77__Reclaiming his Queen

Kamilla felt like every bit of her body was trembling and Viktor could see it. She’d been accompanied to Cassius by the Legion, but they hadn’t found Ursula. She had apparently gone after Rogan who’d disappeared from Kingdom without a trace.
It was then that Kamilla had found herself idling about with her old buddies, Jaime and the gang, making the Legion, who’d *promised* they wouldn’t make her actually go into Onyx, start their sudden requests for a single, innocent visit.
Kamilla bit her lip in regret. She’d resisted, but then they’d phoned Damon and he’d convinced her by saying that Viktor had gone to England that morning. What a fat *lie*!

Kamilla swallowed hard as Viktor’s dark gaze settled on her. She felt a quietness enter her, erasing all the anxiety she’d been feeling for the past ten days as she looked at him. He looked rugged and so incredibly sexy with his damp hair curling behind his ears. He looked like a Vampire outlaw, the most dangerous kind. And the healing scars on his brow and his lip enhanced that.
The sight of the scars made Kamilla sad. She wished he’d allowed her to stay if only for long enough to kiss his bruises and comfort him. After finding out that Rogan was his brother, Kamilla was sure that Viktor was in a state.

And despite all the kind, gentle things she wanted to do for him, her utter embarrassment wouldn’t let her. God, the mortification! It made her stomach twist until she thought she’d pass out. Damon, the fibbing mouse! She wasn’t ready to face Viktor!

After blurting out a bunch of things that only served to further embarrass her, Kamilla attempted to make her escape, but of course, Viktor was right behind her.
The moment she opened the door, she saw his jaw tighten and held her breath. Maybe it would have been a good idea to leave Jaime in Cassius as the Legion suggested.
But Kamilla was glad she’d brought him along! Now she could leave with her dignity intact!

She looked back at the guys who were all looking uneasily at Viktor.

“Damon,” Viktor said quietly, his gaze sharp on Jaime. “Bring me that fool.”

Kamilla’s eyes widened and she looked at Jaime who was cluelessly waving with the most innocent grin on his handsome face.
Damon nodded. “Yes, Viktor.”
Kamilla gasped as Damon moved forward and quickly jumped into his path with arms spread out.
“Wait!” she said. “That’s my friend, you can’t hurt him!”

Viktor eyed her. “Your *friend*? He’s a Cassius drunk who’s dared to come to my doorstep with no invitation! And what was that he referred to me as?” With gritted teeth, Viktor looked at Damon. “Bring him to me!”

“*No*!” Kamilla said, really worried now. “Please, Viktor.”

At the sound of her calling his name, Viktor stilled. Slowly, he turned his gaze to her to find her looking up at him with those eyes. Those damn eyes that were probably the first thing that tore past their forced bond to truly implant her in his heart.
Viktor felt the ache for her run powerfully through him. He needed her. He needed her *so* badly, he thought he’d die from it. He needed her back with him, by his side as his Queen. Despite it being the most dangerous place for her, his side was where she belonged.

If she’d stayed away from him for a little longer, maybe he’d have been able to continue without her, bearing his torture, but she just had to reappear like this, making him go insane at the reminder that she was in this world, and yet not by his side.

Viktor swallowed, his throat working with the action. “Why?” he asked quietly. “Why’d you come back here, Kamilla?”

The question threw her off and Kamilla slowly lowered her arms. He was looking so deeply at her, making her feel totally exposed. Her cheeks turning red, she lowered her gaze. “I-I told you... it was a mistake. I won’t come back!”

“That’s no longer up to you,” Viktor said darkly, making Kamilla look at him wide-eyed.

“Huh?”

Viktor took a step toward her and another, until she was against the wall and staring up at him with wide eyes. “I said...” he murmured. “The choice of freedom from me... of deciding whether or not you live free of all that I am, is no longer yours. You gave it up when you allowed me to see your face.”

Kamilla stared up at him, clutching her bag. His words washed over her like a cold breeze, making her shiver inside her coat.
Gulping, she snuck her body slowly along the wall outside the inner doorway until she was no longer standing in Viktor’s shadow, and tearing his gaze from his, started for the gates.
“Uhm, g-guys,” said Kamilla shakily, straight-out avoiding Viktor’s stare. “I’ll see you around!”

“Bye!” called Demetrius and Damon cheerfully as the Legion followed her.

Kamilla darted around and hurried out of the gates and past a puzzled Jaime, her heart beating like a bass drum. Once she was safely in the carriage and waiting for the Legion to join her, she sighed and sunk weakly against the cushioned seats, a hand held against her heart.

