[I drew this picture before writing the chapter, but I changed my mind mid-through, so they were no longer by the bed anymore 😅 Just imagine it as it gets described in the chapter, you'll see, just read! 😙 *shoulder kisses*]

Dohmenic

It had been weeks since he had last slept peacefully.

His kingdom was falling to pieces. The chaos was spreading and lives were even more at stake than they were before. Phlague's armies had strengthened in number while the Mihrs were decreasing. More and more people were falling victim to his horror, and alas, the Lady Kahtrina had so, too. A female of noble blood had been tarnished, a female in his inner circle, which of course was a message from Phlague to show just how far his resources ran. Spies were at every corner, waiting to strike.

And it was that exact reason the Dralan had barely slept. Every wakening moment, he spent planning how to defeat his nemesis, while all his sleepless nights, he spent worrying if this was the night Phlague would strike once more and take his Leyla from him.

And of course, that was exactly how Phlague wanted it.

The Dralan felt the pressure on every angle, but the more he pushed, the more his blood boiled. The more his anger rose. Nights he could hear the metal shields on the wall clanking from the pure wrath that exuded from his being, the thoughts of how he would slaughter the male on the battlefield and make him suffer like his kingdom had. It made his vision turn red, made his fangs elongate, and at last, caused him to shoot out of bed in fury to find something to pound on.

Weeks it had been like this. Ever since the lady Kahtrina had been taken. Ever since she came back with that message carved into her back. Ever since he came home and tried to do the one thing he had thought he'd never do; take a female against her will.

He had felt useless these past few weeks, like nothing he did protected anyone. His people were being hunted and slaughtered, his kingdom was suffering war and bloodshed, and no matter how many Lathras he sent out to fight, it was never enough.

But there was at least one thing he could do, and that was save his female.

Phlague's interest in her was purely virginal. He wanted her innocence and he wanted it in the worst way possible, and he knew the Dralan knew that. It was that exact reason he thought it best to take away the temptation; Save Leyla and remove the bullseye he had on her by claiming her virginity - thus making it so that he could no longer feed from her.

He almost hadn't cared that he would thirst. His whole kingdom was suffering, so why shouldn't he as well? Why shouldn't he feel their pain? He sat up here in his castle, protected and safe, while his people were screaming for help. And all he could do was send out more Lathras.

His blood was too valuable to spill. As the last purebred vampire in the world, he had to protect it so that the bloodline could continue. So that one day he could pass it on to his young and ensure that the royal household stayed in power.

But what was that worth when he could do little good anyway? When all he could do was sit idly by in his castle and await for Phlague to announce war and watch his people whither away before him.

No. He could at least save the female he cared about from all this torment. Save her, no matter the cost. Blinded by wrath and fury, he had mounted her and had tried to pull through with it, but then the unexpected had happened.

She had calmed him down by just a touch and a few words.

Sweet Miss. She made him see clearly, ridded him of the weights on his chest for just a few moments. The black veil over his vision was removed and he saw her there, looking up at him with understanding and affection. With strength. She reminded him of why he couldn't give up. Why he couldn't do this and what was at cost.

If he bedded her now, Phlague would truly had won. His kingdom would've suffered the last vital blow if their King no longer remained strong, no longer could fight for them. He needed to stay above Phlague's threats and warnings - every message that he sent. He had to keep fighting and never give up, because the people that still lived, they relied on him. They counted on their King to save them, and what kind of Dralan would he be if he abandoned them?

All of that, the tiny female currently lying in his arms reminded him off.

After weeks of getting little to no sleep at all, the Dralan found himself waking up that afternoon, hours after they had come home, to the warmth of his female sleeping on top of him, creating a whole new kind of weight on his chest. Literally and metaphorically.

Raking his fingers softly through her hair, he looked down at her sleeping soundly on his torso, her rosy lips slightly parted and her eyelashes fluttering gently against her cheekbones. She looked so beautiful, peaceful and comfortable, right there in his arms where she belonged.

Sweet Blithesome Miss. He had bonded with her.

The Dralan felt a strange, tightening sensation in the cavity of his chest as he watched his Leyla breathe softly, her exhales warming his skin.

He had bonded with her, had in his mind claimed her as his mate. But as he watched her now stir a little and mumble something incoherent, he realized he had done more than just that.

She was his Sahl Amorsa.

He couldn't see a life without her; This female, by his side like this, waking up to her every morning, there was no other future than that. He craved her more than he craved her blood, craved her smiles, her gentle, yet powerful voice and the shine inside her innocent eyes.

