The Tyrant's Pet

When Abel drew his back, his lips were stretched from ear to ear. He watched her eyelashes flutter open and look at him straight in the eye with the same affection within them.

"My wife," he whispered with a tinge of giddiness, a little overwhelmed to call her his.

"Mhm?" Her subtle smile remained, her vision blurry as dark spots appeared in the corner of her eyes.

"Abel..." she whispered. "... sorry, my husband."

His eyelids drooped, nodding slightly with a smile. Her complexion turned paler with every passing second and despite the blood covering half of her face, her thick sweats were visible underneath. Aries gripped the lapels of his suits tightly before her eyes slowly shut closed.

When her grip on his clothes loosened, her hand slowly collapsed on her body. The side of her head resting against his chest passed out.

Aries's injuries were grave, and she had lost a generous amount of blood. But she chose to proceed with their wedding and fought to keep her consciousness until the end. More than the worry in his heart, her determination and will touched his heart.

"Thank you," he whispered, lifting her up and planting a kiss on her forehead. "You've fought well, darling. I'll help them for you."

Abel slowly raised his eyes, scanning the chapel. His eyes stopped on Joaquin, still slapping himself with gritted teeth.

"Stop now," he ordered calmly, and like an obedient dog, Joaquin stopped.

The latter froze. His hand hovered inches from his swollen cheek, eyes up at Abel. The anger in his heart continuously increased, but before that man... his body felt like it wasn't his. Or rather, his control over himself was nothing compared to the fear under Abel's gaze.

"What... did you do to me?" Joaquin breathed out without thinking twice, still in denial at what he had already known. The new blood in him granted him immense power and speed and heightened all his senses. That was why his body couldn't help but react to every word Abel would spit out.

"Tch!" Conan snapped his tongue in irritation. He had almost forgotten about Joaquin, but now that he was reminded of his presence, he couldn't help but frown in dismay.

"I did... nothing." Abel fluttered his eyelashes ever so slowly, holding Joaquin's gaze with calmness in his eyes. "You ask yourself, Your Highness. What did you do to yourself?"

Joaquin's breath hitched as his body shuddered in both fear and fury.

"Do you feel humiliated?" Abel continued out of plain curiosity. "Defeated? But why? Becoming a monster had been your goal, and now you had achieved it, you should've been prepared for the new realm you entered."

"Bastard," Conan spat out in dismay, glaring daggers at Joaquin. Although Dexter and Isaiah remained silent, they understood the reason Conan was miffed regarding this. And that reason was a fair one.

Abel cocked his head to the side while waiting for Joaquin's response, which didn't come. Not that he was expecting one, knowing Joaquin was too proud and still in denial of what his blood already knew.

"Do you know what is amusing about humans the most for us?" he inquired calmly, catching Dexter stand from his spot, and walking in his direction. "Humans fear me for a completely different reason, and that is for being different."

A glint flickered across his eyes as the side of his lips curled up. "But my kind fear me because they knew exactly what I can do."

This time, Joaquin held his breath as his heart sank. He thought it was already strange to feel so intimidated to the point he was shivering in Abel's presence. However, the air Abel exuded was just the natural air surrounding him. But now that he was pulling an aura to Joaquin, the sliver of hope Joaquin was holding on to slip out of his grip.

"I..." his lips quivered, his voice was stuck in his throat for a moment. "... was wrong."

Joaquin hung his head low, smoldering in humiliation but unable to vent it out. He couldn't do it, he thought. No matter how angry and humiliated he was, he could only grit his teeth. The power between them was just too vast, and he was certain Abel could crush him even without lifting a finger.

'This isn't... this shouldn't be... what is happening...' his inner voice shook along with his sinking heart.

<strong>How did things turn out like this?  </strong>

Joaquin was certain after morphing into a vampire, he would simply need a few days — weeks at max — to adjust. He was aware it would be difficult, but he was confident climbing the top and subduing the rest of the vampires in this world was something he was born with.

But all that shattered with a single word from Abel.

It wasn't like Abel changed his tone. But unlike before when Joaquin knew him as a mere Baron associated with the black market, he could now feel the difference.

Suddenly, Ismael's words previously regarding being a big fish in a small pond crossed his mind. Joaquin froze for a moment, wide-eyed. He then slowly turned his head in Ismael's direction, balling his hands into a tight fist, seeing Ismael looking back at him in that pathetic state he was in.

Did the third prince say that knowing this would happen? That must be the case.

"You..." Clutching his fist much tighter, Joaquin felt like ripping Ismael into tiny pieces. But even before he could leap or take a step, a loud clap pierced his ears. He shifted his attention to the source of the noise, only to see Morro drop a crate near Abel's vantage point.

Dexter had already reached Abel, and the latter simply cast him a look before passing his bride to him.

"She's my wife," Abel stressed as if Dexter wasn't here the whole time. The latter nearly rolled his eyes, but his dead expression hindered him from doing so.

"You don't need to rub that in my face." Dexter clicked his tongue, carrying Aries in his arms.

Abel flashed him a bright smile. "Brother-in-law."

"Shut up..." Dexter's voice shook as his pupils constricted, making Abel chuckle happily.

"It's always fun teasing you, Marques." Abel waved before facing Joaquin, still carrying that joyful smile. "But now that I think about it, my brother-in-law is quite amazing because even though he carried my blood, he isn't as pathetic as you, son."

His lips stretched from ear to ear, while Joaquin's eyes dilated even more. Abel's wording was vague, but Joaquin knew exactly what that meant. Or rather, his blood comprehended that for him.

The vampire's blood running in Joaquin's was... Abel's.