Hey, everyone! Thank you so much to those who have shared their heartfelt comments in the reviews. I was worried that my story was losing its luster, so reading your kind words really gave me the boost I needed to keep going. Again, thank you very much for your support! This chapter's for you.

Chapter's Songs for Inspiration:
"Promise" by Thomas Bergersen
"Remember Me" by Thomas Bergersen
"Merchant Prince" by Thomas Bergersen
"Gift of Life" by Thomas Bergersen
"Aura" by Thomas Bergersen
"Ocean Wide" by The Afters

When May woke up the next morning, Drew had already been awake before her. He held her tightly to his chest, leaning his chin on her head and staring at the waterfall in front of them. May shifted under him. Drew was deep in thought. So deep, it took him a while until he met her curious gaze. He smiled and kissed her lips. Then her cheek, and then her neck.

May waited for him to nourish himself with her blood, but he didn't. His lips stayed above her skin, nipping and licking the surface and occasionally pausing to lay still. Before May could finally ask him what was wrong, Drew's hands made it up to her breasts before stroking her hips.

She moaned when he caught a naked nipple between his teeth. The king made sure to give each breast equal attention before licking his way to her thighs. May crossed her legs. Both she and Drew were still naked from their session the night before. Though they have already done so much, she still couldn't help but feel modest being exposed to him like that. But Drew was far less reluctant. He parted her legs, lowered his head, and then licked her folds.

May gasped at the sensation and then screamed when Drew's tongue entered her. His mouth expertly stimulated every part of her region, his thumbs coming in to play with her pulsing bud. May groaned as shivers racked her body. Her hips rose from the mattress, only to have Drew hold them down and roughen his ministrations. She tangled his hair into her fingers. Then, after Drew sucked sharply at her clit, May screamed as orgasm pulsed through her body.

Drew lifted himself to her face and kissed her with hungry desire. May encircled his neck, tasting what she assumed was her essence on his lips. She then lowered a hand to his member, where her finger stroked his tip before going up and down his shaft. Drew groaned into her mouth and bucked into her pumping fingers. Then, before he could climax, he yanked May's hand off and thrust into her core.

May moaned as Drew pistoned her to the mattress. She held onto his shoulders to steady herself, but it was hard to do so when the king gripped her hips to pound into her sweet spot. The frames of the bed trembled beneath their activity. The legs have broken not long ago, unable to hold the couple's carnal desire for each other. It wasn't long until the both of them reached their climax. May was first, clamping Drew's member firmly with her walls. Drew came next, filling her with his juices.

May exhaled as Drew settled beside her. They weren't as tired as they usually were after their sessions, she noticed. Perhaps it was their hunger for blood that strengthened their vampiric sides, granting them just a little more strength to keep going if they wanted to. May turned to see if Drew wanted to drink her blood. Then faced his wrist while his eyes returned to the ceiling.

"Drew," May pushed his wrist down, "what's wrong?"

Drew blinked and turned to her. "Huh?"

"C'mon, Drew," May propped her head up with an arm. "The sex was great, don't get me wrong; you've just been out of it since we woke up."

She didn't know how she was able to speak so boldly, and neither did he. But May allowed only Drew to display his surprise. Her expression stayed curious, waiting for his answer.

"Why would you think there's something wrong?" Drew propped his head as well, smirking. "Is it wrong to look pensive?"

"Only if you do it as much as you did just now," May remarked. When her lover's smirk didn't fade, she sighed and entwined their fingers. "Please, Drew. I thought we were going to be honest with each other."

Drew's smirk finally went away then and settled into a faint frown. "You're right," he conceded.

He paused when a quick thought came to his head. Then, upon considering it, planted a kiss upon the back of May's hand. "Drink some of my blood now for nourishment," he instructed. "I can't stay too long; I have to save your kingdom, remember?"

May's face fell. Her hand would've too, but Drew gripped it tightly.

"But I'll be back; and when I do, you and I are going to have our first date," he added. "I'll return with good food so we can eat it somewhere nice, and then we'll tell each other everything we know about ourselves. How does that sound?"

May's eyes widened. She had never been on a date before. There might have been many suitors in her kingdom willing to take her to one, but she had never agreed to them. She wanted her first outing to be with someone special. Now that she was given a chance to think about it, Drew was definitely a...special one. And he didn't refuse to share about himself. She just had to wait a little bit, after her kingdom was safe.

"Okay," she nodded.

Drew smiled and planted a deep kiss on her lips. He then thumbed her shoulder tenderly before pushing the blanket off his body.

