Hidden Bite (Book 3 of Bite Trilogy)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Vanished

"I highly suggest a second princess, Zen. An enchantress from Parsua Avalon predicted that a newly born princess from our bloodline would bring good fortune to our empire," King Dastan said in his serious tone before sipping blood from his golden chalice.

Handa na sana kaming matulog ni Zen nang may tagasunod na kumatok sa aming silid at sinabi nitong nais kaming makausap ng hari.

My original plan was to seduce Zen and make him spill everything about his previous talk with Seth, Blair, and Rosh. Pero mukhang may sarili rin misyon ang aming hari.

Katahimikan ang bumalot sa amin at pinili kong hindi magsalita. I waited for Zen's answer. Pero kung ako ang tatanungin at bibigyan ng ideya ng hari, hindi na ako magdadalawang isip.

If it was really necessary, why not grant him? Isa pa, malaki na si Divina, hindi na masamang sundan siya.

But as what I'd expected. . .

Muntik nang maibuga ni Zen ang kanyang iniinom na dugo.

"Are you serious? Bakit ako na naman, Dastan? You can ask Lily and Adam or Kalla and Finn! We have Naha and Evan too! Can't you see? I'm still struggling with Divina."

Tuluyan nang ibinaba ni Zen ang kopita at nawalan na siya nang gana sa pag-inom ng dugo.

"Why? Divina is a sweet little angel," nawiwiling sagot ni Kamahalan.

Napaangat ang isang kilay sa narinig mula sa hari. As a powerful vampire king, it was quite odd for him to use another creature's title as a metaphor for a vampire.

Well? What would I expect from King Dastan? Lahat ng nilalang ay pantay-pantay sa kanya. He was the most powerful king of Nemetio Spiran after all. He praised every creature and never favored anyone.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Zen na parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ng kanyang kapatid.

"Your Majesty, I beg to disagree," nakakuyom na ang mga kamay ni Zen na parang ang usapan nila ni Kamahalan ay tungkol na naman sa isang malaking digmaan.

It's all about having another princess. Bakit ba ang laki ng trauma nitong si Zen kay Divina? Sila na nga lang laging mag-ama ang magkasama.

"W-what, Zen?" umangal na rin ako.

I could agree that my little Divina was sutil, and I would never disagree with King Dastan if he called Divina our sweet little angel. Ano ba ang problema nitong si Zen?

"Our daughter is not an angel, Claret. She's a vampire with fangs," gigil na sagot ng prinsipe ng nyebe.

I rolled my eyes. "Seriously?"

"I am serious, Dastan. Hindi pa namin susundan si Divina. To hell with that enchantress! Why not you and Queen Leti—" Bago pa sundan ni Zen ang sasabihin niya ay agad ko na siyang siniko.

How could he suggest that? Queen Leticia was still in her recovery stage. She just came back from nowhere after Queen Talisha's disappearance. The only thing I heard about Queen Talisha was her letters to her children, and it was Dastan and Lily who dared to read them.

It was during our dinner, a week after Queen Leticia had returned with the lotus flower. King Dastan announced that Queen Talisha was now at peace and happy.

Mahirap man tanggapin pero siguro matagal na iyong pinagplanuhan ng reyna. Leticia tried to blame herself, but we, ladies of Gazellian, assured her that the Gazellian siblings would never blame her for everything that happened.

Bumuntonghininga si Kamahalan.

Ilang beses nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa kanilang magkapatid.

I couldn't blame Zen for his reaction. Dahil sa tuwing sinusumpong si Divina sa pagiging sutil niya laging siya ang napapag-abutan ng bata. Kaya lagi na lang silang nag-aaway at nahahantong sa hindi matapos-tapos na turuan kung sino sa kanila ang totoong sutil.