A loud bang woke Markus up from his slumber, he blinked his eyes and wanted to sit upright, but there was a weight on his torso. He looked down, and a smile played on his lips.
Mathias, his human lover, was sound asleep in his arms. His door burst open, revealing a few of his royal guards and three adversaries.
Markus bolted upright, and Mathias slipped from his torso, waking up. "Markus, what is happening?"
Mathias rubbed his eyes and turned his gaze up to him. Markus thought he looked adorable when he just woke up but before he could reply-
"Seize him!"
Markus's eyes widened as the guards moved towards them, and they grabbed Mathias from his arms . . . they were still naked from having sex three hours ago.
"What are you doing?" Markus screamed as the guards dragged Mathias from the bed.
The guards were at the door as Nathaniel stepped forward. "You are in breach of the rules, your highness."
Markus's eyes widened - his fangs grew as he jumped from the bed. They had been found out, and he had broken the one rule that vampires had to keep. His hand reached towards Mathias, who had a scared expression on his face. "You shall not harm him!"
His voice was a low snarl, but Nathaniel stepped between them. "No vampire king shall have a human as a mate!"
Markus felt his anger flare, then grabbed Nathaniel's throat. "You dare to defy me?"
Nathaniel couldn't look at him and motion with his head to the guards. "Take him away."
Mathias looked around bewildered. "Mark- Markus?"
It pained Markus to hear him whimper - Mathias was afraid . . . and he had every reason to be. "Where are you taking him?" His hand squeezed Nathaniel's throat, and the other two adversaries stepped closer. Markus watched as the guards dragged Mathias away.
A grin spread over Nathaniel's face, "For you breaking the rules... Your human shall be executed."
Markus let out a roar, "You will die if you touch him!"
His fangs grew over his lips. He would find the one who had betrayed them then he would have their head. Mathias was his secret . . . he had never meant to fall in love with him - but he did.
"You can not stop this, your highness - you should be glad that we-"
"Glad? I should be glad about what?"
The other two adversaries closed the distance and grabbed him by the arms forcing his grip to loosen around Nathaniel's neck. Nathaniel rubbed his throat. "Get him dressed. We will begin in a few short minutes."
He turned his back on Markus and headed to the door. "What are you going to do, Nathaniel?"
Markus tried to free himself from his two adversaries, but they held him firmly. He knew well that using his brute strength on them and fighting them would make things worse.
Nathaniel paused at the door and turned his head towards him. "As I have said, your highness, we are executing your human in a few minutes."
Markus felt his knees go weak, he had failed Mathias, and he wouldn't be able to save him. Nathaniel motioned to them with his eyes, "You shouldn't have broken the rules."
With that said, he left, leaving Markus in the hands of the other adversaries, and they let go of his arms. "Get dressed."
Markus bared his fangs at them but did what they asked of him; getting dressed and letting them lead him out of his room towards the dungeon.
His thoughts went to Mathias . . . his immortal heart was breaking - how was he going to save him? He heard voices when they approached a cell-
"You will die today, mortal."
Markus pushed past the guards towards the cell, but they grabbed his arms. "Let go of me!"
The cell door opened, and he watched in horror when they dragged Mathias out. They had draped him in a black cloak that looked like linen over his fragile body.
Mathias's eyes found Markus, and he smiled at him. The guards tightened their grip on his arms. He wanted to run to Mathias and pull him into his arms, telling him everything would be alright.
Markus knew in his heart that it wasn't going to be alright. His royal adversaries were going to hurt him in the most inhumane way possible.
"Bring the lord."
Markus had no choice but to be dragged along with Mathias to the other side of the dungeon, where they did the executions.
"Make him stand in front of the guillotine."
The guards dragged Markus to the middle, and he lifted his gaze to the guillotine, where they were already binding Mathias's hands behind his back.
Mathias looked up, and he had a calm expression on his face. He blinked at Markus - it was code to say everything would be alright.
Markus wanted to scream at him that it wasn't going to be alright . . . he couldn't lose him. He had only found him a few months ago. Mathias had awakened his immortal heart.
He had taught him that love could be found when you needed it the most.
And he had needed it. Mathias came into his long lonely existence and had shown him that he wasn't unlovable as he thought. He was, but he hadn't told Mathias the truth behind his birth.
He fought back a sob that was fighting to rise from his lips - but he pushed it back.
The royal adversaries were gathering next to the guillotine. "Mathias, you are hereby sentenced to death - on the count of having a romantic relationship with our Vampire king."
Markus let out a snarl, and his fangs grew until they scraped the top of his chin. Mathias was staring at Markus and shook his head.
"How do you plea?"
"I am guilty of loving your Vampire King."
They nodded. "You are hereby sentenced to death."
Mathias never stopped looking at Markus, he mouthed. "I will find you in the next life."