“That’s cheating though,” Alora said as she lifted her head from his chest.
“How? You didn’t say that I cannot catch you if you fall,” he opined. “And I would not have let you get harmed by falling down.”
Alora laughed lightly and tried to get away from him when he pulled her back. “Stay like this,” he said, peering into her eyes affectionately.
“Someone will see us,” Alora whispered.
“No one is around,” Magnus replied.
“How does His Highness know? I’ll beat you if someone sees us like this,” Alora muttered.
“Alright,” Magnus accepted her challenge. “Oh, no! Louis has come,” he pronounced.
Alora swiftly moved away from Magnus as she sat on the ground while stroking her hair. “Did Louis see us?” She asked as she didn’t raise her head. “Your Highness, please sit up. You cannot lay like that,” she tapped on his hand.
Magnus leisurely rested his weight on his elbow before sitting up close to her. His right knee remained in the air while the left one lay flatly against the ground.
“Alora,” Magnus called out her name.
“Huh?” She tilted her head when he promptly kissed her lips.
“Louis saw us. What will you do now?” He amusedly teased her.
“You are shameless,” Alora retorted and raised her eyes while squinting her eyes to look for Louis. To her surprise, she couldn’t get his sight. “Did you lie to me?” She complained, realizing how Magnus deceived her.
Before she could rise, Magnus draped his arm over her shoulder and rested his chin on her other shoulder, drawing her close.
“I caught you fair and square. Don’t I deserve a reward?” Magnus teased, toying with the loose strands of her hair.
“Why should I reward you when you cheated?” Alora countered, her tone firm.
“Would you rather I let you fall then?” Magnus queried, raising an eyebrow.
“No,” Alora refused, shaking her head. Suddenly a cool breeze blew, causing her hair to flow with that. Her blood scent turned dominant with it, making Magnus crave it. He licked his lips, wondering why only she had such an effect on him.
“Look at the hill over there. Its top is shrouded in clouds,” Alora pointed her finger northwestward. “How long do you think it would take to reach there?” She looked at Magnus expectantly.
“I’d say several days if you’re human,” Magnus replied thoughtfully.
He rose to his feet and offered his hand to Alora. She accepted it, allowing him to pull her up. Magnus brushed off the soil and tiny grass clinging to her gown from his hands.
“Thank you,” Alora expressed her gratitude.
Walking with her hands behind her back, Alora said, “Magnus, I wanted to ask about the Vampire Council from you.”
“Why do you ask about the council suddenly?” Magnus questioned.
“I learned that the council has lots of responsibilities. Also, I heard that Prince Magnus used to work in it once. He was popular for his quick dismissal of the particular case after solving them,” Alora asserted. “Why did you suddenly stop working on it?”
“Who told you about all this?” Magnus knew Izaak would not speak about council with Alora.
“Selvina,” Alora answered. “I asked her,” she added.
“I lost my interest,” Magnus replied.
“Why? Doesn’t the council work seem fun? You get to see new cases every day and then, you brainstorm to resolve them,” Alora asserted, the excitement was visible in her eyes.
“Why does it seem like you’re eager to join the council?” Magnus teased lightly.
“Can I?” Alora inquired, coming to a stop.
Magnus paused a step ahead of her. “You can’t. Humans are strictly prohibited from entering the council,” he declared firmly.
Alora got upset to learn that. “Why? Humans are intelligent too,” she stated.
“Because humans cannot work on vampire-related matters. They cannot go into such investigations. Do you understand now?” Magnus queried. He didn’t know why Alora suddenly took interest in that.
“Oh? So, I need to become a vampire to join the council,” Alora mused.
“What did you just say?” Magnus chuckled, amused by her statement.
“Well, I said I’d become a vampire to enter the council,” Alora clarified.
“And who exactly do you think will turn you into a vampire?” Magnus raised an eyebrow, amused by Alora’s boldness.
“You,” Alora replied with a hint of mischief in her tone.
“Never. You will live as a human till the end,” Magnus said and he took a step closer to her. “You aren’t going to suffer like we do,” he stated.
“But His Highness said that a vampire has no suffering when the first time I asked her,” Alora reminded him.
“I lied,” Magnus said and turned to go ahead of her.
Alora ran after him as she caught him. “You didn’t. Your eyes never lie to me,” she refused to believe him. “I will not have a long life anyway. His Highness has to turn me into a vampire someday,” she suddenly pronounced, bringing them to a halt again. This time Alora stopped a step ahead of him.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.