“Are you the devil?” Armin asked.
“What?”
“I’m asking if you are the devil.”
“Why would you think that?” Valerius sounded hurt.
Why was he hurt, though?
Armin thought, but he didn’t reply.
He sighed tiredly and pointed to his neck.
Valerius’s eyes followed his fingers.
There were small scratches that were beginning to bleed.
Valerius slowly took a few steps backward, distancing himself.
“Where are you going?” Armin asked.
“You are bleeding—”
“It’s just a few scratches, I’m not dying yet.
There’s no need for any treatment.”
“I’m not getting any treatment, I’m backing off.”
“Why?”
“I hate the sight of blood.”
“Why?”
“It…
it can…” He suddenly went quiet and stiff.
“Valerius?” Armin snapped, his patience running thin.
Valerius sighed and shut his eyes tight.
“Are you a vampire?” Armin asked.
“What?” His eyes snapped open again, looking at Armin in utter disbelief.
“Then what the fuck are you?”
“I’m an alpha, Minmin.
You know that.”
“I don’t.
Get out,” Armin scolded him, pointing directly at the door.
Valerius dashed through the exit gratefully.
Armin’s mouth fell agape in disbelief.
He actually walked out.
That motherfucker ran out without a second thought, Armin cussed internally.
He shook his head and walked over to the sink.
Turning on the tap, he washed off the blood on his neck with cold water, wiping his skin with the hem of his shirt.
He grabbed his drink from the kitchen island, walked over to the conversation pit, and slumped into the sofa.
He tried to process what had just transpired between them, but his mind refused to comply, completely blocking his train of thought.
Sighing in frustration, he downed the rest of his drink and lay down.
He curled up into a fetal position, staring blankly at the glowing fire burning in the fireplace.
His mind was in turmoil, spinning in every direction except where he wanted it to go.
Soon enough, exhaustion came to his aid.
His eyelids fluttered heavily as his breathing evened out, and he fell into the welcoming arms of sleep.
Armin woke up on an incredibly soft bed layered with the crispest white sheets.
He blinked, looking around the room.
Night had already fallen, and the chandelier hanging in the center of the ceiling cast a soft, warm glow across the space.
He had seen parts of this house today, but he still couldn’t get used to the scale of it.
Why was this single bedroom bigger than the entire size of his family home?
It was easily twice the size of Alicia’s widely spaced bedroom.
The room had a massive king-sized bed, a dining table set with two chairs, and even a partial glass ceiling to view the night sky.
On the other side of a sleek glass partition sat a private, open-air courtyard bathroom complete with a shower head, a freestanding bathtub, and a perfectly trimmed miniature tree.
He had been marveled by the other rooms, and this one was no different.
Could there possibly be any more surprises?
Standing up from the mattress, Armin realized someone had changed him into blue silk pajamas that felt incredibly soothing against his skin.
He walked over to a mirror on the wall, and suddenly, memories of the very first day he met Valerius flashed back into his mind—The gold-framed mirror, the red bow tied around his waist…
The door flung open, cutting his thoughts short.
Valerius walked in carrying a silver tray of food, which he set down on the dining table.
“Hey, baby,” he cooed, flashing Armin a sweet smile.
“Hey, vampire!” Armin replied, glaring right back at him.
“I’m sorry I hurt you.
It was beyond my control, but I promise to keep myself in check from now on.”
Armin snorted and looked away.
“How are you feeling?
I brought some painkillers for you, just in case.
And I’ve treated your wound.” Armin’s hand flew to his neck.
There was a smooth plaster over the scratches.
“I’m really sorry, Min.
It wasn’t intentional.” His face looked genuinely sincere.
Armin couldn’t help himself.
He walked over, gently held both of Valerius’s hands, and offered a tight smile.
“It’s okay.
I will let it go if you tell me everything I want to know.”
“What do you want to know?”
Armin took a long, steady breath.
“What are you?
Why does Alicia hate you?
What do you do for a living?
What happened in the kitchen today?
Why are you terrified of blood?
Where did you really go the day you abandoned me?
Why does Alicia’s father want to get even with you?
Why do you—”
“Mr.
Sinclair wants to get even with me?” Valerius paused and then let out a dark, primal laugh that sounded close to a growl.
Armin’s heart sank into the pit of his stomach.
“Valerius, I asked a lot of questions.
Is that the only one you heard?” his voice dropped, low and collected.
Valerius looked down at him with droopy, unreadable eyes.
“What happened to Rius?”
“Will you ever answer any of my questions?”
“Sweetness, it’s better if you don’t know, I promise.
Just trust me.
