Curses and Crowns (Vampires of Crescent Cape Book 1)

by L. Danvers

  “It’s Grace.”

  I sat up. Relief washed over me at her voice. I could use a friend right now. “Oh. One second.” I ran my fingers through my messy hair and smoothed it out before answering the door. I smiled when I found Grace standing there in her pajamas.

  “Do you mind if I come in?”

  “Sure.”

  “I heard the servants in the hall, so I figured you must be back from your date. How’d it go?”

  I invited her to join me by the crackling fireplace. Dancing shadows leaped across Grace’s face as she sat across from me. “It... it was confusing.”

  Grace looked at me incredulously. “Don’t tell me you actually like him.”

  I drew my lips between my teeth, trying to sort it out for myself. “I don’t know. I don’t really want to talk about it.” I hugged my arms around a pillow and rested my chin on top of it.

  “Can I trust you with a secret?”

  I glanced up, looking her right in the eye. “Of course.”

  Who else was I going to tell? She was my only friend here. And soon, we’d both be dead anyway.

  “I’m going to run away,” she said with impressive confidence considering how little of a chance she had at actually succeeding. “I’m going to take my life back, or I’m going to die trying. I just wanted you to know.”

  I chewed the inside of my cheek, then lifted my head. “I’ll go with you.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. I have to get out of this place,” I said. “I don’t want to be a vampire, and I’m kind of attached to my blood. So... yeah. I’ll go with you. There’s strength in numbers, right?”

  Her face lit. She reached across and took my hands, squeezing them. “I like the way you think, Danielle. Let’s do this.”

  I let out a nervous laugh, hardly believing what I’d committed to. But there was no other way. I couldn’t stay here any longer. I wanted to go home. I wanted to see my parents again. “We’ll look after each other,” I vowed. “No woman gets left behind.”

  “Of course.”

  Just then, the fire went out. If it weren’t for the glowing embers and the lit candles on my nightstand, we wouldn’t have been able to see a thing. I reached for the poker, but Grace stopped me.

  “Watch this.” She raised her hands, palms facing out, and focused with such intensity that a line formed between her brow. All of a sudden, a flame shot up.

  Gasping, I jumped back. “How’d you do that?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” She batted her blue eyes, looking into the flames. “I don’t really know how I did it. I turned seventeen a few weeks ago, and ever since then, things started happening—lights flickering, things floating. Fire’s the only thing I seem to be able to control, although it can be a little spotty.”

  “Don’t you have to be born into a coven to be a witch?” I asked. “Your parents didn’t tell you what you were?”

  Grace played with the end of her blonde ponytail. “I was adopted,” she said with a shrug. “I guess my adoptive parents didn’t know.”

  “I’m so sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say. I’d always been wary of witchcraft. “When we get out of here, maybe we can find someone who can help you. Who can teach you how to use your powers.”

  She chuckled. “I don’t even know if I want to use my powers. I mean, tricks like lighting a fire are cool and all, but real magic? It seems like nothing good ever comes from it. Look at the blood heirs. Look at the boundary. If it wasn’t for witches, this whole place wouldn’t even exist. At least, not like this.”

  I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Grace was a witch. I wondered what other powers she might be able to uncover. I’d always thought witches were evil. But Freya used her powers to help Aiden. That wasn’t evil at all. She’d probably saved countless lives by supplying him with artificial blood and keeping him from having to feed. I wondered what other positive contributions witches might be capable of...

  We sat there for a while, staring into the fire, both of us unsure of what to say next. My mind began to wander, and an idea popped into my head. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to ask. “Do you think you can undo compulsion?” I figured she probably couldn’t, but it was worth inquiring. Because if she could undo compulsion, I could get my memories back and remember how I ended up in Crescent Cape in the first place.

  “I have no clue. I can try.”

  “Would you? I want to remember how I got here. I want to know the truth.”

  Cautiously, Grace reached out to me, pressing her fingertips against my temples. I closed my eyes as if concentrating really hard would somehow help her unlock my memories.

  A few seconds went by.

  “Remember anything yet?” she asked, pulling her hands away.

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It was stupid of me to ask.”

  She frowned. “Wanting to know your own past doesn’t make you stupid, Danielle. If—no, when we get out of here, I’ll do what I can to help you. Heck, I’d like to know what happened to me, too.”

  I nodded, the weight of what we planned to do hitting me. We stayed up for hours trying to sort out how we’d pull off our escape, talking until we both passed out from exhaustion.

  Aiden

  Fuming, I scoured the castle, searching for Julian. But that scoundrel of a brother of mine was nowhere to be found. And holding everything inside only intensified my anger. I marched to Charlotte’s room, figuring she might know what he was up to. I banged my fist against her door. She opened it mid-knock.

  Her forehead wrinkled. “What’s wrong?”

  “Where is he?”

  “Who?”

  “Who the hell do you think I’m talking about? Julian. Where is he?”

  She scratched her head, messing up her blonde curls. She glanced at her watch. “Did you check his room? He’s probably sleeping.”

  Did I check his room? I rolled my eyes, mumbling to myself. “He’s not. So, where is he?”

