by Leigh Walker
“T-Thank you.”
“Now I know we aren’t actually feeding in class, but Your Highness, are you comfortable putting your mouth on her? Just to show her the spot from which you would feed?”
Dominic looked up, seeming a bit dazed. “I’m sorry?”
Professor Talbot stepped forward, looking terribly important in her blazer and fantastic hair. “Your Highness, your mother the queen has informed us all that despite your preferences to date, you will be feeding from Lady Victoria once she becomes your bride.”
Dom’s face pinched. “My mother can—”
“Always spread the news so quickly,” I finished for him, another fake smile firmly in place. “Yes, Professor, His Highness and I are going to consummate our marriage with traditional vampire…activities.” My face turned crimson as Dom stared at me. “I’m quite looking forward to it.”
I turned back to him and smiled, my real smile. His brow did not unfurrow. “You can put your mouth on my neck now if you like, Your Highness.” I tried to relax back in my chair like Alexandra had shown me. I leaned my neck to the right as the room went absolutely silent as Dom came close to me again.
“Are you sure? Is it okay if I do this?” he whispered. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I trust you,” I whispered back. “We’re okay.”
Dom didn’t look convinced, and there was something else behind his eyes. Is he nervous? He inhaled again, more deeply, and buried his face in my neck. If we’d been alone, I would’ve moaned. Instead, I tried to keep my body relaxed, hoping he could sense that I was enjoying myself.
He pressed his lips to my throat, placing tiny butterfly kisses down it until he reached the pulse point. I could feel my heart beat against his lips, and for some reason, it felt very intimate. When he stopped, his mouth against me, my whole body throbbed for him. Of course he felt it—everyone in the room probably felt it. He kissed my neck, running his tongue over the sensitive spot, and my body convulsed in shivers.
Dom pulled back immediately, breathing hard. He scrubbed both hands over his face. “Yes, well then. On to hair tossing.” He kept his face in his hands for one more moment. But just as he dropped them, I caught a flash.
His eyes were a blazing, fluorescent brown.
30
The Ring
We walked in silence back to my chambers. I still had shivers running through me.
I glanced at him in the shadowy hallway. “Well, that was…something.”
Dom cleared his throat. “I’m pretty embarrassed. My fangs were right on the verge of popping out in public.”
“You shouldn’t be embarrassed. I was the one who was writhing in the chair for everybody to see.”
He chortled. “I quite enjoyed that.”
“Oh, I’m sure you did.” I tossed my hair like Elise had shown me, certain he got a good whiff.
Dom’s nostrils flared. “Ah, now you’re toying with me.”
I shrugged then fluttered my eyelashes at him. “Is it working?”
He stopped and pulled me to him, pressing his chest to mine. “Yes.”
Heat filled me from within. “Well, then. I guess it’s worth it.”
He gazed down at me, but just at that moment, a guard clambered down the hall. “Your Highness, I’m so sorry to interrupt, but your father needs you in the council room.”
Dom looked as though he might smash something, quite possibly the guard’s face. “Thanks so much for letting me know.”
The guard read his expression, looked at me, then coughed. “Right. Sorry about that.”
The prince frowned. “See the lady to her room, then make sure she is properly guarded.” He turned back to me. “I’ll return to you as soon as I can. When we are alone again, we can discuss…everything.”
I nodded, breathless. “I’m looking forward to it, Your Highness.” Between my hormones and the tiny bit he’d told me about my family, I was a hot mess.
He laughed and shook his head as he strode off. “Not as much as I am.”
Sighing, I leaned against the wall as I watched him go.
“My Lady?” the guard asked, breaking my reverie.
I stood up straight and cleared my throat. “Right. Let’s go.”
I woke up the next morning in my bed, alone, the sun streaming through the windows. I was sad that Dom wasn’t there, but then I noticed the drool on my pillow. Perhaps it was for the best.
Besides, I’d passed out as soon as I’d gotten back to my room. I supposed traveling through time, being attacked by a vampire, hearing that your presumed-to-be-dead mother and sister were somehow alive, and snogging your vampire-prince fiancé in front of an audience would do that to a girl.
I stretched, my body still stiff from my travels the day before. Just as I finished brushing my teeth, someone knocked on my door. “Yes?” my cheeks heated, as I hoped it was the prince.
“Are you decent?” Anthony hiss-whispered through the door. “If yes, bloody well let me in!”
I opened the door, and he scrambled in, slamming it shut behind him. He was holding a large sack—a large, moving sack.
“What on earth is that?”
Something inside it yowled. Anthony looked at me helplessly. “It’s for Fitzy.”
“You didn’t.”
“Well, of course I did! You can’t break your word to a vampire, Tor, not even one that’s chained up in the dungeon!”
“Why not?” The bag yowled again, and I stepped back.
“Because it’s bad luck.” Anthony shook the sack, presumably in an attempt to get its occupant to quiet down. Instead, it hissed angrily. “Now get dressed and come with me. We’ve got to get rid of this thing before someone sees it!”
“All right, all right.” I tried not to think about the poor cat. It must be terrified. I ran into the bathroom, threw on a dress and roughly brushed my hair.