"Huh?" May blinked as the vampire pushed himself off the mattress. "But, Drew, wait! Don't you want to...you know…"

"What, May?" Drew smirked when he caught her blushing at his toned bottom. "Oh, again? Can't get enough of me, huh?"

May's face immediately turned red. "Drew, no!" she screeched. "I-I didn't m-mean that, y-you pervert! I'm talking about...you know…" she pointed at her neck.

"I get it, May, it's a fetish," Drew pulled a pair of pants over his hips. "I promise, when I return, I'll give you more."

"Drew!" May screamed, looking more mortified than she ever had in her life. "Just...ugh! You…"

"Sorry, sorry," Drew apologized as he leaned over the bed.

His claim was half-hearted, and they both knew it. He loved pressing her buttons. Drew tried to come in for a kiss, but May crossed her arms and turned away, indignant. He chuckled and pecked her cheek instead.

"I know what you're talking about," he leaned his forehead against her temple. May frowned but didn't move away. "I'll feed on the animals in the woods. You, on the other hand," he pulled her in, so her lips pressed against his neck, "need breakfast."

May gasped and quickly pulled away. "Wait, but why don't you...want me to...feed you?" she asked as steadily as she could. Then she paused. "Does my blood taste bad?"

"No, no," Drew took her hand and pulled her back to him. "I just want to give your perfect skin a break today."

May rolled her eyes. She didn't know what was sillier: the fact that Drew had answered something so cheesy or the fact that he was serious about it. "Okay, then why can't I give your 'perfect skin' a break?"

"Because you can't control your hunger as well as I can," Drew replied. "At least, not yet."

Despite how delicately he had put that, May was still aghast by his answer. She understood his reasoning completely. Evirn. That was the name of the fairy she had attacked, the creature she had almost killed because she couldn't control her bloodlust.

Drew scowled and tugged her wrist. "Hey."

When May didn't look up, he tilted her head up with a finger.

"Remember our goal," he reminded. "If we break the curse, neither you nor I will have to deal with this hunger again. So stay strong, okay? I'll be back soon for our date."

The last sentence was to disengage the princess from her thoughts. It had worked, somewhat. Drew felt her relax enough under his touch to pull her back to his shoulder.

"We'll get through this, May," he muttered into her ear. "But for now, I need you to be full until tonight."

Drew smirked when he felt her puff against his skin. Then, in reluctant submission, his lover started to nibble.

~.~

Drew and Harley fled until they were about half a mile from the castle. Once behind a large boulder, Drew sunk to the ground in weariness and looked at the infant. Harley was far too young to understand the situation. All he knew was that he was having a fun adventure with an amazing friend.

The prince made sure that the younger child was safe before rising back to his feet. His goal was to get away from his parents. What to do after was still a mystery. But he knew that the kids couldn't stay in the woods forever. They had to find a haven soon. It was getting dark, and the wilderness that filled him with excitement earlier that day now filled him with fear.

Then, almost out of nowhere, Damon emerged to stand beside him. Drew was stunned by his sudden presence, but his father only shrugged and leaned against the boulder.

"You didn't think you inherited your rambunctiousness from your mother, did you?" the king inquired.

Drew grunted but remained in place. He was sour to be found so quickly but afraid to flee again.

"Listen, Andrew," Damon sighed. "I know you want a sibling. Your mother and I have tried to give you a brother or a sister, believe me, we did. But since you're the only bundle of joy we're going to have, we want to give the best to you. I hope you understand that."

Drew kicked the dirt beneath his feet but said nothing. Harley was still cradled in his arms, curious to know what was happening.

"Bet Harley will never know what that feels like," Drew muttered, "to have parents that give him the best."

Damon crossed his arms. "We'll make sure that he does."

"Yeah, because you're not really good parents," Drew remarked. "You're sending him away to real parents because you're not real parents! You never let me have fun, and when I finally gain a friend, you want to take him away from me!"

The king's eyebrows furrowed. His son's defiance should've been expected at that age, but Damon couldn't deny that his words still hurt. He really did want to give the best to his son, despite what Drew had said. But he hadn't, apparently, because he and his wife wouldn't let Drew keep a stranger in their home.

"Tell me, son," Damon knelt down. "What is it about this child that made you decide to keep him?"

"He's not just a child, Dad," Drew tucked Harley protectively to his chest. Then, with a proud huff, declared, "He's my brother."

