CHAPTER 14: Saturday

Saturday can't come soon enough.

Drew arrives at the mansion entrance around seven o'clock with the most gorgeous, sweet-smelling roses I've ever received. His suit tonight makes him look dashing as well. He looks delicious in his midnight black series, but his tuxedo tonight is azure blue, and it makes his green eyes and hair gleam like emeralds.

"You look really handsome tonight," my cheeks flush.

"Thank you, love. You look breathtaking in that gown as well," Drew scans my body from head to toe, smiling appreciatively.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Wait a minute, no I'm not! I'm supposed to be mad at him.

I force myself to frown as I accept the roses. The result is a strained pout Drew quickly catches.

"Do you not like them?" He observes the flowers sparkling under the chandelier of the lobby.

"No, I love them! I love roses. I love…that you gave them to me." Do I almost say I love him? That's not right. He and I have just started dating. That can't be my true feelings. No, no, they're not.

Besides, I'm still mad at him.

Yes…Yes! I'm angry right now.

"You turned Bastien into a vampire, didn't you?" I mutter so no servants passing by can hear us.

Drew grunts and waves for a maid to take my bouquet. "We'll talk about it in the car, love."

He hooks our arms together and walks me outside, glancing again at my outfit. I've chosen to wear stiletto heels and a ruby gown that shows a lot of cleavage under my winter coat. Yes, I'm still mad at Drew but I also want to impress him.

Drew is being a gentleman by not ogling, but when he loops an arm around my shoulders and caresses me through the faux fur, I know that I've tempted him. He'll satisfy his desire—maybe—if I stop being mad at him.

We make our way to the roundabout, where a black sports car is waiting for us. I've expected Rosenfield or another of Drew's employees to be waiting with it, but no. Drew himself will be driving us tonight.

"I'm still surprised you drive yourself around," I comment as Drew opens the passenger door for me. "Most kings have chauffeurs driving them in limousines."

"Funny how this surprises you, considering it's more unheard of for a princess to ride motorcycles and get into fistfights. Yet, here you are, delightfully surprising me."

I blush and sit, letting him close the door beside me.

The inside of his car is much warmer than it is outside. Still, I turn up the heater before stripping my coat. The storm last week is gone, but it's still autumn, and Drew can still get cold.

My boyfriend shoots me a wink as he hops onto the driver's seat. The moon makes his tan complexion glow through the windshield—full and orange.

"Would you have preferred to ride in a limousine?" Drew buckles his seatbelt.

"No."

"Good. I want to be sure in case that's what you prefer on dates."

"I don't need a fancy ride to enjoy a date," I strap myself in as well, "but I appreciate you thinking of me."

"I want you to enjoy your time with me, love. It's the least I can do for having your time in the first place."

My hand brushes the leather chair as I inhale the car's fragrance. I can never forget this minty smell. It reminds me of Drew. "Where are we going?" The mansion shrinks on the side mirror as the car veers into the woods.

"I have a hotel located in another county up north. It will be quite a drive, but not too long. This car is fast, and I know multiple shortcuts."

"Do you have music?"

"My phone is plugged into the car's system. You're welcome to choose which songs to play."

I accept his phone and scroll through his playlists. Wow, that's a lot of classical music. Nothing with synths or percussion. Hell, I bet Drew has never stepped into Comet just so he can avoid the heavy bass.

There's an option to select any other type of music, but I choose to press the shuffle button on Drew's downloaded songs. I want to get to know him. At least, the less scary, murderous side of him. Not that I have a problem with that side.

Okay, I guess I have, at first. I should, right? I mean, everyone does. That's why Max, Brock, and everyone else are scared of Drew.

But Drew has never frightened me for this reason—or any reason, for that matter. Yes, Drew's violent nature can be a problem, but that just means he won't judge me for mine.

After all, how can I judge him for shedding blood if I've shed some too?

The first song that plays opens with a flute. I settle into my seat as violins join in the background.

"Do you like classical music too, love?" Drew steers the car into a mountain range.

"It's not my favorite, but it's pretty to listen to. I'm playing songs on your playlists to get to know you better. I've learned a ton of things about you already, but not the fun stuff."

"Hmm, fair. You should play songs you like as well, love. I'd love to hear the music that calls to you."

"I doubt you'd like it. I like hard rock."

"That makes sense. You're a rebel. It's not all that surprising to hear that you favor music with loud and outspoken themes."

"What can I say? It's the music that speaks to me."

"Then I'd like to hear it. I do have to warn you that the music may cut off when we enter the canyon. There are no cell towers there."

"It's fine, I'm playing from your downloaded list. How do you know to take this route anyway?"

"It's the quickest detour between the next county and your kingdom. But I don't recommend taking this road often. The gap between the canyon is narrow, and you may be trapped or crushed if a landslide occurs."

"So, you're taking us through here because..."

"I don't want you to wait too long for your dinner. Besides, my car is faster than any rock that can fall into our path. But if there's a chance even that isn't enough, I move even quicker than both of them. So, you'll never be in danger when you're with me, love. I guarantee it."

I believe him. It's hard not to, despite everything that has happened. If there's anyone that I can trust with my safety, it's Drew.

We soon reach the border patrol at the edge of the mountains. I've expected Drew to stop for them, but he keeps driving, and no one chases us.

Drew smirks when I stare at him.

"What the hell? Why didn't you—"

"They know me, love. They know not to interfere."

