BiteBound *completed*

Chapter 33.1

My sweet Mary.

My one true love and soulmate.

It was only one look of her warm brown eyes that I knew I wanted her to be mine. If it hadn't been for my brother's obnoxious begging to go to the charity ball with him, I would've missed her.

I suppose in due time, I should thank him for being such a brat, but he won't hear that from me just yet.

I remember the moment I laid eyes on my sweet Mary.

Braided chestnut hair, a simple royal blue mask that complimented her eyes, delicate freckles that I adored, and her lips— those pale rose budding lips that I could not resist.

Although she was wearing her best evening dress for the event, I was told by our host that she was their "clumsy" servant.

"Poor thing." I remember him smirk in arrogance. "She was found on the streets late one night. Nearly attacked by a beast you see."

"And what, I suppose you gave a little charity and saved her?" I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I am a philanthropist after all!" He laughs in a cocky manner. "No, no, no. If it weren't for those damn Vrykolakas attacking our carriage, we probably wouldn't have intervened. That fact that she knew the truth of our kind, she swore to serve us until her last dying breath."

"And that's your charity?" I grip onto my whiskey glass. "To let her serve you until her dying day?"

"It's that or we kill her." He rolls his golden eyes. "Listen, you and I both know the Queen would not tolerate this kind of charity. In fact, the only person that knows about her is my family and you."

"why tell me this then?" I ask.

"Because I can see the way you're looking at her." He smirks. "You know, the billiard room is always empty—."

"I suggest your shut your mouth before you finish that sentence." I spat. "I am not that type of person."

"I'm just saying." He holds up his hands innocently. "It's only natural with your a vampire. Besides, we're here to party! Enjoy yourself my good friend. Drink, dance, donate to our cause. Who knows what can happen tonight?"

It's as if he knew what was going to happen.

One moment, I was talking to fellow investors and bachelorettes, the next, I was swinging punches on the balcony to save the blue masked angel.

She looked so frightened when I stepped in from a forced feeding.

When I asked for her to let me check on her wound, She took off down the balcony stairs and into the rose garden where I followed her.

I could've stopped her from leaving the party if I wanted to; for a human to outrun a vampire? She knew that it wasn't going to be possible. She even asked me why I took so long to stop her once she stopped and huffing for breath.

"Why did I—? Did you seriously just ask me that?" I laugh. "You chose to run."

"And you... followed. Why?" She clutched onto her chest, still panting for air. "Why not stop me... before I left... the stairs?"

"Because you wanted to leave." I said honestly. "I'm not going to stop a lady from wanting to leave the room after an encounter like that. Besides, you're bleeding."

I pointed at my collarbone, indicating that the cut on her exposed skin was nearly dripping onto her dress.

"Oh my gosh!" She wiped the cut with her finger tips. "I— I'm so sorry!"

"You're sorry for bleeding?" I laugh again.

Just who is this beautiful creature sent from above?

I offered her my red silk handkerchief, her nervous hand taking my symbol of assistance as she pressed it onto her ivory skin.

"What is your name?" I ask.

She looks up at me with defensive eyes.

"Why?"

Why?

"Because I want to know who I'm talking to." I smile in amusement. "I rather call you by your name rather than just 'human'."

"'human' is just fine." She argues.

"And I say it's not. What is your name?"

She hesitates for a moment, taking a moment to check on her cut when it finally stopped bleeding.

"Mary." She says. "Mary Holloway."

I wanted to keep talking to Miss Mary Holloway.

Just when I finally found my reason to leave the stupid party, another of the female servants shouted from afar to come back.

"Mary! Mary, where are you?!"

Why on earth did she have to sound so angry?

"I must go." She courtesies before me, unable to look into my eyes while doing so. "T-thank you again for your help."

Before she could leave the rose garden, I stopped before her; startling her with my sudden appearance.

"Ah!" She squeaks.

"Sorry." I laugh at her beautiful squeal. "I didn't mean to move so fast. But um, you have something of mine."

"I...?" She looks at the red cloth in her hand. "O-oh."

She holds out the handkerchief before me, still too nervous to make eye contact.

"Here. S-sorry again."

"Please don't apologize." I said, taking my reward back into my hands. "Consider it a memory."

"A memory?" She finally looks up, lifting a brow in confusion.

Wow... what beautiful glow she has to her eyes.

"A memory of meeting the beautiful Mary Holloway." I said proudly. "Should you ever want to meet again, I am Arthur—."

"There you are!" A blonde maid interrupted our goodbyes. "What is the meaning of this?! What are you doing out here with one of the members of the royal family!?"

"I- I was just coming back inside Selene." Mary spoke nervously. "Lord Charles tried to attack me—."

"And I heard otherwise!" Selene grabs her dainty wrist. "Come along, let's get you clean up!"

There's no way she was going to be punished for that right? I grew worried. She was telling the truth!

"Miss Selene," I call out, stopping her for a moment. "She speaks the truth. Please do not punish her for the behavior of a drunken mongrel."

Something in her eyes shifted to become more gentle. A blush lightly blooming across her cheeks as she smiles,

"She'll be taken cared for. Come along Mary."

She tugged on her wrist again, leading her away from my reach as Mary looked back with sadness in her eyes.

From that night on, I knew how much needed her. And I was willing to do whatever it took to make her my wife.