~.~

The return to the Fairy Kingdom was easier today than it was yesterday with a carriage from the Vampire Kingdom to take Drew there. Drew could have flown himself like yesterday but wanted to preserve his energy. He wasn't lying to May when he said he could control his vampiric urges, but the hunger pulsing throughout his body was different from what he had experienced before. It wasn't satiated by the animals he had fed on near his and May's retreat. It craved on May's blood alone and would torment him until it got its fill.

Drew groaned and clutched his head. He knew that abstaining from May's blood would cause withdrawals but didn't expect the drawbacks to be that bad so soon. But he was going to fight it. His body could pass out if it wanted to; he would not lay another hungry fang on May.

In less than thirty minutes, the carriage had descended in front of Solidad's castle. Drew staggered out of the vehicle and onto the front steps, where the queen's scarlet skirt glided across the crystals.

"Good morning," Solidad greeted. Her tone was lively but had a trace of apprehension in her voice. Drew hid his discomfort so she wouldn't worry more than she already was. He didn't have to ask to know that she was nervous about meeting Harley.

"Are you ready to do this?" he asked.

"Yes," Solidad assured. "The question is, are you? You're weakened by your blood bond with May, and it has been too long since you and Harley hav—"

"Don't worry about me," Drew jerked his head. "Worry about those weeds and their looney gardener."

Solidad pursed her lips but said nothing. It wasn't the first time she had heard the brothers shoot insults about each other. Today, however, was different. The men shared more than animosity toward one another. One misstep and something worse than words could turn the desert into a battlefield.

As discussed, the Fairy Queen and Vampire King boarded Solidad's carriage and took off into the sky. The weather today was pleasant. The skies were clear, and the sunlight was gentle. Solidad hummed in delight and grinned at her companion.

"So how is May doing?" she asked. "Is she okay with you leaving her alone like this?"

"Well it's to protect her kingdom, so there isn't much she can complain about," Drew answered. Solidad displayed curiosity, but he refused to disclose much else.

"How about you?" the queen tilted her head. "Are you okay with leaving her alone like this?"

Drew crossed his arms. "No," he admitted, "but I have to learn to. She agreed to marry me out of her own personal choice but only if we learn to be honest with each other. If she told me she would take care of herself when I leave, I have to trust that she can."

Solidad grinned. "How sweet. I never thought you would ever make an effort to seal a commitment with one woman."

Drew rolled his eyes but understood why she said that. He hadn't always been the committal type, vampire or mortal. Something had to be really special to get him to settle down. As it turned out, May was one of them. He knew that, and Solidad knew that.

"Wait a minute," Solidad pointed. "Aren't you already married? Marriage is the union of two souls into one, and you and May have definitely united when you performed the blood bond."

"It only applies as long as we're vampires," Drew informed. "Once May and I break the curse, we won't be...bonded anymore."

The queen crossed her arms. "I see. I'm guessing this gives you mixed feelings about breaking the curse?"

"I definitely want to get rid of the curse. There's no question about that," Drew stated. "I...just hope May would still be there when it's gone."

"That's why you're trying so hard to please her," Solidad concluded, a smile spreading across her face again. Then it faltered. "As much as I want to say it might be because you're learning to love her, I can't dismiss the possibility that she's just making you feel less lonely. I don't mean to offend you, Drew. I just don't want you to be...misled."

Drew scowled but said nothing. There was nothing else to be said. He hadn't loved nor been loved for centuries, yet for some odd reason, that started to bother him. Perhaps the curse was already fading on its own; he didn't know. There were so many things he didn't know. Did he care about May because she meant a lot to him or was it because of Solidad's reason, which was that it was due to loneliness?

That was another thing he would discover tonight on his date with May. They both had a lot to figure out, and it would do some good to talk about it.

"Anyway," Solidad sat back against the cushions of her seat, "I've been thinking about my departure for a while now."

Drew narrowed his eyes. "Are you talking about your death?"

"I didn't want to be morbid," the queen tilted her head, "but, yes, I am talking about the day I die."

Drew crossed his arms. "When is it?"

"When I turn 50, of course," Solidad answered. "I'm 48 now, so I have about two more years left. But we both know how quickly time flies. Why? Are you going to miss me?"

She was only half-joking to lighten the mood, but Drew was unaffected. He expressed the same dazed look May had witnessed that morning, but directed at the floor of the carriage. Solidad frowned and took his hand.

"I know you're afraid of being alone, but you don't have to be," she told him. "We're currently on our way to your brother, someone capable of living as long as you do and has the love I promise you he still has if you just let him give it to you. Just open your arms to him, Drew. Maybe it's his love that can save you."

