Who Said Vampires Don't Exist? Well, I Did, Until Now

Chapter 33: Civilization

Chapter 33

It felt strange to be sitting in the passenger seat beside Reuban. It was such a normal action; it seemed wrong.

"How long will it take to get there?" I asked.

"About 30 minutes."

30 minutes inside of a small space with Reuban. I felt my heart rate pick up. I gripped by seatbelt to try and get a hold of my nerves.

"Are we just going to buy clothes?" I asked, trying to start up a conversation. Reuban had been acting distant since we left the mansion.

"Not just clothes. We have some other things to buy as well." I glanced over at him in surprise. His expression was placid as he kept his gaze on the road.

"What other things?" His eyes flickered over to me quickly before fixing back on the road.

"We'll have a couple of days before we reach the werewolf pack." He ignored my question and changed the subject. I sighed in frustration. My only comfort was the realization that I would find out soon.

"A few days?" I asked in shock. "I thought you would be able to get us there a lot quicker than that."

"If I were traveling alone, perhaps." His voice was even. He showed no traces of anger or resentment.

"I'm sorry. I know it must be annoying dragging me along." I nervously fiddled with my thumbs.

"It's not annoying... it's worrying. Humans are so fragile; I don't want anything to happen to you." Reuban didn't spare me a look, but his tone was warm and affectionate. All of my nerves dissipated as I watched him.

I was once again struck by how handsome he was. The bridge of his nose was in a perfectly straight line, his jaw was broad and firm, and his eyebrows were the perfect amount of soft brown to match his windswept hair. Best of all were his beautiful blue eyes which stared ahead. They were pristine, and I felt I could look into them all day long. Was it a vampire trait to be so beautiful, or was that just Reuban?

"Are you going to ogle me the whole trip?" My head snapped straight ahead immediately, and my heart pounded heavily in embarrassment.

"Sorry." I muttered in a very small voice. I knew my entire body was beet-red in mortification.

It took me a moment to glance back over to him, but I was surprised when I did. I hadn't noticed before, but Reuban looked nervous. He licked his lips, and his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. A soft blush was barely visible behind his black trench coat collar.

Reuban was affected by my staring. I made him nervous.

For some reason, this information filled me with a boldness I'd never possessed before in his presence.

"Reuban." I started as I turned my body to face him as best I could. "There's been something I've wanted to ask you about for a long time."

"What is it?" His voice contained the same seriousness I presented.

"Why do you want to be king?" The words rolled off my tongue with a sort of satisfying ecstasy.

"It's what I was born to be." He answered simply and matter-of-factly. It sounded like a rehearsed script.

"But why would you be so desperate to be king? You do everything the Master tells you without hesitation; all for his position. It can't be simply because it's what you were born into." My logic was irrefutable, and he took a long time to answer.

"I... I can't do anything until I become king." His voice was brimming with frustration.

"What do you mean?"