The Sapphire Queen

“Hi,” he whispers as he kisses my hand.”

She stands there, smiling at him.”

He is kissing her hand slowly. They know they belong together. But he has been lying all along.”

VLADIMIR

“Your Majesty, all the arrangements are ready. We just need your signatures on the payment checks,” I hear someone say.

I’m Vladimir Karatza, King of All Vampires. I’m thirty-eight years old, and I still look like twenty-four. Like all other vampires, we age slowly.

I have no mate, and not because I don’t want one, it’s that I haven’t found her yet.

The last few weeks have been arduous. I’ve been trying to avoid the mating event this year since I know, like any other year, that I won’t find my mate; I know it.

I will just sit there and watch as everyone else finds their mate and happily runs off to one of the guest rooms to complete the bond.

It breaks my heart to see that, and I’m just tired of being alone. But my grandfather, Elder Theodor, has been insisting I go to this year’s ball.

He knows I’m not happy going. I haven’t been able to find her all these years, and now I’m feeling the pressure from the councilman to take any person as my queen.

But I decided I would wait for my mate. I know she’s somewhere out there, but just where?

As I am signing some papers, there is a knock on the door.

“Hey, Vladimir,” a cheerful voice I immediately recognize greets me.

I look up and find Victor, my younger brother—tall with a slim body and honey-brown hair, way different from mine.

His yellow eyes look almost golden during the night, and he’s intelligent with excellent fighting skills—the perfect king.

We are three brothers: Victor, Valerius, and me. Victor has a beautiful mate.

Mate, how I envy that word. Every time I see him with his mate, I get jealous. They look so happy together that all I feel is this stabbing pain in my heart, full of jealousy and anger.

“Hey, Vladimir.” Victor snaps his fingers.

“Is something the matter?” I ask, looking up from my paperwork.

“You’ve been spacing out, Vladimir. I’ve called your name twice,” Victor says, eyes full of concern. “Is something the matter?”

“Honestly, yes.” I smile awkwardly. “I don’t wish to go to the ball, that’s all.”

Victor will never understand my feelings. I’ve been lonely and mateless my entire life while he has everything he ever wanted. And it hurts.

I have cried countless times in my room alone during many sleepless nights.

I have cried, asking the gods why I don’t have a mate. And a lot of times, I fall asleep while begging for her.

“Brother,” Victor sighs. “You know your mate is out there, and I have this feeling that she will appear this year, so don’t lose hope.”

Hope, a word I haven’t mentioned since our father died. Our father, the late king, died some years ago. He was mysteriously beheaded and burned.

We never found the culprit, and we are still looking for them.

“Vladimir,” Victor calls once again. “You never know what might happen, and if she doesn’t appear, I promise to help you with the councilman, okay?”

***

I got ready two hours ago, but it was hard. My grandfather asked his people to get my royal suit ready and get some of the jewelry that was in the treasury—unnecessary jewelry, I would say.

I have always been a simple person, and jewelry has never been my thing. But according to my grandfather, there’s never too much jewelry.

Sighing, I turn around. Tonight, I’ll be wearing a black suit with a white shirt, a long cloak with ruby details, and black shoes.

My hair is long, so they coiled it into a man bun and placed my golden crown over my head.

I have been feeling nervous all afternoon, causing me to feel restless, which was odd.

“You know you have to look good, son,” my grandfather comments from behind. “You’re a king, and a king must always look good.”

“Are the guests already here?” I ask, changing the conversation.

“Yes, we have got a couple of guests already, which reminds me,” my grandfather says, taking his phone out. “The Vlad family is coming this year.”

The Vlad family is the royal family that’s on par with us. They’re strong, pureblood vampires and descendants of the count.

“Don’t they always come?” I say, bored with this conversation.

“Yes, but they only sent one person before, their son. But this time, I received word from the old man saying they would assist this year and bring his granddaughter.”

I arch an eyebrow at that comment.

“The Vlad family has a daughter?” I ask, surprised by the piece of news.

“Yes, but she tends not to attend events that much.” My grandfather shrugs. “And she has never attended the balls, but this year even the old man is coming.”

“Elder Cornelius?” I ask, surprised.

