Chapter Text
Mark is anxiously chewing his lowerlip as he avoids his gaze from his father. How was this too much for the young prince? It was all dark and red, never in his life he has been this nervous. Probably not because of what he did, the prince Mark has been proper and prim but pride and prude are also seen. He was a great heir, flawless but terrifying, a flower but not just a flower, a rose that's filled with thorns when touched you'll flinch and bleed. He was the glory their kingdom as been seeking, a trophy from a war they've won, a medal and honor for everyone's hardworking hands. He was magical.
The prince tried to compose himself. There is nothing to worry about, that's what is on his mind. He will, and always be, the heir and no one can bethrone him. No one is more willing, no but also more deserving than the Prince Mark of the greatest kingdom of Apolians. He was infact, as told by the oracle and the monks themselves is the strongest vampire to exist, stronger than the first one to live. The reason why he've got such confidence, a chin always up, forhead always on the sky when it was mandatory to serve and protect the prince, an order and rule to honor him as if he was their god— he is.
"Father, I can fix this," and yet mark speaks, not plead nor cry but who would know? He was not sarcastic nor even asking for pity, he was emotionless and unmoving. Stoic on his velvety cushion throne, placed at the other side of the oval long table of the dining. No one can read the prince, not even his own mother, the one who raised, fed, dressed and bathe him. How did the prince come to this situation? Being woke and open to the real world indeed changes a person.
Mark regrets what he did that night. He shouldn't have accepted his mortal enemy's challenge. He could've just been the better person who thinks of the out come of his actions and words but he was blinded by his pride and ego. He reasoned, it was all in his nature! A prince shouldn't backed down into a challenge, as what his grandfather always says. He should be mighty as a knight, cleaver as a monk and prideful as a king. He should never turn down a challenge— not to the reason for he was matured but because he should show he should never be taken lightly and now what does his fighting gotten him into? He's now at the pits of his own hell, suffering and being sentenced.
Well, he's Mark Lee, the great and proud! The crowned prince of the vampires of the north, the strongest kingdom to ever exist in their own little world, the heir of Apolians. The only pure blooded vampire to ever live, coming from the very same and one bloodline. He's special, very. He's more than just a vampire because as what the prophecy says, he'll save all of the races of their world. With these pressure put into him, his parents were forced to make him live a strong life. He call it "miserable, undesirable, a pity, an enormous of dirt and mud to swim." He sighs, ofcourse he should be fearsome and powerful that would make his subjects kneel onto him.
A knock on the door, the dining hall was empty. The queen has been missing since the first meal of the day, Mark is guessing it was from his father's orders. Their whole family had another story, their own bloodline is sacred and his parents were from the first generations of pure bloods. Another knock, coming from the gigantic door that's been closed since the first meal of the day, a young maiden, a one of which her mother would like him to marry. Beautiful in white, a pure blood from her mother's side. His second cousin. No, probably third? Fourth? Who cares? As long as they'll keep the bloodline, they would take anyone from their family.
"The Queen asked to be in this meeting, Your Highness." She's polite, bowing as she said those sweet words from her pink and pouty lips. Mark desires her, everyone would anyway, but probably that would be before. Before he has gotten into this situation he is in right now. She was on her white silky dress, the floor is too dirty for it's been touching her beautiful cloth. She's naturally beautiful but a little make up has been insisted, as Mark guessed, by the Queen that she should wear some. It was said that she'll look more presentable and desirable for the prince he was about to marry... was.
"Tell her she can't. This is a man's conversation and a beautiful flower can meddle." Said Mark's father with a hard expression.
Mark, not just him, but the whole kingdom knows how much his father despise the stubborness of his married Queen. She gets anything she wants, she was spoiled with golds and shining silvers none, not even a whip nor the tiniest object can touch her. The Queen's mate, the King, love how he can ravish the Queen, all by himself. No one to share with, he was selfish but not for love, he was selfish for his own pleasure. To release and to abuse his wife's body, that's what he want.
"But Your Grace—" and the Queen barged inside the room, head held up high, entering the dining and sitting right beside her king.
A handkerchief on her gloved hand, she carefully moved her hair to her back, a sign that she's neat and ready to be presented to the whole audience. Her black velvety dress flows on the ground, surrounded with red laces like a lava on a molten rock. Her red lips, an apple or even the blood would be ashamed. Her eyes are black, unlike her son's, she was a perfect Queen for the King, the reason why the King married her. Her white skin, it was vase that was untouched, old but not rusty, vintage but not brown. She was bendable, she wasn't that hard to break, she's a vase after all. One wrong move and she will begone.
