Forced Bride Of The Vampire Lord

"There are still many people who need treatment after the civil war. It would be better if we make one more troop of healers and send it to survey the lands." Hazel nodded instantly when the proposal was made by Edward, since humans can not heal without treatment like witches and vampires.

"We can request the newly formed covens to send one healer each. I will personally send three healers from my territory." Rowan, the elder Lucio had suggested, spoke in a kind manner with a smile when everyone nodded their heads.

"The next agenda is...." the meeting continued but the voices started to fade in the background. Turning distant as if they had never been closer from the start. Hazel was staring at her hands and reminiscing about the kiss she shared with Rafael yesterday.

She was sure that his lips had moved and he had opened his mouth to invite her. It could not be just hallucination as Stefan said. She shifted her weight from one foot to another but the meeting still did not end.

She saw three of the new councilmen were talking to each other but even when she tried to concentrate, not a single word entered her mind.

She swore it was a torture to sit there and nod whenever they look into her direction for advice when she did not even know what they were talking about. Has Rafael ever felt the same when he missed her? The thought brought a smile to her face when the man gasped.

"Why are you smiling, my lady? Do you think that the loot by the newly made ruffian group is good?" he touched his chest with horror in his eyes when she blinked.

Did he just ask what she thought about the ruffians? But that would have been absurd! She coughed as she raked her brains to know what he had asked.

"No! I laughed before you were getting worried about such a simple thing when we have the most elite army with witches, vampires and humans!" She showed such confidence as if she knew the root of the problem, getting a nod from everyone.

"I am sure Edward would handle the matter well by making a team where we work together." Edward nodded his head and she was relieved that it was the last agenda of the meeting and it finally ended.

The moment she walked out of the room, she did not stop in front of waiting Stefan and walked past him. When he followed her with a frown she already disappeared in a distance and he sighed.

He snapped his fingers and disappeared from there and apparated in the room of Rafael where she was standing with horror filled eyes.

He frowned and walked closer to comfort her and remind her that Rafael was dead but he finally noticed that the bed where Rafael was sleeping for months was.... Empty!!

"Damn.. I swear to the devil he could not wake up!" he cursed loudly breaking the spell binding her as she ran out of the room.

They were not in the palace. It was still being renovated after being destroyed in the war. They were in a mansion in the hill where Rafael used to take her for vacations whenever he was tired.

He knew about this place more than her since she never got the time to explore it.

"He could be anywhere. I want you to go look for him in the east and I will go and look in the west. Inform me as soon as you find him. But remember.." she paused and made sure that she had all his attention, "if you dared to hurt him, i will not only kill you but burn the whole hell where you belong to." her cold and brutal eyes told him that she would not even hesitate to do so and grinded his teeth and left.

"Anne! I need you now. Declan.. Where are you?" She tried to connect to them but did not get any reply and sighed as she started looking around, confused and thrilled.

Her heart was beating so fast that she was sure it would explode if he did not hug her soon.

"Have you seen Rafael?" she asked every staff member but they all shook their heads confused as they knew Rafael was as good as dead.

If she would not have been in a hurry to find him, she would have taught them what being dead meant as she knew that look in their eyes but kept looking for him.

As she walked through another passage, her eyes fell on the lake and a man standing there through the window and she paused.

The man had his back on her side, so she could not see his eyes to be sure but she did not hesitate to jump from the window and reach him.

"Rafael.." She called the name she had called every minute of her life waiting for this moment as tears started to form in the brim of her eyes but the man did not turn.

The last few steps felt like miles apart as she took centuries in crossing them.

"Rafael." she touched his back and finally he felt her presence and turned to look at her.

He stared at her with confusion, fear, relief and pain as she stared into his eyes.

"I am still corrupted." he told her even when she could see the crimson color in his eyes as she tenderly touched his cheek and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"But.." she frowned... he looked normal. He was even talking without trying to attack her.

He took a deep breath and when he opened his eyes again, they were pitch black like before and his veins were bulging out as if they were burst.

"The mixture of your powerful blood in my body had helped me in controlling the corruption since witches had the power to put a leash on their powers. But with that, it has also increased the corruption in me since you have dark energy. I will not survive for long."