Yvaine's smugness did nothing to alleviate the growing anger and frustration developing in the pit of Dimitri's belly. He wanted to scream and tear into her flesh but the bond explicitly prevented harming the partner.
If he didn't sleep with her, their bond could go on forever or until one of them died. The idea to plan an elaborate death for her tempted him but if she by some chance died, then there was a huge chance he would too.
He was still unmated. He didn't want to die bonded to a vampire.
And the worst of all. They had to be within a 15-meter radius of each other. That was the furthest the vampires have ever seen anyone go. The safest distance was 10 meters. Dimitri had to rein in his anger and not explode right there when he heard it.
His left eye twitched repeatedly when he saw them pack in luggage in the car. She just stood there watching them, opening her nth stick of popsicle.
"Are you not angry with this? As a vampire, do you really want this bond?" He yells at her. Only them and the AI robots who were packing the luggage were there so he could burst out without restraint.
"That was loud. You need to calm down Dimitri. It is the will of the moon. We have to respect it"
"Bullshit! And do not call my name with your filthy mouth"
"Oops, my bad, Dimi"
"Why, you..."
"You can hit me if that makes you feel better"
He was tempted to take her offer. Her infuriating smirk drove his self-control to the very edge but he reined himself in at the last moment. It was childish but the best thing he could do was not look at her. Out of sight was out of mind, they said.
Fortunately, she didn't bother him until they were done packing. The vampire queen stood beside Yvaine's home to bid them farewell, decked in her regal red cloak. There was noticeable anxiety around her and the vampire elders.
"I'm truly sorry Lady Yvaine but I cannot keep him here. It makes me anxious to see you leave with him. I would research a way to break the bond in earnest so you can return to us" Queen Moria said, bowing. Yvaine places a hand on her shoulder.
"I've told you so many times that a Queen doesn't bow her head. Hold it up high Moria. I would return to you all soon"
"Yes"
Dimitri found the exchange strange but couldn't be bothered to ask. They got into the car and the robot started taking them back to Landia with the coordinates Dimitri reluctantly gave away. They happened to run into the delegation arriving at the gates of Deniel. The wolves all gave a bow when their young lord descended from the vehicle.
Unlike the four-seater car that Dimitri entered, the werewolf delegation entered three six-seater cars. They were all brand new, shipped in from the nearest elven city back in Landia. The technology made the vampires marvel.
"My lord, are you returning now?" One of the two older wolves in the delegation asked. His name was Kraus and he was an elder on the Werewolf council. It didn't mean he had a higher status than Dimitri, who was second only to the Father.
"Yes. And I'm taking that thing over there with me. Do as Father has asked you"
"We would never disgrace our land here" The elder pledged. Mildly satisfied, Dimitri returned to the car and continued his journey back home.
"Kraus, why do you think the young lord is taking that vampire home?" A young wolf, coincidentally the one who got his head smashed, asked. He had his head wrapped as the injury had not yet healed. Kraus looked at the young wolf and shakes his head in dismay.
"It seems you haven't learned your lesson yet. The affairs of the young lord aren't something we should pry into. If you don't want your head completely smashed in, Colin, you should stick to reading your books"
The answer he was given didn't satiate him but he couldn't argue with the elder. He looked in the direction in which Dimitri had gone and clicked his tongue.
The car ride back to Landia was silent and awkward. All Dimitri did was stare out the window and Yvaine found him a much too tough nut to crack. It took two days but they finally caught the snow-capped mountains bordering Landia in the distance.
For the first time, a crack of a smile appeared on Dimitri's lips. It was gone as soon as it came but Yvaine definitely saw it. She smirked to herself and continued what she was doing.
In another half a day, the car reached the border town of Landia, Kia-Loupe. They had to get a pass for the vehicle so the AI took them to the registration office. Dimitri descended from the car and in a flash, Yvaine lost sight of him. She clicked her tongue repeatedly and shook her head. He should've known by now that he couldn't run from the bond.
Since she didn't feel the pull too strongly, he was still within the radius. In about an hour, he returned with a pass for the vehicle, handing it to the AI driver. They took another hour to reach Landia itself.
Making use of Elven technology, Landia was truly beautiful. Their houses blended into the snow with their colors and made use of internal heating and their chimneys just happened to be designed for that purpose. Their architecture was also special, the houses built along the slope of the mountain the city was on. Children and Adults played together, walked, talked, and milled about the city with relaxed smiles on their faces.
They all had similar features; long white hair, grey eyes, fangs that protruded from their plump lips, sharp features, thick chests or racks, strong upper arms, and thighs am milky white skin. They looked like proper wolves, unlike the young lord who was slender and tall. He didn't look like much but it was so easy to tell he was stronger.
Their choice of clothing was diverse but ultimately contained white in it. There was also the occasional gold and wine color mixed in. The cultural diversity excites Yvaine. Her pale face pressed to the window as they passed the city to where Dimitri lived.
He lived at the top of the hill, close to the Father's house. His house was pretty simple and perfect for a bachelor. It was clean despite his absence, giving evidence that it got cleaned regularly. As per instructions from the lord, the spare room he had was already prepared for his visitor.
Seeing his house change was the last straw for a meticulous and straight-laced wolf like Dimitri. He immediately ran out into the mountains, leaving an angry howl behind. Not minding the moody wolf, Yvaine began to unpack with excitement.
She just knew she was going to have fun in her new location.