"My Queen—"
"This is my son's life!" Insisted by the Queen when the King has tried to talk to her.
"I know, that's why you need to go. You've been controlling your son's life—" once again, his words were cut off.
"I don't care! I will not let my son marry a dog!"
"You wouldn't want what would I say." Said the King calmly, composed, a great ruler indeed, not swayed by the thundering Queen, though everyone knows he's hurting.
"The more I need to hear these!"
The Queen's exclaims shut His Majesty up. The Ruler of the greatest kingdom has ever been fearing his Queen. She was cunning, though a glass, she was smart, though fragile. She's been a predator, though not the biggest one, she can also be the prey. The Queen is in the middle of the food chain if she were to go down. She had her own kind of power, something astonishing but cliché nonetheless she was respected and feared.
Sighing, the King let her Queen join the meeting, as well as the young maiden she had chosen for his son. This meeting should be intimate but the Queen has the power. The hall was silent, trying to comprehend everything that is about to said. Mark is thinking of the things that could possibly happen, he is smart to think of it. Maybe he will be chained and whipped, infront of his enemy's townsmen, hanged infront of everyone who has been hating all of the vampires, or even tortured to death with the hand of his own enemy. All are terrifying, but he'd rather choose those than anything else. He knew he'd lived his life well; well enough to contribute to the kingdom. He can give an heir first, ofcourse, to his maiden whom everyone is aware that's very fertile. Everything is all set, ready and even planned, his own funeral and grave is also ready. He just need to die.
"You, my son." Mark's head shot up, waking up to his lucid, his dreams were gone as he shots his eyes up, still emotionless and bland. "You will be taking the hand of the 2nd prince of the kingdom of Vevion, Prince Donghyuck—" a slam on the table pierced through the four corners of the room. The Queen who's now furious from what she've heard is now glaring at her own hasband. She's standing, poise now ruined with her sudden outburst. She was obviously and awfully unpleased with what was the king's decision, nevertheless the power's still on the king. Despite of wrappinh the King under the Queen's fingers, she won't still have the full power over his son, that despite of her rasing him on her own.
"What about the Lady of Savua?!" Once again, the Queen roared. Of course, the Queen would care for the lovely maiden, Yeri. The Queen has been blabbering about how perfect the Lady would be for her own son. She was just like the Queen, reserved, composed as if sculpted for the King and only the King only. She've got the skin of milk, soft and delicate, the blue ocean eyes that reflects the skies but when hungry she would have bloody red, her lips, oh how Mark would love to devour those but he can't. He has marked another person, a man, a wolf on the most bad sad, Donghyuck.
"That's what the King of Vevion would want. He would want a truce. It wasn't his son's fault that your son here is much like you, My Queen,"
"Are you insulting me?" The Queen squints her eyes.
"If you like to put it that way." Mark looked up to his father, having hopes.
"The King did not know yet—"
"And he would! Bloody, Mark, Think!" Just like the Queen, the King is furious. Pride is the thing that's been at stake here. His father found out that the Prince they've protected and adored accidentally marked a wolf when a friend of him slipped it through his mouth, not just a friend but also a cousin, Jeno. Mark didn't want to marry a wolf. God, not even Donghyuck— his mortal enemy, but does he even have a choice?
And everything seems to be had shutten down. Mark is clouded. By the King's decisions, he knows he can't complain anymore. Was it true? He asks himself, if he ever tried to control himself, maybe things would be better, or maybe Mark would still be engaged to the seductive lady. Mark made his way to his room, head held up high, rather than being disappointed he accepted his fate. And upon his walk, he saw how the Lady of Savua made her way to her, walking in a fast yet not running, immediately wrapping her arms around the betrothed prince, crashing her lips againts the man.
Mark felt nothing, a burning sensation maybe, not pleasing, something that's been making him feel like his insides are twisted, like he has been bleeding. He's feeling hot, not in a good way, pushing the young maiden away, glaring at her with his fangs and red eyes shown. Yeri gasp in horror, bowing her head as reflex and quickly backs away. The prince wipes his lips harshly, disgusted, ashamed, still glaring at the discourteous lady, walking away with his red eyes are burning as well as his bleeding heart.
With all that said, this made him sleep with so much on his plate, thinking what would happen once he had married the Alpha's son. They're still in their youngs anyway, they still attend special classes and remedials, something that is required in every kingdom. He badly wants to disappoint no one specially his family and close friends. he wants to save everyone and be their hero, he would take this to correct his mistakes, that's what he plans. Or maybe his mark really did something.
