Chapter 25. Damned Ties

**25. Damned Ties**
**Rafael's POV:**
I can handle everything, but someone disrespecting my mate is something I can't bear, even if it's my father, given the potential consequences.
He even ventured to consider killing her, and his objectives are clear: he doesn't want anyone to know that I've found my mate, and before anybody does, he wants to finish killing her so that he can tell everyone that I was lying and that he had to give me my throne.
I tightened my grip around his windpipe. If I can't kill him, I can find other ways to make him suffer.
"How do you know? Did I say that out loud?" Elliot Delmar asked. He wasn't aware of my ability to read minds, and he is under the mistaken impression that he is the only one with three abilities; if only he knew that I have more than 10 and am still in the process of discovering more.
"Yes, but that isn't important; either you give me my throne or I will take it my way." I had rendered him impotent to the point where he couldn't even summon his minions to assist him.
I can easily overpower hundreds of them at once, and he knows it, which is why he remains quiet despite everything. If he orders his soldiers to harm me, I can easily ensure that he is not even left with his few alliances.
Yes, that is my pride speaking, but I am not exaggerating. It's my chivalry that I have values and don't go killing innocent people, and my father knows I'm the strongest vampire alive, even stronger than him, which is why he's silent.
While I had mentioned ways to kill a vampire, including ripping their throat apart or using their mate's blood, although born vampires lack a heart, those who have been converted do because they were born as another species. If my father had one, I would not have hesitated even once to rip it out today.
Everyone may believe that Astrid's blood could be used to kill me, but first and foremost, no one is going to get her blood, and even if they do, it will be useless because there is only one thing that can kill me, and no one knows about it except for me, and even though it involves the need for her blood, no one knows how it can be used to kill. That is what makes me almost immortal.
"If you even think of harming her, I'll ensure everyone by your side meets their end," I warned, increasing the pressure on his internal organs. He was left gasping for breath, seemingly dying, but I knew he would recover in an hour or two.
Others in the room pulled me away. "Sir, please leave him," Bryan urged, "or we'll be exiled." I relented, but not before hearing Elliot's final thoughts—still intent on killing Astrid.
"Don't you dare," I said as I removed my hand from his collar.
"Let's go, Bryan," I said, turning my back to leave.
In his mind, he was still intending to kill Astrid, and I had to act as if I wasn't even aware of what he was thinking.
It can't be calm until I'm with her and I realize I'm capable of protecting her. But, for the first time in my life, I felt helpless today. I should have told him that I could read his thoughts, but I came back here silently, like a coward.
"Do you want to go to your room, sir?" Bryan asked.
"No, let the girls have some time to themselves; I'm sure Eva can defend them if anything occurs; let's go to the office now," I said to Bryan, and we began walking there.
In the office, Bryan resumed work while I dwelled on thoughts of my mother. If she were alive, perhaps I'd have a better understanding of everything. She used to handle all matters related to me with ease.
We, like werewolves, can sense the pain when our mates cheat on us, and mom used to suffer from this while she was alive.
I was young and just starting to understand things when I saw her in agony, and she would always shrug it off, saying she was sick or something, and I was too young to believe her. We, the vampires, don't get sick since we don't have that mechanism. The man had always cheated on my mother, and after she died, he was free to do anything he wanted, and he still has the audacity to claim that he only loved my mother.
I've seen him an endless number of times with girls of various ages. I wish I had known about my abilities when my mother was still alive; at the very least, I would have defended her and taken her away from him.
That is why I have hated him since I was a child, and he is a greedy man who wants all the power for himself, which is why he has avoided giving me my throne for generations.
According to the regulations, having an heir of two hundred years automatically passes the power of the king to him, but, being the selfish one, he always tried to fool our citizens into thinking that I could only ascend the throne once I found a mate.
It is not written in the records, but I acknowledge it because, when I became king, I wanted my special someone to witness it and rule alongside me, so I remained silent until today.
When her last days were near, mom explained everything, and she knew that I had realized that dad was cheating on her, but she made me make a promise that I wouldn't question him about anything. I wasn't ready for it, but when I went to confront him the same day she was gone, and I caught him with another woman.
I used to wonder why my mother constantly kept me from telling people about my supernatural abilities, but I now realize she didn't want anyone to know because they would consider me their archenemy and would want to take my powers away.
Okay, you may be wondering why I am so desperate to have this throne, despite the fact that I keep mentioning that I am not like my father. I want my throne so that I can protect our subjects from my father's brutality. He is unjust towards them and does not govern the laws properly, whereas I, even without being crowned, have looked after all of our people's needs and earned their trust, which is why the majority of the vampire population considers me as king and I am their dream for a peaceful future in which we can all live in harmony. They want to see me there so that my father's tyranny can be ended.
That is what drives my desire for the throne. I told them that the day I meet my mate, I will bring justice to all by taking the throne, and that is exactly what I want to accomplish right now.
So, if I get a chance to talk to Astrid tomorrow or the next day, I'll ask her to accompany me; the awkwardness between us is even worse after what happened yesterday, so I'm not sure how we'll deal with one another afterward.
I'm still disturbed, wondering what made her think I'd abuse her. Did someone say something to her, or is she just disturbed by what her family and Alpha did to her?
I looked at my wristwatch and thought that they had had enough time to get to know each other and that I should go check on them.
"Bryan, bring my work to my room. Starting tomorrow, I won't be leaving my room for a while now," I told him as I began to leave.
It's best if I stay with Astrid most of the time. I don't want her to feel trapped, so I can't just let her go yet.
When I entered my room, the door was shut. When I entered the passcode, the door opened.
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**As I already mentioned, Rafael's father is far worse than Astrid's brothers.**
**Who is looking forward to Astrid's point of view?**
**Stay tuned..... I love you all<3**
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