Chapter 30. Mate's Blood

**30. Mate's Blood**
***Rafael's POV:***
I was taken aback by what Astrid had just said. I thought I was hearing things. In any case, her words brought immense joy to my heart. 'Your Queen,' she really said.
She is, indeed, my queen. I can die if she asks me to. "What did you say?" I asked once more.
"Yes, you wanted me to come with you and tell you that I am your mate or queen, right? I don't recall the exact words, but you asked either of them if I'm not mistaken," she responded.
I had asked her to assist me in informing everyone that I had found my mate, but I had no idea she would accept so easily.
Overwhelmed with joy, I couldn't contain myself and embraced her in a bone-crushing hug. Bryan and Eva laughed, but my attention shifted when Astrid winced.
I backed away, assuming I had hurt her or that my unexpected move had made her uncomfortable, but she was clutching her bleeding forearm.
I softly took her hand in mine and gazed at her with worry. "What happened? Who did this? Did I do it?" I asked.
"No, I'm not sure when this happened. I'd been feeling itchy for a while, but I didn't give it much thought because of all the turmoil going on around me. I believe it happened when the vampire attacked me." She was referring to an earlier incident in which she threw out a vampire.
"Bryan, get me the first aid kit." Now that I've seen her blood, the sight of her blood triggered something within me—a thirst that compelled me to help her and, strangely, to taste her blood.
I was about to lick her blood when I noticed her arm. "Sir, here is the box," Bryan said as he rested his hand on my shoulder and offered me a first-aid kit.
Bryan pointed at the box once more.
Realizing I was giving in to temptation, I took the first-aid kit from Bryan and began wrapping it around her arm
'Shit, what was I about to do, I might have hurt her this way, I was giving in to my temptation, What is wrong with me, What is happening to me?' I took the box and began wrapping it around her arm.
I should be more cautious with her; I think it is best if I keep some distance between us; that way, at the very least, I can keep her safe.
As I treated her, I wondered if she was looking at me with love. I couldn't be sure, but I hoped she was.
Suddenly, I realized something. "Did they take your blood, Astrid?" I asked.
She gave me a puzzled look.
I said again, "Did they take your blood in any way?"
"I'm not sure, maybe or maybe not," she responded, her face dubious.
"Crap!" I cursed under my breath. Bryan glanced at me, and I shared my frustration. "That's what I was thinking. How could they retaliate so easily without actually fighting? They got what they came here for.
"But what will they do with my blood?" Astrid asked quietly.
I rubbed my temples. "Don't you know how powerful a mate's blood may be in destroying a born vampire?" I guessed from her question that she didn't know anything about us. It's not her fault; I should have asked her what she knew about us and enlightened her on anything she didn't know.
She simply shrugged her shoulders and stared at the ground.
"Well, I'm not sure where to start. Maybe after this, I can fill you in. In short, I'm a born vampire, and nothing can kill me except your blood."
"What?" Astrid's eyes widened in bewilderment.
"Yes, Astrid, your blood can be used to kill me," I answered as she pulled her.
I'm not going to tell anyone that it won't harm me in any way, but I also have to keep them under the impression that they have her blood and can kill me. I'll even act as though it's bothering me and that I'm scared of them. I decided to keep them under the impression that her blood could hurt me. I needed to gauge their reactions, separating those genuinely supportive from those merely afraid of me. Once I know who is on my side and who is against me, I can raise an army to protect them.
"What's going to happen now?" Astrid asked.
She was on the edge of breaking down. Part of me was happy because she cared about me, but the other half of me didn't want to see tears in her eyes, even if they were for me.
"It's okay; we just need to introduce you to our vampires and convince them that you're capable of leading them, and everything will be fine," I reassured her.
That is what I have been waiting for; once my people learn that she is my mate, they will go to any length to defend her and accept me as king. I just need their faith, and once I get it, I am not afraid to build my own kingdom.
"Will everything be alright if I go and meet them and gain their trust? Will you be safe?" Astrid questioned me meekly.
"Yes, Astrid, nothing will happen to me," I promised her, and I was certain of it. I wasn't going to let anything happen to me or the people I cared about.
"Okay, get ready; we're going to meet our allies, and after they agree, we're going to meet my father, okay?" I told her.
"Eva, please lend some of your clothes to Astrid," I asked her.
"All right, bro," she nodded.
"Take a break for now; we'll meet everyone in my office tomorrow. You guys go rest up as well; we'll meet here in the morning. We've got a big day ahead of us," I announced before dismissing them.
We occupied the next vacant room because the door to my room was broken, and as usual, I slept on the couch and she was on the bed.
The following morning, I summoned everyone to my office without disclosing the reason. I wore a suit to appear presentable, instructing Eva to prepare Astrid.
If they ask me about the mating mark, I'll have to excuse myself, but I'm sure no one will try to question me. It's my choice, and I'll do whatever I want, whenever I want.
I would have preferred to have my mark on her by now and bring her out only when there was no danger lurking out there, no matter how long it would have taken. But now I have to put things in jeopardy by bringing her out in these conditions.
My office would be a safe haven where I would have all of the vampire elites working for me to bring everyone together.
I waited outside Eva's room for Astrid to show up. It takes so much time and effort for these females to get ready. I knocked on her door. We are already getting late.
"Done," Eva said with a smile as she walked out of the room.
I entered the room and saw that Astrid's back was to me. "Are you ready?" I asked
As she turned around, my breath caught in my throat, looking at how beautiful she looked.
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