Thirty Nights Forgotten

Chapter 10: A Spoiled Boy-King

Nicholas’ POV

I know what my Light One thinks of me: I am a spoiled boy-king that is good for nothing except for ordering people around.

But what he fails to remember is that I am a trained warrior. One cannot rise to power in this realm without strength, and my father ensured I received the best training as a boy.

I can survive in the wilderness for thirty nights, and I will prove my Light One wrong about me.

My first task is to start a fire to prepare their dinner and keep them warm, and once that is done, I will go hunt. I can survive on Addy’s blood alone, but as humans, Addy and my Light One will need a different form of sustenance. Rabbits are no match for my vampiric speed and abilities, and they make a delicious meal as well.

And perhaps we can use the hide as a makeshift loincloth to cover my Light One’s exposed manhood. It is utterly embarrassing for him to be wandering naked in the wilderness, especially if he is my exact likeness.

I already have the rabbit roasting over the fire by the time they return from the river. A part of me wonders if they engaged in s****l relations whilst alone, but as soon as I feel Addy’s exhaustion through the bond, I know she is much too tired for that.

“Are you alright, my love?”

She nods at me wearily, taking a seat on the ground beside me.

“I think I’ll just fall asleep after we eat, if that’s okay?”

“Of course,” I reassure her. “The rabbit is almost ready.”

“Do you need to feed on me tonight?”

Addy has folded up her jeans and bandages and set them down nearby while her skin dries from the creek. Examining her leg, I notice it already appears much better after a quick wash, so it does not need tending at the moment.

“I can wait until tomorrow. You need to focus on your rest.”

As Addy and my Light One finish the rabbit off, I leave the hide to dry out over the fire. It is not a perfect process, but without the necessary materials to properly tan the hide, it will have to do for now.

Once Addy finishes her meal, she lies down on the soft ground beside me and quickly falls asleep, using her jeans as a makeshift pillow for her head. My Light One is on her other side, and he looks weary as well.

“You sleep,” I sigh. “I will take the first watch and keep an eye on our surroundings.”

I will admit, I am a little disappointed that Addy was not up for another round of lovemaking tonight. Staring down at her beautiful form curled up between us, I cannot help but be drawn to my mate. From the day we met, watching her s****l awakening like a flower in bloom has been a sight to behold, and she is a sensual creature with particular needs.

After last night, it is clear that having two men f**k her at the same time brings her more pleasure than either one of us could do on our own. While I wish that I alone could provide that to her, I understand that she needs both of us.

Her ability to have two men, including an Alpha King, fall helplessly at her feet is nothing short of breathtaking, and I am proud to call her mine.

It is a shame I cannot give her the throne to the Demon Realm. She is a true queen without a kingdom at her command.

Sitting here, at her side, watching her sleep…I can’t help but imagine what the future holds for us. But there is one subject which, admittedly, all three of us have been avoiding. There is no doubt in my mind that Addy would make the perfect mother of my offspring, and I know my Light One feels the same.

However, Addy does not seem to be in a rush to bear our children. In the Demon Realm, it would be strange for a woman of Addy’s age to not have at least one by now, but on Earth, it seems quite normal for women to wait to start families while they focus on their careers. She is still on her “birth control,” which is apparently some sort of human magic device in her arm that prevents her from becoming pregnant. I do not possess all the knowledge of its workings, but from what I am to understand, it can be taken out at any time she sees fit.

And if she bears my children, will they be vampires as well? Here in this world, nothing would make me prouder than to have my offspring possess my powers. But on Earth, that would be a difficult life for them to lead, drinking blood in secrecy while they hide their vampiric abilities from the world.

Glancing down at my mate’s sweet, peaceful face, I wonder what she thinks about all of this. Gently, so as not to wake her, I brush my fingers across her soft cheek, and I know that either way, I am just elated to have her by my side.

We were never meant to meet, but fate brought us together somehow. Despite being the King of Alphas, who am I to ask for more than just having Addy by my side?

It is a conversation for another day. We have all the time in the world to decide.

***

“Hey, wake up.”

My eyes open to find my likeness standing over me, tying the rabbit’s hide around his waist.

“I’m going to go find some breakfast,” my Light One continues. “I already went and got some water for Addy when she wakes up.”

With a nod, I slowly sit up, blinking against the morning sun streaming through the trees of the forest. The fire has long died out, but Addy is curled up close beside me for warmth.

My Light One turns around to head into the forest, and a chuckle erupts from my chest.

“What?” he asks, whipping back around.

“Your manhood might now be covered, but your bare ass is still visible.”

The blush that appears on his cheeks has me roaring with laughter now.

“Well, why don’t you catch some more rabbits so I can have a complete loincloth?”

“But then how will I amuse myself until the next full moon?”

The glare he gives me makes me double over, and Addy begins to stir beside me.

“What’s so funny?” she asks, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

“Look at him! He looks ridiculous!”

“Nicholas, be nice…”

Her voice is serious as she chastises me, but her eyes hold a hint of amusement in them. It is obvious she is trying to hold back a laugh as well.

“Shut up, Nicholas! I’m going hunting.”

My Light One stomps off into the woods, surely frightening all of the rabbits in the vicinity away. I suppose he will have to endure having his buttocks on display even longer.

“Don’t tease him like that,” Addy says, elbowing me in the side. “You better at least give him your shoes today.”

“I will, my love. I will.”

I lean over to kiss her on the lips, savoring the salted cherry flavor that distinctly belongs to my mate.

“How is your leg this morning?”

“I think it’s healing fine,” she shrugs. “The fresh air seemed to do it some good overnight, so I think I’ll leave the bandage off today.”

As she begins to put her jeans back on, I grab the cloth, holding it up to my nose as I inhale her scent. Her dried blood drives me wild with desire, and I check the trees where my Light One just disappeared.

