I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned and turned but I couldn't sleep. I couldn't get her out of my head. Her eyes, her mouth, the way her mouth quirked up when she wanted to say something and the way fire lit up so bright and tempting in her eyes when she was being feisty.

What was this obsession?

She was a slave. I didn't like the whole slave system but it was there. She was a slave, I was Lord. To be honest it didn't really matter as many masters had found mates and beloveds in slaves. Beloved...was she...no.

It couldn't be. There had to be some special sign right? Not merely attraction. Yes, I knew now that I was fiercely attracted to her, Gale...Flower but I doubted it was the bond of soulmates. I had seen my brother Lucien with his Beloved Camilla. Their bond was out of this world. I doubted that I felt that for someone I just met.

But what if? A small voice in the back of my head asked.

No. I couldn't just go around thinking every girl was my beloved. Heavens, was I that starved of love? And yet I knew something was changed. It is said that being depressed is like being colorblind in a world full of color. I had loved my life that way. Well not loved. More like I had been content with it that way. Hell, I had even gotten used to it but the second I met her, when I was with her...in those few minutes, my life had been surprisingly flooded with color and though blinding and strange, it was the most beautiful thing.

In so short a time, I was obsessed with that feeling and I wanted more.

I would deal with all of this in the morning. If only I could get myself to sleep urgh!

I tried all there was to try. Really, I did. But by the time the cocks crowed in their coops and the crickets stopped chirping, I had not slept, and I was in a mood. It was silly really. When a man was troubled like me, it made sense that sleep sometimes eluded them. But for sleep to elude me because I didn't know how to react to a woman was unheard of. It had never happened.

I got out of my bed, wrapped one of my robes around my body and walked barefooted to one of the window sills in my room and leaned on it. I wasn't really even doing anything at all. I was just staring outside aimlessly.

When the sun finally peaked from below the mountains, shining its heavenly light on Lakaiyah, I heard some activity start around the mansion. It was not fully out yet so I knew most nobles would not be awake unless they had something important that they were doing or to do. I still stayed by the sill, lost in wandering contemplations.

What on earth was I going to do about the suspicions with the witches in the east. It had only been a few days but I expected to have some report or another.

Knock knock knock.

The sounds sounded at my door and I turned a lazy head towards the locked door. I sighed, scratched the back of my head and padded towards the door silently. I swung it right open to reveal an already dressed Lord Mba, with a tray holding blood and some whiskey.

"Good morning My Lord." The man greeted with a small bow. I tilted my chin and opened the door wider, an invitation for him to come in.

"It's too early for a morning visit Lord Mba." I commented dryly as I walked back into the room, leaving him to follow me and lock the door behind him. I heard the door lock behind me just as I was sitting on one of the forward large chairs in my room that faced a small couch and one other chair, separated by a small table in the middle.

"I brought you some blood My Lord." He replied instead and I just stared at him blankly. He walked over towards the other chair and tilted his head expectantly. I nodded, an indication for him to sit down. I crossed my legs over one another as he placed the tray on the table. I eyed the blood and decided, why not? I was in a mood already anyway. Might as well get some nourishment.

"Last I checked Mba, the position of bringing me blood was relegated to the servants and not the third in command of the Southern Regions." I pushed and the man had the audacity to actually smile.

"Well, sometimes there is no harm in learning humility from the ways of people lower than you. I find that it can be quite inspirational for a life of leadership." He answered cheekily. I noted that he called them people instead of beings like almost all other nobles would. It was an interesting thing. Lord Mba was different. He had always been. I thought of his roots. Lord Mba was the son of two average vampires, a born vampire, which was very rare and he had gained his position and some sort of trust from me a long time ago when he had saved my life in battle. I was a vampire yes, but when I talk of saving my life, there were many ways that even immortal vampires like me could be killed.

Other normal vampires could be killed by ripping their hearts out and then burning the bodies but the first vampires like my brothers and I could only be killed by a weapon called the Dagger of Elysr. It was currently in my brother Lucien's possession after he was almost killed with it by our father, El Diavolul and my other brother Issak, but the forces that had made the dagger, had made it to kill my brothers and I and they had almost succeeded with me. Lord Mba had been there. And he had saved me.

There were days I wondered what would have happened if I had died there but things like that were not things I was supposed to be thinking of.

But eternity was long. Very long. Especially when one spent it alone.

"Doesn't your beloved miss you when you leave so early?" I wondered honestly. Indeed, about a century prior, Lord Mba had found his beloved, a human named Cara. A sweet woman who could be a force to be reckoned with when she meant it. The man smiled at my words, an adoring look passing momentarily in his eyes. I felt a pang of jealousy soar through me.

"Cara has taken up a new hobby that doesn't need for her to be in bed so early. So I think I'm safe on that front." He was joking but this was a man who clearly adored his beloved. Now that was what the beloved bond was like. Not the instant infatuation that I had felt for Gale yesterday. How stupid and desperate was I? To wish every woman that I had an attraction to was my beloved. I thought I had given up on it centuries ago but apparently not.

"I see." I commented simply and brought the blood to my lips, savoring the taste as it dragged slowly from my lips to my tongue and down my throat. It was still warm. Nice.

"I got some word from the East. An official letter is still to come this afternoon but I doubt they have seen anything. But my spies have." He said in all seriousness and I perked up. This was why he was here. This was the real reason.

"Go on." I urged, my attention solely on him. The man fidgeted for a bit, a reaction to my gaze but then readjusted and spoke.

"When you left and installed the soldiers in the East to investigate the killings, without anyone knowing so, I had sent some of my own men there. On your orders of course. Duncan and some of the witches have been extra careful around the soldiers and no other killing has been reported. It has been quiet, too quiet. But one of my men, a human boy was able to find something. I'm not sure if it's very significant but that same day, he noticed a lone rider come out to the East and meet with Duncan. He couldn't see them well as he was half asleep and wandering about but this boy is trustworthy sir. If he says Duncan met up with a strange rider from out of town, then Duncan met up with him. The boy isn't sure of what they talked about but he says the man was dressed and carried himself like a high born or someone with money and he gave Duncan a letter. Duncan immediately stiffened and became extra serious and suspicious after he got the letter but once the letter was received, the two men went separate ways and the strange man immediately left town." Lord Mba reported and everything in me stood on edge. This wasn't much but it was a lot.

It showed that Duncan was working with someone. I expected him to send messages to his liaisons after I left especially when I demanded to see his son in a month but I didn't expect it this soon. I had to keep in mind that they hadn't expected the boy to witness this but this was interesting. I had to know the contents of the letter. If at all, it could still be accessible. I had to contact Carlisle.

"Thank you Lord Mba. Keep your men's ears to the ground. I have a feeling this is deeper than we thought and this goes further than we ever thought it did."

"I believe so too My Lord. I shall take my leave now." He said with a bow and stood up. I nodded at him, dismissing him.

Bringing the blood to my lips, I took a large gulp and flared my nostrils. I had to find a way to get to Carlisle. No one else knew Carlisle now worked for me and even though to some extent, I trusted Lord Mba, I knew if Carlisle was to be safe, only I had to know of his involvement with me without any suspicion.