She looked like she liked what she saw when she studied him. He then wondered if she really did like what she saw. That question would have him wondering. She certainly was an exotic-looking beauty. Mark silently strode toward the large tree in search of her.

I just knew he'd come over here sooner rather than later as I thought of vanishing. I had to admit it sounded pretty good right about now.

Since I was part phantom, I was gifted with the ability to appear and disappear at will. And that is exactly what I did…

When Mark reached the tree, she was gone. Frowning, he looked about him but found no raven-haired female. Where could she have gone? What was she, for that matter? What was she that she could so easily elude someone? She was his destined female, of that he knew without a doubt, but did he frighten her? Intimidate her even?

With just finding her, he couldn't lose her.

He turned and stepped back around the tree then looked back at the palace. The ball was in full swing, music playing and people either dancing or talking with one another. He felt like she had returned to the ball and so would he.

And who knew. Maybe he would get a chance to talk to her or better yet, he would get a chance to dance with his destined female…

Jay and I sat at an empty table with flutes of champagne before us. I told her of what happened out in the courtyard and she was sympathetic, saying that no one would hurt her little sister while she was around. I knew she wouldn't always be there but while she was, I cherished every moment.

Grateful, I now sat with her as Glenn talked to various guests. I would occasionally glanced at Jay, finding her watching the Wolf king. Feelings of envy and loneliness washed over me and I sighed, looking away.

I then wondered about the Vampire king. What could he have possibly seen in me? The way he stared at me so intently that just the thought of it made me blush anew. No man had ever stared at me like that before.

His beautiful gaze looked possessive and part of me was thrilled with that aspect whereas another part of me was fearful. I was fearful because this had never happened to me before and I didn't know how to react to it.

Curiosity got the best of me and I took a chance, glancing around the crowded ballroom. When I spotted him, his beautiful emerald gaze was rapt on me. Blushing more, I looked away and shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

I looked to the crowd before me of dancing couples and sighed softly. I leaned forward and placed my elbows upon the white cloth that covered the table, resting my chin on my laced fingers as I watched the people dance happily.

Jay did the same and sighed softly.

"Do you wish you could dance as well as they do?" Jay asked, staring into the crowd.

I gave a small reluctant nod. "Yes I do."

"Want to dance with me then?" She asked with a straight face.

I looked at her like she was crazy. She glanced at me and smirked. I gave a grateful sigh of relief then shook my head.

"Don't do that to me, Jay."

She laughed then looked back to the crowd. I smirked then looked back to the crowd as well only to find the Vampire king staring at me again. The smirk faded from my face as a blush quickly took its place, spreading about my face and down my neck like wildfire.

Could he tell how strong of an effect he had on me? Most males would float upon that fact, but this man didn't strike me as someone who would be that arrogant. But who knew. He was a king, of course.

I suddenly noticed he was a little closer this time. I was sure of it. My eyebrows furrowed, and I looked at Jay, who was suddenly blushing like crazy. She was facing forward as I followed her gaze, knowing it was Glenn who had her attention.

So was I the only nervous one here? Obviously I was.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead, knowing that nothing would ease the foreboding headache that loomed just outside of my mental door. I placed my hands back down upon the table and dared another glance his way.

He was still staring at me! And of course, my face and neck grew hotter. I damned my pale skin because it was betraying me. I also blamed all the blood that continued to rush up to my face and neck because of that man.

He glanced away briefly as someone wanted to talk to him, and I was rather grateful for such an interruption. Strangely intrigued, I gave into the urge and studied him more.

I could see on the sides of his neck a small bit of tattoos and wondered what they must look like. Were those the only ones he had? Better question was how could I have found ink so attractive on him?

Wide eyed, I shook my head then continued to study him.

His trench coat lay open and upon the lapel of his shirt was a beautiful purple rose. I loved roses although I was never given the chance to see one in person. It must have been gorgeous up close.

As I saw earlier, he was exceptionally tall with broad shoulders. My height was completely out of the question. He was ever so tall, close to if not seven feet tall whereas I was ever so short; a whopping five foot one.

I frowned but continued my studying. His long auburn red hair looked just lovely. It looked so soft to the touch… I had the strongest urge to run my fingers through it again. I heard from other females that males who had long hair loved it when women ran their fingers through it.

I blushed inspire of myself. I never ran my fingers through a man's hair before so if I did that with the Vampire king, that would my very first time.

My eyes traveled down to his chest as they seemed to linger on their own accord. When I looked at him out there in the courtyard, I thought he was muscular. Now that I can see him more clearly and with the fact of him being closer, the darkness really didn't do him any justice.

He was a huge male that knew he was huge. Aside from some of the other males here, he was one of the tallest and most muscular.

I exhaled and blinked then looked at him once more. He was staring at me again and of course, I blushed. Why, oh why did I have to blush so easily? I bit my bottom lip as I studied his handsome face.

He was more rugged than gorgeous, but I couldn't help but to think of the word. He had the face and physique of a fallen Angel. His emerald eyes were so beautiful with the contrast of his slightly tanned skin as his lips were sensual.

An Angel shouldn't be thinking this way, but I was also part Phantom. So even us Phangels have corrupted minds.

He stared at me still and smirked. Realizing that I was still staring, I quickly looked away whilst blushing profusely as he started to make his way toward the table I sat at…

Jay looked at her sister and grew wide eyed as he Vampire king made his way toward the table, his gaze fixated on Angel. This was the man Angel spoke of that openly stared at her in the courtyard. Jay knew this night would come for a while now but didn't say anything to Angel. She didn't feel it was her place to reveal such big news.

Jay knew this night would be special because Angel's destined male was here. Her time had finally come. She was happy Angel came with her to the ball. Jay then looked back at Angel and knew that she didn't know of Fate's decision yet.

Knowing what she did, she wasn't called Jay the Wise for nothing…

Then the Vampire king stopped before me. Jay watched as the large male bent and grasped my hand in his, lifting it to his lips. She looked at me and if I could blush any darker, it succeeded at this very moment.

Jay smiled, seeing how strong of an effect he had on her younger sister. I was rather nervous when he straightened to his full height and let my hand go only to offer his hand to me for a dance.

"I can't dance." I said, shaking my head.

Jay smiled brighter when he proved to be a man who didn't take no for an answer. He grasped my hand and gently pulled me to my feet. I was wide eyed as Jay couldn't stop smiling. The Vampire king looked at her and nodded once before guiding me into the crowd.

Glenn soon walked to the table and sat down beside Jay, who looked at him with a huge smile on her face while he raised an eyebrow.

Having seen the scene unfold before he came to sit beside Jay, he knew Mark must have found his destined female in Angelica. Good for you, Mark. He thought.

"The Vampire king, huh?"

Jay nodded then looked back to the crowd.

"She is his destined female…"