The Taste of Seduction

Meredith\'s throat bobbled and she swallowed.

"I never marked my little spitfire to complete the bond so my grieving process wasn\'t that bad compared to others and my dad found a witch to break the bond the same day she died.

He covered it so well that no one knew that I had a mate. Your dad was suspicious but he never commented on it and I didn\'t tell him."

"I kept blaming myself for years, I felt responsible for it. Like it was my fault… But time had numbed the sting of my grief, at least enough so that I can pretend I never met her. I drank and slept around to fill the emptiness inside me but it was never enough.

So I channeled all my hate at the world for being cruel into being stronger in order to get revenge for my little spitfire. And oh, I did. I killed my own father and I had no remorse.

Hate is the strongest motivation and power is the strongest shield."

He turned a knowing expression at her, a sad smile

tilting his lips upward.

"I lost the one I love because of my responsibilities as a prince . So I understand what you\'re going through princess.

I\'m not going to force you to fall in love with me or anything but please for the sake of the people let\'s pretend.

Until you\'re powerful enough to rule the city. We can push the mating ritual and marking ceremony for some time until you\'re strong enough.

Since the ritual is dangerous we can give an excuse that we have both agreed to wait for you to fully sharpen your skills to prevent any casualties during the rituals since you have been human all your life.

And the only way we can convince the council and the people is if we pretend that we like each other and we are not avoiding the rituals because we can\'t stand each other."

Meredith stared at him intently and considered his words and nodded.

" Oh-okay."

However, she had a couple of questions that she wanted to ask. But she was afraid of the answer. After much contemplation she asked the question.

"Do you have someone you\'re currently intimate with?"

A glint passed through Marcus\'s eyes and his lips curled up slightly, "Yes…"

"Oh…" A slight disappointment filled Meredith. She knew there was nothing between them but she really didn\'t want to be disrespected by another woman or hurt her.

"But I will break up with her today. I haven\'t gotten the time to talk to her because she went to visit her mom in another town.

And our relationship is strictly sexual. No feelings attached. I told her from the beginning not to expect anything."

Meredith nodded.

"Alright. Any child or anything else I should know about?" Meredith asked again.

"No. Nothing else."

"That…..will you…" Meredith blushed and looked away.

Marcus raised his brows, "What?"

"Will you be sleeping with anyone?"

Marcus leaned back and smirked, "Do you want me to?"

Meredith rolled her eyes at him. "I know you\'re a man and have needs. I\'m not going to be selfish to keep you from seeking pleasure elsewhere when I can\'t give it to you.

Just be discreet. I don\'t want any woman to disrespect me because she is fucking my man or want to be the laughing stock of the city."

Marcus lips curled up in amusement and he nodded, "Alright. What about you?"

Meredith blinked at his question.

"You know it doesn\'t work that way. Once we are joined, no man will touch me for fear of you. I, on the other hand, will not be feared. And women will continue to offer themselves to you."

Marcus chuckled, "No. You don\'t know how this monarch works do you?"

Meredith\'s eyebrow rose clearly; she didn\'t know what he meant.

"You\'re the princess, next in line to the throne. Men and women will throw themselves at your feet for you to even glance at them once you\'re queen. You can fuck whoever you want and even decide to keep a harem full of men.

Vampires are exotic creatures we crave pleasure as much as blood and since you\'re a tribrid your sex drive would be higher than others."

"But I thought once we complete the mate ritual I will only want to be you?" Meredith asked, all of this was confusing.

"You don\'t have to be mated or love someone to sleep with them. Sex is different….you can fuck someone without any emotional attachment."

"Oh..." Meredith trailed off lost in thought. Does this mean she could still have a relationship with Atlas?

"Your dad loved your mom, that\'s why he never had a harem full of women even though the council wanted him to."

"So you\'re okay with me having a harem?" Meredith inquired.

"No. I\'m quite possessive. I don\'t want to share you with anyone. I don\'t care if you don\'t love me but once we complete the mate rituals I don\'t think I can see you with another person."

His words took her off guard. She had assumed he

wouldn\'t care, guess she was wrong.

"What about before the mating ritual? Can I also sleep with another man?"

He contemplated her words for a few moments.

The longer it took him to reply, the more her

anxiety level rose. She knew once Atlas came she couldn\'t keep her hands away from him.

She didn\'t want to deceive Marcus and wanted to seek his opinion first.

Finally, he answered carefully, "I am not naive, and

will not make you promises I cannot keep. I will find a way to satisfy my needs and it\'s only right that you also do. Just be discreet."

Meredith released the breath she was holding and nodded. She really hated infidelity but she had no choice. At times people had to be selfish in order to fight for what they wanted and she was no different.

"Alright, " Meredith replied.

"Yes…in case you don\'t find anyone to your taste. I\'m right here." Marcus suggested and winked at her.

"Keep dreaming, dear prince." Meredith retorted rolling her eyes at him.