Chase’s POV:
It had been three days since Leila and Ash ca into my life—three days that felt like both a whirlwind and the start of sothing solid, though admittedly chaotic. Ash was a ball of endless energy, bouncing from one thing to the next with the kind of enthusiasm that only a child could muster. I found myself scrambling to keep up with him, finding ways to keep him entertained. Honestly, he was starting to wear out, which was both amusing and humbling. For centuries, I’d faced down enemies, ruled over my people with firm resolve, and carried the weight of a crown without faltering. And now? I was losing to a three-year-old with boundless energy and an insatiable curiosity.
The kid had wrapped around his finger.
Leila, on the other hand, was another story entirely. While Ash kept physically on my toes, she was the ntal and emotional puzzle I couldn’t seem to solve. She was stubborn and guarded, always keeping her distance as if she expected to let her down—or worse, betray her. She wanted to leave, and not just the suite we were staying in. She wanted to leave .
That was sothing I couldn’t allow.
"Chase, I need to go back ho," she’d said for the third ti that morning, arms crossed, frustration burning in her eyes.
"And I’ve already told you," I replied evenly, "that I can’t let you go back there unprotected."
Her jaw tightened. "I don’t need your protection. I’ve been handling things just fine on my own."
I exhaled slowly, trying to keep my patience. "Leila, this isn’t just about you. Ash is involved now, too. You’re both in danger, and I’m not going to let anything happen to either of you."
"You keep saying that," she snapped. "But you’re also the reason we’re in danger in the first place!"
Her words stung, but I couldn’t deny the truth behind them. Whatever was after them had its roots in my world, in the tangled web of politics, power, and enemies I’d spent centuries navigating. And now, they were caught in the middle of it. I’d brought this chaos into their lives, even if I hadn’t ant to.
"I’m trying to fix it," I said quietly, eting her gaze. "I can’t undo what’s already been set in motion, but I can make sure you’re safe going forward."
She didn’t respond imdiately, her expression softening just a fraction. It wasn’t much, but it was a crack in the wall she’d built between us.
Over the past few days, I’d done everything I could think of to make life in this suite comfortable, even enjoyable. Ash seed to be having the ti of his life, at least. I’d taken him to a nearby arcade, brought back bags of snacks and toys, and even endured hours of cartoons while he explained every detail of his favorite characters. His excitent was infectious, and I found myself smiling more than I had in years.
Leila, on the other hand, remained an enigma. She was polite but distant, grateful for my efforts but always holding herself back. She was cautious around , and I understood why. Trust wasn’t sothing she gave easily, and given her history which I was still to unfold, I didn’t bla her. Still, I needed her to see that I wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t like the ones who had hurt her before.
And I needed her to agree to co back to my kingdom.
While Ash was distracted with a new puzzle I’d picked up for him, I stepped out onto the balcony, motioning for one of my guards stationed nearby. A pair of my palace guards had been keeping watch over the suite ever since we arrived. They were discreet, blending into the background to avoid drawing attention, but their presence gave so peace of mind.
"Anything?" I asked quietly as the guard approached.
"Nothing unusual," he replied. "But we’ve picked up signs of movent near the periter. Could be nothing, but we’re keeping a close eye on it."
I nodded, my jaw tightening. It wasn’t surprising. Whoever—or whatever—was after Leila and Ash wouldn’t give up easily. But they wouldn’t get past my guards. Not while I was here.
"Stay vigilant," I said. "If anything changes, alert imdiately."
The guard nodded and slipped back into the shadows, leaving alone with my thoughts.
That evening, after Ash had finally worn himself out and fallen asleep on the couch, my eyes shifted to Leila, who sat nearby, her shoulders tense as if waiting for the next wave of complications I might throw her way. And fair enough—I had a big one to drop on her, one I’d been avoiding since the mont I first brought her and Ash into this chaos.
But I couldn’t wait any longer. She deserved to know the truth about who I am before I even thought about inviting her to et my father or convincing her to see my kingdom. If she was ever going to trust —fully trust —I couldn’t keep this part of myself hidden.
The tension between us was palpable, but I knew it was ti to address the elephant in the room.
