22. Hayden

22

HAYDEN

I curse under my breath as I stare at my little Bambi. Her pulse in her neck tempts me to bite. I feel and hear the sound of her hot blood pumping, driving me insane as she usually does. Her honey that drips in between her thighs that has my cock hardened with impenetrable lust. The softness of her skin that I want to hold naked and treasure all night.

Her soul matches mine and fits my broken pieces perfectly.

And they're here to take her from me?

Not a fucking chance.

"Hayden…don't go. Don't leave me in this room. Take me home!" she begs once I retreat from her. She tugs at my arms with glassy eyes.

She still doesn't fucking get it .

"I am your home!"

I keep walking and reach the door in no time. I whip it open and come face to face with several Kingsguards.

"How did King Davenport get inside?!" I shout as I fight the darkness inside my head that wants to wreak havoc on others.

"We don't know, but they're in here!" Charles declares as he walks forward.

"Five of you stay guarded at Millie's door. Where's my father and brother?" I tear off my suit jacket. I throw it to the floor and start to fold my cuffs, clenching my jaw so hard, I'm not sure how my fangs haven't chipped.

"They're downstairs. Your mother is in her chambers, protected."

Good. Millie is protected, and so is my mother.

From a distance, I hear banging, snarling, and shouting. Another battle has begun and started without me. I rush to the living room, where I see my men and blue-eyed immortals fighting each other. Limbs are being torn, eyes are being gouged out, and my father and brother are nowhere to be found.

Are they in hiding?

Either way, our military is doing a good job fighting them off. I even see Holland joining in on the deranged, chaotic scuffle. He tears off someone's head by biting it off.

I smirk. I think I like him now—just a little.

"Hayden! You shouldn't be here. Get somewhere safe! You are the future king!" Holland shouts at me as he takes on another immortal.

Do I ever listen to him? Why does he think I would start now?

"And miss the fun?" I lick my teeth, and I fly towards a blue-eyed immortal that's right by Holland. "No way."

Everyone who trespassed is now being burnt alive in our grand fireplace. We've stacked body after body, gouging their eyes to add to our throne and the crown. Hearing their screams while they burn gives me joy. I love it when I get to hurt people. Still, amongst the madness, King Davenport hasn't shown his face. But he's here.

We can all smell him.

"I've checked everywhere, Prince Drago. We can't find King Davenport." Charles informs me as his bright crimson eyes dart between me and Holland. He fears what I might do to him if we can't find him.

I purse my lips as exhaustion catches up to me. Where can he fucking be?

Suddenly, Millie's scream echoes throughout Drago's cathedral. My head spins toward the origin, my spirit crumbling at the sound I've never heard her conjure before. It's a strangled, horror plea for me. I don't hesitate when all I want to do is freeze from the sound she bellowed out. She's in danger. Her heart thumps, her blood is cold, and I know s he's in trouble .

I run to the quarters she's staying in, which takes me about a minute or so. It's at the far end of our structure. I'm on high alert, convincing myself I'll make it to her room in time, trying to push out my worst fears. As soon as I turn into the hallway, I find all of my men dismembered on the floor, without their heads.

Did we underestimate King Davenport?

"Don't walk in here, Prince Drago. Or the girl is dead." King Davenport's rugged, threatening voice taunts me inside Millie's room. The door is broken down and shattered to pieces.

Wow, he's crazier than I thought if he thinks I won't try to end him. I don't give a fuck that he's more powerful than me.

I flash inside the room.

"Stay outside!" I order my men to stay put. I need to do this on my own. Charles and Holland grimace but hold their ground.

King Davenport is a few feet away from Millie. She holds a piece of glass from the vanity mirror I broke toward him to defend herself. He smiles cruelly at her; his aged fangs are tinted with yellow but still sharpened as ever. They're the longest fangs I've ever witnessed. He's older, more experienced, and has an unbreakable motivation to kill Millie. It's admirable that he doesn't give up and always goes for what he strives for. But not with my Millie. And I still hate him. I still crave revenge at every corner of my mindset, but not at the cost of Millie anymore.

"Wow, she's a beauty. Now I see why you took her for yourself." King Davenport starts to move toward my girl, and I lunge forward. He strikes me down fast like I'm nothing but a fly on the wall. My back collides and cracks with a dreadful collision.

I hear my spine shatter, and I go limp for a second.

Fuck .

That hurt .

Luckily, I'll heal in a few seconds, and my broken bones will repair like they were never damaged in the first place.

I never take my eyes off her as I stand again. My gaze is locked onto the girl from Texas like a moth to a flame.

"Don't hurt him!" Millie's strangled cry chips away at my blackened heart.

Davenport claps his hands and sneers. "Aww, you care for Hayden Drago? Don't you know about all the sick shit he's done? I don't think you do by the way you plead for his mercy." King Davenport nears Millie and I break fast. Pushing onto my feet, I manage to reach him this time. I pull on his cloak, and it rips.

But still, he's stronger.

Shit .

He tucks his veiny hand into my sides and launches me away; this time, he throws me into the stained glass, and it cracks—pieces of red fall onto the floor. I flinch when the pain from my broken ribs demands my attention. My face is cut all over as dark black blood drips into small puddles all around me. My lips, nose, and cheeks all burn, but it doesn't compare to the devastation I'll endure if he takes my Bambi away.

" She's marked ." He emphasizes as he eyes her neck where my teeth marks are. "You love this girl, don't you?" he roars, bewildered.

I do. I fucking do .

I try to pick myself up from the ground, grunting and feeling a glacial wave of defeat over my shoulders. My unhealed injuries win against my decision to stand. I'm not ready to fight, but I don't care. I stumble as iron comes up my throat, and I spit blood onto the glass. Davenport chuckles and circles Millie like he's taking pure delight, watching me fail repeatedly to keep him away from her. I fall on my knees as hope leaks onto the floor. Every time I try to get him away from her, I'm beat back down.

If I'm going to die, I'm going to die trying. On my fucking own. I don't need my men for this.

"Now I get to make you suffer again by taking another person you care for away. But first, I think I'll rip your head off so you can join Amos in hell." Davenport stalks in my direction, each step thundering with ambition to ruin me. I swallow my nerves as I try to push myself up again. I'm not healing fast enough, and he's taking advantage—cruel bastard.

He forces me to look at him with his long nails stabbing my throat…but then Millie slits her wrist. The sound of her skin getting split open is like lightning hitting the ground so hard it thunders and vibrates the entire Cathedral. My whole existence shakes from the unexpected.

She's not doing what I think she's doing !

"No, Millie, don't fucking do this!" I snarl at her, but she looks at me like she'll do anything for me. Her honey eyes gleam with mercy, and blood immediately starts dripping down her arm. She watches it as her face pales. Her skin glows with a thick layer of sweat.

She's sacrificing herself. For me? I'm not fucking worth it, beautiful girl .

My fangs involuntarily protrude over my mouth, and I want a taste of her myself. But I've learned more self-control tactics from being around her so much this past year…while Davenport hasn't. Her blood pains me, and her enigma of sweet strawberry odor blinds King Davenport like a stun grenade before he can finish his intentions with me. He spins her way, his long silver hair whooshes through the tension, and his blue eyes glow even harsher and vibrant. He growls like a madman with nothing to lose and lunges for her.

Well, Millie is my everything to lose . She's it for me in every single fucking lifetime. He's fast, but I'm faster. This time, he's distracted, and I'm healed. I don't plan on losing. She's mine. She has always been mine.