[Catherine's POV]
"Why did you turn me?!"
Mille and Millie's usual stoic face registered a shock.
Mine would be too if only I weren't angry at the moment.
Charles's face remained impassive, but the usual kindness he portrayed was replaced with something dangerous.
Did I just anger him?
By what? Shouting at him? He deserved it. He should be glad that I didn't claw a chunk of his beautifully sculpted face with my fangs.
"Leave us," Charles said, and both Mille and Millie disappeared from sight at lightning speed.
Within a fraction of a second, it was only him and me under the shaded path in the garden, and for a moment, I was afraid he would kill me.
But soon, his face melted into a sigh. "I'll only forgive you this once for baring your fangs at me while the others are present."
". . ." I was livid. Literally shaking from where I stood.
Was that his concern? What about the explanation of turning me against my will?
I gritted my teeth, but it was no use. I was blinded by my fury and attacked him. My eyes saw blood, and I toppled him onto the grass and plunged my fangs into his neck.
However, instead of tearing his throat, I sucked on his blood like there was no tomorrow. My anger simmered beyond my control at just the slightest taste of him, and I hated myself for wanting more.
Charles rubbed my hair when my eyes returned to normal. "Have you calmed down?"
I retracted my fangs from his neck and resisted the urge to lick his wound. But I didn't get up from him. I hid my heated face against his chest and clutched his vest tight so he wouldn't see my expression.
When the anger died, I was back to the old me who never had the guts to attack and suck his blood.
He could have easily stopped me, but he just let me do whatever I wanted.
"Why?"
Charles huffed a laugh, and it was music to my ears. "Like I said, Catherine. You belong to me. You're my mate."
I frowned. "And so are the others?"
Charles sat in a sitting position while I still resisted showing him my face. But with his palms on my cheeks, I had no choice but to face him. His eyes reflected my flustered expression, and I didn't dare to look at him.
"I'll dismiss the others if you want. Just say the words, Catherine," he said, and my heart was beating so fast at the seriousness of his voice.
". . . That's not what I want," I croaked.
". . ."
"What I want is to go back to being a human and be with my son."
". . ."
Charles's face dimmed, and his eyes turned slanted. "Anything but that. You can see your son, but you can never leave my side."
I shivered when he leaned and traced his fangs on the lines of my neck.
"And when the blood moon arrives, I will mark you and complete the mating bond. Be prepared, Catherine. I won't be merciful then."
I welled my bottom lip not to tremble and repressed a moan when he nipped my neck before licking it with his tongue. His long bony fingers gripped my hips, and his breath was hot on my face.
The hunger, the desire in his eyes were palpable, drowning me in their promise of pleasure.
"You belong to me. Whether you like it or not."
----
I curled against my knees when Mille and Millie bathed me on the pool size tab. The hot water was doing wonders with my tired muscles and tangled emotions.
However, I could not stop the loud beating of my heart when I remembered what had happened in the garden. Heat crept along my cheeks, and I hid half my face in the comfort of the waters.
No one ever said those imposing words to me before. Charles said that he would claim me. Mate with me . . . but I didn't even know what that meant.
"Can you tell me about this mate thing?" I asked Mille and Millie.
There was silence for a moment before Millie answered, "Mate is your other half. Destined to be with you forever."
That's what Charles kept saying.
"Unlike werewolves, where they all have mates, in the vampire community, it was not entirely the case," continued Millie. "Vampire mate doesn't happen often, and most often than not, they don't have one. If there is, it took them hundreds or even thousands of years to find their mate."
I restrained my gasp. No wonder Charles was acting that way. I didn't know how old he was, but . . . was he waiting for his mate this entire time? Then what about Veronica and the others? What were they? His Mistresses?
He said that I was his mate but . . . was it really true?
"What it felt like? To find your mate?" I mumbled.
". . . They said that it's like finding your other soul. An irresistible force that you couldn't break, pulling you towards him."
I certainly don't feel anything like that to Charles. The irresistible thirst for his blood, maybe.
Was it because I was human? Charles said that too. I was initially a human. That was why I didn't feel the bond he was talking about. But it would come to me soon.
Was that how it works? I wondered.
"Then what about this mate bond?" I asked, changing the topic.
The twins looked at each other for a moment before Mille answered, "It is a sacred ritual for Vampires that happen during Blood Moon."
"Approximately once every two months," added Millie, "the first blood moon will happen a week from now at the end of the first spring."
My heart raced. That's so near! "What ritual is it then?"
Mille massaged my scalp and said, "In human culture, it's like a wedding ceremony. In the vampire world, it's where you promised yourself to your partner forever, and each of you will mark one another.
"Once mated, you can never separate. The mate bond cannot be broken. It is absolute."
My head spun in circles. Charles couldn't possibly be serious! We were just strangers a few weeks ago!
"Not only that, if Lord Charles and you completed the mating bond, there's a chance that you could gain some of his powers since Lord Charles is a pureblood vampire," added Millie.
"You can even have babies!" Millie added in excitement. The first I ever heard her voice rising in tension.
"B-babies . . ." I was dumbfounded.
I read that vampires couldn't have children. Their numbers were dependent primarily on newly turned vampires. That was why pureblood vampires were so special and put in higher statues than the rest. They were the last remaining true Vampires with stronger powers and abilities.
It was even rumored that Razim and his descendant could walk under the sun, and no amount of silver nor divine weapons could kill them.
Though I doubt that since Razim was dead now.
"Pureblooded vampire children are only born by the union of two pureblooded vampires. But there are rare instances that once you complete the mate bond with your mate, you'll bore a child. These children are stronger than turned vampires.
"And since Lord Charles is a pureblood vampire, your child would surely be stronger than most vampires and just slightly weaker from purebloods."
". . ." I couldn't process what they were saying. The only thing I understood was since I was his mate, if we completed the mating bond, then there was a chance that I might bore him a child!
A vampire child of all things! A little monster!
I must not let that happen at all cost!
----
A/N
I don't know why I'm flustered at this scene >x<
Next POV. We have a Male, ladies, and gents ^^
Take a guess. Wrong answers only XD