9__Vampire's can't blush

Sasha crossed her arms. “How dare you? What gives you the right to do such a thing before the King of Onyx?”

Kamilla clenched her jaw and settled a cold look on the woman. “I do not know you,” she said coldly. “So what gives you the right to speak to me? To challenge me? And what gives you the right to speak in place of the king?”
Kamilla couldn’t stop speaking. She sounded like an outraged queen even to her own ears, but for some reason, she couldn’t stop it. It felt like it was coming from the depths of her true self. Depths she never knew existed.

Sasha looked taken aback, but before she could respond, Kamilla walked around the glossy, black counters bordering the kitchen, approaching her.
A flash of something fearful appeared in Sasha’s eyes, but was gone in a second. She got herself quickly under control. “You don’t know?” she asked Kamilla haughtily. “I’m Sasha, the most seductive Vampire in this Kingdom. Your King will testify to that.”

Kamilla’s fists clenched as a mocking smile curved the woman’s lips.

“That’s enough.”

Kamilla’s gaze went to Viktor. He was staring at her, his gaze more intense than she’d ever seen it.
“Sasha,” he said. “Demetrius will take you home.”

“What? But... you have so many chambers here that I can—”

“Demetrius,” growled Viktor. Kamilla watched Sasha shrink back. “Will take you home. Now.”

Demetrius was at Kamilla’s side in an instant. “Immediately, my King,” he said pleasantly.

Kamilla made a face at him as he led a sulking Sasha away.
“What did you feed him to turn him into such a devoted disciple?” she murmured.

Viktor’s mouth curved, but it wasn’t a smile. “True loyalty, like that of Demetrius can only come from oneself. He is the carrier of a loyal, devoted soul. So next time, Kamilla, when you want to play your little games, don’t involve him.”

Kamilla put a hand on her chest. “When did I play little games? I was cooking! I’m hungry!”

“Then you call for a servant and demand food, you don’t bounce into the kitchen and snuggle up under Demetrius’s arm with your body tucked in jeans like those!”

Kamilla gasped. “Call a servant? Do you know what time is it?! One am! Also, I wasn’t snuggled up and there’s nothing wrong with my jeans! W-what is this? Some kind of jealousy?!”

She shrieked in fright when his arm shot out and grabbed her, hauling her against him. His stare bore down on her and Kamilla not only felt him tremble with rage, but felt his anger reverberate through her as well. Her fingers curled against his chest.

“O-okay, haha. Jokes,” she stuttered quietly. “I’m sorry, c-calm down...”

He pulled her closer, so close Kamilla nearly confused his heartbeat with hers. If she tipped her head back, her mouth would touch his.

“Kamilla,” She lifted her eyes to his. Viktor’s eyes glowed harder, green like the fire of a sorceress’s magic spell. It bewitched her.
“You’re trouble, aren’t you? Plotting with my enemy, flirting with Demetrius and still, you make me want you. Trouble.” Viktor stared at her. He knew it was more than wanting. Kamilla made him hunger for her. It was a ruthless, ravenous hunger.

Kamilla gulped. Suddenly, the moisture that had gathered in her throat moved south. So far south, she had to clench her thighs together.

“Y-yeah. More trouble than I’m worth. So let me—”

His eyes narrowed and she shut right up. No, she couldn’t demand to be released anymore. She was sure he wouldn’t hesitate to drag her ass to Witcher’s and Kamilla wanted to be alive next time her mother saw her.
She realized something and blinked up at Viktor. “Wait. Why is Rogan your enemy?”

Viktor’s jaw clenched and he slowly released her, letting his fingers trail over her body as he put space between them. Kamilla shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

“For someone determined to not fall prey to our forced bond, you are very comfortable in my arms.”
He gave her a sardonic smile and stepped around her, into the large kitchen. Kamilla scoffed, staring at him open-mouthed.

“I was so not comfortable! Hah! I was fighting off cringes the whole time and I’m pretty sure one of your batwings was somehow poking me in the ribs!” She flipped back her hair, eyeing him with deadly challenge.

Viktor grinned at her as he threw meat onto the grill. “That wasn’t a wing, Kamilla.”

