Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 148: Under The Blood Moon

Chapter 148: Under The Blood Moon

Ivan had assumed he would be able to concentrate during the coronation process; he mentally prepared himself for this, to avoid getting distracted when he sees her in his coronation, but alas! Everything flopped like a pack of wild cards when he caught her wearing the green dress he sent Lucy to give to her. For a moment, he had been skeptical about her accepting his gift as this was something he would never do, not even to his own sister if he had a good one, but when he had to get his outfit ready, he passed the capitals and caught sight of a shop that sold dresses, and beguilingly, this particular green dress reminded him of her, so he bought it without pondering on the matter.

Presently, all he could do was sit in his Throne and watch as his coveted little lamb mingled with the interactive crowds. Her golden-blonde-hair, which was neatly styled cascaded down her small back in waves– it caught the light, shimmering like spun gold with every little movement of her head. Her emerald green eyes, filled with life and innocence as she exchanged a few words with Queen Lucinda, had Ivan’s heart skipping multiple beats, and the look in his eyes smoldered into heat.

The green dress clung effortlessly to her delicate frame, accentuating her every curve, as if it was specifically made for no one else but her, and the enchanting emerald color beautifully complemented her smiling eyes. Every step she took, every smile she bestowed upon everyone who came up to her, added fuel to the fire that burned with him. Several times they had locked gaze, she had caught him staring, but Ivan was too entranced to look away– he was lost in a world where she was the only one that mattered, a world where he wanted her to be in, with him.

When the music began to play, Ivan watched her figure make it to the table that had been filled with all sorts of delicacies for the guests to enjoy. When he couldn’t keep himself seated, he eventually got up from his Throne, but before Viktor could question him about where he was going, he had already left, maneuvering his way through the crowd, and out of mere curiosity, Viktor watched as the vampire King approached the same human girl whom he had introduced as his bride to them.... The daughter of Mr Dufort.

"Wasn’t she his bride?" Viktor questioned Damien who was elegantly sipping his blood wine. Lazily, his eyes moved to search for Ivan amongst the crowd, and when he found him holding the same woman they wanted to sentence to trial, a sly smile curved his lips.

"Isn’t she? Seems to me she still is." He mused, eyes glimmering with intrigue.

Meanwhile, Samantha was left frozen when Ivan came to stand in front of her, requesting for a dance, and some of the guests were already stealing glances in their reaction, making her flustered. To avoid sounding rude, Samantha bowed her head politely before declining his request in a frantic voice.

"It’s not that I don’t want to but... I don’t..."

"We’ll go somewhere private, I do need to spend even an hour with you before you leave. Your brother’s busy with the trunk, he won’t suspect a thing for now." Ivan whispered softly before letting out his gloved hand for her to take. With a hesitant smile, Samantha accepted his hand and allowed him to lead her out of the busy hall.

{Music recommendation: Flawless My Dear by Kris Bower}

They made it to the balcony where the whole place was painted in a crimson hue. The soft orchestra could still be heard even though they weren’t anywhere near the main hall where the celebration went on. At first, Samantha was captivated by the sight of the blood moon, now gracing the sky in its full appearance, and there was a strange feeling coursing through her veins, it felt inexplicably overwhelming, whilst she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the unsettling feeling returning to her heart once more.

"Enthralling, isn’t it?" Turning her around so she could take his proffered glove hand, Samantha didn’t give a response as she willingly placed her tender palm upon his own, and in one swift movement, he drew her close, a soft gasp escaping her slightly parted lips when she felt his other hand reach for her dainty waist– his crimson eyes never leaving her own.

"Shall we?" He asked, his honeyed voice mixing with the intensity of the night. Samantha’s heart began to pound in fear and excitement as they glided across the balcony, and with a skill as graceful as that of a phantom, Ivan led Samantha with utmost fluidity, their movements in perfect harmony with the melody. The moonlight bathed them in its otherworldly glow, and Samantha could feel her heart clench in pain yet again.

