Chapter １６

This time Liam again didn't let me see Lucy's face. But I wasn't angry at this point. A few minutes ago, when I tried to take Lucy back by grabbing her arm when the two vampires were fighting, she shrugged me off and declared that she won't go back with me.

When Daleri had stated the same thing as a message from my sister, I hadn't felt that depressed. I had a slight hope that she would just let me see her after I became a queen. But I never thought that she would willingly reject me before I could even ask her to leave with me.

I knew she wanted to protect me, but why did she have to be so ruthless? I just wanted to protect her from George's evil claws. Why was it so hard to snatch her back from that demon? A helpless sigh escaped from my lips.

Seeing my depressed form, Liam said while driving, "She'll be alright. George can be greedy, but he won't kill her. Everyone knows Lucy is his partner. If she dies, people will point fingers at him. So, he won't take that chance."

I pressed my lips in a thin line, but didn't say anything. He was right, but I couldn't help but feel depressed for my sister. She snuck out to help me, but I couldn't do a damn thing!

If only I was more powerful than George, I would have defeated him using just a flick of my hands. Even his name made me so angry that I couldn't help but squint my eyes at the road. "Why can't we deal with George?" What I meant was why can't we reveal that he was after the throne. I had heard this from Daleri already, so no point in hiding the fact that I knew some things.

Liam didn't seem surprised by the fact that I already knew why George was after me. "We can't." He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes. "He has contacts, even a spy among the council. If we touch him, his spies would directly blame us."

"But why?" I pouted and crossed my arms around my chest. "Why can't we have our spies there as well? What makes him so special?"

"You do know that before me, he was going to be the king, don't you?"

I nodded.

"That's exactly why. Some of the old bastards still see him as the future king."

"Then why can't we change the council members?" I knew it was impossible to replace the old men, and it's even difficult when they are vampires. But I couldn't help but be childish. I really hated those council men who didn't have a single ounce of brain.

He looked at me in amusement. "Because the vampire law states that the council men have higher authority than us. Unless there is concrete evidence against spies among them, we can't touch them." He thought for a moment and said, "We have tried to collect the evidence, but failed. George has the entire council in his grasp."

My mood turned bad after hearing that. "So basically he's untouchable." I muttered under my breath as I looked at the road outside the window. Another depressed sigh escaped my lips.

"Not untouchable." Liam tapped his finger on the steering wheel. "I'm collecting the evidence, and soon the council will be reformed."

"But he's unreasonable!" I was still depressed over the fact that George could do anything to us while we could only sit back and watch.

Apparently, even Liam didn't know how to coax a depressed wife. He simply shut his mouth and focused on driving.

After a while of silence, I couldn't keep my mind from drifting off to Lucy. It was better to change the topic. "How did you know George kidnapped me?"

"I called my father, but he didn't pick up. And when I returned, even you weren't around. At first, I had ignored it thinking you were out practicing. But…" He paused and took a U-turn before saying the next words. "When I reached the backyard, I only saw your magician's guide lying on the ground and a few wooden chairs were destroyed. I could basically tell what had happened just by looking at the scene. So I headed over to the council, told them that it was someone else, not you, and rushed over to the highway to find you." Liam paused and glanced at me. "And don't worry about that old man. My subordinates found him."

"Oh…" If Liam was even a second late, I would have exposed myself. Even if the council members would have believed that I was the prince's human partner, they still wouldn't let me go considering my identity. I was a person banned in their territory, and I wasn't among the people who were allowed to live in America after the second war. How could someone like me stay hidden? What would happen to Liam if they find out that the royal family was trying to hide a traitor?

"I want to ask you something."

"Hmm?" He didn't turn around, but pressed me to speak.

"I-I…" I wanted to ask if I was safe enough to stay at the palace as a supposed human partner, but the word 'partner' itself made me feel embarrassed. My ears turned red as I darted my eyes outside the window. "Nothing." In the end, I couldn't get myself to ask him that.

Silence spread between us. I don't know whether he found out that I was embarrassed to ask something, but he didn't press me further.

A few minutes later, we stopped in front of an old apartment building. The street was empty, and only a few people roamed around hiding their faces

I frowned seeing an unknown street before my eyes. In confusion, I turned toward Liam and asked, "Where are we?"

"We're here to pick up someone."

Pick up someone? Who? Is it someone more important than me and Derrick? I had just been implicated to a life and death situation, and he was simply picking up someone unknown. Couldn't he do this later? I glanced at him, being displeased but didn't say anything else.

Let him do whatever he wants. I would take revenge at night. Humph!

Seeing my childish expression, Liam coughed a few times to hide his laughter. His expression displeased me even more. I glared at him as we walked toward the elevator. "Just laugh already. You don't have to hide."

A chuckle escaped his lips. "You're so immature. I really don't know why I like you."

My footsteps froze at that as I stared at him with widened eyes. Wait, what did he say? Did I just hear correctly? It wasn't my imagination, was it? I repeated the scene in my mind and three words echoed in my ears again and again.

I like you.

I like you.

