After the brief introduction, they were all seated on the plush couch of the Vales household. Food and drinks were sent in by the maids in the mansion to entertain the important guests and Alanna and Justin were made to sit beside each other on the loveseat that had a two-seater cushion.
Alanna was very uncomfortable sitting close to this man who had given her the creep earlier. She shifted to the edge of the seat on her side, not even wanting to make any physical contact with his body.
"Careful there, Lana. You might end up conjoining to the armrest." Justin commented on seeing her behaviour.
Alanna was shocked by the way he had addressed her so casually like they had been friends for years. Since they were now alone, she didn't mind being rude.
"I'd rather conjoin to the chair than ever get close to you!" she yelled at him. Though her voice was not high, it was enough for only both of them to hear.
"So you think?" he raised a brow at her with a smirk playing on his lips.
"Yes. Watch me," she told him in a daring tone.
Justin only smiled and brought his hand forth to play with his sleeves. "You are one feisty lady, Alanna," he said looking at her before adding,
"I hope you'll be this daring in my bed." Alanna froze at his words before her eyes widened.
"Are you crazy?! Do you not know how to speak to a lady?" Alanna shouted at him, this time loud enough for others to hear.
"Is there a problem, Lady Alanna?" Justin's father asked. "Justin?" he turned to his son with a raised eyebrow, not knowing what he had said for the girl to speak like that.
"Nothing, Father. I was trying to bond with her but unfortunately, she's unwilling," he spoke with a pitiful smile that had Alanna's mouth slightly opened in shock.
Since the other vampires in the room had been busy conversing, they didn't strain their ears to hear what was being said.
"That's a lie-"
"Alanna!!" her father's voice startled her before she could finish her statement.
She turned to stare at him and gulped when his smouldering gaze met hers and instinctively sat back.
"Oh dear Justin, please ignore my daughter's timidness. She is a bit nervous as she has never been courted before by a vampire." Mr. Vales explained to Justin with a pleasing smile which Justin returned with a nod.
"I guessed that, Mr. Vales. Do not worry, I don't see faults that easily," he replied, his black red eyes now turned completely red as he looked at Alanna who held her breath in suspicion.
Justin looked at the girl next to him in scrutiny before he stared at her father and proposed, "If you don't mind, Mr. Vales, I would prefer that Alanna and I speak in private with each other as it seems there are a lot of things we need to discuss..., right Alanna?" he smiled at her.
"O-oh, of course! Why not? You can go to the other room that is soundproof. I am sure you can discuss whatever you want to privately. No worries." Mr Vales persuaded and turned to the few servants who were standing behind them before gesturing to one of them to lead the couple to the room.
Alanna's face turned pale at her father's words as she veered around to send daggers at the person who had given the suggestion.
Justin gave her an impeccable smile in return for her glare. Only someone who looked closer could see the deceit in his smile.
Christian Flores, on seeing Alanna's discomfort, tried to dissuade him, "Mr. Vales, there would be a lot of time for them to bond privately before their marriage. Why don't you just let them get acquainted with each other for today? I don't think they need to speak-"
"I know, Father which is why I wouldn't take too long in there with her. Just a brief urgent discussion." Justin interrupted his father and Mr Vales paused for a moment, gazing between the father and son duo to gauge their expression.
When he saw that Mr. Flores did not protest with his son anymore, he stared back at the servant who moved forward, stretching out her hand for the two to stand up and have their brief discussion in the soundproof room.
Before Alanna could even say anything, Justin stood up and grabbed her by her wrist, pulling her before he followed the maid silently out of the living room to the secluded place.
The people in the room blankly stared at the retreating figures before they went back to their chattering.
"Mr. Vales, you have a lovely daughter." Christian praised the man who now had his chin raised in pride at the compliment.
"What can I say, Mr. Flores? I did my best to raise my human daughter amidst these vampires in our empire. It is only right that the universe compliments me for my efforts," he spoke with vigour.
"If it didn't compliment you earlier for your endeavours, I assure you it would now." Mrs Flores finally spoke up after simply observing things and staying quiet.
"Yes, I am sure of that, Mrs. Flores," he hummed a response to the woman. "It already has even," he smiled at them and they returned it.
"Your daughter is not very happy about it though." Christian Flores was the one to point out this time as he had observed.
"Of course, she isn't now but in the future, when she finally gets to understand my reasons, she will appreciate it," he replied.
Christian seemed doubtful but didn't speak further about it.
...
Away from there, an angry Alanna yelled at the tall vampire that was pulling her by her wrist.
"Are you out of your mind?! I said take your hands off me!" she bit his right hand with her teeth as they moved but Justin didn't budge.
When the slightly frightened maid reached the room, she opened it for them to step inside and when both were inside, Justin dismissed the maid before closing and locking the door behind them.
He pinned Alanna to the door before placing one hand on the doorknob and the other on her arm.
"How dare you-" she didn't get to finish because Justin hushed her.
"Keep quiet, pretty unless you want me to take you right here, right now." Justin threatened her with a charming smile.
Alanna's eyes went wide at his comment and if she wasn't being bound by him right now, she would have slapped him with her available hand.
She glanced at the tanned-skinned man with dilated eyes as if a realization just struck her.
"So the rumours are true about you... What a disgusting, cheap man you are to say such to a lady you just met this morning."
"I told you already, this isn't our first time meeting but you don't listen, do you?" he tsked.
"What does it matter? I don't care where or when you met me last! This is our first official meeting!" she burst out in annoyance.
"So?" he looked at her questioningly.
"So you should at least, act like a gentleman!" she replied to him and saw how his eyes turned slightly red again.
He gave a smile that sent alarm bells all over before she heard him say, "Gentleman?" his smile widened seeing her expression.
In their awful position, he leaned closer till his lips were just above her ears and she could feel his breath on her skin.
She tried to wriggle out of his hold but she was human and he was a vampire. It was simply impossible to overpower him. She was left holding her breath as his lips brushed her ear, sending heat over her body and jolting her to alert before he said,
"I don't know what your parents told you about me, Alanna..." he called her name so seductively and Alanna suddenly felt like an animal being laid a trap for with this charm of his but she refused to fall for it.
She would not!
"...but I am nothing close to a gentleman, darling." he moved his lips from her ear to her neck before rubbing his lips on it, making her scream at the rash action she did not expect.
He continued to speak against her delicate skin, sending chills and goosebumps all over it and unfazed by her earlier reaction.
"I am filled with mysteries like you know already... And I cannot wait to make you my wife, Lana..." he hissed against her skin and placed a kiss on it, sending electricity all over Alanna.
"Stop!-" she wanted to tell but he placed another kiss on her neck, fighting the urge to bite it.
Justin's fangs bared at the sight of her smooth neck and he rubbed his nose against it, listening to her heartbeat that had quickened in fear.
"You have no idea how long I have waited for this day, Lana..." he pulled away from her before placing his forehead against hers but she immediately shifted her head in repulsion.
Now that she could see him, Alanna's eyes widened at the sight of his blood-red eyes that gazed intently at her, with a smug smile placed on his lips that had his fangs baring out.
"I have waited patiently till this day to have you and I would make sure I never let this opportunity slide, darling... So if you have any plans to run away or avoid this wedding, then forget it." he deadpanned at the end, staring intently at her.
"...because I would make sure you are mine no matter what." and with that, he pulled away from her, leaving a breathless Alanna to steady her breathing.