"Amorsa..." He gutturally whispered and felt his heart beat loudly when she stirred a little again, placed her palm on his right pec as if she felt his heart beat all the way over there. It felt like his whole body was beating, calling out to her, and even in her sleep, she felt it.

He realized then what he wanted to do today. Throughout the whole time she had been by his side, she had served him and he had accepted her services. She had fed him with her hand, offered him her vein, and let him kiss her lips and taste her sweet nectar. She had gladly given him all that, but what had he given her?

Today he was going to do something for her. He wanted to show her she wasn't just a female vessel he enjoyed drinking and drawing pleasure from, but a female whose company and smiles he couldn't be without. As her Dralan, he would show her his appreciation by catering to her needs today, showering her with all that she deserved.

Gently rolling them both over on the bed, the Dralan pushed himself up on his elbows and hovered over his female, gently trailing his lips down her cheek to her throat, waking her up with a shower of kisses. He heard her moan softly and then felt her stir - that sweet scent of her arousal waking up as well and fermenting the air.

"My Lord..." He heard her sleepy voice murmur, then heard her gasp lightly when he grazed her neck with his teeth.

"Dohmenic," He reminded her. How many times had he told her to use his birth name? From her, he didn't want formalities. He wanted her true self, the female she was beneath etiquette.

"Dohmenic..." She echoed softly, sighing blissfully when his lips kissed her neck again, just kissed it, never bit it; showed her how much he loved her beautiful vein.

"Bathe with me," He spoke against her skin, hearing her gasp when he left a linger peck right on top of her throbbing artery. He then lifted his head and met her sparkling eyes, immediately hearing a rumble come from his chest at the sight. "Bathe with me, dahna. Let your Dralan clean you. Will you let me?"

Her eyes fluttered closed and she nodded mutely, her body arching when he slid a hand under her back and pressed his lips against hers. He kissed her deeply and slowly, brushed his tongue gently against the seams of her lips before he drew back, her arousal tickling in his nose. He involuntarily hardened, a natural response to his female's cravings. How he wished he could cater to her.

Slowly, the Dralan instead pulled away and slid off the bed, walked up to his bathtub and begun preparing it. He felt his sweet Amorsa watching him from the bed, sitting up to see him heat the water and temper it to her liking. Then, he went to his cabinets and pulled out jars with bath salts, sniffing each of them until he settled on a scent he thought would complement her. He poured it in the water, and at last, he picked a handful of rose petals from a small basket and garnished the water with it, before he turned to his female and extended a hand to her. "Come."

He saw her slip her bare feet to the cold floor and then tiptoe across it. She came to him and stopped up in front of him, a small blush on her pink cheeks. He felt the warmth stem from her body, seep into his own as he cupped her cheek lightly, brushed away a stand of her golden hair. Sweet Miss, what had he done to deserve such a beauty?

Walking around her, he grabbed a hairpin and a leather string from the vanity table that had been brought up for her purpose. Silently, he then gathered her hair behind her, wrapped the leather string around it and tied it up, before securing it with the hairpin. His female stood quietly while he did so, her breath coming out shakily. When he was done, his hands slowly dropped to her shoulders.

Carefully, he bent down to her exposed throat and kissed it. He heard her sigh and felt her body tremble beneath his touch as he peppered more up and down her shoulder until he reached the strap of her dress. Hooking one finger around it, he slowly slid it down.

Her small gasp was almost inaudible as he moved to her other shoulder and repeated, letting both straps fall off her shoulders. With nothing more to hold it up, her dress then cascaded to the floor in a bundle of silk. Her naked body revealed itself to him, and for the very first time, he stepped in front of her and gazed upon her birth beauty.

He saw the goosebumps spread everywhere on her body, saw her pale skin flush with shyness and couldn't help but also notice her knees lightly buckling. All of that, however, had no chance to compete for his attention as he trailed his eyes down her skinny body and saw her two round mounds where two pink buds pointed at him.

He held back a groan. Seeing the pale skin where the sun hadn't kissed her, where nobody had... his arousal roared and he felt how his erection throbbed harder. He longed to kiss those two needy buds, longed to take them into his mouth and suck on them until he drew pleasurable cries from her lips. They were all his, only his, and the fact that he knew no other male had laid eyes on them...