  “How should I know?”

  “Because the two of you are practically attached at the hip. Did you know, Charlotte?” I asked, stepping closer so that I towered over my sister. I stared into her green eyes, daring her to lie to me. “Did you know what was to become of the girls? What would happen to them after I selected one to be my bride?”

  She swallowed down a lump in her throat.

  “Everyone knew but me?” I asked, brushing right past her and into her room. “Great. That’s just great.”

  “Why does it even matter? Xander said he didn’t think you wanted to take a bride anyway.”

  I stopped short. Lowering my breath, I said, “It matters. Okay?”

  “Don’t tell me you’re in love with one of them already. For goodness’ sake, Aiden, they got here yesterday.” She closed the door behind her and joined me beside her desk. She crossed her arms. Letting out a sigh of disappointment, she asked, “Which one is she?”

  I ignored her. We were not having this conversation right now. I was here to talk about Julian. Not gush over my feelings for the girl whose family I’d murdered.

  “Is it Amara?” she guessed—wrong. “It’s Amara, isn’t it? She seems a bit pushy. I’m not sure if the other girls like her very much. But, you have to admit, she’s playing the game well.”

  “This isn’t a game, Charlotte. This is my life.” I shook my head in disbelief. “Look. Tell me where Julian is, and I’ll leave.”

  She shrugged. “I’m afraid you’re out of luck, brother. I haven’t seen him.”

  With that, I returned to my room.

  The next few hours were spent running over everything I intended to say to Julian when I saw him again. I even pulled out one of my journals and angrily scribbled an onslaught of every negative thought I’d had about him. Part of me wanted to give it to him. But no matter how upset I was, some of the things I’d written were things that you simply didn’t sa
y to your own brother. He put on a tough show, but I knew better than anyone that his arrogance and lust for power was his way of coping with his crippling insecurities. Our parents hadn’t loved him. It was as simple as that. My very existence—and that of Charlotte, Natalie and Xander—served as a constant reminder that he wasn’t good enough for our parents.

  I had every reason in the world to hate him. But the truth was that I pitied him. So, I ripped the letter from my journal, crumpled it up and threw it into the fireplace, making sure every last bit of it burned.

  My anger eventually subsided. He couldn’t really make me go through with this anyway. I mean, technically he could. But he’d had how many opportunities to kill me over the centuries? And he hadn’t taken any of them yet. Yes, he’d use the whole werewolf thing as leverage over me. But I knew deep down he wouldn’t kill me over refusing to take a bride. And I’d see to it myself that all four girls were safe when this was all over.

  Eventually, I retired to bed. But I still couldn’t sleep.

  As I watched the flames in the fireplace lick the air, my thoughts drifted to Danielle. I still didn’t know for sure if Julian had dragged her into this on purpose or if it had been some cruel twist of fate, but no matter how terrified I was of revealing the truth of what I’d done to her, I had to do it. It was the right thing to do.

  She would hate me by this time tomorrow. So, I intended to make the most of the morning. As soon as the girls awakened, I’d steal her away. I wanted to do something special for her. It would be my apology before the apology.

  Tomorrow afternoon, I’d compel her to remember.

  All I could hope was that she’d see my affection for her and know that, because of her, I was no longer the man I was ten years ago. She’d saved me from the darkest part of myself, and I was forever indebted to her for that.

  Julian

  All I’d wanted for the past thousand years was to claim what was mine. I had vowed long ago that I would never physically harm my siblings. I didn’t want them dead. But I did want to rule.

  Luckily, Xander, Charlotte and Natalie had no interest in ruling anyway.

  But Aiden... he felt he owed it to our parents to fulfill their legacy.

  Mother and Father had dabbled in dark magic to bring Aiden and the other blood heirs into existence. I’d made them pay for that. But to Aiden, it seemed as if the least he could do was to actually carry out their wishes and rule. So, if I had any hope of ever actually wielding power, I had to carry out this plan.

  I had no intention of actually killing the girls competing for his heart. I only wanted Aiden to believe I did. And in order for him to believe it, everyone else had to believe it, too.

  The stakes had to be high enough.

  He had to fall in love and be willing to do anything—he had to be willing to renounce his title—in order to, in his mind, save the woman he chose.

  I knew he would do it. After losing Victoria, he would do anything to protect the people he loved.

  Needless to say, Danielle being here was no accident.

  When I’d first crafted this plan, I searched for months for the girl who had stopped the fiercest vampire in Crescent Cape in his tracks. Aiden’s bloodlust was legendary, so whoever this child was, she had to be special. I figured if she could have made Aiden, of all people, give up drinking blood, she might be able to charm him enough to convince him to give up the throne to save her.

  I hadn’t accounted for the possibility that I might start to care for her, too. It hadn’t hit me until she bumped into me earlier. A surge of emotions I hadn’t felt in years crashed over me all at once the second I touched her.

  Danielle was a distraction. A beautiful distraction.

  And I feared she might ruin everything.

  But there was an even bigger problem. Because earlier today, I overheard Xander telling Aiden about the attack on his life. I hadn’t intended to eavesdrop. But, being a werewolf, it wasn’t particularly hard to overhear things.