"Leila," I began, keeping my voice calm, "we need to talk about what happens next."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Let guess—you’re going to try to convince to move to your vampire kingdom again."
I couldn’t help but smirk at her bluntness. "It’s a practical solution."
"It’s a terrible solution," she shot back. "I’ve already told you—I’m not raising Ash in a palace full of vampires. It’s not happening."
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I understand your concerns, but it’s the safest place for you and Ash. I can protect you there in ways I can’t out here."
"I don’t want to live under constant protection," she said, her voice firm. "And I don’t want Ash growing up surrounded by politics and vampires who’ll probably hate us for being what we are."
"You think I care what they think?" I countered, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "You and Ash are my priority, Leila. Not them."
I took a deep breath and called her na softly. "Leila."
Her head turned toward , a guarded expression already forming. "What?"
I stood, crossing the room to where she sat, and reached for her hands. To my relief, she didn’t pull away. Yet.
"There’s sothing I need to tell you," I began, my voice steady but low. "Sothing I’ve been holding back."
Her brow furrowed, suspicion clouding her features. "What is it now, Chase?"
I hesitated for only a fraction of a second before plunging ahead. "I haven’t told you the full truth about who I am. Yes, I’m a vampire, but I’m not just any vampire. I’m... I’m a royal."
Her eyes narrowed, her lips parting as if to interrupt, but I kept going. "Specifically, I’m the crown prince of my kingdom."
For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then, her expression shifted in an instant, her hands snapping out of mine as she stood up abruptly.
"Fuck," she cursed under her breath, running a hand through her hair. "Of course. Of course, you’re not just a vampire. You’re a royal vampire."
I winced at her tone, knowing this reaction was inevitable. "Leila—"
"No, don’t ’Leila’ ," she interrupted, pacing now. "You waited this long to tell ? After everything that’s happened? After dragging and Ash into this ss?"
"I didn’t drag you into anything," I said firmly, though my guilt gnawed at . "And I didn’t tell you right away because I didn’t want to overwhelm you."
She laughed, but it was bitter and short. "Overwhelm ? Chase, my life has been nothing but overwhelming since the mont you showed up. You think this makes it better?"
I stepped closer, trying to calm her. "I’m telling you now because I trust you, Leila. And because this affects more than just . If you’re going to be in my life—and I want you to be—you need to know who I am. All of ."
She stopped pacing, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "And what does this an, Chase? What exactly do you expect from ? You want to pack up and parade around your palace with Ash, pretending like we belong in your perfect royal world? Because I can tell you right now, I don’t."
"No, that’s not what I’m asking," I said quickly, my voice softening. "I’m not asking you to move into the palace or change who you are. I just... I want you to know the truth so you can make decisions with all the facts."
Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She didn’t trust this—trust —yet. And who could bla her? To her, this probably felt like yet another curveball, another complication in a life that had already been far from simple.
"I don’t want a royal life," she said finally, her voice low but resolute. "I don’t want that for Ash. I’ve spent years trying to keep him away from all this supernatural chaos, and now you’re telling there’s even more to deal with? A royal family, a kingdom, politics?"
"I’m not asking you to step into that world," I said, stepping closer. "Not if you don’t want to. But there’s sothing else. I want you and Ash to et my father."
Her eyes widened, and I could see the alarm there. "Your father? You an the king?"
"Yes," I said, holding her gaze. "He needs to et you both. You’re my mate, Leila, and Ash is part of this now, too. I’m not asking for your approval or permission to take on this role. But I am asking for you to let him et you, to see why you’re important to ."
She laughed again, shaking her head. "You’re unbelievable, you know that?"
"Maybe," I said with a small smile. "But I’m not lying, and I’m not giving up on us."
She stared at for a long mont, as if trying to gauge just how serious I was. And I was. Deadly serious. Whatever it took to earn her trust, I would do it. Even if it ant waiting as long as she needed.
Finally, she exhaled, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I don’t know, Chase. This... this is too much."
"I know it is," I said softly, stepping closer again. "But I’m here, Leila. For you and for Ash. No matter what you decide."
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