The Vampire King's Possession
Chapter 696. Envy

Chapter 696: 696. Envy

"Did you not hear my question?" Jael asked with a glare.

"I did. I am choosing not to respond. What happened?"

"Get out!"

Louis sighed and touched his forehead. "I only just got here. Won’t you at least tell me what’s going on?" He pulled his hand away from his face and met Jael’s eyes.

"No, I said ge—"

"I understand that you are angry," Louis interrupted, his voice turning serious as he sat upright. "I am too. I was ready to attack Lord Garth when I heard what had transpired until I saw him."

"What are you getting at?" Jael asked. The anger on his face shifted a little, but only briefly.

Louis groaned. "You’ve always been slow with this type of thing. You’re the one who mocked him for not marking his mate, and you couldn’t even read his expression."

"I didn’t mock him," Jael said. "It was a mere test."

"What kind of test would involve something like that?"

"I don’t have to explain my plan to you."

"True, hmm." Louis turned to the door and then back to Jael. "So, did he pass?"

"You interrupted it."

"I’d say he passed," Louis mumbled.

"You don’t get to decide that."

Louis groaned again. "The matter has been quite troublesome."

"What are you talking about? Stop speaking in parables."

"Lord Garth will most likely never accept Mauve. Also, it was a very terrible idea to mock him about that."

"I didn’t mock him. He almost struck Mauve. If anything, I was letting him off easy."

"He wouldn’t have."

"What are you talking about? His daughter had to come between them."

"Maybe he would have, but we’ll never know."

"What are you rambling about?" Jael’s interest was piqued. Lord Garth’s support was certainly something he didn’t want to lose, but it was hard to tell if Louis was helping or making things worse.

Louis sighed. "Well, it does make sense. Lord Garth has mostly supported everything you’ve done, but he is ridiculously adamant about this. If it was Lord Phelan or Lord Seraphino, I wouldn’t think twice about it."

Jael winced at the mention of Seraphino. He had almost forgotten about the Lord, but it turned out he would never get away from what Seraphino stood for. "Go on," Jael added when Louis stopped.

"I thought you wanted me to get out."

"Speak or get out. The choice is yours."

"Always so crude," Louis scoffed. "But since you asked so nicely, I’ll explain to the best of my ability. It’s not anger—well, maybe a little bit of anger—but that’s not all of it. Jealousy!" Louis announced with gusto. Suddenly, the brightness flickered out of his face, and confusion appeared. "Or is that envy?"

Jael narrowed his eyes, thinking he shouldn’t have given the lunatic an ear. "Have you now completely lost your mind?"

Louis smiled. "I knew you wouldn’t get it, but don’t worry, I will break it down for you. How do you think a vampire who hasn’t marked his mate for over a century would feel when he hears the Primus has marked not another vampire but a human? Something he has been unable to do for years."

"How is that my fault?"

"Ah, yes, the thinking of a feeble mind."

"Will you stop being ridiculous?"

"Forgive me, my liege," Louis mocked. "There is no doubt Lord Garth loves his mate and children. He treats his wife with exceptional care, and I’ve never so much as heard him raise his voice at her. Anyway, the point is he loves her," Louis quickly added when Jael’s frown deepened. It was clear Jael didn’t believe the tale he was spinning.

"Okay?"

"Do you think he wouldn’t want to mark her? But clearly, he has been unable to do that. However, the Primus can so easily mark a human. There is no question about the devotion and love a vampire has for their marked mate. How do you think the Lord would feel about this? How do you think he feels about the fact that your love for a human exceeds the love he has for his mate? However silly it sounds, try to consider it."

Jael sighed. "Then why is his anger directed at Mauve?"

"How can you ask that? Would he dare to despise you, the Primus? And even if he did, what good would that do? Besides, Mauve is the one you marked. But still, these are all speculations, and it is best to take my thoughts with a grain of salt. However, I do think there is no need to start a fight with Lord Garth."

Jael paused for only a moment, then waved his hand to dismiss Louis, who stood up quickly, bowed, and started walking to the exit. He was almost at the door when Jael called him. "Louis."

"Yes, Sire."

Jael looked conflicted. "It’s not my business, and frankly, I do not care, but Mauve brought it to my attention, and it is clear it bothered her. What have you been up to lately that you haven’t had the time to care for yourself properly?"

Louis looked shocked, but then he quickly covered his expression. "Does the Primus worry about his lowly servant?"

"Shut up! Forget I ever asked."

Louis chuckled. "I am fine. Whatever I was up to truly isn’t that important."

"Whatever. There is something else more important," Jael said, changing the subject.

"Which is?" Louis asked, stepping closer.

"Seraphino is coming," Jael said.

Louis hadn’t heard the details personally from Jael, nor did he ask Mauve, but everyone in the castle knew what had happened. Even the Lords knew, so he knew exactly what Seraphino had done to Mauve. "I am aware," he said stiffly.

"I am surprised he hasn’t shown up yet. I expected he would come running as soon as he got the invitation, but I’m certain he must enjoy the tension of guessing when he will arrive."

"What would you like me to do?" Louis asked.

"If you had been with Mauve, the issue with Lord Garth could have been avoided. I left her in your care."

"You’re right," Louis admitted. He knew Jael wasn’t blaming him; their leader was just terrible at asking for favors. "I shou—"

"Set aside your personal affairs until the Lords are away and properly keep an eye on Mauve. Not feeding and getting enough rest shouldn’t hinder you again."

Louis nodded. If he looked at it from a different angle—more like squinted—he could almost say Jael cared. "It won’t."