Cracks, shattering and loud booms reverberated throughout the stone walls of the castle.

The surroundings were eerie quiet as the King went on his rampage, no one daring to step out of their dens and risk running into the violent man.

Although the beady eyes of servants, cooks and maids still watched the Vampire King. Shaky hands clutched the material of their uniforms as they racked their minds for who the man was looking for and what could've possibly made him so irate.

The folk also shook in fear of what would happen to this person. The metallic taste of blood taunted their senses, as if it was warning them of what was to come.

"Where is she?!"

Loud footsteps pounded against the stairs as Cepheus made his way up to the east wing, where higher ranked Vampires resided.

The King snarled at the sight of the plush carpeting that lined the floors, the bright red colour and luxurious display reminded him of all the pleasantries he allowed his people to have. And how they've betrayed him.

Enraged, he knocked over a golden vase; it wasn't even filled with flowers or serving its purpose. It was merely there to serve as a display of wealth, power. It was hand crafted and made completely from pure gold. Maybe these luxuries had made them forget their place.

With a slam, Cepheus opened the door to Raphael's room, knowing that he would be hiding his mate in there.

"Cepheus—"

"Where the fuck is she?"

The King grabbed his friend by the front of his shirt and pushed him against the wall. His fangs had dropped to hover just above his chin and his eyes were liquid pools of vermillion, viscous and opaque.

But still, with a deathly grip and a stare that reflected just how sinister his thoughts were in that moment, Raphael held his ground.

"You know I can't tell you that." He spoke in a steady tone; it was low and calm, the complete opposite of how the raging vampire was presenting.

"Raphael—"

"You're going to have to kill me and you know it."

Cepheus flared his nostrils and stared at the man for a moment.

Raphael appeared cool and collected; his face was stoic, not an ounce of worry or fear broke through his mask.

But his body showed otherwise.

The plump, bloody muscle that supplied his body with blood was erratic.

It beat against his chest like and raced like a wild boar, only intensifying as Cepheus' lips twitched up in a smirk.

He knew.

"I won't have to kill you my friend." The King whispered.

His hand flashed out and in an instant, Raphael's elbow was bent so far back that a snap sounded in the room.

"I'll just have to hurt you a little."

The younger man cried out, not expecting the sudden pain. He buckled over when Cepheus proceeded to knee him in the stomach, a choked breath escaping him.

"Where is she?" The man seethed in his friend's ear.

Although Raphael only shook his head and coughed.

With a frustrated snarl Cepheus kneed him in the stomach once more, effectively breaking one of his ribs.

"You're only making this worse for her, friend. The angrier I get, the uglier things are going to be for your beloved. I take it that you don't want things to reach that point?"

Raphael's eyes flashed in anger at the threat but more so at the fact that he was helpless, he couldn't do anything to stop what was to come.

"Just kill me instead."

"No!"

A smirk made its way on the King's face at the familiar voice.

"Don't kill him, I'm here."

Cepheus turned around, mindlessly dropping Raphael, leaving him to gasp on the hardened floor.

"Fuck, Cepheus you didn't have to hurt him—"

The vampire pushed Melessandra against the wall, using his forearm to press against her throat, cutting off the blood supply to her brain. His jaw twitched in annoyance as he heard Raphael snarl in protest; he couldn't subdue his instinct, the voice in his head screamed at him to protect his mate, even while he laid beaten and useless.

Cepheus' red eyes examined the face of his betrayer, and he hated that she was just as stoic as her other half.

"You want to kill me." Cepheus murmured lightly.

"You want to kill me yet you hide from me like some child. Let your mate take your punishment, risk his life for you?" A sharp laugh passed his lips and he tilted his head in wonder. "You have no idea what I have planned for you."

Melessandra bit down on her jaw but still, kept her gaze strong and locked onto the eyes of her King.

"I did want to kill you Sire. I had been planning it for a while. You stopped coming to meetings, fucked any whore that walked your way and you didn't give two shits about your people—"

Cepheus applied more pressure to her neck and his face scrunched up in disgust. "Watch what you fucking say to me—"

"You checked out." The woman wheezed; her knee came up to knee the vampire in the stomach and he grunted and released her after the unsuspected action.

"It was clear at one point that you didn't care about anything at all. I only did what I thought had to be done.

"But then that nymph came, Bay is his name, right?"

Cepheus clenched his fist, restraining himself from ending her life with a simple flick of his wrist.

"I would be careful of my next words if I were you." He said lowly; it was eerie, the stark difference in his demeanour when his beloved was brought up. He sounded just about ready to snip the thin line that Melassandra was balancing on.

"Listen. I only wanted to do what was best for our Kingdom. They deserve a ruler who cares if they live to see tomorrow and the day after that.

"But I've seen a change. I know the strength of a mate bond, the power it holds is indescribable. Yes, I wanted to kill my King but I no longer wish to do so. I haven't since I saw the little thing crash our council meeting."

Cepheus only stared at her, his red eyes dimmed to only be red rings, encircling the earth tinted orbs that examined her, watched her.

She was right about his behaviour.

He was a shit King.

Sure, he was fair and just, but he was absent. There were many issues that needed fixing but he didn't care enough to do it.

But still, he was King. Conspiring to assassinate him was absolutely unacceptable. Treason.

And he didn't forget what the councilman told him about his beloved, about the timing of this entire ploy.

She could just be blubbering nonsense, bullshitting her way out of a messy situation.

He was not one to be manipulated.

"I've heard that you plan to do it the day of the crowning ceremony." Cepheus mused.

He stepped closer to the vampire, noting how she held her chin higher as he approached her. His lips quirked up in slight amusement. He had done well in selecting her as his chieftain.

"I know nothing about that Sire. Any plans I had ended after I—"

The King's eyes brightened as he heard the woman cry out in pain.

He lashed his hand out with such force and precision that her collar bone had snapped in two.

Turning to his right slightly he looked at Raphael who was struggling to stand up.

"I'm sorry you have to see this." He apologized with genuine sincerity in his tone.

His friend only watched him with pained eyes and gritted teeth.

"Whispers within the walls told me that your plans were not as historic as you've portrayed. Rather, you were inspired by your feelings towards my mate. How he would be an inconvenience to our people and our kingdom—"

"I would never! I have never felt that way about the Prince and if someone told you that they're lying." She seethed.

"I'm not the only disloyal member you have in your circle Cepheus. At least I have the fucking balls to admit it."

"Enough!" The King yelled.

He was breathing heavily, his knuckles turning white from how tight he was clenching his fists.

He wanted to hurt her. So so bad he did.

But he owed it to himself to have a clear mind when he did.

He needed to think.

Clenching his jaw, he walked into the hall, while keeping an eye on the woman who hurried over to her mate's side and brought his head to her lap.

Exhaling through his nose, the King called over two of the guards that had followed him throughout his rampage.

"Take her to the cells. I'll deal with her later."