Page 6 of His Stolen Queen
King Artemis and Queen Sarai of Ameros Territory were the only known royal bonded-mate pairing. They perished together with their offspring a little more than five hundred years ago. It was widely known that the BloodKin were responsible—a rebel faction that formed after the Treaty of ManKind was signed by all Territory Kings, banning the uncivilized murder of humans for blood.
King Artemis spearheaded the Treaty, but a few Vampires broke away, incensed that their barbaric acts were made illegal. Despite the changing world around them, they were determined to keep the old ways.
When they were betrayed, the King and Queen were found beheaded, and their children burned to ash. In a final act of mockery, their hearts had been ripped out and laid beside their bodies. It was a shock, considering how powerful a mated royal pair were.
That was why I needed to find her.
"We have our council meetings next year in Llarmo Territory. Let us approach the Kings again. Perhaps King Damon of Ameros will have further information regarding King Artemis and Queen Sarai. Something of their pairing that may help us find her."
"I will speak with him myself," I ordered. If I wanted something done right, I had to do it myself.
Hopefully, my beautiful mate would be in my arms this time next year.
Chapter 3
Alice
Ilet out a weary sigh as I shifted from foot to foot, trying to ease the ache in my heels. We had just finished our ceremonial walk down the hill, a University of Kansas tradition, and were now waiting to take our seats on the stadium's lawn. The graduation ceremony had barely begun, but I was already over it.
I was ready to be done with this phase of my life, eager to move on to the next chapter. I'd always been searching for that elusive feeling of knowing what I wanted in this world. Who I really was. I thought I would "find myself" at college—that's what they always said would happen.
Unfortunately, I was no closer to finding the answer to quench the gnawing feeling in my gut than before I left Nevada for college.
I stifled a yawn as my shoulder jerked forward, almost tripping me. An overly excited graduate rushed past me in her haste to join her friends. I watched as she embraced her clique, and Iturned away at the rush of melancholy. It made me think of David.
I missed him.
After high school, David wanted to stay local and accepted a place at the University of Nevada, Reno. He begged me to apply, but I refused, much to his disappointment.
I needed to find myself, find who I was outside of our friendship. He was a crutch I leaned on, and I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, make new friends, and have new experiences with a change of scenery. Maybe then I could find who I was in this world and where I belonged.
So, I applied to a few out-of-state colleges, intending to study interior design—something I was good at and knew I could be satisfied doing as a career.
I chose Kansas due to my obsession with watchingThe Wizard of Ozas a kid. Something about Dorothy being blown away to a magical land resonated with me, even at a young age. The only difference was that I would change the ending and not return home.
I’d made a few friends here, although I already knew we would lose touch after graduation. I'd worked a part-time job and interned at a bespoke furniture store; I even accepted a permanent position there once I graduated. I was content, and I suppose happy.
And yet…I couldn't help but feel even more adrift than when I'd left Nevada.
My body ached.
I tried to fill the deep chasm in my gut with work and studies. I hoped that if I stayed busy enough, I wouldn't end up collapsing under the weight of my fucked-up frame of mind. I didn't feel a connection to anyone. All my friendships were superficial. I didn't feel an attraction to any of the guys or girls here, even though I'd experimented with a few.
Nothing.
There was a brief moment when I wondered if I was on the ace spectrum, and I would've seriously considered it a possibility—if it weren't for the vivid dreams.
I didn't have them every night. At times, I went months without a single episode. But the nights when I did dream…I would wake up hot and sweating. My pussy would tingle, my nipples would be hard, and my panties would always be wet. I would spend a few minutes frowning in concentration, remnants of something floating on my mind's edge…dangling a few feet away. There, but out of reach.
Until nothing.
The mirage would fade, and I was left behind, feeling bereft.
Then, there were the moments of déjà vu. A sort of infuriating madness that triggered a flash of delusion that I could almost recognize. As if I experienced them in a past life.
Anything could set it off…a couple cuddling or making out sparked a familiar feeling deep in my groin. Last week, I stared so hard at a blood donor poster that I swore I saw the 2D drawing of blood start to drip down the glossy paper.
In desperation, I went to see my doctor, explaining my insomnia and hallucinations. She went through a checklist of questions to determine whether I was suffering from depression, especially when she learned of my childhood.
