Man Of My Dreams

Chapter Sixteen

The next few weeks flew by. I’d finally gotten the man of my dreams the way I always wanted him. We spent every day and night together. I’d given up on finding a solution to the dreams. As it turns out, neither of us dreamt of the other since the night we resolved us. Instead, we worked together on finding out why Kian’s magic has been depleting. And since I now could read and write Sangrian, I didn’t have to just retrieve the books. We did that part together, too.

Silas never returned from whatever mission he and Kian had gone on. But he checked in periodically with Kian. Today, Kian is taking me out of the house. There’s a festival going on downtown that he has to make an appearance at. “So what’s this festival about again?” I was trying to do something with my hair. I wanted to look like I actually tried today. “It’s called Sangue Sammen. It translated to blood together. It symbolizes our victory in the war to bring our two peoples together.” Kian insisted it was a casual affair. So I chose a plain white and flowy sundress to wear.

“And you go every year?” I brushed my hair and decided to just leave it how it is naturally. I slipped on a golden bracelet, and looked one last time at myself in the mirror. I had never looked so happy. I nearly glowed. “Without fail. Joining our people is something to celebrate. Not only is it a festival, but it’s a three-day long celebration. The festival starts, then you go home and exchange gifts with your loved ones, and on the third day… It’s spent in bed.” In bed. Kian and I haven’t had sex. We never went further than a kiss.

I'd never had sex before, and I was okay with waiting until I was ready. And so was Kian. Maybe on the third day I’d finally be there. I slipped on my white sandals. Kian was wearing a pair of jeans that fit him just right. And a white cotton shirt. The sleeves rolled up to his elbows and buttons that go halfway down. I could hear the laughter and music as soon as we stepped out of the elevator. The ride to the festival was short. The city was unusually crowded. Humans and vampires were taking up every ounce of space on this small street.

“They will disperse soon,” Kian said, having noticed my anxiety about the crowd. And then I realized they were waiting for him. And then I realized something else; I’m here with him. Which means I’ll be the center of attention soon, too. And that made my anxiety buzz even more. I wiped my sweaty palms on my dress. Kian parked his car and exited. He walked over to my side and opened the door, extending his hand for me to grab. “Don’t pay them any attention,” he said, as I grabbed his hand and stepped out of the car.

“Sorry, I’m nervous.” He laughed, “Here, wear these.” He handed me a pair of sunglasses. Not that anyone here ever actually needed them, with no sun and all. The bright moon hanging in the sky wasn’t bright enough to burn your retinas. I’d noticed people wore them here mostly for fashion. Or like, in movies, when someone wanted to cover up a black eye or if they’d smoked too much pot and didn’t want anyone to know. Or maybe, like in my case, they were just nervous. I put the sunglasses on and walked hand in hand with Kian.

He smiled and shook hands, and greeted all the humans and vampires standing around. “No bowing? Curtseys?” He chuckled, and shook his head. “Nope. I think formalities are stupid. One would argue formalities are needed in order to receive respect. But everyone here knows who I am and just how much power I hold. I was born more than six-hundred years ago. Everyone still talks of my birth today. It’s the only to ever occur. And that alone has granted me respect from everyone. Mostly, anyway.”

I guess because I didn’t hear of him or his birth and he’d only ever been a man I would see in my dreams has made it easy for me to forget he’s a powerful vampire king. But he was. If I focus hard enough, I can feel his magic in the air around me. It’s familiar and welcoming. I wondered if anyone could feel it too. And even though I had given up on trying to find a solution to the dreams, I still wondered why it happened. “So,” I asked Kian as we sat down at a table to eat, “Should we throw in some books on dreaming during our nightly research?”

“We can, if you still wanna know.” Of course I did. I’d been curious to know all my life. “Shouldn’t I? I mean, I know you didn’t spend all of your six-hundred years dreaming about me. But I spent all of my twenty years wondering why.” He nodded, “I understand. We can start searching.” I debated on telling him how I had already started searching. But he stood, and said, “I’m going find us something to drink.” I smiled and nodded. While he was gone, I people watched. Everyone was having such a good time. There were smiles and laughs everywhere I looked. He was right. He is the most casual king I had ever known.

Not that I even knew any other kings. But all the ones I had read about were cutthroat. And I’m sure Kian could be, if he wanted. Needed. I felt a hand touch the back of my neck. It was cool and soft. I turned to see who it was and then– nothing. Black. Quiet. Cold. When I awoke, I was tied to a chair. Mouth gagged, with a crippling headache. I looked around to see if I could recognize my surroundings. But it was too dark. Though the place smelled familiar.

I don’t know how long I had been knocked out. Hours, for sure. The small sliver of a window I could see told me the moon had gone down. I sat in the chair for who knows how long before someone finally came in. Heavy footsteps walked towards me. They yanked the gag from my mouth. “Good morning,” a man’s voice said. That weird accent told me who it was. Jack. Jack had taken me from the festival. Jack was alive. I thought Silas had killed him. “Glad to see that blow to the head didn’t kill you.”

My throat felt raw and dry. “Gee, thanks.” I croaked. He crouched down a few feet in front of me and lit a candle. And I noticed we were in a familiar place. The townhouse. My townhouse. How did he– “By now I’m sure you can guess what’s going to happen.” My head was throbbing so badly I’d welcome death with open arms. “It can’t come fast enough,” I said, and I spit at his feet. He chuckled. “Fiery little redhead. Tell me,” he lit up a cigarette and blew the smoke in my face, “did your king take advantage of the roofy I had slipped into your drink?”

It was my turn to chuckle, “Wouldn’t you like to know.” He grabbed my face hard in his hand, and got so close to me our noses touched, “I’m going to finish what I started, and then, I’m going to finish you.” I tried to free my face from his grasp to no avail. “How?” I said, through gritted teeth. He laughed, and the sound boomed an echo through the empty house, “Wouldn’t you like to know.” I didn’t say anything else. We just stared at each other for a moment, and then finally, “Let’s just say, someone wants you dead. And your king, as well. I’ve been hired to handle the lightweight.”

I shook my head, the action making my brain feel like it sloshed around in my skull. “No, how are you alive, Jack?” He shrugged, “That I don’t even know myself. I woke up in an alley. Your security guards had beaten my ass really well, though. And then, a few days later, a stranger hired me to finish what I started. Paid a hefty price, too. One I would have been stupid to turn down.” But who? Silas. All signs point to him. But why would he betray Kian? What had Kian ever done to him?

Kian. I know it won’t be long. Whatever Jack had planned, he would not succeed. I could feel my phone tucked into the waistband of the shorts I had on under this dress. He must have seen Kian’s phone on the table at the festival and thought it was mine. I smirked at the realization. And then, a laugh bubbled up my throat and I was inconsolable. Jack was looking at me like I was crazy. Maybe I am. Who laughs at a time like this? But I knew Kian would make him pay. Jack walked over to me and put the gag back in my mouth. He began untying my restraints and then he hoisted me over his shoulder and gave my ass a smack.

I didn’t protest. I welcomed this. Because I knew he wouldn’t get far. I knew Kian was biding his time. I wasn’t sure why he waited this long but I trusted him. And I was right, because when Jack slung open that door, Kian stood on the other side. I may have been dangling upside down but I could tell what that sneer on Kian’s face meant. Jack would pay. I only wish I could see his face.