Drew took his hand back. His expression was becoming sour as he glared out the window. Solidad knew then that their conversation was finished. Despite having an irrational disdain for the relative, Drew had never expressed how and why he had grown to hate his brother. At least Harley was more than happy to share his perspective on the matter.

Nevertheless, the queen didn't want to end their discussion and end it on a bitter note. She wanted to talk to Drew for as long as she could. They didn't know how Drew started to regain his mortality, but Solidad liked to think it was because her companionship was reteaching him how to let people in. Once Drew lost that friendship, what would happen then? Would his progress be reversed? Would he go back to being a monster?

Solidad bit the skin behind her lip. There had to be someone else for Drew when she departed from that world. If Drew refused to have Harley back in his life, then the only other option was…

"May," she whispered, catching his attention, "how are things going with you two?"

Drew crossed his arms. "We're doing well," he answered cautiously. "As I've said, she had agreed to marry me out of her own personal choice but only if we're honest with each other. So I proposed that we have our first date tonight after all this was over."

Solidad's eyes immediately lit up. "Oh that's wonderful!" she sat at the edge of her seat. "If there is anything I can do to help, please say so."

"Actually," Drew slowly raised his gaze, "I do need a few tips."

With that, he and Solidad engaged in an in-depth conversation about dating. Drew had never been the courting type. He had never been the type to accept advice either, which was why his fairy companion was more than eager to divulge what she knew to him. Things had definitely not gone in the direction the king had foreseen, and were still going somewhere he couldn't see nor prepare for. Nevertheless, Drew had nothing much to complain. Those past few days might have kept giving him one problem after another, but at least they also came with solutions.

With the help of the beacon disguised as a broach Solidad had gifted to Harley, the carriage eventually slowed down to what looked like a thorny dark green sea. The sea halted its movements at the sight of the vehicle and surrounded it upon landing. To a bird flying by, the carriage looked like a tiny dot on a green canvas.

The cactus demons screeched in delight as Solidad stepped onto the desert. The queen greeted them with an apprehensive smile and blocked the exit behind her.

"Hello, everyone," she waved courteously. "May I speak to your father?"

The demons practically hopped in their spots and created a path leading to Harley's hut. Everyone waited for Harley to exit and welcome Solidad in glory, but he didn't. Instead, he exited his abode slowly and glared at his visitors. He already knew who else was in Solidad's carriage before that person emerged. As soon as the demons saw that person as well, they hissed and lunged.

"Harley!" Solidad extended her arms in front of Drew.

A burst of fire sparked behind her. Solidad turned around, wondering where the sudden warmth had originated, and saw that Drew had a flame ignited in his palm.

"No, Solidad, go ahead and let them," he waved the element between his fingers. "See what it's like to be in a sea of ashes."

"Drew, stop it! Both of you, stop it!" Solidad ordered. "Harley, come out here right now!"

The cactus demons parted once again to make way for Harley. The wizard was angry. Very, very angry.

"You."

Solidad shot Drew an expectant glare, and Drew put away his fire. He pocketed his hands and leered at Harley, who had flashed to stand directly in front of them.

"Why are you here?" Harley hissed.

"We heard about your predicament and would like to help," Solidad stepped forward to return his attention to her. "Thanatos seems to be taking lives again; so to protect you and your cacti, I'd like you all to move to my kingdom."

Harley's eyes narrowed and turned to her. He scrutinized her up and down, no longer as warm as he was when he first saw her carriage.

"Then why is he here?" he pointed, his finger barely passing Drew's personal space. "No, wait. I know why," he leaned over to the vampire and sneered. "You heard that I was heading to the Petalburg Kingdom, didn't you? The precious kingdom of your latest conquest."

"Watch your mouth," Drew's eyes flashed red.

"Harley," Solidad stepped in between them. "That's not why he's he—"

"Of course, that's why he's here! Why else would he be here?" Harley snorted. "He shut me out for millennia, and all it took to finally crawl back to me was a threat to his little princess's kingdom? Huh. If I knew this, I would've done this a long time ago. But I don't want you back in my life anymore, Drew. I want to hurt you."

Drew clenched his fists.

"And if tearing apart that kingdom is what it takes to break you, then I will slaughter every one of its citizens and bathe in their suffering," Harley threatened, his expression darkening. "And when people ask me why I would do such a horrible thing, I'll tell them that I learned it from my dearest brother. After all, who knows more about delivering suffering than you?"

