The concept of vampires and humans as mates was known since the beginning of time. However, it was a rare occurrence, unlike werewolves who were almost always blessed with a fated mate when they came of age.
According to testimonies and history books, vampires were rarely blessed with a mate, which made them much colder and more bloodthirsty. They usually did not get along with humans, unlike werewolves who were able to coexist with them.
One of the major reasons for that was — obviously — the source of food for vampires.
Human blood.
Needless to say, almost all vampires were not fated to be with their food.
But apparently, the gods and goddesses took pity upon their heartless souls and blessed a few special ones with mates of their own, ones that would bring life to their dull worlds.
And Cassy was one of the unfortunate people who was mated to these bloodsucking creatures.
When she turned 21, she discovered that she was mated to Mikhail Ivanov. It had been five years ago at the grand banquet to which everyone in the city was invited, and Mikhail was one of the special VIP guests.
From time to time, Azallea would throw lavish parties for special occasions, opportunities for vampires and humans to mingle. Humans usually found vampires frightening yet incredibly charming, so attending parties often garnered mixed feelings.
But this grand banquet was special. The Human Council had appointed a new representative named Samuel Alderman.
Alderman was a kind-looking man in his late thirties, with graying hair and wise green eyes. He was an altruistic person from a wealthy background who donated to charity and helped many people without expecting anything in return.
As a result, almost everyone came to support him in his endeavors. With someone like him as a part of the Human Council, people were relieved.
Cassy was one of those people.
As she entered the banquet and began to enjoy the buffet, deliberately staying away from the vampires, the doors suddenly opened and the room fell into a hushed silence.
The people, including the vampires and other supernaturals, made way for the person to pass through.
It was Mikhail Ivanov.
Cassy couldn’t figure out why she froze, feeling as if her whole world had stopped.
It was that special, intoxicating scent that wafted into her nostrils, the unusual acceleration of her heartbeat, and the sudden warmth that flooded her face. It was like an involuntary reaction, one she didn’t understand at the time.
She was a human, so she experienced the revelation differently than a vampire. When she read the textbooks and past testimonies, she learned that vampires could only recognize their mates when they bled, because apparently, human blood had a special, captivating scent.
Mikhail hadn’t recognized her as his mate at the time. She was the only one who felt this extraordinary sensation.
She felt revulsion and overwhelming attraction at the same time, and it made her nauseous just thinking about it.
In the end, she left the party early, unable to stand being in the same room with him any longer.
To think that her being Mikhail Ivanov’s human mate would save her life in the end…
“What if I refuse?” Cassy couldn’t help but challenge, narrowing her eyes. Indebted or not, she wasn’t the type of woman who would back down against a supernatural, of all creatures.
These supernaturals had already wreaked havoc on the lives of humans. It didn’t really matter if one of them was her mate or not.
At least that was what she tried to tell herself.
Mikhail looked amused at her response, almost as if he had already expected it. “I’m afraid you have no choice,” he said in a smooth tone, his hand lifting to grasp her chin. “I always get what’s mine.”
Cassy scowled, but tried not to show how much animosity she had for his kind. After all, she was in enemy territory. It was a bad idea to be reckless in a situation like this.
Not to mention that he had saved her life…
“For how long?” she asked quietly.
She wanted to know if he was playing with her or not.
Mikhail raised an eyebrow. He looked so handsome even this close, something that made Cassy’s pulse accelerate slightly. She knew that he could hear her heartbeat though; vampires had heightened senses, especially their senses of smell and hearing, so almost nothing went past them.
It made Cassy feel deeply annoyed and powerless at the same time.
“You are my mate, are you not?” Mikhail said. “You will stay with me for the rest of your lifetime.”
“You’d still want me even if I grow old? Sounds hard to believe,” Cassy muttered, unable to help herself.
Mikhail, however, looked slightly amused by her words.
“Would you believe it if I say that someone like me does not care for appearances like you fickle humans often do?” He cupped her cheek with his cold hand, the gesture sending a strange chill down her spine. “You are my mate. I will have you for myself for the rest of your life. We are bound together by fate.”
“Be that as it may, I am not comfortable with the idea of staying with you that long,” Cassy said, narrowing her eyes. She tried her best not to show how unnerved she was by his cold touch against her cheek. “I admit that I owe you my life after you saved me last night. However, I am a human. I cannot stay with you, who is a vampire.”
Mikhail shook his head with a wry smile. “The laws forbid it if I force a human to stay by my side longer than a week. But it is different when the human is not under my control and is not being coerced against their will.”
He moved his face closer to her, and the look in his eyes was so intense that Cassy felt like she was drowning in those dark-red irises.
“You said that you owe me your life for saving you from death last night,” he said in a soft, alluring tone. “I cannot possibly force my mate, so might I propose you pay me back by staying with me for at least three months?”
Cassy’s eyes widened. “Three months? That’s—”
“It is a better repayment for saving your life, is it not?”
She couldn’t find any reason to refute that. Defeated, she averted her gaze, feeling her cheeks warm. She was certain that he could still hear her racing heartbeat thanks to his sharp ears.
This smug vampire!
“All right,” she said quietly. “I’ll… stay with you.”
“Good.”
Suddenly, Mikhail leaned in.
It wasn’t a swift movement. Rather, he moved in slowly, purposefully.
He tilted his head and sniffed the base of Cassy’s neck, causing her to instantly freeze in place.
“What… What are you doing?” she managed to breathe out.
“You…” Mikhail closed his eyes, savoring her natural scent as well as the smoothness of her skin. “…smell wonderful.”
Cassy shut her eyes reflexively. “So being your food source for three months is also part of the repayment?” she asked dryly.
“You are my mate,” Mikhail repeated smoothly. “Your blood smells the most delicious to me. It is only natural that I want to taste it as much as I can.”
Cassy opened her mouth to respond, but Mikhail had more things to say.
“However,” he added. “I will not drink from you. Not yet.”
Cassy blinked. “…Why not?” she asked warily.
She had never known of a vampire that declined or avoided drinking from a human before. She was right here in front of him, and they were in close proximity, too. He was practically smelling the side of her neck!
What was stopping him from piercing his fangs through her skin and drinking her blood?
To her surprise, Mikhail slowly pulled back. A cold smile curved his lips as he retracted his hand from her face.
“You are still weak from blood loss last night,” he said. “You need to rest.”
Cassy stared at him, clearly astonished.
“Until you fully recover, I will not drink from you,” Mikhail continued on. “So go and get some rest, my dear.”