Hidden Bite (Book 3 of Bite Trilogy)

Chapter 2

Dedicated to: Kristine Santander

Chapter 1-10 of Hidden Bite happens before Glistening Lanterns and Map of the Blazing Hearth.

Chapter 2: Vanished

"I highly suggest a second princess, Zen. An enchantress from Parsua Avalon predicted that a newly born princess from our bloodline will bring good fortune to our empire," King Dastan said in his serious tone before sipping blood from his golden chalice.

Handa na sana kaming matulog ni Zen nang may tagasunod na kumatok sa aming silid at sinabi nitong nais kaming makausap ng hari.

My original plan was to seduce Zen and make him spill everything about his previous talk with Seth, Blair, and Rosh. Pero mukhang may sarili rin misyon ang aming hari.

Katahimikan ang bumalot sa amin at pinili kong hindi magsalita. I waited for Zen's answer. Pero kung ako ang tatanungin at bibigyan ng ideya ng hari, hindi na ako magdadalawang isip.

If it is really necessary, why not grant him? Isa pa, malaki na si Divine, hindi na masamang sundan siya.

But as what I've expected. . .

Muntik nang maibuga ni Zen ang kanyang iniinom na dugo.

"Are you serious? Bakit ako na naman, Dastan? You can ask Lily and Adam or Kalla and Finn! We have Naha and Evan too! Can't you see? I'm still struggling with Divina."

Tuluyan nang ibinaba ni Zen ang kopita at nawalan na siya nang gana sa pag-inom ng dugo.

"Why? Divina is a sweet little angel," nawiwiling sagot ni kamahalan.

Napaangat ang isang kilay ko sa sinabi ni kamahalan. As a powerful vampire king, it's quite odd for him to use another's creature's title as a metaphor for a vampire.

Well? What would I expect from King Dastan? Lahat ng nilalang ay pantay-pantay sa kanya. He's the most powerful king of Nemetio Spiran after all. He praises every creature and never favors anyone.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Zen na parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ng kanyang kapatid.

"Your Majesty, I beg to disagree," nakakuyom na ang mga kamao ni Zen na parang ang usapan nila ni kamahalan ay tungkol na naman sa isang malaking digmaan.

It's all about having another princess. Bakit ba ang laki ng trauma nitong si Zen kay Divina? Sila na nga lang laging mag-ama ang magkasama.

"W-What, Zen?" umangal na rin ako.

My little Divina is sutil. But I will never disagree with King Dastan for calling her our sweet little angel. Ano ba ang problema nitong si Zen?

"Our daughter is not an angel, Claret. She's a vampire with fangs," gigil na sagot ng Prinsipe ng mga Nyebe.

I rolled my eyes. "Seriously?"

"I am serious, Dastan. Hindi pa namin susundan si Divina. To hell with that enchantress! Why not you and Queen Leti—" bago may sundan ni Zen ang sasabihin niya ay agad ko na siyang siniko.

How can he suggest that? Queen Leticia's still in her recovery stage. She just came back from nowhere after Queen Talisha's disappearance. Queen Talisha left letters to her children, at tanging sina Dastan pa lang yata at Lily ang siyang naglakas ng loob basahin iyon.

It was during our dinner, a week after Queen Leticia had returned with the lotus flower. King Dastan announced that Queen Talisha's now at peace and happy.

Mahirap man tanggapin pero siguro matagal na iyong pinagplanuhan ng reyna. Leticia tried to blame herself, but we, ladies of Gazellian, assured her that the Gazellian siblings would never blame her for everything that happened.