  The attack troubled me greatly. It was a bold move to attack a blood heir. And it was carried out by Xander’s drunkard of a friend Emric, no doubt. So, it was time for me to pay Emric a little visit.

  I wouldn’t let anyone come for my family.

  And I certainly wouldn’t let anyone come for my throne.

  Aiden

  “Ah, there you are,” I said. I took Danielle by the hand and pulled her in closer. “Just the girl I wanted to see.”

  I probably should have left that last part out. I didn’t want to insult the other girls. But they didn’t seem to notice. Amara was flipping through a fashion magazine. Tara was busy adjusting her top-knot while meticulously studying her reflection. And Grace was perusing a grimoire she must have found in the library. It was an odd choice of reading material—not exactly light stuff. But all I could focus on was Danielle and the way the sunlight splashing through the window brought out the red in her brunette locks.

  I brushed her hair away from her cheek, tucking it behind her ear. I dipped my chin, leaning in a little closer. I sensed her confusion—after all, I had left rather abruptly last night. But after spending all night working on it, I couldn’t wait to share this with her. “I have a surprise for you.”

  Her eyes shifted sheepishly, and her cheeks flushed. “Really?”

  “Come,” I said, giving her hand a gentle tug.

  Tara and Amara watched us walk off together, but Grace was too wrapped up in her reading to notice we’d even left. I told the ladies that I would return Danielle to them soon, and with polite nods they returned to their business.

  “So, what’s this surprise?” she asked as we hurried down the hall.

  “I put something together for you. I worked on it all night.” I took her around the corner, and I opened the door for her to enter.

  “Aiden,” she said breathlessly.

  Inside, she found her surprise: a room filled with art supplies. Easels, canvases, pencils and paint... every item I could find even remotely related to art was in this room—gifts for her.

  I smiled with pleasure as I watched her reaction. She drew her hand to her mouth, covering it in amazement as she gaped. She squeezed my arm and let out a squeal. “Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve used an actual canvas?” she asked. “I’ve been drawing on scraps of paper for as long as I can remember.”

  My throat hitched at her words, remembering then that I was the reason.

  Telling her the truth was going to be the hardest thing I’d ever have to do. The pain was inevitable. But I decided to push the thought aside for the time being and savor this moment—while she was still looking at me this way.

  She scurried over to the spread of supplies and selected a pencil. Funny. I would have guessed she would have gone for something... I don’t know... fancier. She turned on her heel, the skirt of her dress giving a little swoosh as she spun around. Wiggling the pencil between her fingers, her lips curved into a flirtatious grin.

  “Do you mind if I draw you?”

  I was taken aback by the offer. She was so sweet. So innocent. She didn’t deserve the torment I’d put her through—or the agony she’d soon feel when I revealed the truth.

  I gulped, suddenly overridden by guilt.

  “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

  How could I say no to her? “Alright,” I said, and I sat exactly where she told me. For all I knew, five minutes had passed. We talked and laughed and she got on to me for moving too much.

  But before I knew it, she stepped back from the easel, admiring her work. She picked up the canvas and held it up for me to see. She shook her hair off her shoulder and said, “What do you think?”

  My lips parted as I took it all in. She’d expressed her interest in drawing, which of course was why I had put this surprise together for her last night, but I never expected her to exhibit such talent.

  My heart fell, my torment deepening. I couldn’t help but picture her spending nights in the shabby village housing, sketc
hing by candlelight to pass the time while she dreamed of returning to the parents she had no idea were dead.

  “You hate it, don’t you?” she said, her nose wrinkling.

  “No! No, of course not. I’m just speechless, that’s all.”

  She returned the canvas to the easel, cocking her head to the side while she examined it again.

  I came over to join her, standing at her side while I admired her work. In the picture, I didn’t see myself as I was. I saw the man I wanted to be. The man I needed to be. She turned to face me, standing so close that her breath tickled my lips. “Thank you.”

  “No. Thank you,” I whispered. “For everything.”

  She studied my face, trying to figure out what I meant by that.

  I placed my hands on her shoulders, trying so hard not to talk myself out of doing the right thing.

  I had to tell her.

  “Danielle, there’s something I need—”

  Catching me by surprise, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed me.

  Danielle

  I didn’t know what had compelled me to kiss him. Perhaps it was the pure joy I felt at getting a piece of myself back. And while sketching him, studying him... I don’t know. It was like it forced me to focus on the human side of him. The side I could fall for, if I allowed myself to.

  Grace and I had everything worked out. We were going to sneak out and get the hell out of Crescent Cape. As much as I knew it needed to be done, a part of my heart ached at the thought of saying goodbye to Aiden—as baffling as that was, given what he was.

  When I’d drawn him, I found myself captivated by his lips. For someone who seemed so proper and even rigid at times, his lips looked so soft. And the way they curved when he laughed drew me in, making me fantasize about how they’d feel pressed against mine.

  So even though Aiden was in the middle of talking, I went for it. I kissed him. I figured, what did I have to lose? Soon, with any luck, I’d never see him again anyway.