Anthony and I were out the door in under a minute. We hustled down one hall then another. We’d almost reached the stairs when boots clicked behind us.
“Victoria, Anthony, hold on a moment,” Dominic called.
“Don’t say a word about this, d’you hear me?” Anthony whispered. He cursed as we turned to face the prince. The sack went a bit spastic, and he kept it firmly behind his back.
“I’ve been all over, looking for you.” Dom frowned when he reached us. “What are you two doing?”
“Nothing,” we said at the same time.
“Okay?” Dominic didn’t sound like it was okay. “Victoria, I’m so sorry I never came back last night. I was in a council meeting until dawn, and now my mother needs us. She said that she wants to…”
The sack rustled, its occupant hissing.
The prince tried to peer around us. “What on earth is that?”
“Nothing,” we said again.
Dom frowned, and I stepped forward. “What were you saying? About what your mother wants?”
He sighed. “She wants us to do a ring ceremony in front of the villagers this morning. She says she’s trying to maintain excitement for the wedding. I’m not sure what she’s planning, but as you said you were willing to cooperate, I thought we should do as she wishes.”
“Of course. We must go at once.” I took his hand and winked at Anthony over my shoulder. “See you later?”
The bag hissed again, and Anthony grimaced. “Yes, of course.”
Dominic waited until we were a few steps away to interrogate me. “What was Anthony hiding?”
“I’m not sure. Well, it was a sack—I’m sure about that.” That was as close to the truth as I could get.
“What was inside it?”
Smiling up at him, I said, “I never saw. Now, tell me about this ring ceremony.”
Dom wasn’t fooled, but he answered my question. “She wants us to declare ourselves to each other and for me to give you an engagement ring. Her spies have informed her that the villagers are antsy for news about our relationship.”
“Since wh
en did your mother care about what the villagers want?”
“Since never. Something else is going on, of course. I believe that she wants the villagers excited because she’s planning something involving the ceremony. She mentioned again that she’s inviting foreign dignitaries and that she plans to make this the event of the century.” He didn’t sound happy about it.
“Is that bad?”
He frowned. “Knowing my mother, I’m sure it’s probably not good. But there’s more I need to tell you, as it affects you directly. Let’s go to your bedroom so we’ll be alone.”
“Okay.” We hustled down the hallway. We hadn’t had the chance to speak more about my family, and it was burning me up inside. As soon as we got to my room, he locked the door behind us.
He gripped my hands. “I need to tell you about your mother and sister.”
I exhaled and nodded. After taking another steadying breath, I said, “Go on.”
“Three years ago, I saw them—here, in the kingdom. They were here on a diplomatic visit.”
“And they were alive. Just say it again, please.” My eyes filled with tears.
“Yes, they were alive.”
“How is that possible?” The tears quickly spilled over.
“I don’t know, of course. I don’t know how any of it works.” He pulled me against his chest as I cried. “I can only promise you that we’ll find them when the time is right, and we’ll rescue them.”
“Rescue them—rescue them?” I sat up, adrenaline rushing through me. “Are they still in the kingdom—the village? We have to go and get them. It’s not safe out there. They could get bitten. Your mother’s about to start a war. Something terrible could happen. We have to protect them!”
“Victoria.” Dom’s voice was gentle but firm. “They’re not in the village. Protecting them is not that simple.”
I jumped up. “Of course it’s simple! It’s my family!”
“Please.” The emotion was clear in his voice. “Come back and sit down. I didn’t tell you about this before because it was—it is—too dangerous, Victoria. Now please let me explain.”
I wiped the tears from my face with shaking hands. Then I went and sat on the edge of the bed, forcing myself to listen to him. “What did you mean about a diplomatic visit? Tell me everything, please.”
“I’d known that you’d lost your mother and sister. You told me that the second time you came through—which was the first time that we ever talked. You told me they were in an accident and that they both died.”
“They were in an accident. They got hit by a tractor-trailer, and there was an explosion.” Their bodies had been burned. All I’d had left was their ashes.
Dom took my hand in his. “I think the truth is a little more complicated than that.”
“I don’t understand.” My voice rose to a hysterical pitch.
“They’d gone back in time—to your time—to try to escape from here. But then the three of you got separated, and there were some other…developments.”
My head swam. None of this made sense. “Please—where are they? When did you see them?”
“When their master brought them to the kingdom.”
I opened my mouth then closed it. After a moment, I asked, “Their master?”
“They are the legal property of a rather notorious vampire, I’m afraid.” Dom looked uncomfortable. “He’s my mother’s counterpart in the east.”
“How is that possible? How are they his property?”
Dom squeezed my hand. “Because he’s your mother’s husband.”
I just looked at him.
“And Isabel’s father.”
“Are you drunk, Dominic?”
He grimaced. “No, but I sort of wish I were.”
Neither of us said anything for a moment.
“Does that mean… Is he…” I couldn’t even formulate the question.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions yet,” he said gently. “There are a lot of moving pieces and many things I still need to understand about the situation.”
I couldn’t even begin to fathom it. My mother is married to a vampire? A vampire from the future? I didn’t remember my real father. Mom had insisted that he’d abandoned us, physically and financially. “Are my mother and Iz safe? Are they okay?”
