The faint tap of a knock echoed through the cold, marble-floored hall of Lucas's office. He barely glanced up from the papers spread out before him as a servant stepped inside.
"Mr. Smith is calling, Your Highness," the servant informed him politely.
"Okay," Lucas replied dismissively with a slight nod, signaling the servant to leave. As the door closed behind the servant, Lucas picked up the phone, his mind already focused on the conversation at hand.
"Did you meet the girl yet?" Lucas asked once the line connected.
Mr. Smith's voice crackled from the other end, tinged with a note of frustration. "No, I'm not in the city right now. I'll meet her in a few days. But Parker says she's just an ordinary human girl, nothing special."
Lucas's sharp eyes narrowed as he leaned back in his chair. "She saw the advertisement, the one that was never supposed to be visible to humans. That's enough proof she's not just any human."
Mr. Smith fell silent for a moment before responding, his voice more cautious now. "You're right. That wasn't just an ordinary advertisement. It was a code embedded in the message, and it was never meant to be seen by anyone—especially not humans. I'll meet her once I return."
Lucas's gaze remained fixed on the darkening sky outside his window. His mind wasn't just on the girl, or Mr. Smith's cryptic words. It was on a recurring dream he'd had over the past few weeks. It had unsettled him, a voice calling out to him in his sleep, whispering one single word: *Mate.*
For as long as Lucas could remember, he had devoted himself entirely to preparing for the throne. He was the only heir to the vampire kingdom, and the weight of the crown was heavy on his shoulders. He had no time for distractions. But that dream—those two syllables—had shaken him to the core. *Mate.* The word felt like an inevitability, something he couldn't escape. But was he ready for it? Was he ready to have a *mate*? A life partner? He didn't know. He wasn't sure if he even wanted that.
A knock on the door pulled him from his troubled thoughts. Jaden entered the room with his usual calm demeanor, taking a seat in front of Lucas's desk without waiting to be invited.
"Everything's prepared," Jaden said, his voice steady.
Lucas nodded absently, still staring out the window. "When are you planning to leave?"
"Next week," Jaden replied.
Lucas turned slightly, his eyes momentarily locking with Jaden's. "Have you told her?"
"No," Jaden replied quickly, almost defensively. "And I'm not going to. If I go to her now, she'll ask why you didn't attend the ball, and I'm not about to tell her that I failed to convince you again. I'd rather avoid her wrath."
Lucas scowled, but he couldn't argue with Jaden's logic. They both knew how terrifying the queen's wrath could be. Even a simple glance from her could freeze anyone in their tracks.
"Fine," Lucas muttered. "I'll tell her." He stood up, moving toward the door, but paused when Jaden's voice stopped him.
"Lucas..." Jaden trailed off, his brow furrowing with concern. Lucas didn't look back.
"I know what you're going to say," Lucas replied, cutting him off before Jaden could speak further. "And I don't want to talk about it." He opened the door with a flick of his wrist, stepping out without another word.
Jaden remained seated, his hands resting on his lap. He knew something was bothering his best friend, but Lucas had never been one to share his inner turmoil. The two had grown up together, but even now, Lucas remained an enigma, distant and closed off. Over the years, Jaden had seen people try to get close to him, to become his friend, but they always had their own motives. None of them had succeeded. Lucas was too powerful, too untouchable. Jaden wasn't sure what haunted him, but he knew his friend well enough to understand it wasn't just the weight of the throne on his shoulders.
Lucas stopped in front of the study doors, his mind racing. Should he tell Jaden about the strange dream? But he wasn't sure how to put it into words, even for his closest friend. He didn't know what it meant—*mate*. Or maybe he did, but he wasn't ready to accept it yet.
---
### At the Queen's Chambers
A guard stepped into the room with an air of formality. "Prince Lucas is here to see you, my lady."
"Finally, you grace me with your presence," Queen Katherine teased, though her voice held a note of affection as she looked up from her tea. She set her cup down and patted the seat next to her.
"I see you've finally made time to see your mother," she remarked playfully, eyeing Lucas as he sat down across from her.
"We meet every other day at the dinner table, Mother," Lucas replied, shaking his head in mild exasperation at his mother's antics. Despite being the queen of all vampires, she could be remarkably petty when it came to family.
She scoffed at his comment. "Don't give me that attitude, young man. Now tell me, why didn't you attend the ball?"
Lucas had been expecting this question. He knew it was coming. His mother never missed a chance to nudge him about such things.
"You know my answer, Mother," he replied, his voice a little sharper now. "I don't have time for such pointless gatherings, where everyone tries to get close to me only for power."
She sighed, placing her cup on the table before reaching out to gently touch his clenched fist. Lucas relaxed at the warmth of her touch. She knew him better than anyone, even when he tried to hide his feelings.
"I know the world is full of people who want to use you for your power, Lucas," she said softly, her hand caressing his in a soothing gesture. "But there's someone out there who will love you for who you are—not for your throne or wealth. You need to give yourself a chance to find that person."
Lucas averted his gaze, his mind wandering back to his recent dream. Could such a person really exist? Was there someone who wouldn't care about his power, who would just want him for him? He wasn't sure, and it felt like a naive fantasy. No one had ever wanted him for anything other than what he represented.
"I'm leaving next week," he said abruptly, wanting to change the subject. "Where's Dad?"
As if on cue, the door swung open, and King Eric stepped into the room with a mischievous grin. "I see my family has been missing me." His playful tone filled the room.
Queen Katherine gasped, feigning surprise. "You startled me, Eric!"
"You didn't even sense me coming while talking to your son. I don't like being ignored, especially in front of him." The king's teasing tone made Lucas roll his eyes.
"Really? You're jealous of me now?" Lucas said with an incredulous laugh, shaking his head. His parents could be so ridiculous at times.
"Don't say that, Eric," Katherine scolded, though the softness in her voice belied the sharp words. "This is why Lucas doesn't visit me often. And remember, he's your son too."
Eric chuckled and moved toward her, placing a kiss on her temple. "Of course, he's my son," he said lovingly.
Lucas could only shake his head as he stood up to leave. His parents' playful bickering had always amused him, though today it only felt like a reminder of the life he wasn't sure he was ready for.
"I see my time here is done," Lucas said with a smirk, excusing himself quickly. He wasn't interested in staying to watch his parents' romance unfold.
---
### The University of Florida
The next morning, Julianne awoke before her alarm, the early light filtering through the curtains. She moved quickly, preparing for the day with quiet efficiency. As she grabbed her things, she felt a nervous excitement building in her chest. Today was another step toward her new life—her new beginning.
She met Misha and Rebecca at the entrance of the main building, as planned.
"I need to check my locker before class," Julianne said, leading the way down the hall. The trio made their way toward the locker room, but as they neared the entrance, a group of students caught their attention. The whispers were unmistakable.
Misha, always ready to stir the pot, stopped dead in her tracks and screamed loudly, startling both Julianne and Rebecca. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded, glaring at a girl standing near them.
The girl, none other than Kellie, glared back at Misha with a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment. She was bare-faced, a stark contrast to her usual heavily made-up appearance, and it was clear she was uncomfortable.
"Shut up, Misha," Kellie muttered, her eyes narrowing. "You know who I am. I'm just here to tell you that I'm not going to sit here like this all day."
Misha grinned, not missing a beat. "Why, babe? If you're too scared to finish your dare, don't ever challenge me again." She
smirked and walked off, leaving Kellie seething in silence.