Forcing his eyes away as he felt he wouldn't be able to control himself if he kept looking, he trailed his eyes down to the spot between her legs, heard a purr escape the back of his throat as he watched her golden curls. His muscles twitched with the urge to pick her up and forget about the bath, and instead carry her to his bed where he would fulfill her needs. He no longer wanted to plow into her and fuck her senseless, he wanted to slide gently into her and watch the wide-eyed look on her face and hear her gasp as she felt him inside her for the first time. Then he would proceed to bring her pleasure all night, worship her body until nothing else had a holy meaning but the way she clenched around him when she climaxed and took his seeds.

Shaking his head, the Dralan forced the image away and now stepped closer, cupping his female's cheek and bringing his lips down on hers. When she gasped and placed her hands against his pecs, a deep groan rumbled from his chest. She kissed him back and let him tangle his tongue with hers for a moment before he drew back and began untying his breeches.

His female followed his movements with her eyes and stared in frozen shock as he removed his breeches and allowed her to gaze upon his erect manhood, the stiff length she had hardened with nothing but her beauty and soft sounds. Her cheeks lit up in a flaming red color as she watched him, unashamedly stared at what he knew was her first sight of male genitalia. He would gladly allow her her explorations another time, but not today; today was going to be about her.

Stepping into the water, the Dralan held out his hand to help his female who was still frozen in shock, glaring at him. She quickly blinked when he beckoned her with her name, and then took his hand, stepping into the tub as well. She lightly trembled as he then slowly pulled them both down, arranging them so she was leaning up against his chest.

Once they both settled, the Dralan wrapped his arms around her, buried his head into the crook of her neck and kissed her. Feeling her rear end press against his erection, he rumbled and began kissing her, hearing her softly moan and mewl. "My Leyla..."

"D-Dohmenic..."

He tilted her head sideways and leaned down to kiss her deeply, hearing her moan into his mouth and then shudder. While she was distracted, he cupped her breast with his other hand and brushed his thumb over it. She trembled again and relaxed, broke away from his lips to release a sigh. She leaned her head back against his shoulder, and that was what he wanted; his female to be relaxed and comfortable while he attended to her.

"I've never known beauty like yours, sweet Leyla," He murmured while he picked up a sponge from the table besides the tub and dipped it into the water. He then pressed it to her chest and softly began brushing it over her neckline and cleavage, rolling off any sparse filth that lingered from their journey. "Tell me more about yourself. About your home. Your parents, to whom I owe my life. Talk to me, dahna."

She sucked in a small breath and he saw her turn her head ever so slightly. Looking up at him, he saw the warmth in them, but also the memories. All right there, and then a small smile appeared on her lips. "What do you want to know?" She whispered.

The Dralan leaned down and brushed his free hand over her cheek, cupping it. "Everything."

Callath

After hours of getting the castle back in order, catching up to speed with the Lathras and making sure everything was as it should be, it finally rendered Callath exhausted as he headed up from the barracks and back towards the royal quarters. He needed food and he needed a bath, and then he needed fast sleep until dawn.

But in the midst of everything that he needed, his mind had been tediously distracted all day as he thought about Bhria. He hadn't had a chance to speak to her since the Lady Kahtrina had returned. Everything had happened so fast and he had been rushing around for hours fixing things, and in all the chaos, there hadn't been time to find her and make sure she was okay. Last time he saw her, he left her in a broom closet after he had kissed her, and he had felt awful about it. Her lips had been perfect and the sounds she had made they had driven him to the brink of insanity. If he hadn't run away from her then, he couldn't be held accountable for what he had done.

He wanted that female. The Blithesome Miss knew why, but he did. She was beautiful, sweet, and held something so powerful inside her, he wanted her to release. She had almost done so back in the broom closet, but something had stopped her.

He knew what it was of course, but he didn't know how to help her get over it. She had no idea how much he hated that she thought about those... animals who had touched her when he was touching her. He was nothing like them, he never wanted to hurt her.

But her mind couldn't tell the difference anymore.

Sighing as he changed course on a whim, he headed down towards the servant quarters instead of his own room. One last stop before bedtime. He needed to see her before the day was over so that he could sleep truly peacefully, knowing that she was safe and well.

Callath stopped when he reached her door, and then closed his eyes for a moment. He tried to steel himself with control as his fist connected with the wood and knocked thrice, and then waited until he heard footsteps on the other side.

The door was opened and inch, and through the slot, he saw a beautiful blue eye peer out at him. Blinking fast, she then quickly opened the door a little more when she saw who was on the other side. "K-Kathmir. What can I do for you?"