Elder Cornelius is the Vlad family’s elder. He’s Grandfather’s closest friend, and the few times I had the pleasure of meeting him was when my grandfather invited him over.

But I didn’t know they had a daughter. I hope to meet her; I’m curious to know what she looks like. The Vlad family has quite a reputation.

***

I’m standing outside the grand hall, which looks breathtaking. Chandeliers are hanging high, candles are all over the place, and bouquets of roses lie on each table.

The musicians play some ballads, and the buffet is serving blood. I feel so proud of my people. They outdid themselves.

Holding this event every year is a tradition we have kept for the last eighty-nine years, especially since it takes place on Christmas Eve. It’s been a celebration, and this year is no exception.

“Do we have a lot of guests?” I ask my grandfather, who stands at the side.

“Yes, we have many who have found their mates already,” my grandfather comments, making me feel uncomfortable.

He didn’t need to spit the words like that.

After the guard asks me if I am ready, my name is announced, and I walk in, head held high, giving an imposing aura as I always do.

I carry out my speech short, loud, and straightforward. After that, I get down and start heading toward some friends that came tonight.

I can see all the women looking my way, but none of them are my mates. It is making me lose hope already.

Forcing a smile, I greet a few guests, who bow when I get close to them. I notice their fear and respect toward me.

Some don’t even dare to look my way. I am feared by my people, especially since I have a cruel way of killing vampires, but it’s just a facade. It’s all just to keep order in the kingdom.

As I am having some drinks with some old acquaintances, my brother Victor comes to tell me Valerius is here.

Honestly, I didn’t expect Valerius to come tonight. He has a mate already, and he’s the king of a kingdom—the kingdom where his mate lives.

Valerius is my older brother. He’s a year older, and we grew up like twins. We share a powerful brother bond, and we have many things in common, including looks.

“Vladimir,” Valerius greets me as a surprise.

“Welcome, brother. I didn’t expect to see you here.” I smile, and we share a hug.

“I know, surprise. How are you doing?” he asks while patting my back.

“I’ve been good, just missing your ugly face.” I chuckle. Turning me around, Valerius extends his arm.

“So, any mate?” he asks, looking around the multitude. “Have hope, okay? She might just be late.”

“Yes.” I roll my eyes.

***

We’ve been drinking and talking for a while, and I still haven’t seen any signs of my mate. Will it be another disappointing year?

As I get distracted, I start hearing a commotion around the room. The other vampires whisper among themselves, which confuses me.

Suddenly there’s a shatter. And as I’m about to ask what’s wrong, I hear Valerius calling my name from a distance.

“Is something wrong, Valerius?” I ask him as he approaches me and, grabbing my head, he turns to me.

“Stupid, look up there,” he hisses near my ear.

There, on top of the staircase, stands a breathtaking woman. Pureblood. She’s standing straight and with her head held high, just like a queen would.

She’s a beauty, wearing a long-sleeved, off-the-shoulder, royal blue dress that accentuates her voluptuous body.

Damn, she has a great body. It makes my cock hum with pleasure. I might even get a boner just by looking at her.

Her dress has a long slit on her right leg, making it look like an endless waterfall of pale skin. She isn’t that tall, but she’s perfect for me.

She has big round breasts with a waist that looks as fragile as a wine glass. Her legs are thick, and her butt is round. I wonder how she would look if I fucked her from behind.

I gulp down hard, shaking my head from my perverted thoughts, but I can’t help it. Her pale skin, just like porcelain, makes me imagine how it would look covered in bites.

I blink, feeling confused by all these emotions. Getting a grip, I raise my eyes and continue staring at her.

Jet-black hair sways softly down her waist as she looks around the place. Her pointy nose and full pink lips make me imagine her down on her knees, sucking my cock.

I really need a woman. But then I look into her eyes. Am I imagining things? I blink a few times before staring straight at her face. Her eyes look like rocks, sapphire rocks.

I’m so stunned by her beauty that I can’t help but notice everyone looking at her the same way—eyes full of lust, desire.

Then suddenly it hits me, that electric pull and that tug on my chest, the craving and thirst of my monster calling for her.

“Mate,” I whisper.