A moment of silence passed before it was broken by a voice that allured me in ways I couldn’t explain.
“Well, I won the last match we had. So, I’m picking first this time.” Loki suddenly announced, standing up from his chair.
The moment his voice rippled into my ears, I felt my heartbeat speed up.
Eh… I’m… No! This is the moment of do or die! Zoe, Emma, or I have to be picked up by you or Oswald. Please, it doesn’t matter who, just one of us!
That was the last thought that left my mind when the boys suddenly began to bicker over whose turn it would be.
“Oh, so you finally want to go first. Heck, enjoy that victory while it lasts, little brother,” Alistair grumbled.
From what I had heard, Loki was the better swordsman, too. Both in power and technique, he was superior to everyone, much like his father before him.
“Like you’ll ever beat me, big bro.” He snickered, eyes full of life as he strolled down the lines of beautiful maids waiting to be picked by him.
Hah… Maybe it might be better if Alistair somehow picks me. I can’t tell if that was friendly banter or hostility.
The eldest had the castle to himself before his younger brother suddenly arrived, stealing his thunder right under his feet. However, from a simple look at Alistair, he was far from what one would think a murderer was.
“We’re brothers. Can’t you two be more than oil and water?” Oswald sighed, rolling his eyes.
It caused Loki to turn back to him with a playful smirk on his lips.
“Weird? I thought we already went along just fine, don’t we?” The youthful vampire chuckled, prompting his twin to frown.
“Yeah, yeah, I don’t have the energy to deal with you right now.” Oz shook his head, waving his hand as his twin turned back toward us.
My eyes wandered towards the ground thanks to the nerves that were becoming too much to handle.
What if something goes wrong? Will I have to kill everyone here?Well, mostly everyone, since I can’t kill the brothers without destroying myself. But what will I use if I have to capture them? Is Rem still outside?
“Oi, didn’t they tell you it’s rude not to meet someone’s eyes?” Loki said, startling me as my gaze quickly darted toward him.
There, I saw his face close to mine as I never expected to see him this close, too. His blue eyes appeared like the sky was held within them, leaving me unsure of how to feel, yet the moment I locked on him, his cheeks turned slightly rosy.
“Sorry?” I mumbled, triggering his eyes to twitch.
“What on earth were you thinking about that you didn’t notice my arrival? You’re the first to not gawk at me while I walk.” Loki licked his lip, flashing his fangs.
Oh, this... I didn’t expect. Why is it getting hard to speak? Is it the bond?
Fighting off the knot that formed in my throat, I finally managed to speak more freely.
“Did I do something I wasn’t supposed to do?” I voiced, tilting my head.
Luckily, burying my emotions was one of my specialties. In response to my question, he smirked, getting uncomfortably close to me to get a better look. At that moment, Zoe snapped a pencil she had in her hand. If he weren’t the one we had to protect, she probably would’ve jabbed him with it.
The sound caused his gaze to drift onto her before landing back on me with a defined smirk on his lips. In an instant, he pulled me by my dress to get closer to me as his lips pressed against my ear, triggering goosebumps to rise on my skin.
Eh?! Don’t you know anything about personal space?!? I should smite you for—no… Is this a test because I zoned out?! Control it! Hide it! Don’t let it out!
“Your voice’s pleasing to my ears. I think I can get used to you waking me up every day.” He murmured, tickling my skin with his warm breath.
There, he took a whiff of me before clasping onto my chin, tugging away from me while ensuring my gaze was on him.
“Your scent drives me a little wild, too.” He smirked teasingly.
This creep of a—
I took a deep breath before letting it go and smiling at him.
Hold it… I can’t murder you yet… But I’m considering if a world-ending moment might be worth it to smite you.
“If that’s what you wish, my prince. I would be glad to serve you with a wake-up call every morning,” I suddenly declared, triggering that awful grin of his to get even more defined.
His eyes shifted from me and onto his twin brother, who was walking by the line. I was probably the first ever to respond to him like that. Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t about to follow along with his flirtations.
The moment his gaze set on me again, they narrowed as his brows scrunched up.
Crap… was that not the correct—
“Oi… For such a pretty face, your smile’s so ugly. So fake.” Loki huffed, pressing my cheeks together.
This fucking brat…
My entire being felt like it heated up while I struggled to keep smiling, trying to hide the fact that I wanted nothing more than to slam him onto the floor. However, being contemptuous wouldn’t help my cause, and he was the first-ever to tell me that my smile was bogus.
How would you know? And fucking stop touching me! Your mortal hands shouldn’t be on me in the first play! You should be groveling for my blessings and bringing offerings to me!
I had to internalize everything, which was relatively complex, while this boy had me in his grip.
Polite! Vivian, be polite!
“I’m sorry you feel that way. Would you like to teach me how to do it in a way that pleases you, my prince?” I suggested, keeping up my façade as another playful smile rose on his lips.
There was also a sparkle in his eyes, leaving me no doubt he was wondering how far he could push me before I broke.
If you want to play a game of cat and mouse with me, that’s fine, but you should know who has what role.
“Oh, ho, I’ll teach you alright.” Loki bit onto his lip, eyeing me down before pulling me into him. “I pick her and only her. I need no more maids.”
His arm went around my waist as my face was too close to his chest. My poor heart suddenly found itself in a marathon when his heat slowly crept on my skin.
This is too close!
Although it was the first time I had smelled his scent, which was a mix of cinnamon and vanilla.
“Loki, are you going to break in on her as you did with your last maid?” Oswald sighed, shaking his head.
When did you get here? I thought—
“Break her? Perhaps. Will she break?” Loki snickered at his brother.
Okay… Enough!
“Would you please let go of me, my prince?” I sighed, pointing towards where he had me hostage.
My poor waist.
It triggered Loki to frown, pulling me even closer before grabbing onto my chin again, ensuring my eyes were locked on his. Luckily, nothing happened when our skins touched this time.
Nothing visible, but my back burns.
Unlike me, the vampire appeared to be feeling nothing at all, since the activation of the bond’s power was only a one-time thing.
“The first thing I’ll break is that little smile of yours, sweetheart. It’s horrifying.” He assured me.
Oswald studied the two girls, who were glaring at his unsuspecting brother.
“Girl, are these two your friends?” He asked, freeing me from Loki’s grip, who narrowed his eyes at his twin for doing so.
However, I was now at his mercy as he held my wrist up.
These boys…
Unlike Loki, this link had his eyes set on Emma and Zoe, whom I hadn’t ever met until today.
Well, it can’t hurt to stay together, right?
Alistair was making his choice, too.
“Yes, they are,” I answered as he let me go before smiling at the two girls who caught his attention.
“Then I’ll pick you two. It seems it might be fun with the way you’re staring at my brother when he handles your friend,” Oswald smirked playfully.
The two girls quickly corrected themselves, bowing to him. That was all it took to snap them out of their rage.
“What? Oh! Sorry, prince, we meant no disrespect!” They both apologized.
Oswald chuckled, waving his hand. “No need for apologies or a title for me. I’m just Oz to you, girls.”
The whole time, their familiars were staring at me. I couldn’t help but feel a cold sweat break out, especially Eli, who was leaning on my shoulder.
Surely... They don’t recognize me.
I gazed away towards the ground, avoiding the snake, who seemed intent on getting on me. Even though that question lingered in my mind, there was no stopping the events that would occur. For some reason, the gears of fate were spinning again, and everyone was about to get caught in the blast that would be this life.