This should intimidate me. Not even I can pass the borders that easily, and I'm the princess of the kingdom. Instead, Drew's display of power is starting to turn me on. I squirm, the arousal threatening to take over me before I realize what I'm doing and clear my throat.

"Tell me about Bastien! You promised you'll tell me." I've almost forgotten about him. Drew's good at helping me forget my problems, but it becomes a double-edged sword when he's the one causing them.

Drew glances at the rearview mirror. "Yes, love, I have turned that man into a vampire. How did you learn of it?"

"I visited his apartment to spend time with his parents after work yesterday, but you probably already know that since you're probably keeping tabs on me."

Drew shrugs, "You know how protective I am of you, love. And especially after Bastien assaulted you, I can never be too careful."

"I told you I don't need your protection, Drew."

"You also told me you'll give me a chance. Protecting you is my way of showing that I care about you, love. Not unlike how you always make the setting warm when we're together so I won't get cold."

He nods at the heater, and I flush. "Vampire King or not, I'll still worry about you."

"Then you understand that no matter how strong, intelligent, and capable you are, I'll still worry about you too. It isn't about weakness, love. It never has been."

I avert my gaze. We're getting to a certain point, but I'm not ready to have that conversation yet. "A-Anyway, Bastien's parents showed me a picture of him buying them breakfast, and he doesn't just look happier than he's ever been, but he also doesn't look injured at all. Then they told me you've hired him too?"

"It's a way of keeping an eye on him. Besides, my offer isn't difficult to accept. Bastien stays away from you; and in exchange, I provide him with a job that pays more than enough money to get him and his parents out of that dingy apartment and into somewhere more decent."

"They stay there to preserve Brendan's memory."

"They can bring his things with them."

"Have a problem with dingy neighborhoods?"

"I don't mean to insult them," Drew states. "It's just that many lifetimes ago, I had also been poor and struggling to make ends meet. Visiting places such as that neighborhood triggers painful memories."

My mouth parts. "Drew, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you had it so hard."

"Don't worry, love. It's in the past now."

"I guess, and you're making a difference to people like that around the world now! Like marrying me to support my foundation."

Drew glances at me but says nothing.

"S-So," I clear my throat when it gets awkward again, "you're helping Bastien now?"

"Aye. I know what his family means to you. If you care for them, then so will I."

"But why turn him into a vampire?"

"It's the only way to make sure he does what I say. It's either that or kill him, and you've already told me not to do the latter."

"How would turning him into a vampire make him obey you?"

"Blood Sync, if you recall. And it's still effective, even if you don't have it. Bastien now obeys my command like his life depends on it, just like the others."

"But doesn't your venom have a chance of killing someone if their body can't take it?"

"Aye."

"So, you've risked Bastien's life to get him to do what you say?"

"It's not that big of a risk, love. Either outcome gives me what I want."

"Wait a minute, I've also just realized: you can't control me like you control other vampires, so are you marrying me to control me through marriage instead?"

"No, love, and don't suggest that again," Drew glares at me. "If I'm really threatened by your free will, then I would keep my distance from you, not keep you close. And…I admit I have tried to resist what I feel for you at first. But then the night at that alleyway happened, and I realized that I can't let you go. I can't control you, but I can't leave you either. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're controlling me."

He looks genuinely concerned by that. The Vampire King, the man everyone is scared to even talk about, is scared of what he feels for me.

Well, at least now I know my feelings are mutual. I've been trying to resist him too. Glad to know that the one thing we have in common is insanity. "Would you ever try to control me?"

"I've considered it. It will make taming a brat like you much easier."

I give him the finger, just to taunt him.

Drew shakes his head but he's smiling. "Then I realize it will do me no good. I care about you, May, so I care about what you feel for me. I want you to choose me as I've chosen you."

I slip my hand into his, not knowing what else to do. "Guess, we'll have to see."

A new song begins to play. An aria floats in with a piano solo. The strings cry in the background, and the winds bellow in grief.

"What a sad tune," I murmur.

"It's from a tragedy called The Traveler Lost. It's a tale of friends who travel together to achieve a goal but lose each other on the way there."

"You know a lot of tragic plays. Didn't you recognize the sad song at the gala too?"

Drew smiles but not happily. "What can I say, love? You're not the only one in this relationship with a tragic past. Should I change the music? I don't want our date to become despondent, especially after the conversation we had."

"No, leave it," I swing his phone out of reach. "You know so much about me already. Let me know more about you."

"Through the music on my phone?"

"Depends, are you going to talk about this tragic past?"

"No."

"Then, yes, through your music."

Drew gives me a long look before returning to the road. "You wouldn't like to know more about me, love. You haven't liked the things you've learned about me, so far. It doesn't get better from there."

"But you want me to marry you, right?"

"…Aye."

"So let me get to know you, Drew! Let me meet my future husband."

"Are you saying you'll marry me?"

"I'm saying it's possible."

That lifts his spirits. I can see him barely contain his joy when I say that.

Drew isn't as talkative as I am, but even if he is, he won't talk about his emotional wounds tonight. Especially not when it's our first date, and we've already been through so much before it. Tragedies are hard to talk dabout as they are. I should know; I still haven't gotten over mine.

Drew will tell me what he's been through when he's ready. Until then, I want to enjoy my time with him. I'm sinking into this bottomless ocean that's my attraction to him. It's still terrifying as hell, but if Drew is swimming with me, then I think we'll be okay.