Chapter 74

The secret garden was the same as ever. In all honesty, Alexis hadn't visited it after Alastair had showed it to her. She was always busy. Busy and scared.

She wasn't sure why. But, the place seemed sacred. It was almost as if she didn't belong there. In its majestic beauty she felt like dirt. Ironically…

But, with Alastair here the garden seemed to accept her.

"You never came here after I showed it to you". His spoke as he stared off into the capital that could be viewed after the fields that separated the palace from the bustling and loudness of the festive capital.

"I have to say it's a bit intimidating, coming here alone. It feels too special for someone like me who doesn't even belong in this world" her words weren't meant to be as self-pitying as they sounded. Just a matter-of-fact. But, they made Alastair do a 180.

"You. You're the most special person I've ever met. You're the first human that accepted me as I am. You didn't care for my blood or my status", Alexis held Alastair gaze in surprise. She hadn't realised that.

'I- I was…?'

"Nobody ever… accepted you?" She knew the words were real, and that made it hurt worse. The tears that silently fell from her eyes as she stared at this amazing man who nobody saw for so long.

Alastair sighed at the tears, "I don't need your pity Alexis".

"It-It's not pity! I just- I just don't understand how nobody saw how amazing and perfect- and- and wonderful you are. It doesn't make"-.

He grasped her face before she finished, closing in for a long kiss that he suddenly felt a strong urge to. He wiped her tears as he deepened it and when he felt them stop he pulled back with a shaky smile.

"Alexis. I can't tell you how glad I am that I met you" His forehead rested on hers as he stared into her eyes.

Alexis nodded.

"M-Me too" she croaked.

And then he kissed her again for so long Alexis was panting by the end of it, grasping onto his shirt to keep her knees from falling. And it was only when minutes has passed that she realised something.

"O-Oh my god! Alastair!" She shrieked.

"Mmmm" was the reply she got while he lowered his lips to her neck.

"S-Stop" she shakily said.

"I can't".

"N-No you need to! We have a pervert watching" that stopped Alastair instantly.

He turned to where Alexis' pale face stared.

There in his shamelessness sat Shane, sitting dangerously on the open balcony without a care as he grinned at them.

"It seems the Empire has no hope. I shall see you in three days from now wearing your crown Alastair Kaedmen".

"I can't deny a man his fantasy. That is, unless it becomes reality" Alastair calmly replied, pulling Alexis closer to him.

"Really. Because all I see is a foolish king falling for his Mage in a doomed relationship. But then again some people enjoy tragic romances. I prefer ones that end in the destruction of an Empire" he taunted.

"Why are you here Shane?" Alexis spat. She wasn't falling for his taunts.

"Because I can't help but feel excited over the reign of vampires! Ah! Since Alexis will be helping me, then she could be one of my concubines! It'll be so exhilarating seeing you lose not only your country but your lover as well!" He laughed at them.

Alexis could feel Alastair shaking, taking out his anger on his hands which clenched so hard together she could hear tears in his skin.

"Well. That won't happen because we've already found a solution and since you're here, you can help us see if it's a good outcome" Alexis was a pro at steering away a conversation from eternal destruction. Or she liked to think she was.

Shane dropped down from the balcony, loosing the excited smirk and instead he wore something a bit more genuine.

"If it does then I'll allow you to beat me up like you keep dreaming of" he shot at Alastair who growled at him.

Shane already knew the girl who challenged him was extraordinary, in ability that is. Mentally, he could smell the lack of nurture her brain had gone through. It wasn't appealing, rather, she was a perfect prey for any vampire.

She was gullible.

He knew it the moment he put up that Oscar worthy act in the café. The beat of her heart, her neck glands holding back tears which he could already smell. Her mind already in his hands.

She wasn't clever enough to understand his scheme.

'So, she must've had a lot of help to come up with something like this'. He turned over the blue coloured glass bottle in his hands, admiring the high concentration of mana that could quench his thirst for days.

He marvelled at the brains behind the answer. Mana storers were just a dusty, forgotten peg at the back of everyone's mind. Some had never even heard of it.

It was ancient. Deemed useless before it was ever used.

"I was wrong". Shane muttered. He was disappointed at the lack of excitement.

"Thank you" was Alastair's calm reply. He didn't look at him condescendingly or act snobbish, instead, it was a mere acknowledgement.

Shane found his reaction strange. It had been a while since anybody had bested him and not acted in an overtly obnoxious manner.

"Well", he shrugged at the expectant gaze he met. "This could feed us all for a month. But then what? We travel to the Kaedmen Empire to refill? I think not".

Alexis felt her lips twitch at that, a look of excitement travelled up her body in an excited giddy moment. It was hard to hold back from the looks of it, but she did well, clearing her throat as she glanced at Alastair with a beaming smile.

"I will pass a bill to allow vampires to roam the Empire".

The words made Shane double take, "What exactly did you just?"- his eyes widened in disbelief as if he stared at a lunatic.

"I don't like repeating myself".

"Ha!", Shane gave a sarcastic laugh, he looked around the room in shock, "you're insane. Both of you. A match made in heaven" he grasped his head.

Alexis didn't expect such a reaction; Alastair wasn't surprised at all.

They watched Shane leave the room by jumping out of the window.

No. He didn't commit instant suicide.

Vampires could do that. Jump out of windows just to fright people, but nobody was more frightened than Shane who realised he struck a deal with an extraordinarily insane girl.

He was sure Alastair wouldn't come up with a something like that and realised he was mistaken. It wasn't Alexis who was dragged along by Alastair, but rather, it was the other way around.