I like you…

He finally said it! Fireworks exploded in my heart. Heartbeat sped up at the fastest rate as if horses galloping in my heart. My ears turned red as I stared at his firm back, waiting for the elevator.

I never thought I would end up hearing such wonderful words from his mouth. I could tell even Liam had realized that he blurted out something he shouldn't have said.

I wanted to walk over to him, but my feet seemed to be stuck to the floor. Looking at Liam's frozen form that didn't even press the elevator button, I could tell that he was also surprised by what he had blurted out a while ago.

Just then, he pulled out his phone and said without turning back. "I'll call her." And he left without glancing back.

That was when I realized I was holding my breath for a long time. I couldn't believe he actually said such a thing!

I rubbed my burning cheeks and started fidgeting my fingers in nervousness.

He didn't mean to say it, did he? What the hell was he waiting for then? My elevated mood that was flying in the sky jumped in the cold water, making me feel irritated.

By the time Liam came back, I had already calmed down and acted like nothing happened. Since Liam didn't want to say it so soon, I would act like I didn't hear anything.

But I couldn't stop my heart from beating loudly when he walked in front of the elevator, standing just like that without pressing the button. I wanted to ask him why we were standing just like that and parted my lips, but closed without saying anything.

Why was the atmosphere so awkward?

Thankfully, he didn't want to be awkward either. "She's coming down."

"Oh." I shut my mouth and didn't dare to ask about who's coming down. It was already awkward enough and if I ended up saying something weird, the atmosphere would turn even more awkward.

Before the atmosphere between both of us can become even more weird, the elevator made a 'ting' sound and the door opened, revealing a young lady of about my height. Her straight brown hair rested on the shoulders as she walked elegantly like a queen. Her red top and jeans gave her a touch of a modern college girl.

Who was this girl? I frowned and momentarily forgot all about my shyness and how Liam had just confessed unknowingly.

She saw me and a grin formed on her head. "Finally, I met you, Emily Brown."

"Let's go." Liam said and nodded toward her before heading toward his car. Just as he passed me, his fingers brushed the back of my hands making my skin tingle. My heart skipped a beat and my cheeks burned as warmth spread in my heart.

I had already done everything with this guy, but a small moment of romance and a few affectionate words made me float in the sea of pleasure. I pressed my lips to hide the smile that constantly tried to stretch its way on my lips.

"I had been dying to meet you, you know?" The lady said as we sat in the passenger seat of the car.

I looked at her and flashed an awkward smile. This woman...I had a hunch that she wasn't a normal human considering the fact that Liam took his time to pick her up personally.

Who was she? And rather, why was she dying to meet me?

"Did Liam tell you about me?"

Hearing my reply, she laughed and shook her head. "I've known you for a long time." She smiled warmly and looked at me as if she was my mother.

I was stunned seeing her expression.

"How?" I blurted out the question before I could even think about it.

She seemed surprised seeing my honest reply. Turning toward Liam, she asked, "You didn't tell her?"

"Tell me what?" My eyebrows furrowed upon looking at Liam's silent form. He pursed his lips and shook his head, focusing on driving.

Why weren't they telling me already?!?

Frustration grew in my heart as I glared at him. "What's with this suspense? Tell me already!" Saying this, I pouted.

Liam had just opened his mouth when the lady in the backseat silenced him. "Rest assured Prince, I'll let her know." Then she turned toward me and said, "I'll teach you your magic."

My eyes widened at that. She would teach me how to use my magic? Does that mean she was a witch herself?

Seeing my expression, she chuckled and nodded at my thoughts. "I know what you're thinking. And yes, I'm a vampire witch."

After listening to her words, I was so surprised that my eyes were bulging out of my eye socket. It was enough to think that the lady Liam picked up himself wasn't a human. But to think he was in contact with another vampire witch was an overwhelming thought. I needed to calm down.

"Weren't you guys banned in American Vampires association?" I asked stupidly despite knowing that some vampire magicians were still here in America. Hearing my query, Olivia laughed.

"Not me, only those people who had revolted and joined the opposing party during the second war were kicked out of America."

Revolted? Joining the opposing party? I seemed to remember there was a reason behind the second war, and many people were killed, but this was unique news! Some of the vampire magicians had actually gone against the vampires in America! My expression carried a hint of surprise.

I glanced back at Liam only to find him glancing back at me nervously and then he turned back to focus on driving.

I heard the vampire witch's voice carrying a hint of bitterness. "Let's not talk about the past."

"But-"

"Let's talk about how you managed to unlock your power?"

I scratched my head and tried to remember what had happened that day. "I just repeated the spell my Grandpa gave me to unlock my power. That's it."

"Oh…" The lady went silent for a while. I turned back only to see a trace of loneliness on her face as if she was missing someone. "Your Grandpa…" she paused and said, "How's he?"

"Gramps? Well he-" I halted my words and frowned. "Wait, how do you know him?" She must know him, perhaps that's why she was acting like this. Now her words that she had known me for a long time makes sense.

But who the hell was this lady?

"I was his first love." The lady spoke in a soft voice.