Chapter 50: Six Feet Under

Jasper didn’t like how a random man stole the candy he wished to devour from his hands. With Alec wearing a black mask, he failed to recognize the lord and looked at him with disdain.

"I’m afraid the lady is not available for another dance as she is going with me for a walk outside. Isn’t that right, Lady Arianne?" Jasper was confident that the woman would choose him over the other man as she showed interest in him while they were dancing.

Lady Arianne. Alec eyed Lauren darkly, wondering what game she was playing this time. The woman sure had many schemes under her sleeves.

"Yes, that is right," Lauren gave Alec a look that told him she had a business going on and he should let her go. "Let’s just dance some other time, sire."

She tried to get away from his grip but Alec’s hold was firm on her waist.

Noticing that the man was reluctant in letting the lady go, Jasper was pissed. As a rich man’s son and a vampire, he had a lot of privileges and was used to getting what he wanted. And now that someone dared step in his way and was trying to take his plaything, he couldn’t take it lightly.

Jasper took off his mask to show the man who he was. After all, the families invited to the Owens mansion were all well acquainted with his family and they respected them because of their influence in the field of business. However, unlike Jasper expected, the man didn’t back off when he showed his face and acted like he didn’t know him at all.

"The lady refused. Let her go," Jasper said in an arrogant tone, showing his hostility.

The two vampires stared at each other while Lauren was between them. Jasper had a good build but compared to Alec, he was an inch shorter and Lauren knew that if the two must resort to violence, there was no doubt Alec could kill Jasper like an ant. Jasper may be a vampire but he was nothing but an ordinary one compared to Alec who came from an elite bloodline of pureblooded vampires.

"I’m afraid you have to take a walk alone. The lady shall not go with you," came Alec’s calm words.

Lauren gritted her teeth. As much as she wanted to spend more time with Jasper to gain more information, with Alec ruining her night, she didn’t think she could continue. Alec loved having his way and she couldn’t risk revealing her identity to Jasper. Whatever relationship he had with Queen Thalia, Lauren was sure they were somehow deeply connected and if she revealed herself to Jasper, it would be harder for her to uncover it.

"If you don’t know me, then let me tell you. I’m Jasper Owens, the son of the lord of this mansion. If you insist on taking my woman, let me warn you that I won’t be polite."

My woman.

Those two words were enough for Alec’s eyes to turn crimson. The dark red lining in his irises that could only be seen in pureblooded vampires made Jasper stop. His arrogant stance faltered and he started to doubt if he was acquainted with the man. His father loved befriending the lowly vampires and mages because they were easy to manipulate, but not the elites.

"Don’t you know that claiming someone else’s woman will give you a bed six feet under, Mr. Owens?" Alec asked quietly.

Jasper who was intimidated by the pureblooded vampire’s eyes couldn’t speak. Vampires were evil in nature but he knew how cruel the elites could be. They held more power than most and they had all the means to give a person the best possible death.

"If there is nothing else, then we shall excuse ourselves," Alec said when Jasper didn’t say anything due to fear that he might put himself in the wrong situation.

When they finally exited and were out of the people’s eyes, Lauren couldn’t hold herself anymore.

"What is wrong with you? I have personal matters to take care of and you did a great job ruining it!"

Alec’s unforgiving eyes fell on her and she had to admit it was rather unsettling to have him look at her that way as if she did a grave mistake, but she was too annoyed to care.

"You agreed on taking a walk with him outside? In the dark garden?" His lips curled cruelly, mocking her. "Did you really think he only wanted to talk?

"And did you really think I am too naïve? Of course I know he didn’t want to talk-"

"And you were willing to go with him," his tone was utterly quiet.

"We have an agreement about this. We won’t meddle with each other’s business-"

"I believe we both agreed to no sexual relationships with other people, and I strictly restrict you to let other vampires drink from you. That is what I signed up for, Lauren."

At the back of her mind, Lauren knew that Alec wasn’t too dumb to think that what she did was solely for entertainment but she couldn’t understand why he looked so livid for such a trivial matter.

"And what are you even wearing?" Alec looked at her dress which was purposely made to flaunt all of a woman’s assets. "Did you come here to seduce Jasper Owens? Perhaps another chess piece you want to add to your game?"

"That is not for you to know." Lauren was curious how he got in when he didn’t have an invitation but for sure like her, he was able to think of a solution.

"Get inside," Alec gestured to the carriage, his jaw was tightly clenched. "It is cold here."

The footman opened the door and Lauren went inside. Apart from she didn’t want anyone to spot them if they stayed longer, the cold night breeze was getting on her nerves.

When both of them were seated, they took off their masks and Alec told the coachman to head back to the mansion. His expression remained dark.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read