I met my mate in a bathroom. Romantic? Ha, think again...

Chapter 22

I woke up to laughter. “He really isn’t one to wait, is he?” It took me a second to realize it was Sophie. I felt Luke’s arms around me, and by his deep breathing, I knew he was still asleep. I opened my eyes to see Sophie looking down at me. Peter was in the doorway, but he left when he saw I was up.

“Hey, Rose. How’re you feeling?” Sophie asked, a little too cheerful.

“What do you mean?” I yawned, moving closer to Luke. He was really warm.

“You know, now that you’re mated. How does it feel?” She jumped onto the bed, instantly waking Luke. His arms tightened around me, and he pulled me closer. Sophie laughed when she saw his reaction. “Calm down, Lover Boy. I’m no threat.”

He relaxed a little when Sophie was done speaking, but he didn’t move his arms. I can’t honestly say I wanted him to, though. “What do you want, Sophie?”

She smiled and scooted closer. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Did you guys really, you know, do ‘it’? Or did you just mark her?”

I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as Luke answered. “I don’t think that’s any of your business, Sophie.”

She smiled, standing. “You did it. I knew it! Also, dad wants to speak to you two.”

As soon she left, closing the door behind her, Luke turned me over so I was facing him. He smiled and kissed me before I could say anything. He pulled away, kissing down my neck. When he got the place where he marked me, he kissed it gently. Pleasure shot through me, and I moved even closer to him.

He pulled back, smiling at me. “I’ll never get tired of kissing you.” He kissed my lips again, but this one was short and sweet. He got out of bed, and I immediately missed his warmth. “Come on, Rose. We need to head down. As much as I want to stay in here with you, we wouldn’t want to keep my father waiting.”

John’s POV

I hurried back to the castle, having received a call from my mother. She requested that I come back. When I asked why, she only said that Jen was in trouble.

Once I reached home, she met me by the doors. “John, they’re in the throne room. She wouldn’t answer all of your father’s question, and I fear she’ll get punished.” Without another word, I ran to the second floor.

As I entered the throne room, my father’s voice echoed throughout the room. “You’ve kept me waiting, Jonathan.” I stopped once I was in front of him.

I looked around to see all the high-ranked vampires were all here, sitting in their own personalized seats. All of them were considered miniature when compared to my father’s magnificent throne.

“My apologizes, Father. It won’t happen again.” I kneeled down in front of him, and when he nodded, I stood.

“You’re right. It most certainly won’t. Now, what’s happened to the human girl? Jennifer here tells me something unsettling has happened.” His eyebrow rose in question, and I shot a glance at Jen. She wouldn’t meet my eye.

I turned back to see father scowling. I quickly spoke before he could cause any harm to either me or her. “It seems that Rose isn’t entirely human.”

He turned to Jen. “Join Jonathan.” When she didn’t move right away, he glared at her. “Now!”  She hurried down the steps that separated me from my father.  When she stopped beside me, my father looked to his second in command, who was sitting closest to him. “Kendrick, what is the punishment for keeping information from one who is higher than you?”

Kendrick shifted in his chair, looking extremely uncomfortable. “Well, sir, we usually just go for the usual torturing.” Father nodded, turning back to us. He smiled at Jen, making sure to flash his fangs.

Jen was a special vampire. Her mother was part nymph, so with that in her blood, she didn’t inherit the fangs. She’s very grateful of that, however, for they unnerved her more than she would care to admit. She stepped back at the sight of Father’s.

I have never witnessed anyone getting punished before, but by the excruciating screams that fill most of the castle, I would say it’s brutal.

That’s why when Father raised his hands, pointing them at Jen, I stepped in front of her.