###
Donghyuck groaned as his father, the King Alpha wont stop knocking his room's door. it has been hours since his father kept on making him go outside for some reasons, asking him to dress up but he's not in the mood. The tanned male buries his face on his pillow, still fazed and whincing the pain he had since the other night. He had been throwing up since dinner, his parents guessed it was because of something he ate, maybe it was the wine he drank, or the sweet chocolate he had taken, something he'd never take his whole life. Because of that, his overprotective father has banned every food from the one that was served last night, he even scolded the cooks which was very unecessary, that ofcourse is not on the knowing of the Prince Donghyuck for the Alpha will know he'll be mad too.
The Prince of Vevion is very kindhearted, despite of all the pranks and fun he's been pulling, around the castle and royal houses, he's more composed than a lady would do. He always had the proper posture, he wasn't too proud nor a pity, he wasn't too dull yet too bright for a second prince. He outshines his siblings yet he's still humble. Too humble for a noble, too bright for a prince and too perfect for a clawed wolf.
The scent of his pillow has never help. His stomach is still in pain, sometimes he would cough blood. Pain still piercing through his guts onto nowhere, no one knows. A doctor has checked on him but said none, he was supposed to be perfectly normal and not hurting. His head is in cloud nine, he couldn't formulate a sentence, even utter a word. He's too tired while his whole body feels too heavy, too heavy that he can't stand up, not even a finger. He feels like there's been something big on his back that stops him from standing up. He feels like he has ran millions of miles that he's sweating bullets, plenty. He feels like he had never tasted water for centuries, he's too thristy when he just drank. Now what has been happening to him? He don't even know.
"Father, stop it!" Donghyuck heard his sister from the outside, he knows the knocking of the door has been too much, perhaps the door is already broken. His father loved him dearly, he had inherited his mother's everything making him being the favorite child. Nonetheless, the Alpha is still fair, something that he gained respect for.
"I need to see my son!" The Alpha roared making the poor Donghyuck flinch. He's hurting too much that he sees himself in the middle of his dispair, crying and begging for everything to stop. A sound of barging in was heard, Donghyuck could never open his eyes again, a hand on his forehead then he felt petals right after.
"I'm right..." Said a foreign voice, someone Donghyuck has never met. From his hand to his soothing voice, Donghyuck bet he wasn't a doctor neither a specialist for these kind of things. He doesn't have a profession, the foreign voice. He's a sorcerer, a connoisseur not in the medical feild but in magic and other things that can't be explained by science.
"It was from his mate." The cognoscente is certain, these kinds of reactions are from something that involves another person, probably a curse and like what the expert had said— from his mate. Mate? Does he have one? Ah, the infamous question everyone has been asking. The second prince of the Vevion has never found his mate yet, unlike his twin sister neither his older brother whom which they've found their own other halves in a matter of time. Donghyuck would like to be greatful, the Moon Goddess had finally blessed him with a mate as everyone expected him to be loyal preist to the Goddess— something he never asked.
"What did his mate do?" His father's voice was more than furious, low but growling, if only Donghyuck could open his eyes, he would know how would he look like; glaring at nothingness with his long hair on his faced, looking devilish and ready to kill. He never liked seeing his son suffering, nor either of his children crying and whincing in pain, the difference is none from his other two kids had suffered such thing, crying and endless whimpers from the poor puppy prince of their mighty country. Now this will terrifies young countrymen, they would spread news about these, thus this was made a secret to everyone. The Prince's disappearance was because of a cold, caught when the wind starts to shift it's humid from cold to warm. Too shallow for an excuse but bought by majority, a relief to the whole castle.
"These symptoms are only seen when a wolf's mate... Cheated." Cheated? Yes. Touching other women, kissing and telling them the sweetest words a wolf wanted it to be. It was torture, that's what everyone is aware, they never tried it for they fear hurting their own mates, but the Prince, the poor golden-hearted prince of Vevion is now experiencing his worst. Gasping to catch his breath, he opens his eyes, feeling the hotness and coldness at the same time. Shivering and shaking both in fear and the effects of the unfaithfulness of his mate.
"Who is his mate?" That, a question the King Alpha would like to know, but was muttered by his only daughter underneath her breath.
"No one knows but the Prince himself." Wrong. This is where the connoisseur got it wrong. Someone knows. He knows.
