Chapter 151 My Blood
Sanguis was everything that Ophelia remembered him to be. Tall, lanky, and aloof. His solemn expression didn't shift or even falter at the sight of her, but his lips curled slightly when she stared straight into his ruby eyes.
"So the little girl has grown up," Sanguis observed in the salon, leaning back on his couch and not bothering with the freshly brewed iron tea. The concoction was quickly becoming a trend, but he hated any artificial taste of blood. "My condolences for not being able to kill you."
Ophelia was surprised by how forward he appeared, but when one had lived for that many years, he had no care for beating around the bush. She nervously glanced over at Killorn who carelessly swirled a silver knife between his fingertips as it was all fun for him. He promised to not overreact in the Vampire Overlord's presence.
"H-how did you know Everest has a bottle of my blood?" Ophelia finally asked. Sanguis's lips spread into a smile. "I could smell you in the castle. Or rather, your blood. My nose has always been better than any other vampire. Initially, I was unable to locate the bottle until I paid his room a little visit, where the scent was strongest."
"How would you recognize me?" Ophelia questioned, startled when his crimson gaze pierced through her. "I carried you as a child to safety when your sister's ring had cut your chubby little cheeks," Sanguis shrugged. "I was already suspicious of why Everest smelled so strongly of you, but when the war came, I fully understood it now. His strength had grown faster than any vampire I had ever seen, perhaps, even enough to rival me."
That would explain why Everest lunged for Killorn. He had full confidence he could kill the war monster. Killorn laughed under his breath, almost sharing the same realization. "No wonder he was bold and foolish enough to come for my neck, despite knowing I'd beat him in any fight," Killorn seared with narrowed eyes. His fingers twitched, no doubt with the thirst to personally kill Everest himself. But that'd place the entire Mavez family in a whole other chaos that the others could never predict.
"I-if a man consumed enough of my blood, could he theoretically have the ability to become a t-threat to your throne as Overlord?" Ophelia asked.
"Everest proved that theory, alongside the monsters that feasted on your blood and gained intelligence alongside inhumane strength," Sanguis stated, his lips curling. "You must understand, little girl, we had our reasons for needing you dead. It would've been a waste given how long our protective order held over you, but we are greedy by nature, and our lives matter more than yours."
Ophelia hummed in response.
"Your status is good as a new god, now, though," Sanguis bluntly told her. "Magicians are jobless because of you, but they've turned their energy into writing your stunt into the history books. In a hundred years from now, perhaps they will worship your name as She, Who Saved the World."
"I-I simply wiped monsters from this e-earth, it's nothing big," Ophelia humbled herself.
"Because of you, fathers won't risk their lives to keep their families safe anymore. People can go anywhere they'd like without fearing for their lives. The balance of the world has been restored, and safety is guaranteed. We are no longer prey being hunted on the lands that belong to us," Sanguis concluded. "But what you've done could one day put humanity at the mercy of the werewolves and vampires… for now, we are the monsters."
Ophelia's heart stilled.
"Maybe one day, we'd be hunted into extinction or forced into hiding for centuries to come," Sanguis whispered. "I have a premonition of such a future where we'd one day be forced to blend amongst the humans until another battle is waged for us to come into supremacy to rule the world once more."
"Y-you can see into the future?" Ophelia whispered in disbelief.
I dream of things," Sanguis said. "Not all of them are true, but I have a strong inkling of it by now."
Sanguis's attention fell upon Killorn before it flickered to Ophelia and then, down at her womb. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Ophelia stiffened, her hands flying to her stomach protectively. Sanguis revealed a slow, humored smile.
"One thing is for certain now," Sanguis stated, taking their attention again. "Your scent is no longer present in the castle." With his large hand, he placed a near-emptied bottle of silver onto the table. Her blood.
"This was the tenth bottle. Our search was done," Killorn realized, his voice darkening. "T-thank you," Ophelia said to Sanguis, her mouth twisting into a grin.
"Think of this as a goodbye present," Sanguis continued. "I am certain that this is the last time we will ever cross paths."
"A-and why is that?" Ophelia asked as she took the bottle into her hands, her blood still warm, realizing the importance of the liquid. She could theoretically heal any wounds with this… or, anyone that consumed it would be able to gain inhumane strength. Perhaps, enough to one day rival an Overlord.
"You are now a human girl, Ophelia," Sanguis said. "You lack the abilities that made you a Direct Descendant in the first place. Your ties to us Overlords were severed the day you released your ultimate spell."
Ophelia pressed her lips at the realization. "Is a w-werewolf ever allowed to have a human mate?"
"Lupinum didn't tell you?" Sanguis deadpanned, turning to Killorn as well. "This man has no mate." Ophelia's gaze widened in disbelief. "W-what? But all werewolves would have a mate…"
"Your mother should've told you this," Sanguis scoffed. "She was always a stingy woman when it came to information. No wonder the two of you still know nothing."
"You've met her before?" Ophelia whispered in realization.
"The Moon Goddess was the last of the old gods," Sanguis stated. "You could say she was also our creator. She was the one who gave us the titles of Overlords."
Ophelia's eyes bulged out of her head at the information.
"I will leave you with one final knowledge then," Sanguis snickered, laughing right in their faces at their confusion. "Killorn was made for you the same way you are made for him."
With that said, Sanguis rose to his feet and walked himself out of the castle, leaving the couple in a wake of silence. Ophelia turned to Killorn, wondering if her fate had doomed him, but she was surprised to find him smiling to himself. Without warning, captured her waist and pulled her straight into his lap, earning a soft squeal of shock.
"You heard that, my sweet wife?" Killorn mused, cupping her cheek and bringing her even closer to him. "You're made for me, Ophelia."
Ophelia flushed at his words, growing warmer by the revelation. She was scared that he'd think of it as a curse, but instead, his eyes were lit up like a boy awaiting his birthday gifts. Without warning, he captured her lips, swallowing her soft gasps. He kissed her deeply, seizing as much as he could, while her shaky response sent a surge of arousal coursing through him. She could feel his eagerness pressing through her thigh, one that sent her burning red in realization.
The self-control that Killorn always tried to wrestle in her presence came tumbling down as she slowly melted against him further. When she pulled back for air, their breaths mingling amidst soft intakes, Ophelia stared into his darkened gaze.
"A-aren't you worried t-that this is all from my mother's meddling?" Ophelia shakingly asked. "T-that I've deprived you of a woman m-meant for you?"
"You're more than I could ever ask for," Killorn deadpanned. "From the moment I met you to when I married you, I knew I'd never want or crave anything else as much as I do with you. Everything else is out of the equation—you are all I'd ever wish for, Ophelia. Just you and you alone."
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