She blinked at him and when the meaning of his words sunk in, Kamilla felt heat flood her face. He didn’t possibly mean...? Shit. Her knees shook so Kamilla walked gingerly to a counter chair and climbed on to sit, quiet as a mouse.
She looked up at Viktor and found him staring. There was no malice or threat in his eyes, but rather a look of subtle awe. Kamilla felt her face grow hotter.

“W-why... what are you looking at?!”

Viktor tilted his head and leaned over the counter for a closer look. Kamilla shrunk back.
“You can do that?”
She frowned. “Do what?”
He pointed at her face. “That. There’s blood in your cheeks.”

Kamilla made the kind of face you’d make if a grown man couldn’t spell “chair”.
“Uh, it’s called blushing! Which I’m... not doing.”

Viktor’s gaze came up to hers. “Vampires can’t blush. When you do that, it’s... it’s beautiful.”

Kamilla stared at him. There was something she wasn’t doing. Something really important! Her eyes widened and she quickly dragged in air. She’d forgotten to breathe! Viktor ignored her and returned to grilling meat as Kamilla desperately fed her lungs oxygen.
He’d just said she was beautiful, hadn’t he? She was trying to steady her heart when a pair of doors across the huge living room burst open.
Kamilla spun around in her seat.

A tall man stood panting in the doorway before he began stalking hurriedly towards them.

“Seth. What is this?” demanded Viktor.

“Forgive me, my King,” said the stranger. “This is urgent.” Kamilla eyed him. He was pale as paper, but drop-dead gorgeous. She eyed him harder. Kamilla knew this vampire.

She gasped. “Hey!” She leaned over to glare at him as he stopped by her chair. “You’re the vampire who kidnapped me!”
Kamilla jerked back when he suddenly bowed his head. “Forgive me, my Queen. I will face your punishment after this.”

“Kamilla, now’s not the time for that,” Viktor warned mildly. She scowled at him too. Did he think he was in any position to scold her? She wanted to kick him as much as the guy next to her!

“What’s wrong?” Viktor asked.
Seth’s expression grew grave. “There’s been a killing.”
Kamilla watched Viktor’s eyes grow dark with anger. “One of ours?”
Seth shook his head. “No. A human. One of ours was the killer.”

Viktor swore so harshly Kamilla jumped. She glanced at Seth. Wait, had a vampire killed a human?

“One of you killed a human?” she asked with raised brows.

Viktor’s glare was sharp. “Shut your pretty mouth before I...”
He trailed off, but Kamilla still shrunk back. She eyed him. Geez, talk about anger issues.

Viktor walked around to where Seth stood and put a hand on his shoulder. “Who else knows about this?”
“Only my brothers and I. We were feeding when someone told us. We immediately investigated and confirmed it. The human authorities won’t find out, we erased the traces of the killing”

Viktor’s interest was stirred. “Good. Who told you about it?”
Even Kamilla saw that Seth’s eyes became guarded, but seeming unable to hold back, he answered the question. “Rena. She’s... the sorceress.”
Viktor’s eyes narrowed. Kamilla watched in interest as Seth flinched. “Later, I’ll ask what a sorceress was doing in our forest,” said Viktor quietly. “For now, you and your brothers keep this hidden. I’ll deal with it.”
Seth nodded and Kamilla gasped as he bowed to her, turned and vanished into dark air.

Blinking she turned back to Viktor. He was deep in thought as he returned to grilling meat. She felt his anger in her own body. She felt his irritation and puzzlement. He was figuring out who made the killing.
He leaned over a plate and his hair fell forward. Kamilla’s breath caught. How could he call her beautiful when he looked like that?!

She cleared her throat. “So... what happens if the cops find out a vampire killed someone?”

Viktor look at her, his eyes reflecting hatred. “Well,” His voice had darkened, grown colder. “The vampire is killed. Slaughtered like an animal. Not just that, but... the vamp’s home kingdom is destroyed, it’s king overthrown for leading a kingdom of violence.”

Kamilla was stunned.

Viktor smiled coldly. “Humans are nice, aren’t they?”