None had noticed a mark on his neck. A kiss mark from someone who goes by the name of Mark Lee. A prince from the northern kingdom, a feared yet scarred prince Donghyuck faught. Oh how dumb he could get? Ofcourse, instead of his fangs, the drunken Crowned Prince of the strongest vampire kingdom bit the tanned male with bare teeth, sucking his skin like a lollipop, creating a spot that was mixed with red and purple and what's worse is he did it in a full moon where the moon goddess chooses to give a gift to every couple they've been wanting to mate with.
Sighing, everyone had left him and his space alone. He was given a medication, herbals and pills to drink to reduce the pain and gagging. He had enough, a nice sleep is what he wants not a Mark Lee, not his family nor the mark that's emblemed on his perfect golden skin. Closing his eyes as he takes his last cup of herbal tea, he leans on his headboard, still feeling hot by the curse, he called it, he had gotten into. He's so sure his family, not just his parents, the whole kingdom would get angry on how the Vampire Prince had marked him inappropriately. They might know that the Prince Donghyuck have no title to the kingdom, a second son, not even next in line of the throne, neither a woman who's honored and respected more than men, but he's perfect to everyone. Not even a mosquito can touch him.
He's the hope of his own fellow citizens. He gives sunshine, he loves to spread more than just help and care. Were they saying too much? But it was the truth! Of course it was, some would still not like the Alpha's favorite though. He's kind, a very warm person whose personality within is also the same. He's sincere and dearly but some would still choose not to believe. It was the fourth after the day he had gone to hell, as he describes. He's now at the dining, his father glancing at him from time to time, he knows something is up. Not just how his father is worried that maybe it was just the food, it wasn't though, Donghyuck is sure.
"What is it father?" The tanned male finally has spoken. The days he had was awful, he luckily survived it with his twin sister who's currently having a child on her womb. Her sweet words sound like mother to Donghyuck, oh how he misses his mom.
"Mark Lee?" And the clashing of the spoons and forks with the plates surrounds the whole dining area. The maids have made their ways out of the room, knowing they are forbidden to listen to any family matters. Donghyuck smirks. The beasts' nasty name, he had heard it again. How badly he wants to back away and drop the topic already.
"Yes, he marked me at a full moon—" the Crowned Prince stood up, everyone knows that the twin's older brother is more than protective than their father. He had promised their mother safety and joy and nothing else. "That bastard!" Yet the mighty Crowned Prince was hushed by his father.
"Johnny..." Sighing, the father just let his first son to keep his temper, slowly going back to his seat with his hand balled into a fist, his husband, Ten starts to rub his shoulders, reminding how their kids might see him angry.
Donghyuck wanted to coo at the sight. How beautiful isn't? They're one happy and almost a big family. Another beautiful generation for their kingdom. An honor to have the both of them ruling the wildest hurricane to ever exist. All these but he's too focused on his own problem. He knows what would be the next, he wasn't excited neither anticipating for the next words his beloved Alpha King would speak. He held both of his hand tight, now reddened and some skin starts to bleed. He likes this more, physical pain, it makes him feel like he's alive, waking him up from the deepest dream he would ever have. He wants to finally wake up, he knows these are all nothing but bluff but to his dismay, it was all true.
"You will marry your mate, son." Calm, but the King is shaking. This would be the hardest thing he would ever do, not for his kingdom but for his own son. He will make this decision not as a King but a father. He knows it'll hurt being away, worse is to let his mate marry someone else, it will be his son's death. The King smiles, stopping the pool of his tears that's been urging to fall from his eyes.
The young Prince stood up, embracing his father. Who would have thought this would be their last supper as a complete family? Would his mother be proud of his father for letting him go, giving him into the hands of their greatest enemy? Would his mother love him less for such a foolish yet soulful order, to take his favorite son into the dept of darkness? Would his mother smile down, together with the Moon Goddess for they know that he will be fine? A tear, maybe two, three, or plenty had fell from the Prince's golden orbs. He smiles through the pain of letting go of his family, he has to, or he'll die. He will be strong for them, he will not whince neither beg for something he knows he would never want. He's cleaver, he's smart, he knows what he should do. And this would be the last time he would cry.
The very next day, Prince Donghyuck made his own suitcase. He was told not to bring much clothes, he knows he only needs to bring the importants. He sat at the edge of his bed, caressing the sheets as he remembers how his father would beg him to stay and accompany him on his room. His father was lonely, he remembers. His father would always remind him how much he crave for his mother, how much he love him because it seems like he has possessed his own mother. He's not hurt though, he knows he was loved differently from his mother. He knows he wasn't loved just because he looks and acts exactly like his mother. He shines on his own way, always.
