༺5༻

I drew in a sharp breath as I exited the car, my hills sinking slightly into the gravel of the driveway. My head lifted to take in the enormous estate in front of me. I had never seen a building this extravagant before and it was buried in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but fields and woods for miles. 

"The Traian brothers are here, sir." 

I look down and see a tall muscular guard speaking on the radio, alerting someone that we've arrived. The guard gives me a once over when he catches me staring and I immediately drop my gaze, remembering the rules. 

Ivan and Felix come to my side and let Paul take the lead. Paul shakes the security guard's hand only because it's polite but I can see how tense his back is. "Is King Matthias and the council ready for our arrival?" 

"Yes," The guard answers. Taking his hand back from Paul to make a come here gesture. Instantly, more guards come out of nowhere, surrounding us. 

I step closer to my brothers, very aware that I'm now trapped. I could feel their eyes roaming my body, making my skin prickle. A few even flared their nostrils like they were sniffing the air and couldn't pinpoint what they were smelling. 

Ivan pulled me to his side, sensing my fear. He placed a hand on my back and whispered, "Relax, we've got you." 

I could only nod but I still felt on edge. 

"Follow us," The head guard finally announced. The doors to the building were pulled open from the inside by more guards. 

As soon as we stepped inside, I was struck by the grandeur of the interior. My hills clicked against white polished marble and the walls were made up of white panels with hints of gold around the edges. Every window we passed was blocked off by long, gold curtains but the chandeliers dangling above made up for the lack of natural lighting. 

My stomach twisted when we stopped and the beauty of the place was forgotten as soon as I realised King Matthias and his high council would be waiting on the other side of the double doors. The guards wasted no time pulling the doors open and ushering us inside. Paul was the first to walk into the room and the rest of us soon followed. Not that we had a choice. 

I didn't know what I expected as I stepped inside the room but it wasn't this. I looked around the room, feeling like I'd stepped into a low-key nightclub. Despite that, the room still looked spectacular with a giant red L-shaped sofa against the back wall, and a bar across the left wall with stools and shelves of alcohol. LED lighting decorated the bar and some of the other furniture. Low music played from speakers on the wall and when I looked up there was even a balcony overlooking the room. 

My stomach twisted further at the four imposing figures seated on the couch, looking at us as if we'd just come and ruined their party. As we stepped further into the room, my eyes widened at the half-naked women sitting on the stools at the bar. They all wore similarly, gold collars and every one of them looked like they were high on drugs. 

All four male vampires held an air of authority about them but one, in particular, gave off a wave of power that was far-reaching. This was King Matthias, my gut told me. I tried my best to survey him without looking directly into his eyes like Paul had warned me about. 

I gathered in my quick survey that he had black hair, streaked with grey and his eyes were a light shade of brown. He wore a pristine black suit with well-polished shoes. I know because he currently had a collared girl cleaning them for him. He wore no crown but it wouldn't take a genius to realise who he is and what sort of authority he has. 

Paul greets them all. "King Matthias. Prince Francis. Luther. Richard." Paul says Richard's name with apparent dislike. 

 On our ride here Felix told me the names of the high council and what their roles were. Prince Francis was the King's brother and offered advice on important matters that impacted Xaxas. Luther was Xaxas' ambassador and represented the kingdom during events of meetings that the king could not attend. And Richard was the ambassador of Aralia. He wasn't officially part of the King's high council but due to the alliance between Xaxas and Aralia, his role was to ensure the terms of the alliance were met. 

Plus he was a cruel bastard who publicly abused human pets, Felix had told me. 

I didn't have time to survey the other's appearances properly before King Matthias spoke. "The Traian brothers. If I didn't know better I'd think my eyes were deceiving me. Why did it take a summoning from me for you boys to finally return home?" 

"We took a liking to England," Paul answers with a smile that only I, Felix and Ivan know is fake. "It was hard to leave once we settled in." 

"Ah," King Matthias smiles as if he understands. "Plenty of prey to chase, I suppose." He makes a show of patting the head of the girl still polishing his shoes. 

I scrunch my face in disgust but Paul says," That and I've always admired the English accent, especially when they scream." 

I never thought I'd hear my brother sound so cruel. I have to breathe and remind myself it's just a ruse. 

Matthias chuckles and then he looks in my direction and I immediately shudder under his intense gaze. I plant my eyes on the ground, trying not to let my fear show. "I heard you encountered a valerian while living in England and yet this is the first time I'm hearing of it. Why is that, Paul?" 

Valerian? Is that what I am? 

I have more questions for Paul once this is over. 

I panic, my breathing changing but Paul remains completely calm like he's rehearsed this scenario already. " She intrigued us and we kept her out of mere curiosity. Besides, she isn't a threat as long as she remains human." 

