Eternal Kingdom

**Rory's POV**

*She doesn't need me?*

"You're call has been forwarded-"

"Fuck!" I shouted, throwing my phone onto the bed before I could crush it.

Who the fuck did he think he was?

That cocky prick had the nerve to try to cut me out of her life. I wondered if he was manipulating her into hating me. Would he do that? Shit.

I hoped she was okay. He said she was sick. Was it serious?

Guilt racked me when the truth flooded in. If I had been there, she wouldn't be sick. She could drink from me and heal. She could be healthy.

Instead, here I was sitting on this empty bed, staring at the white and gold dome ceiling of my bedroom, missing the simplicity of our home in Pittsburgh. The home she was at right now, with Bastion, sick.

I knew me leaving would upset her, but I was hoping that it would lead to her wanting to join me more. If Bastion were to be believed, it did the exact opposite. What if I hurt her too much and she was done with me? Did I make her cry? Of course I did. I knew I did, and I hated it.

I had to go to her. Now.

I had to beg her to come back with me. I wouldn't last another night without her in my arms.

Just as I stood to ask the King's permission to take my leave, a knock sounded on the door. I didn't bother responding verbally, since I was headed out anyway, and crossed to open it. The young woman on the other side jumped at my sudden appearance, and I could hear her heart beating frantically from her chest as she clutched it.

"What?" I snapped. Her brilliant green eyes met mine and I froze in place. They were so similar to my Aria's that I was transfixed. Her blush spread fast and she straightened her pencil skirt, speaking in a strong British accent.

"Mr. Bennet, sir. The King has requested your presence in his study." I heard her, but wasn't focused much on her words. Her blood rushing wildly was awakening my vampiric nature, reminding me that I hadn't had a drop of blood since leaving America.

"What's your name?" I asked coolly, my eyes glowing a deep crimson and making her squirm with a combination of fear and excitement.

"Emily Berk, sir." She responded quietly, pulling her bottom lip between her white teeth. I had only ever drunk directly from Aria, but I was desperate for blood, and they didn't keep any stored in the palace. My tongue ran over my fangs, my lips forming into a daring grin.

"Come speak with me for a moment, Emily." My voice was low and deep, and she fell for my beguiling swiftly. She took the hand I had extended and I guided her to my bed, ignoring the fact that she would be perched on it before Aria was. It was just a meal. I was thirsty.

I pushed her back against the sheets and she fell with a thump, her eyes never leaving mine. Crawling up her body felt foreign and unnatural, but I stomached it long enough to undo the top few buttons of her white blouse, pushing it to the side so I could have clearance to drink.

She whimpered slightly at my actions and I could tell she was battling her fear.

"Don't worry, Emily. It won't hurt. You'll enjoy it." I purred into her ear, shifting her face to the side and tracing my fangs down her pale neck 'til I was hovering just above her artery.

"Oh god!" She moaned as I sank into her, her hands immediately clawing at my shirt in her all-consuming lust. I gripped onto her wrists, locking them beside her head and moving my legs to restrain her lower half so I could drink more comfortably.

She tasted like a stale sugar cookie, far too sweet but enough to satiate my needs. I took a considerable amount, only stopping when she began to fall limp beneath me.

I didn't want to kill the poor human.

But as soon as I sealed her puncture wounds, she sprang back to life, her body writhing beneath me in her thirst for sexual gratification.

"Please, Mr. Bennet." She groaned, her lips making contact with my collarbone before I could stop them. I shivered at the touch.

Not in a pleasurable way, but in a disgusted way. I didn't want her to touch me.

I hissed, leaping back from the bed and rushing to the door, leaving her panting and wetting her panties in arousal.

I flung open the door, grabbing the first man I saw. He was young and attractive enough.

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"You, come here." I demanded, pulling him in and pointing a finger at the bed where Emily was stripping off her clothes. "Have fun." The man's eyes widened with desire, his lips lifting into a devious grin. "Yes, Mr. Bennet." He rasped, crossing to the bed while removing his own clothes along the way.

I took that as my cue to leave, making a mental note to have the maids clean my room before I returned. I didn't know what kind of mess normal humans made when having sex.

It took no time at all to reach the King's study when using my freshly recharged haste. I missed the strength I got from drinking. I felt invigorated. Alive.

Before I lifted my hand to knock, I heard him call for me to enter.

His study was massive, easily three times the size of my office back at the mansion. It had its own conference table and sitting area, as well as a fireplace and a large wraparound desk where he was seated. He didn't bother looking up, but gestured for me to sit with his hand equipped with a pen.

I crossed the polished floors and took my place at the white regal armchair in front of his desk, pulling my leg over my knee in a relaxed position.

"King Lorec." I said in a simple greeting.

"Tea?" He offered, gesturing towards the tea cart beside me. I chuckled, shaking my head.

"No thank you. I've never been a fan of tea and I'm afraid my week in England has yet to convert me." The corner of his mouth lifted into a subtle smirk as he set down his pen and paperwork to give me his undivided attention. His glowing silver eyes sent a chill down my spine. They never got any easier to look at and my stomach was churning.

"That is quite fair, Rory. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything." He asked, nodding to my chest. I glanced down to see a print of bright red lipstick on the collar of my white shirt. Fuck.

I moved to cover it with my hand instinctively, shaking my head in denial.

"No, I was only drinking.

"There is no shame in it, son. I know how your kind usually do things. You'll receive no judgement from me." His smirk stretched into a full-blown grin as he leaned back in his chair, interlacing his fingers against his chest. I wanted to shout at him for even insinuating that I would cheat on Aria, but I knew that would get me nowhere with him, so I stuck to a simple statement of truth.

"I do not conduct myself like other vampires. The woman was given to a passerby to satisfy the effects of my venom." A deep chuckle reverberated around the room.

"Is that supposed to be better?" He challenged, making me flinch. He was right, it really wasn't much better. I just tossed Emily to the wolves after pumping her full of a natural date rape drug. Aria would be appalled.

"I'm only teasing, son. No need to get so worked up over it. I'm sure your bride would be glad to know you are still taking care of your needs while you're away." The way he called her my bride got my heart pumping.

"I was actually about to visit you, King. I was going to ask if I could go see her. She's sick and I miss her terribly, so I wanted to take care of her and hopefully convince her to come back to London with me."

He lifted his own leg to cross over the other.

"I see. So her mate really can't care for her as well as you can. He's allowed her to fall ill and has no way of healing her. What a shame." I couldn't agree more. I would do a much better job at caring for Aria. "I will grant you your leave, but first, there is something important I want you to do for me. Fortunately, you must return to America for this mission anyway."

My ears perked at his request. He hadn't given me many duties since I first arrived and I was curious as to the important matter he wanted me to attend to, in the US no less. "Of course. What is it?"

"I need you to capture the Moon Goddess and bring her to me." He said curtly, assessing my reaction with utmost curiosity.

Capture Luna? That was one hell of a first mission. Holy shit. How was I supposed to do that?

My confusion must've showed because he leaned forward, sliding a red folder across his desk towards me. I stole one last glance at his expectant expression before picking it up.

"Is this list accurate? Is he really loyal to us?" I asked incredulously, scanning over the details of the mission with bulging eyes. There he was, listed under accompanying members. Was he one of the spies Anthony deployed?

"I'm not sure we can trust him, King." I stated frankly, watching him stifle his laughter. He knew who I was referring to without me even mentioning a name.

"I can assure you, he is trustworthy."

"Since when-?" Before I could finish, he raised his eyebrow, tilting his head back to peer at me beneath his half-drawn lids.

"Since the very beginning, young Rory."