I won’t let any harm come to you.”
“Then at least answer me this…
how old are you?”
“Twenty-six.”
“How long have you been twenty-six?”
Valerius looked at him, amused.
“You are a vampire.” Armin accused with a straight face.
“I’m not Minmin” Valerius chuckled playfully, placing both hands on Armin’s shoulders to guide him over to the dining table.
He pulled out a chair, sat down first, and then pulled Armin right onto his lap.
“I made you dinner.”
He uncovered the silver dome to reveal a rich bowl of wild mushroom soup, a thick, perfectly crusted pan-seared ribeye steak, a plate of vibrant green asparagus spears, and a glass filled with a bright orange drink.
Valerius scooped up some soup, blew gently on it to cool it down, and brought the spoon to Armin’s lips.
“Say ahhh.”
Armin just stared at him.
He was trying to comprehend the unbelievable contrast between the terrifying man who had ordered two guards to hold him down while whipping him with a belt and had forcefully popped his cherry without asking if he was ready —and this gentle human acting like a golden retriever boyfriend.
“What do you want, Valerius?” Armin asked, refusing the food.
“I want you to say ahhh.”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“I don’t,” Valerius replied, feigning ignorance.
He shrugged and shoved the spoon into his own mouth instead.
“Mmm…
it tastes good,” he added, nodding in approval.
“That house with the gold-rimmed mirror—who owns it?”
“Did the mirror stand out the most to you?
More than the owner of the mirror?”
Armin immediately stood up from his lap. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
He was tired of this man’s bullshit and the practiced way he avoided every single question thrown his way.
For a fleeting minute, he actually missed Alicia.
Her talkative, unfiltered mouth would have spilled all the juice by now, relieving him of the madness Valerius was presenting on a golden platter.
“Why can’t you just answer a damn question the right way for once?”
“I just answered your question, baby.
Why are you getting mad?
I said ‘the owner of the mirror’—doesn’t that tell you I own the place?”
“No, it doesn’t,” Armin insisted.
“Is the gold on the mirror real?”
“Yeah.
I like collecting things from auctions.
Like the car in my living room,” he replied casually.
“How rich are you?” Armin asked, squinting his eyes, fully prepared to be blown away by whatever figure came out of his mouth.
“Why?
You want me to be your sugar daddy?” Valerius teased.
Armin smiled and decided to play along.
“I want to be a gold digger.”
“Good!
Fucking good!” Valerius praised, a happy grin breaking across his face.
He pulled Armin right back down onto his lap, hugging him tightly against his chest.
“That’s the spirit, Minmin.”
Armin sighed, shaking his head.
This man had at least one thing in common with Alicia: they were both completely crazy and bipolar.
Snatching the spoon from Valerius’s hand, Armin scooped some soup into his own mouth.
He froze.
He looked down at the dish in wonder, shot a doubtful glare at Valerius, and took another rapid spoonful.
He threw his head back, eyes shutting tight as he savored the rich flavor, his legs swinging happily beneath the table.
He began taking a bite of everything, his eyes wide with shock.
“…I know you didn’t cook this.
It’s too good,” he groaned happily.
Within a few minutes, Armin had cleared the entire tray, eating every last bite.
Feeling incredibly satisfied and heavy, he slumped backward into Valerius’s arms.
“Mmm,” Valerius murmured, holding up the glass of orange liquid.
“No space.
I’m too full,” Armin breathed heavily.
“Didn’t you request alcohol?”
Armin’s eyes lit up instantly at the temptation.
He snatched the glass from Valerius and took a massive sip.
The very next second, he spat the liquid straight back into the glass.
His face contorted in disgust as a sharp, herbal bitterness sliced through his palate.
“What the hell is this?”
“Alcohol.
You don’t like it?”
“Hell no!”
“Good.
Don’t ask for alcohol again.”
“But wine tastes better!” Armin argued back.
“No, not a chance.”
“Why?”
“Armin, listen to me, will ya?” Valerius scolded with a quiet voice, cutting off the debate.
“Time to bathe…
hmm?”
“Okay,” Armin nodded dejectedly.
Valerius planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
“Good boy.” He brushed his thumb lightly over Armin’s bottom lip, his gaze darkening slightly.
“I want to kiss you, good boy.”
Armin merely looked at him, refusing to say a word or grant permission.
Valerius simply kissed the tip of his nose instead, then slid his arms under Armin’s knees and back, lifting him effortlessly.
Armin gave a little squeak in surprise, he threw his hands across Valerius’s shoulder as he carried him through the sliding glass partition and out into the open-air courtyard bathroom.