"You haven’t tripped unlike last time we shared a dance. This dress must be more comfortable if I presume correctly." He arched a brow, and Samantha snapped out of her daze as she blinked spontaneously. The sudden pain in her heart had vanished, and it took a while for her before her brain could process what he just said to her.

"It’s.... It’s very comfortable, I... loved your gift." Samantha could feel her cheeks redden under his gaze. "Thank you for bringing my brother safely back to me. Because of you, we’re together again and I owe you so much. I came to your Chambers to see you but–"

"Why do you always feel the need to explain?" Ivan shook his head, his lips twisting into displeasure. "I know, little lamb. Your scent was the first thing I noticed when I returned."

"Was that when you got this dress?"

"Precisely."

"I love it, I really do appreciate the gift but... why green? You tend to prefer the color white or black so I’m–"

"Yes, you are right." He agreed, "I do prefer those two colors and I still do, they will always be, but, I love the color green when I see it on you." He confessed, suddenly having the immense urge to spill everything out since this might be the last time he sees her again.

Samantha’s eyes automatically widened, and then he spins her effortlessly, her dress swirling around her. As they drew closer, Samantha’s breath quickened when she felt his lips dangerously close to her ear.

"I... I never imagined a dance under a full moon would be so...intoxicating." She nervously tried to clear off the heat with a little humor, but Ivan, who wasn’t ready to let this drop, simply hummed in response.

"Just as the blood moon controls the tide and the creatures of the night, it also controls the desire of the heart. For example, the way our hearts are beating in tunes that we both can’t comprehend." His sinful lips found her sensitive ear, and he whispered alluringly into them, "....like how you stare at me as if I’m those food you were gawking at in the throne room earlier."

"I did not!...." Samantha’s pupils dilated at his unexpected tease, so much so that she could not refute his dangerous accusations, as if they were true. When he pulled back to look at her, he noticed her cheeks had bloomed into a rose of shame. Samantha anxiously bit her lower lips, and she immediately regretted the idea of agreeing to dance with him.

"What’s the problem?" Ivan’s hypnotic voice had Samantha drawn to him yet again, that was until she heard him say. "All you have to do is ask, little lamb, and I shall give as long as it is within my power. To test it out, you can always start by demanding for my body, and I won’t think twice before giving it to you. I only need you to say it to me." It didn’t sound like he was offering her some sort of ways to pay him back, he was readily hinting at what he knew they both wanted at this moment, and that was each other.

"Ivan.." his name left her lips before she even knew she had said them, and the way it slipped with untold yearnings was what Ivan needed to finally claim her.

Their eyes locked, and in that moment, it felt as if the world existed mainly for the two of them. Ivan’s touch as he pulled her close, drawing her in between his legs, sent shivers down Samantha’s spine, and she could see the familiar change in his irises. Was the blood moon starting to hold its effect?

As the music reaches a crescendo, the final sweep movement brings them inches apart, and Samantha could feel Ivan’s lips brush lightly against hers, their hearts beating. Before he could initiate the kiss that he had been dying to have, the sounds of approaching footsteps had them shifting back out of impulse, and when the person emerged into the balcony, Herbert’s presence had Ivan taking a deep breath.

"My King." Herbert lowered his head in a bow. "I’ve sent for the Ministers you asked for, should I tell them to wait?"

"No." Ivan answered, "the sooner we handle this, the better. Fetch my scepter from the main hall and bring it to me."

"Yes, My King." Herbert bowed respectfully once more before turning to leave. Left alone, Ivan’s gaze returned to Samantha who was about to say something, but before she could, Ivan swiftly closed the distance between them, his hands cupping her cheeks as he caught her lips in an ardent kiss, leaving her speechless before pulling back to meet her eyes with a hunger that scared and excited her at the same time.

"I’ll be quick, don’t leave until I return." He said before turning around to exit the balcony.