Goodness gracious! Viktor’s ability to make her throat dry and her heart race was still as powerful as the first day she met him, if not even more powerful. Why had his words stirred such a mighty reaction within her? She bit her lip. The darkness of his tone, the glint in his blue eyes and the inch of space between them was enough to get anyone bothered! It wasn’t her fault.

“You okay, Kamilla?” asked Fayed as he swung into the carriage, his bulky body barely fitting on the bench across her.
She nodded.

“No, you’re not,” said Vlad dryly as he entered and sat beside her. “You’re trembling like a leaf.”
Kamilla glared at him.

Fayed leaned forward, his kind, green eyes concerned. “Did the King scare you with his words? Do not be afraid.”

Kamilla felt her chin clench as sudden tears sprung into her eyes. What in the hell was she so emotional for? Releasing a breath, she looked at Fayed. “Don’t be so kind and gentle with me, Fayed, it’ll make me cry.”

“Wuss,” murmured Vlad.

Kamilla gritted her teeth and nodded as her tears of emotion dried up at Vlad’s insensitivity. “Yeah,” she told Fayed. “When I’m upset, be more of a jerk, like Vlad.”
Vlad drew back his foot to let Syre in and then closed the door. “I’m simply being honest,” he said.

Kamilla frowned. “Hey, wait, what about Jaime? Is he in front?”

Syre shook his head, “Nope. The King ordered for him to stay behind.”

Kamilla’s jaw dropped open. “Oh, my God, Viktor!” She started to get up. “Let me out, I have to—”

The carriage lurched forward suddenly, throwing Kamilla back into her seat.
“Kamilla!” said Fayed in alarm. “Are you alright? Don’t stand while the carriage’s moving, it’s dangerous.”

Reaching out, Kamilla petted his hand. “What’s dangerous, dearest Fayed, is your King deciding to have a talk with my *male* bad influence of a friend!”

“Don’t worry, he’ll send him home soon enough,” Fayed responded. “He probably just didn’t like the idea of the kid being in the same carriage as you for the ride back.”
“Mm,” agreed Syre with a nod.
Kamilla was starting to calm down about it when Vlad glanced at her. “He’ll roast the kid alive,” he murmured.
She gasped. “Oh, no!”

Syre nudged Vlad's foot. “Stop.” He looked at Kamilla. “To ease your worry, I’ll personally check on Jaime tomorrow and make sure that he’s safely back in Cassius.”

He smiled at her and Kamilla nodded, reassured by that. “That would be great.”
Releasing a breath, she sat back and glanced at Vlad. “Big bully.”

Vlad rolled his eyes, not even bothering to change her mind.

“Vlad isn’t a bully,” said Syre. “He’s a big softie.”

“Shut up!” Vlad growled, scowling when Syre grinned and blew him a kiss in response.

“Look at that,” Kamilla said with disapproval. “Who growls at their own baby brother?”

“He’s two-hundred and fifteen years old,” argued Vlad. “Hardly a baby.”

“When I first arrived,” continued Kamilla in a gossip tone, much to Vlad’s irritation. “I thought Viktor and Vlad were so similar cause they’re both such bullies!”

Fayed tilted his head. “Vlad, maybe, but not Viktor. He’s the most honorable and decent Vampire King in the history of Vampire Kings.”

Vlad narrowed his eyes as Syre nodded in firm agreement. “*Vlad, maybe*? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Viktor *is* a bully,” said Kamilla with wide eyes. “He always does things that he knows will scare me or disarm me or shut me up, you know. And it’s unfair because he has the power of a Vampire on his side, when all I have is my lame human aura.”

Fayed smiled. “You mean... like what he did just before we left the castle?”

The memory of it made her suddenly shy and Kamilla shrunk back a little with a nod. All three men clicked their tongues and shook their heads.

“What? What?” she asked them. “I see that as a form of bullying!”

“That’s not bullying, Kamilla,” said Fayed with an amused smile. “He is a Vampire King, you are his soulmate. He was simply laying claim to what belongs to him.”

Kamilla blinked. “What? I don’t belong... Do I still belong to him? After he sent me away?” She ignored the bit of hope sparking in her heart. There was still... a chance?

Vlad sighed. “Are you slow? He told you that your returning here today basically disannulled everything he said before. He gave you the chance to leave, but because you returned here, it now gives him the right to reclaim you, even if that may be dangerous for you.”

Kamilla felt like her insides where doing the tango. Swallowing, she looked at Vlad. “So... that means he wants us to...”

From under his cap of dark hair, Vlad looked at her, his eyes a mystic green. “That’s right,” he said. “Prepare to be hunted by a Vampire King.”