires… alone."

"I get it," he assured her as he poured her more wine. "So, the humans hold all the power. How many of them are there? And what was that about a Leader Council?"

"I don't know the exact number, it isn't as if I was included in anything." Lorelei shrugged as she swirled the red liquid in her glass. "And the Leader Council is just what the human kings and Alphas call themselves. It makes them feel important."

"I'm curious, little wolf. Why tell me all of this? You do know that anything that you tell me I can use against them." Vihaan questioned as he furrowed his brows. He watched as she drank the entire glass of wine, not taking the time to savor it.

"I'm angry," she growled as she tossed the empty glass away. "He promised that he would love me, that the human meant nothing to him. But instead, he lied and used me! I was nothing but a toy for him to play with when he was bored."

"Do you want him to die?"

"I don't think so," Lorelei sighed as she covered her face. Her back trembled as she held back a sob. "Even after everything he did, I still love him."

Vihaan stood from his chair and went behind her. His hands went to her shoulders, gently rubbing them to soothe her. He leaned forward until his mouth was near her ear.

"You were a good mate," he whispered softly. The warmth from his breath caused a shiver to go up her spine. "And by the sounds of it, he didn't deserve you."

"No, he didn't," she murmured as she leaned back, relaxing under the gentle pressure of his hands.

"You deserve someone who will worship you," he continued as one of his hands traveled down her chest, resting lightly over her covered breasts.

"I do," Lorelei agreed as she tilted her head back, resting it against him.

"I can give you everything that you would ever want, but I won't lie to you; there are things I will need from you. Think of it as I give you something, and you give me something in return. What do you think about that?" Vihaan proposed as his hand slipped under her dress. Two of his fingers instantly found her nipple that hardened under his touch. He gently pinched and twisted it, causing her to moan softly.

"I can ask for anything?" She inquired breathlessly.

"You may, but I might ask for something as well," he explained as he kissed her neck.

"I'd like for you to kill Prew, the human Queen of Queens," Lorelei stated as she looked at Vihaan. "But, I would like for Konrad to remain alive."

"Why let him live?" He hissed lightly as he nibbled gently against her skin.

"I want him to suffer," she asserted as she squirmed under his touch. "I want everyone he loves to die. Maybe after that, he will understand the pain that I felt with his betrayal."

Vihaan's hand left Lorelei’s breast and shot up to her throat. Though he gripped her firmly, it was not enough to choke off her airway. He gently pulled her to her feet and faced her towards him. His thumb left her neck and caressed her plump lips.

"Diabolical," he muttered as he inched closer to her. "I think I am going to like you, little wolf. So, what say you? Do you agree to a mutual partnership with me?"

Lorelei smirked as she parted her lips, allowing for his thumb to enter her mouth. She licked him as her eyes stared at his. The void was being filled, and she did not care that it was by a vampire, by a sworn enemy of the wolves. What had the wolves done for her? Alder tried to lead her to her death by sending her toward the vampires, but instead, she was led into the arms of a man who cared for her. She could trust Vihaan when she could not trust other wolves or humans.

Vihaan removed his thumb from her mouth and kissed her roughly. She was hot against his frigid skin. He wanted to touch her, to feel her beneath him. While they kissed, Lorelei removed her dress, letting it fall to the floor without a care. Then her hands went to his clothes. She pulled at his shirt, haphazardly removing it, causing it to tear at the collar. He backed her to the bed and pushed her onto the soft mattress.

After removing his pants, he climbed on top of her, feeling the goosebumps that covered her skin. One of his hands went between her legs and found the wetness that lay between them. He chuckled as his tongue licked her breasts and teased her nipples. Her hips began to grind against him, causing his mind to cloud with desire.

"You're so ready for me, little wolf," he hummed.

"I need you," Lorelei moaned as she arched her back. "I need you to help take away the pain that I feel in my heart and soul."

"Then I shall help you," he whispered as he pressed his member to her entrance.

In one quick thrust, he pushed himself all the way into her. Lorelei gasped at the sudden intrusion. Once her body relaxed under him, he began to move, pumping in and out of her. The feel of her body around his member was satisfying beyond compare. Vihaan had been with other she-wolves before, but this one was willing, unlike the others. Lorelei was so desperate for attention, that just a few words of kindness caused her to melt. This control over her was different, more exhilarating, than when he forced himself on his prey. They would stink of fear, but Lorelei smelled of lust. It was nearly intoxicating to him.

After a few minutes of thrusting, Vihaan began to crave something more from the wolf. He wanted to taste her, to see if her blood was just as delicious as her scent. Leaning in, his fangs grazed her skin until he found the throbbing veins in her neck. Without warning, he sank his teeth into her, taking in two deep swallows of her blood. Her hands tried to fight against him, but he held her firmly down. Once he got his fill, he licked her wounds until they healed. Even with just two swallows, he could tell that it took a toll on her body. She was malnourished, after all, but he did not regret it. Tonight was perhaps the only night that he would get with her. After that, she belonged to the witches.

Hey there, readers 🥰! I am curious about your thoughts on Lorelei. Do you blame her, or do you feel sorry for her? Personally, I feel sorry for her. She didn't ask for any of this, and she has to make decisions based on what is happening around her.

To end this chapter, let's do another song!

Catharsis by Motionless in White. It is a good song for her current situation with the vampire, as well as being a good lead up to the next chapter.