1. Marked And Separation: The Vampire King: Xavier

Two Years Ago

This was the first time his beloved will see in him pure vampiric form.

Her eyes widened but not in fright. The pained expression on her face showed relief.

"Beloved," she whimpered. His Mish was sick once more. Her face was pasty and she was shivering in Victor's arms.

"Release her!" The fucker shuddered at the command in his voice. The traitor will be dead before the sun rises.

"Fuck you, King. You can't do anything to me while she is here." Xavier watched in horror when Victor's fangs graze his Mish's swanlike neck, his venom dripping from it. Lethal and deadly.

"Give her to me. I will let you go. Just..just release her." Oliver waited outside. This fucker won't go far.

"Desperate are we? Have you tasted a virgin's blood before? It's tastes like the most expensive wine in the world. Sweet and heady. The purest of all." He opened his mouth wider and sank his teeth on her shoulders. Mish's frail body convulsed from the force mark.

"No!" With his vampire speed, he reached them before the bastard drew blood. Victor pushed his beloved's body to him and escaped in a flash.

"Mish, baby?" The scuffles outside the door registered. His men have the fucker.

"Xavier," Her voice was so weak. It's killing him. He shrugged out of his coat to cover her shivering thinly cloth body. Goddess. She was cold. Barely breathing from her wheezes.

"You will know what to do, Vampire King," Xavier glanced at Esmeralda's glowing silhouette at the doorway. "Only your mark and blood can save her now."

His precious beloved lay weightless in his arms, the bite on her shoulders was turning blue from the venom. That was Victor's ultimate goal. To kill his soulmate. Knowing it will kill him too.

He had no time to spare. With canines, he bit his lips until he drew blood. He leaned down to kiss her softly until drops of blood filled her mouth.

Two fingers pressed her nose, urging her to swallow. She did while she choked at the taste. His blood will help her heal.

"Mark here, Vampire King." The white witch instructed.

"You know what will happen if I mark her, I won't be able to control myself from consummating our bond." His decision was clouded at the moment. He thanked the priestess for her guidance.

"Then she will die. There is a solution. Mark her and disappear. Stay as far away as possible. Hibernate. Come back to your queen when it's time." Could he bear the pain from their forced separation? Did he have a choice?

"She will feel empty from our distance," he stated in anguished. "Wipe her memories of me. That will lessen her pain. Her heartbreak."

Yes. He could carry this burden alone. Knowing his beloved was alive. That was all the mattered.

"Are you sure? Can you bear the burden?" The sadness in the High Priestess eyes was a small consolation.

"I'm sure. Promise me you will do it and give my beloved a protection spell while I'm gone." The universe was the limit for his queen.

"I admire your selflessness, Xavier and I will help in any way. I will give you time with your beloved." Esmeralda bowed in respect to both of them.

The vampire king watched her go with tears blurring his vision.

"Mish, my love, my beloved. You are my heart and my soul. You may have no memory of me but your heart will remember. Because your's and mine beats as one. I'll come to you." With a shaky breath, he began to murmur in the most ancient vampire language.

"I, Xavier Moravia Rastislav claim you, Anna Michelle Greyson as my queen, my soulmate for all eternity. Until we both rest in eternal bliss. Hear me with your heart. Dream of me with your soul. Until we meet again, my Mish." With tears in his eyes, he sank his teeth on her neck. Sobbing as he claimed his beloved Michelle.

"Until we meet again, beloved."

***

St. Petersburg, Russia

Hours Later

Xavier didn't talk to anyone and they left him alone. Oliver had known what to accomplish in such a short period. He had his instructions, his sister will support him.

He envied them. He could have been holding his queen tonight. This could have been a wonderful honeymoon had evil not intervened.

Everything was planned to a tee. He had twenty-four months to woo and court her then claim her as soon as she turned 18. Everyone had approved, including the Lycan Queen, her eldest sister.

All his careful planning had turned to ashes. He was now a thousand miles away from his beautiful innocent queen. And he felt empty.

It was true what they say. One can barely function without his beloved. His Queen. He had claimed her and yet he cannot be with her. To protect her. From himself. Talk about irony.

Emptiness. Like falling into a dark void. An abyss. With no bottom on site. The only way to get out of it was to be with his Mish. Not even the killing of Victor in cold blood had filled a small part of that empty space.

Two years. It was nothing compared to the centuries he had waited for her. However, that was before he met her.

This time, it would feel like a lifetime even with the forced hibernation. He will feel pain. The suffering will be intense.

He had her in his arms, took care of her, had savored her sweet lips, and untutored kisses. She tasted of honeycomb and smelled of roses.

Two years. His Mish. He closed his eyes in anguish.

His Queen would want for nothing. He took care of everything for her. Her funds, her medical needs, her studies, her security, and everything he could think of.

One thing he couldn't do. He couldn't pick up the pieces of her heart. She won't remember him nonetheless at her tender age, she will experience heartbreak --she won't even know why.

It's fucking better than for her to walk this earth half dead. With him gone. It was a guarantee. A zombie at 16 years old because he left her for her own good. Wiping her memory was the best option.

He will never ever bring her to his bed while she was a minor. That was unacceptable. He prided himself on being a gentleman. An ingrained trait instilled from his mother and father.

Ice blue eyes blinking, he focused on his surroundings. A familiar family mausoleum. A vault made of gold, silver, and black marble. It was almost dawn.

"It's time, Мой король." Focusing on Oliver and his sister, face taut, devoid of any expression -- he nodded his consent. (My king)

"Take care, my sister. And Oliver, I give you full power to handle our realm until I return." In two years.

-Please wait for me, Anna Michelle.-

"Мой король, it would be an honor. We will wake you up two years from now. At the exact date and exact hour and not a minute further." He nodded once more. Already dreading the isolation. The void. The loneliness. (My king)

This was the only way.

Determined. He tilted his head to the side and gave his sister access to inject him with an ancient serum for hibernation. For two years. And not a day further.

Xavier would be asleep and he will be dreaming. His soul will wander. His heart will long. For his Vampire Queen.

-Dream of me, my love. Just like before.-

The effect was instantaneous. Rapidly coursing through his Vampire blood. He blinked. His sister was crying silently in Oliver's arms. He will take care of her. He trusted him.

Only two words passed his lips before he succumbed to the inevitable.

-My beloved.-

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