Marked by the Vampire Prince: I’m His Mate, Not His Baby Maker!

Julian's POV

"Is she still asleep, Jakub?" Glancing at my door as he entered my study room, his face was battered with every inch of purple bruises which I inflicted on him not too long ago. 

"Yes, sir. We take shifts keeping an eye on her," he said. 

"Good, the last thing we need is my mate trying to kill herself again." If that happened once more, all the effort of searching for her would be futile.

Then a thought came to my mind. "The bodies of those filthy humans. Have you sent them to the Imps?"

"They are now being feasted as we speak."

"Good."

From what I had heard, she had been framed as a wanted criminal for a long time before I placed that bounty on her. 

"I've heard that the Alpha mutt, Nolan, is responsible for putting that bounty on her head years ago. Investigate this with discretion this time, Jakub."

"Of course, sir." Yet, he doesn't leave. 

"Why are you still standing here? Speak or else I will tear your eye socket this time."

He remained hesitant. "Am I allowed to say what's on my mind, sir?"

I sighed. Jakub meant well and I had no doubt that his mistakes were only because he acted on what he thought was best for me. "Go on." 

But his recklessness scared Lyra Ellison.

I could have lost my fated mate before I planted an heir on her fertile womb. 

He took a deep breath as he began.

"The prophecy, why is it playing a cruel joke on you, sir? Not only were you cursed but you were given a mere human as your fated mate. But worst of all, a human in the Slumber Hound City."

Of course Jakub casted a doubt of his own when he found out. Anyone would question once I announced Lyra Ellison as my wife.

No, it would be safer if no one knew of her existence when the right time comes.

"I don't know. I felt it when I was with her. High Vampires didn't have the conventional way of mating by fate like wolves. We choose based on choice." Tapping on the wooden table with my long elongated fingers, I hummed. "But I "felt" she was the one. My desire for her was none other."

"And if all was…wrong and only a desire for her beauty? N-Not that I am questioning you, my lord."

I smirked, taking no offense to his piqued curiosity. "Then I could make her fodder till I lose interest," I smirked, remembering how her scent drove me crazy that night. 

Perhaps her blood tasted better once my fangs bared on her neck.

"But…I'll try to test the waters," I added, humoring him. "I'll see it for myself if this isn't just a mere attraction towards her beauty."

Jakub lowered his head. I knew he had a lot on his mind. I had known him since he was an infant. And deep down, Jakub saw me as his father figure.

"I am not giving up if that is what you are thinking."

His eyes grew wider. "N-no! I didn't think you will—"

"Master Julian?" A gentle knock on the door.

The heavy atmosphere in the room dissipated by another servant's intervening call.

"Enter," I commanded.

Another inferior vampire—Henry's the name, I presumed, entered with practiced movement. He immediately bowed before announcing his purpose. "Sir, the human has awakened and…"

He gulped, his lips quivered. "...she is creating a mess inside her room."

=============

"HEY, YOU MOTHERFUCKING MONSTERS! LET GO OR I'LL BEAT THE SHIT OUTTA YA!" 

Her voice was too loud and too robust for my keen ears. Not to mention a spitfire with a colorful vocabulary range. I was not surprised if she had never been raised to be in good grace.

"AAGH! YOU BIT MY EAR!" My servant screamed.

"That human—" Jakub growled.

I abruptly opened the door and I stepped inside the guest room.

And there she was, apprehended by three of my servants, carefully not to give her any harm as I instructed them. And another who was holding his bleeding ear while his eyes turned crimson.

And the state of her bedroom was as expected—vases shattered on the floor, windows broken—clear evidence of her attempted escape, and the torn sheets and curtains. 

When she saw me, her eyes filled with rage. "YOU! How dare you fucking put me to sleep?!"

I massaged my forehead as I turned to command the servants. "Leave."

They were more relieved for the first time at my command and soon, they let go and fled without a moment of hesitation.

I inwardly scoffed, finding their flawed behavior unruly to be afraid of an uncouth human.

Just as Lyra got out to join them, my hand shot out, seizing her hand. "I didn't say you're leaving."

She yanked her arm free. "I didn't say I want to stay."

"You bit a vampire's ear. You know the consequences if you harm a vampire." I wiped the filthy blood from her lips. 

"What? That I'll be turned into one of you?" She snapped, slapping my hand as she roughly rubbed her moist natural puckered lips.

I nearly smiled at her words. "Far from it. He will haunt you until every drop of your blood has been drained."

She refused to look at me, head turned away from me as she crossed her arms.

"I didn't expect you to kill yourself. I thought you were more of a fighter."

"Can't defeat you even if I tried. You are Julian Czarnel, after all." She sighed. "And my life is already over the moment I caught your attention."

Staring at her for a moment, I frowned. "I'm serious about what I've said: you are my mate. So, I won't kill you." 

Yet. 

Until I am certain that she was my mate, I had to keep her alive.

She scoffed, finally turning to give me a deadly glare. "I thought you see humans as livestock."

"Indeed." I only smiled, more sinister than I let on. "Your blood is far better than any cattle."

"Fuck you!" With her fist clenched, she lashed out, aiming for my face—which I predicted so well.

I calmly sidestepped and she stumbled forward from it. 

Whether it was out of desperation or idiocy, Lyra Ellison had…balls to do so.

Grabbing her wrists, I pull her to my arms, embracing her. Her natural scent is arousing. 

I suddenly felt my cock hardened at her touch, her scent and her being close to me. 

Her eyes widened when she felt it as well just from the poke of her stomach. 

"Stop fighting it, Lyra," I growled. "I'm taking what's mine…now." 

I crashed my lips to hers in a dominating kiss. If she tried to push me once more, she got another thing coming. 

And I didn't need to manipulate her blood to do my bidding.