“Nicholas…we can’t.”

“Why not?” I growl, sticking the bandage in my pocket as I roll her onto her back. “I need my breakfast too…”

I can feel her desire building through our bond as I pin her beneath me with my hips, and my c**k twitches in my pants.

Just as I lean forward to possess her mouth, a loud thwack! echoes in the air, bringing my heart to a complete stop. An arrow whizzes right above my head, landing in the dirt only feet away.

“Nicholas? What was that?”

My senses are on high alert as I realize we’re under attack. Another thwack! followed by an arrow landing – even closer than the one before – brings my survival instincts to life.

I must protect my mate. My wife.

“We need to run.”

Scooping her up into my arms, I use my vampiric speed to evade the onslaught of arrows. I must get both her and me further from the danger, but I quickly realize we’re being attacked on all sides.

How many of them are there? Perhaps a dozen? Or are they simply the first line of attack?

I cannot fight our enemy without knowing more. And I cannot do that while holding Addy in my arms.

When the arrows stop, I use the opportunity to leap up into a nearby tree. Addy is looking ill from the quick movements, which are much too fast for a human to tolerate.

“I know this is difficult, my love, but you must hide here. I need to go eliminate the threat. I will come back for you when it is safe.”

“Nicholas,” she whispers, grabbing my shirt. “What about Nick?”

“I will eliminate the threat and ensure his safety as well. But I need you to stay hidden in this tree, alright? Do not move.”

She nods reluctantly, but there is no time for me to hesitate. I place a rough, passionate kiss on her mouth, and her lips invigorate me to protect her at all costs.

Addy is the most precious thing in the world.

Leaping from the tree, I race from tree branch to tree branch, high above the ground, my eyes sweeping the ground for the enemy. If they are using bows and arrows to take down a vampire, they are in for a rude awakening – they are no match for my power.

I know my Light One will come running as soon as he senses Addy’s fear through the mate bond. Hopefully, he won’t recklessly put himself in danger in the process. I will need to be quick and eliminate the threat before he returns.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a soldier below, peering around a tree. He is looking for me on the ground, so he has no idea that I’m about to rain death from above.

Without a second of hesitation, I dive off the tree branch, stretching my arms out toward his neck. A quick jerk is all it takes to snap his neck, and he crumples lifelessly at my feet.

From his uniform, I immediately recognize him as a soldier of the royal army, but the house crest upon his tunic makes me pause.

That symbol…where do I recognize it from? It looks oddly familiar, but I cannot place it.

One thing is for certain: that symbol is not of the House of Ourey.

No time to waste. I leap back into the trees, giving me the advantage as I locate each soldier, snapping their necks one by one. When I find the last archer, I decide to take my time with this one.

Diving down from the tree, I pin the soldier to the trunk and bare my fangs at him. His eyes widen in terror, and I can see my glowing, bright red eyes reflected in his fearful gaze.

“Do not call for help or I will drain you of your blood,” I whisper quickly. “How many of you are there?”

“One hundred men strong,” he squeaks.

“Who sent you?”

“HELP! HE’S RIGHT HERE!”

Snap!

I waste no time breaking his neck, and I am a man of my word. My fangs sink into his neck, and I drink as much as I can possibly stand. His blood comes nowhere close to the sweet ambrosia that Addy’s blood tastes like, but it will have to do.

There is no possible way I can fend off one hundred men on my own, so I will need his blood to get both Addy and my Light One out of here safely.

Withdrawing my fangs, I toss the soldier’s dead corpse aside before leaping back up into the trees. I feel reinvigorated with vampiric energy, and it courses through my veins as I fly through the canopy back toward my mate.

We must go.

But when I return to the spot I left her, she is gone. Surely, I did not come back to the wrong spot – I can smell her faint scent here on the leaves.

“Addy?” I call out in a whisper, trying not to attract unwanted attention. “Addy? Where are you?”

Closing my eyes, I try to sense her through the bond, but I am met with nothing. However, I sense my Light One’s fear, and it seems to be growing stronger.

“Addy? Nicholas? Where are you guys?”

His call is distant, but it is audible enough for me to follow it. Rushing through the trees, I follow his voice until he appears in view.

Jumping down from the tree in front of him, he leaps back in surprise.

“Geez, you scared me! Where’s Addy?”

“I do not know. We were ambushed by soldiers, so I hid her away while I went to fight them. But when I returned, she had disappeared.”

“I came as soon as I felt her fear, but suddenly it stopped,” he answers, his voice full of panic. “I can’t sense her through our bond anymore, so does that mean…?”

“It does not mean she is dead!” I hiss, sensing his tumultuous emotions. “It simply means she is asleep. We would feel it if she…”

“So, someone knocked her out, then. Do you think they took her?”

The terror is written on his face. Do I have that same desperate expression on mine right now?

I cannot bear to answer his question, so I close my eyes and try to examine our surroundings. Anything that can lead me to Addy…her scent, her emotions, the sound of an army marching away…anything.

But I am met with silence.

“Where do you think they took her?”

His repeated question pierces the silence, irking me to no end. But he is just as fearful for our mate as I am, and he deserves an answer.

“I believe they took her to the castle.”

He begins to pace around as determination begins to set in. It is utterly pathetic to watch.

“Okay,” he nods. “Then we’ll just go to the castle and rescue her.”

“A vampire and a human against an entire army? That would be a suicide mission. Instead of saving Addy, you’d end up killing her and both of us!”

“We can’t just do nothing!” he shouts back. “If we could just reason with your brother as the new king, play to his ego–”

“My brother is not the new king,” I answer darkly. “Someone else sits upon the throne, and one thing is for certain: he is not from the House of Ourey.”