As long as I...?

What the fuck is going on? 

"Have you had her checked for any birthmarks? I want to know which vampire bloodline sired her." Matthias keeps dark eyes on me but I feel myself growing more confused every time he speaks. 

Paul, Ivan and Felix stiffen. 

Paul brims with tension but when you look at him, he's never looked more relaxed. "She bears no markings. As for her parentage, it's a mystery." 

"Luther, examine her," Matthias orders the man sitting to his right and Immediately I step back so I'm closer to my brothers. 

Luther stands and walks over to me but my eyes are still on the ground. Paul steps in front of me, blocking Luther. "I already said she has no markings." 

Matthias stood and the woman at his feet cowered back. "Forgive me for demanding proof but you can't expect me to fully trust you three when you haven't been back in nearly twenty years. Trust is earned not given." Paul scowled as Matthias sat back down and said, "Continue." 

A low growl vibrated in Paul's chest but he didn't move to stop Luther this time. Felix and Ivan stood stiffly behind me, hands fisted as I kept my eyes on the ground, feeling my body start to shake with fear. 

I gasped when Luther gripped my chin and lifted my face so my eyes lifted to his. I scanned his face warily, very aware I'd been told to avoid eye contact. Luther's eyes were green, a very subtle green that you could easily mistake for blue. He appeared to be a middle-aged man with dark blonde hair that was styled to match his professional position. Though he may look middle-aged I knew not to be fooled by his looks. He could easily be a hundred years old for all I knew. 

I dropped my gaze to his navy blazer, too uncomfortable with the eye contact and how he looked at me as if I were familiar to him. On his chest pocket, a pin sat there that said M.R. Now that I think about it those letters must be King Matthias' initials. It took me back to the night I was attacked. That vampire wore a similar pin only his read R.T. 

Who did he work for? 

I could feel Luther examining my face still, looking behind my ears, and my neck and then he moved his gaze lower, still searching for a mark. I was still shaking but I told myself If I just stay still he won't hurt me.

He pulled the straps of my dress down and that's when I snapped, taking a step back and demanding, "Don't." 

I expected to find Luther smirking or a sign that he was enjoying my discomfort. Instead, he looked worried for me, pitying me. It was enough to make me second guess that he was nothing more than a blood-sucking vampire. 

"I'm only going to look for the mark, I promise." His words were so quiet I could almost believe I was the only one who'd heard them, judging from the lack of reaction from everyone else. 

"O-okay..." I whispered, allowing him to carry on. 

The process was still mentally painful as Luther pulled my dress down to inspect every inch of my skin. My chest, my legs, in between my thighs. I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole. 

Finally, Luther turned to the other three men and said, "There is no mark. There is no way to uncover her bloodline without outside help." 

Outside help? 

Another man spoke from King Matthias' far left. Richard, I think. "I say we have three choices here. Either we call Prince Marcel to find out her bloodline for us or we can let her return home and hope she won't become a future threat. Or we could turn her and use her. Everyone knows a valerian is always loyal to their makers." 

No... 

Send me home. 

I got a glimpse of Richard. His brown hair was a little longer than most men's and a bit unruly. His eyes were a light grey but the minute I saw them I had to drop my gaze to the ground again because I'd found them looking directly at me. He was suited up like the others but a blazer was absent. 

I was too nervous to speak out against the two options I didn't like but luckily Paul did it for me. "Let us take her home and I will ensure she won't be a threat to any of you." 

Matthias ignored my brother and replied to Richard, "The first and only valerian in over five centuries and you'd have sending her home to be an option?" 

My fear was rising now, so much so that I was certain they could all smell it. 

Prince Francis finally spoke and I wish he hadn't. "Killing her is always an option and we could save ourselves the trouble but what a waste that would be." 

Ivan and Felix moved to my left and right, silently agreeing with me that this conversation was taking a dark and twisted turn for the worst. 

Luther took his seat and said, "Let's not be drastic here. Let the girl stay on the grounds for a few days while we discuss what option we'd wish to take." 

A few days? I want to go home! 

Matthias thought over his options for a second and finally made a decision. "I agree with Luther. She'll remain locked up in the eastern wing suite with guards while we make our decision. "

This is a nightmare. 

"With us," Paul demands. "If she has to stay then she will stay with us." 

King Matthias flashes his fangs at my brother, looking at him and wanting to kill him. "You don't make demands of me, Paul. She will stay isolated and she'll remain that way until we decide otherwise, understand?" 

No. Paul, please say no. 

He only grits his teeth and nods, defeated by a vampire with more power and authority than him. 

Paul then looks at me, seeing how afraid I am. With one look he tries to show me just how sorry he is. 

I drop my gaze to the ground, wishing I'd fought harder not to come here.