“They were healthy enough for me to recognize them, which was a comfort. But much like my mother, Emperor Lucas wants to change the world order. He wants vampires to rule.”
“Then why the hell is he married to a human?”
“I don’t know,” he said quietly. “Maybe it’s for the same reason my mother allowed me to propose to you. It might be part of a larger plan. But I’m not privy to the details, and I don’t know for sure.”
Sitting there, reeling, I stared blankly at him. My mother and Iz are alive? They’re prisoners of a crazy emperor vampire? My mother is married to the crazy emperor vampire?
Who might be my…dad?
“My mother will invite them to the wedding, of course.”
We stared at each other.
My heart sped up. “Of course.”
“I know you aren’t excited about getting married—”
“Dominic. I will marry you, have your vampire babies, walk through fire, and let you plunge your fangs into my neck every night for the rest of eternity if we can get my mom and Iz back.” Truth be told, I might want to do one or so of those items anyway—it seemed a small sacrifice to make.
He started to speak but stopped.
I gripped his hands. “Seriously. Let’s do this.”
Mistress Olivia knocked on the door. “Lady Victoria, we need to get you ready for the ring ceremony.”
The prince looked at me. “Are you certain?”
I looked back at him. “I’m ready if you are,” I said.
“Victoria, I’m more than ready.” He smiled at me. “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life—which you might remember has been a very long time.”
Much like the ceremony for the Trade, the platform was set up on the edge of the square, near the castle. Dominic and I marched in line behind the guards. As we crossed the bridge, I once again peered into the moat. Once again, two eyes peered back at me from the murky water.
I gripped Dominic’s hand as we followed the guards. The king and queen were behind us, bringing up the rear. The queen had the ring. She’d barely spoken a word to me since we’d joined them in the garden. Not that I cared. I might be a means to an end for her, but she was exactly the same for me.
My mother. My sister. They were alive, and they were somewhere in this time zone. I squeezed Dominic’s hand, silently thanking him. If I hadn’t had feelings for him, I never would’ve come back. I never would’ve learned the truth.
I owed him my life, my loyalty.
We climbed the platform stairs, and the villagers went wild, waving brightly colored flags. When we reached the stage, Dom raised our entwined hands and smiled at them, triumphant. I knew he was playing a role, but I saw joy in his eyes. It was real. This is real.
The king and queen came next, waving and bowing their heads at the unwitting crowd. The villagers knew nothing of the queen’s dark heart. She beamed down at them benevolently, the loving matriarch of the kingdom. Liar.
I’d told Dominic that vanquishing her was not my fight, but perhaps I’d been wrong. It was clear to me I was here for a reason. I needed to play it out, to see just what it was that fate required of me.
“Good people of the kingdom.” The queen raised her hands to quiet them as the king stood by, a useless marionette. “I am honored to be here with you today, with my son, His Highness Dominic Allard, and his beautiful bride-to-be, Lady Victoria from Margate.”
Dominic bowed, and I curtsied. The crowd erupted into applause and whistles.
“When we announced their engagement at the Trade, it was intended as a surprise for you, something to delight you, something we could all celebrate together. Now, as the moon continues to wane, I wanted to inc
lude you in another important event: the gift of the royal ring from the prince to his intended.”
More applause burst forth, and the queen smiled broadly. She went to Dominic and kissed his cheeks then handed him a small, red-velvet box. Next she took my face in her hands and kissed each cheek. And did I imagine it, or did she sniff me while she had the chance?
“Now, my son, the prince, will say a few words.” The queen went and stood by her husband.
Dominic bowed his head. When he looked back up at the crowd, he was beaming. “I am honored to be here today, before all of you, before the gods, to declare myself to Lady Victoria.”
The crowd cheered so fiercely, I worried they’d never stop. Dom seemed to enjoy it, smiling at the villagers until they quieted down.
“In the lady, I have found what I’ve been searching for my entire life—a partner I can trust, who understands me, who supports me, who challenges me. A partner who has become very dear to me in a short amount of time.” He turned to me. “Lady Victoria, would you do me the honor of wearing my family’s ring? It is a tradition passed down for centuries. You would honor my family by accepting.”
I bowed to him. “Your Highness, this has all been a dream come true. The fact that I’ve been chosen—to be your bride, your partner, your companion—is an honor I am only beginning to comprehend as I continue to get to know you. I accept this ring with my whole heart.”
He opened the box, and I almost fell off the platform when I saw how big the diamond was. It was round, set amidst a circle of small sapphires. I stared at it, mesmerized, as he slipped it onto my finger.
“You have made me very happy, my lady.” Dominic’s eyes shone.
“Me too.” I smiled at him, just him, as the king, queen, and the crowds fell away. “You have given me my life back, my lord, and you have filled my heart. You have my loyalty, Your Highness. You have it forever.”
I meant every word of my vow.
He leaned down to kiss me chastely on the lips, and the villagers went ballistic, as did my hormones. “Well, then.” The prince grinned at me when he broke away. “Shall we?” He turned to face the crowd and bowed again.