Solidad grunted and was about to protest, but Drew gently pushed her to the side and walked around her. She knew then by that silent motion that she was no longer a part of this. The brothers had to handle this on their own.

"You must think you're so clever," Drew mocked. "Don't you?"

"The cleverest," the wizard returned, feeling haughty. "Truth is true, hon. So I suggest you don't get me angrier than you already have."

But to his growing anger, Drew did. By smirking.

"Okay, then let me put it this way," he began. "I stationed an army more than happy to turn your weeds into dust in Petalburg. If you and your demons so much as breathe the air in that kingdom, then my soldiers and I will slaughter the only creeps that will ever consider you family. Then you will be unloved, just like me."

Harley gasped and stepped back. Solidad's jaw dropped in horror and disbelief.

"You're right about one thing: I do deliver suffering better than anyone else in this world," Drew continued. "So if you make me angrier than you already have, you're going to get the worst of it."

Harley screamed and ignited a flame in his hand. But then Drew grabbed him by the throat. The wizard clawed and gasped for air as the vampire crushed his windpipe.

"That's enough!"

Drew dropped man onto the dirt when Solidad shoved Harley off of him. He stared blankly as Solidad treated Harley's throat with her magic.

"Are you okay?" Solidad asked Harley.

"She's n-not going to be with you forever, you know!" Harley choked out to Drew, not Solidad. "You're a beast, a demon! Solidad won't live long enough to leave you, but that bimbo of yours will!"

Drew lit another ball of fire, but Solidad quickly moved in front of Harley to prevent him from launching it.

"I said stop it!" she yelled. "Drew, go ahead and take my carriage back to wherever you want to go. I'll go back to my kingdom with Harley."

The vampire snorted and re-entered the vehicle. "Fine by me."

Once the carriage flew away, Harley raised a hand to his neck and growled. Drew might have gotten away now; but one way or another, he was going to pay.

~.~

The princess blinked as a glittering carriage descended from the sky. It was pulled by majestic white pegasi, who bowed reverently when she stood before them. The princess raised an eyebrow and tugged the skirt of her formal peach gown. She had been instructed to be ready at sunset, which was now. Was this supposed to be her ride?

As if to answer her question, the coachman of the vehicle hopped onto the grass to open the carriage door for her. He was a small fairy dressed similarly to the transportation. To May's confusion, he avoided eye contact.

Perhaps he is afraid of me, May thought as she boarded the vehicle. Her attack on the other male fairy had returned to her mind, and she found herself suffocating in guilt. She was a vampire now, a dark creature that siphoned the lives of others to sustain her own. Fear was a normal response to her. That was, until the curse was lifted.

May gripped the cushions of her seat as the carriage thrust into the air. She felt the vehicle lift from the ground and tremble at the howling winds. It didn't help that she was alone in the cabin and had no idea where it would take her. Her only sense of control was seeing the sky through the small window. She watched the pinkish-purple skies turn dark blue with snow-like stars.

Soon enough, May detected a surge of life. There was only one place she knew that could contain such life, and it was the last place she wanted to return to so soon: Fairy Kingdom.

She braced herself as the carriage descended onto the smooth ground. When the princess was escorted outside, her eyes were treated to a glorious sight. The flat surface her transportation had landed on was white marble. Everything else was a field of grass glimmering with flowers, glitter, and moisture. The trees surrounding her showered pink petals, with many forming borders to a long, deep blue river.

"Oh goodness," May cupped her mouth as she stepped onto the grass. "It's so beautiful."

Her sandals were flat enough for her feet to brush the greenery. She lifted her skirt not just so that she wouldn't accidentally step on it but also so it wouldn't obstruct her view of the fields. May had never seen such beauty in her life. Had she somehow died without knowing? How else could she have arrived at what was akin to perfection?

"Hello, May."

May gasped and turned to her right. Drew had also dressed for the occasion, downing a navy suit and dark gray dress shoes. He held a rose between his fingers before raising it to his nose. He inhaled the flower's aroma, peered at May through the petals, and then extended it to her.

May blushed and accepted it. "For me?"

"Perhaps," Drew teased, causing her to pout. He chuckled and took her hand. "You look beautiful."

May bit her lip and looked at their entwined fingers. "Thanks...you look good too." The gravity of the situation was weighing upon her. Not only was she having her first date, she was having it with the most attractive man she had ever met. Knowing how good he was in bed and that she might be reminded again tonight didn't help at all.

"Ready?" Drew invited.

"Yes," May squeaked.

The king smiled and pulled her toward their first stop.