"Bhria, please," Callath said and pushed the door a little more open to step in. She hurriedly backed away when he came all the way in and closed the door, his eyes trailing up her person. She hadn't changed from her Kischmir uniform yet. Her hair was still hidden beneath the bonnet, and he resisted the urge to tear it off to release her hair. "I came to see you."

He saw her throat bob and noticed her cheeks tint a little. She quickly turned away and started fiddling with something on her nightstand, next to her bed. The two other beds next to it were empty, no signs of her roommates.

"Where are the other Kischmirs?" He enquired, coming a little closer. He hoped they were far away.

"With some Lathras..." She whispered, her voice frail. Had she been crying? "B-but I'm sure they won't be long."

If they were with Lathras, oh they would be gone all night. "Bhria..."

At the sound of him coming closer, she turned around and looked up at him with wet eyes. Her chin wobbled and the sight broke his heart, instantly making him reach out to her, only to see her cower away from him. "Don't," She whispered, quickly wiping away a tear that rolled down her cheek. "Don't, please. I... I'm not feeling so well."

"Dahna..." Callath groaned and felt a wrench in his heart at her rejection. "Bhria, please don't push me away. I shouldn't have ran away from you in the closet, that was wrong of me. I've been wanting to talk to you about what happened, but there hasn't been time."

"It's fine," She bravely assured, trying her best to sound confident. She turned away again and folded her arms over her chest in an inwards embrace. "There's no need to explain. You had every right."

Every right? "Bhria." Callath persisted again now and walked up to her, went around her to cup her chin and tilt her head up. She refused to meet his eyes and tried to look away. "Bhria, stop that right now and look at me. Look at me," He ordered, hardening his voice when she didn't. She finally surrendered and looked up at him, tears rimming her waterline. "Dahna... Sweet Bhria, I didn't want to run from you," He explained and cupped her cheek now, leaning in closer. "I wanted to stay, but... I was afraid I'd hurt you if I did."

She blinked up at him and he saw the flash of fear run through her irises. "H-hurt me? Why?"

Callath sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. Then, he opened them again and bared his soul for her. "You arouse me, Bhria, there's no denying or hiding that. I dream about taking you to my bed some day..." He swallowed as he saw the small widen of her eyes. "... and worshipping you as you should be. Kissing you, touching you, moving inside you." He had to hold back a groan when he smelled her faint arousal. "But I know you're not ready for that yet, so I ran."

It was her turn to swallow hard. She looked up at him without blinking, but then turned her gaze away and blinked.

"I don't get it..." She slowly whispered, new tears building up. "I-I'm broken, and you're... you're you. You could have any female you want in this castle - you probably already have - and yet you come to my chamber and beg for my body. Why?"

"Look at me again," He demanded and waited until she did before speaking again. He wanted her to see the truth in his eyes as he told her; "I don't deny having had my fair share of females, but all I wanted from them was their body. I don't just want that from you, Bhria," He said and now leaned down so closely, their lips almost touched. "I want your heart. Your soul. Your smiles. Your voice, and everything else you'll share with me. I can't explain why, but I do," He whispered, his own hand shaking as he blotted his soul to her. His weakest point. "And if you'll have me, I'll give you anything you want."

A single tear rolled down her chin and he kissed it away, hearing her sob silently. He pulled her into his embrace and held her, and surprisingly, she allowed him. She buried her face into his shirt and cried a little, cried until her sobs died and her breath began evening.

And yet, she didn't pull away.

Callath could feel his whole being sing as he held the tiny female in his arms, felt her find comfort in his embrace. She opened herself up to his comfort in this very moment, and it made him swell with pride. It was a victory, another small step towards the bigger goal; helping her find trust.

After minutes, Callath reluctantly pulled back, but didn't go far away as he cupped her face once more and studied her dried tears. Beneath them he saw her matte eyes and her pale complexion, his mind swerving to a matter he should've thought of earlier.

"When did you last drink?" He asked her, brushing a thumb over her cheek to try and pry some color out of it.

She shook her head and tried to pull away. "I'm good for another few days."

Servants only drank about once a week, maybe two, but even so, the telltale signs of fatigue were the same as if they had starved for a month. Loss of color in complexion, dryer lips and matte eyes. Bhria showed all three, but she tried to disguise it as grief.

"Feed from me," Callath said and watched as her eyes flicked up to his in shock, blinking wildly. "Take my from my vein, Bhria. Please."