He had so much memories with these, he wouldn't be ready to leave but he have to. He stood up, straighten up his white and gold satin clothes, a long red cloack hanging only on his shoulder down to the floor, with his hair nicely done, long and curly, showing how much beauty the most to shine lion to ever exist. He held his head high, a knock from his door then he said softly, "come in," where as the knights and maids followed, entering the room with their heads down, taking the laugage of the Prince. He marched his way outside. He saw how his father and siblings are dressed nicely too. They have to stay for atleast a day or two on his future husband's home, a tradition every pack do to assure the safety of their child's safety.
Donghyuck gracefully walked inside the carriage that'll carry them to the Northens, taking them to Apolians. He saw how some bid goodbye and hold back their tears. They would miss the young prince, surely. He just smiled, he promsed them he would come back, but maybe that time he won't be just a wolf. He wouldn't be pure, some might despise him already. Though they know, their subjects understand how it was also hard for him. He expected himself to be just like his mother, marrying someone he's made for, a wolf.
The journey was too long, his sister would squeeze his hand whenever she feels like she needs someone or the other way around. His brother and father rides the same carriage then by the front and end another one for their guards and soldiers. Lots of forests was seen, also the rivers and lakes, they're also a fantasy to Donghyuck. He would smile at his sister, assuring her he would be fine. They had each other's backs since then, now that they're being pulled apart, neither of them knows what to do. Atleast he enjoyed his way, atleast he smiled through his own fire of death. Would mother love those lovely flowers too? How about the sweetest apple he had on his way to his fiancé's kingdom? Or even the different kind of creatures that Donghyuck can only read and see on their text books? No one knows, how he wishes his mother is still with them. How he wishes she didn't sacrificed so much. How he wishes he was guided by her grace.
Donghyuck stopped the trail of his thoughts as his sister touched his shoulders, letting him know they're here. A black gigantic gate with the carving of their kingdom's name surprised them. It seems clean, newly clean, they really made an effort to his arrival. He expects them to be nice, atleast as he was their only Prince's mate, well, accidental mate. He knows well vampired aren't that good, he knew they would be hard to control, hard to take under his skin, hard to grip, but he's Donghyuck, he can do anything he wants, anything he needs to do.
The long wait was over! "Finally," Donghyuck whispered, seeing how plenty of the vampires that's been expecting for his arrival, they're not pleased though.
##
"The arrival of the Prince of Vevion has come!" Everyone is glaring as they heard the loud announcement form a speaker that's placed around the whole country. They keeps their red bloody eyes to the carriage that's colored with gold and white. Colors they despise the most.
"Son," a voice from behind said. Mark is standing right infront of the castle's grand door. He has his own white dress with him, hinting a little details of red and black, and badges as the signs for his achievements. "I trust you." His father whispers againts his ears but he only takes a deep breath.
Mark can feel the intense stares of someone from behind, Yeri, he thought. Who would it be other than the used to be finacée of the Crowned Prince? Who wouldn't want the title of the Queen? Not even the power it'll hold over the whole kingdom? A whole paradise as it says, consequences are made to be given to their people. Disappoinment is a pressure but if you're born with the crown, you're great. Everyone takes their gaze to the finally parked carriage. The first one to step was their guards, the Alpha King and the Corwned Prince, followed shortly by the princess and a man that's dressed in white and gold, hair touching his nape, curled in a way that's doing a curtsy to a high noble man. His expression is neither happy nor sad, he has his eyes glistering againts the hot sun, his heart shaped lips red that's perfectly sculpted for his golden eyes.
How Mark would like to stare at him for his life.
Snapping out, the Crowned Prince looked around, not just him, but also everyone on their kingdom has fallen for the deceiving looks the Prince of Vevion possess. He made his way infront of the royal family of Apolian with his flowery scent lingering not just to him but to the last corners of the whole country. Mark's future husband is beyond of a beauty, he is a god.
Lowering his head, Donghyuck introduced himself, "Donghyuck Lee of Vevion, a pleasure to be one of the family." Mark didn't noticed how ther other members of Donghyuck's family has introduced themselves, he's seduced and captured by not a beauty, something that's beyond eyes could see, that the man infront of him have.
Mark's eyes are focused on him, only him, and he knew it'll be danger once the betrothed opened his lips, whispering words only his future hansband would hear, "I will make sure you will forever crave for my beauty." But that doesn't sound like an assurance that should be pleasant, it's a threat.