Felix got down from the plane and headed toward the men dressed in black waiting by the terminal. They stepped forward to greet him. He acknowledged them with a brief nod before turning to his right-hand man and childhood best friend, Virgil.
The two exchanged a quick shoulder hug before climbing into the backseat of an expensive Mercedes.
Virgil immediately got down to business.
"Your stepmother told the elders you were cursed," he said gravely. "She claimed the kingdom can't be ruled by a cursed man. She wants the throne handed over to Gavin."
"What the hell?" I snapped. "Why the fuck would she do that?"
"I honestly don't know. But the elders believed her. They're demanding to see you."
"That shameless woman." I let out a bitter laugh. "I never knew she could be this despicable."
Virgil sighed. "Looks like we underestimated her."
A brief silence settled between us before he looked at me seriously.
"Have you found her? Your mate?"
I rubbed my face. "I'm not sure why—"
"F*ck!" Virgil suddenly cursed.
"Virgil, what's wrong?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat. I wasn't even certain Alice was the one. I loved her more than I wanted to admit, but if she wasn't my destined mate, I refused to drag her into this dangerous world.
"Gavin has already left to find her," he said. "Looks like that old witch visited the priestess and got a clue about who your mate might be."
"Shit... No." I gripped my hair. "This can't be happening."
"Do you have any idea where he went?"
"Country C."
Before either of us could say another word, Virgil's phone rang.
He answered immediately. Vampires didn't need speakerphone; our hearing was sharp enough.
"We've tracked him down," Samuel reported.
"Where is he?" Virgil asked.
"T.west University."
My heart stopped.
I snatched the phone from Virgil's hand.
"What did you say?"
"T. West University, Boss."
"Speak clearly!" I barked.
Samuel swallowed nervously.
"We found the girl he has been watching. Her name is Alice Hart. Second-year student. She stays in Dorm 203."
Alice.
The name echoed through my mind.
Without another word, I ended the call.
Back at T. west University...
"So, her name is Alice Hart?" Gavin asked, lazily twirling a cigarette between his fingers.
"That's everything I could dig up," his best friend replied after taking another drag.
A slow, sinister smile spread across Gavin's face.
His eyes glowed a terrifying crimson.
"Felix..." he murmured, crushing the cigarette beneath his boot. "Looks like I'm about to meet your greatest weakness before you do."
He glanced toward the university gates where students walked in and out, completely unaware of the danger lurking among them.
"Keep watching her," Gavin ordered. "Don't approach unless I say so. I want to know who she talks to, where she goes, and every single person she trusts."
His friend frowned. "Why wait? We can take her now."
Gavin chuckled, dark amusement dancing in his eyes.
"No." He slipped both hands into his pockets. "A game is only entertaining when your opponent still thinks he has a chance of winning."
He lifted his gaze toward the campus buildings, a cruel smile lingering on his lips.
"And Felix..." he whispered to himself. "By the time you get here, she'll already be standing on my side... whether she wants to or not."