"I can't," She immediately said, backing away. Callath didn't let her. "No, I can't, you're--"

"I'm offering you," He said and looked deeply at her, holding her gaze. "So that you may learn to trust me. Take my blood and nourish on it. Please, dahna. Let me return the favor."

He saw her shaking, but he could also smell the need inside her blossom. It was different than arousal, it was thirst. Craving. But for him - his blood. She wanted to taste him, and the idea made Callath softly purr.

"Come," He beckoned and stepped closer to her, almost standing at her bed now. "Feed. Have my blood."

Bhria blinked, but he saw the change in her. She was thirsty and his offer was too inviting. A small step made her come closer, and then another one, until she was standing in front him, shaking. She eyed his arm out.

Callath shook his head and lifted her chin once more. "Not there. Take the one in my neck."

Her eyes immediately widened. "What? No! I can't, that's.... that's not..."

Proper. Males drank from females' necks while they drank from the males' arms. Unless they were mated; They drank from each other's necks and usually did so while copulating as well. There was nothing Callath wanted more than to be inside her while nourishing on her blood, but if he couldn't have that, he would take the second best.

"I don't care. Drink from my neck," He told her and bowed down a little for her benefit. She was so small and would never be able to reach unless he helped her. "Take it, Bhria. Fuck, drink from me, please."

Something snapped inside her. With a small hiss, he saw her step onto her toes before she lunged for his vein and bit him so hard, he had to brace himself on the wall behind her. His lips drew back in a snarl as she then broke through his skin and begun gulping down loads of his blood with eager moans, lost in her frenzy. And Callath... Callath fought to keep still.

Everything inside him exploded as he felt her nourish on him. He was sustaining her, bringing her life, and the very thought made his primal side roar and made heat explode from him. He felt her small fangs suck so greedily, pull and drink until he turned lightheaded. Her hands had gripped his hair and shoulder for leverage while his own were holding her, keeping her locked right there against him.

And then he smelled her arousal. Sweet and sugary in the air, it mixed with her thirst for his blood and blinded him until he stared into a black pit, fumbled for anything to hold on to.

What he found was her.

The second her lips detached from his vein, his mouth was on hers, kissing her and pulling her hard against him. Drunk on her taste and the taste of his own blood on her lips, he groaned and pushed her up against the wall, lifted her and trapped her there. Wildly, his hips bucked against hers and he heard her gasp, felt her nails dig into his shoulders.

And then, she fucking kissed him back.

That was it. Callath lost it and did as he had wanted to and ripped her bonnet off, letting her hair fall out of its bun and fall around her face in a messy bunch. Scrunching it all up in his hand, he buried his fingers in auburn locks that begged him to sniff it, to yank it, to pull on it. He hardened against her and felt himself begin to throb against her thigh, growing.

And almost immediately, Bhria wrenched her lips away from him and let out a small squeak. "Let me go!"

Pushing and shoving at his chest, Callath felt himself slowly get pulled out of his frenzy when her words registered. It took a moment, but finally they echoed inside his head.

Let me go.

Instantly pulling away from her and setting her back down on the floor, he dragged his hands and body away from her, feeling every fiber inside him protest. Bhria, however, instantly broke into a sob and clutched herself, tears streaming down her face. His heart broke into two.

"Bhria," He begged.

"N-no," She cried and kept pushing him away when he tried to cup her face. "Get away, I can't! I can't!" She sobbed and shook her head, buried her face in her hands. "I-I'm b-broken. I'm damaged and I-I can't be saved. Please l-leave me alone..."

"No, Bhria," Callath whispered, catching his breath and opening and closing his hands. He wanted to hold her. To comfort her like before, assure her everything was going to be okay. But she wouldn't let him, and it was killing him inside. "I don't know how to help you if you won't... if I can't... touch you. Please, dahna..." He looked hopelessly at her.

"Its pointless, I'll never be able to give you what you want," She whispered back and turned away from him. "Please stop wasting your time on me and go. Please."

Frozen, Callath stood and didn't know what to do. He couldn't touch her, she didn't want to be near him... what was he supposed to do? She was sending him away, and if he was any kind of male, he would walk out that door and respect her wishes.

So, with a last longing look at her, Callath forced his feet to turn around and open the door, stepping out. He then closed it again and left his female crying in her room, without uttering another word.

But the minute he came back to his own room and sealed the door shut, he roared.