An Unacceptable Mate

Chapter Six

The waves lapped at the shore, cooling my bare feet as we walked along the glorious, white beach. Alone. Arms almost brushing. It was as if we were a couple; meant to be like this. I even caught myself enjoying his presence, relishing it, committing it to memory for the rest of my life.

The sun was close to the centre of the sky – midday was upon us and there was no sign of the temperature dropping.

The Greek god seemed suddenly spectacular against the blaring of the sun in his bold black shirt against the palest skin I'd ever seen. He wore dark khaki shorts that had him looking so normal, up until you found his face – that was anything but.

    "I was in that mansion for one main reason: my family. They are insufferable," he told me quietly, trying not to scare me. Pft, like I could be scared. "I'd had an argument with them a few weeks back. It got ugly, we almost tore each other apart. I refuse to be king, you see. I've never liked being a Royal Darkness and especially don't want to be the main one associated with them."

I struggled to comprehend this hate. How could you be at war with the people you ought to love most? "Why do you hate them so much? They're family."

He kicked a stone, gently for him, and sent it soaring into the dark blue water. I tried not to gawp at his strength.

    "For vampires, the word family doesn't come up much. Just Royal Darknesses use such a term and, honestly, it doesn't work. We rarely get on, others' expectations are way too high – hell, people think we're magicians. We're purebloods, we can walk in the sun, can survive without drinking for months, that's the only difference. I can't bring a rabbit out of a hat."

I still couldn't see it clearly. Hating your family, going against them for one person. I decided to push it aside for later debate. "So you don't want to be a Royal Darkness? Or king?"

    "No," he confirmed coolly, amber eyes scanning the sky for a while. They were filled with a well-contained fury.

  "Can't you resign? Forfeit? Refuse?" I suggested.

Why did I give a damn? He wasn't my problem. He was a vampire, promised to me or not, I had to hate him. His issues should amuse me. Yet, they didn't. I was concerned for him.

Acera dropped his gaze to the cliffs that were growing ever closer. They appeared the perfect spot to sit and look out into the horizon for hours on end.

    "Only if I have an heir am I able to do any of them, or rather a child which is unheard of for a vampire. I was born a human, but never found the right woman and so no such heir exists. The change from my human self to my vampire self occurred when I was just nineteen. I have been like this," he gestured to his perfectly sculptured body with an elegant, white hand. "Ever since."

I seized the brief moment to eagerly soak up his flawlessness. The breath was taken from me as he glanced at me when my eyes lingered on his face. For a long second, I was mesmerized; unable to tear my fascinated gaze away.

  "Why do you have a mate, let alone a human one? Purebloods can't have mates," I raised pointedly, looking at my hands in front of me. My cheeks flushed pink. I hoped he thought it was because of the heat and not because of him.

    "If I knew that, I'd be able to sleep a lot better," he said, smiling beautifully and flashing a pair of pearl white fangs. I regretted peeking at him the instant he did this. My heart was pounding so fast I was certain he could hear it.

I had to think of another question fast or I'd surely faint. Breathing deeply through my nose and staring straight forward, I spoke as carefully as I could. "Why do you want to protect me so much? We don't know one another. I've never done anything for you. And don't expect me to."