by Snow, Jenika
“It wasn’t, and isn’t your place to protect her, Ryce. She is mine. It should have been plain as day to you. You should know better than anyone how important a mate is.”
Ryce saw immediate regret cross Gaijryc’s features. Ryce dropped his head, his memories coming to the forefront of his mind and blinding him. He worked hard over the centuries to get himself under control, but when you lost the one you loved, you were never the same.
“I’m sorry. I should never have said that.”
Ryce held up his hand and shook his head. “You are my future king. You do not apologize to me. I should have known my boundaries—should have known that I was not to go near her. I admit I was wrong, but you see, my lord, I knew Iena had seen her also.”
He looked up and saw that Gaijryc already knew.
“You knew?”
Gaijryc nodded, ran his hand through his hair and walked back over to his seat.
“She reminded me so much of… well, you know, and I saw a fragile being that needed looking after when you were away. I know I should have told you, and I was planning on it, but then I saw Iena one afternoon when you had gone. She had seen your human and I saw her evil corrupt mind working. I would have killed her right there if she approached your female, but she left as soon as she had seen her.” Ryce stepped away from the wall and approached Gaijryc’s desk. “So every time you left, I went back there, hid in the woods and made sure no one bothered her. I should have never approached her, never talked to her, but like I said, she reminded me of what I had lost, and I was weak. Forgive me. I meant no disrespect. I should have told you right away, I know this.”
Gaijryc stood from his chair and walked over to Ryce. They looked at each other, no words being spoken, just a silent communication passing between them. Gaijryc held his hand out, waiting for him to take it. Ryce looked down at the offering, smiling as he grabbed Gaijryc’s forearm in a warrior’s greeting.
“Just don’t do it again.” Gaijryc smiled after his comment, pulling Ryce into a brotherly hug.
“You know, you should probably tell them that you plan on mating a human before they go through with the ball.”
Gaijryc pulled away, distancing himself from Ryce and walking over to the window.
“What is it?”
Gaijryc didn’t say anything, just stared out the window, his jaw clenched tight. “You know I love her, Ryce. Love her so much it hurts.” He ran a hand through his hair and looked at Ryce. “I can’t mate her.”
“Yes, you can.”
“I can’t. Iena has threatened to tell my mother if I don’t choose her as my queen. I can’t risk Helina’s life like that.”
There was a stretch of silence before Ryce spoke again. “I’ll kill her for you.” The words were spoken quietly, so soft they were a whisper.
“I know you would. I should have done it from the beginning. Taken her out of her misery and saved the lot of us the headache she’s given. It’s a small price to pay for the safety of the one I love.”
“It doesn’t have to be this way.”
“It does. If it wasn’t Iena, then it would have been someone else. It is forbidden to mate a human, especially the future king mating one. No DarkShine would accept her as their queen.”
“You could turn her.”
“You know it is forbidden to change a human, and besides, she wouldn’t want that.”
“No one will know she was a human. Once she is changed she will be just like us. And how do you know she wouldn’t agree to it?”
“Because you killed her sister, Ryce.”
Ryce stared at him in confusion, his brows drawn tight over his eyes. It was after a second that the dawning truth finally penetrated his brain. He shook his head, turning back forward to look out the window.
“You don’t understand, my lord.” They didn’t say anything, his prince not asking him for details which he was grateful for. He didn’t know how he could tell him anyway. “You could take her and run.”
Gaijryc looked over at Ryce, surprise flickering over his face. Ryce didn’t move and didn’t explain his statement.
“You know I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. You’re the high ranking prince. You can do whatever you like.”
“I have made a promise to Iena that I will mate her.” Gaijryc held up his hand to stop any arguments from Ryce. “I will do whatever it takes to keep Helina safe, even if that means mating that evil bitch of a female.”
“You’re a brave male, Gaijryc.” Ryce shook his head, knowing if the roles were reversed he would have run with the one he loved. Damn the consequences. “What will you do with your female? Will you take her someplace safe?”
“She must leave.”
He looked at Ryce and gritted his teeth. “After the ball I’ll take her someplace safe, someplace where no DarkShine will find her.”
“Are you going to have the strength to walk away, Gaijryc? To leave what you know is right?”
“I can’t risk having her stay so near.”
Ryce placed his hand on his prince’s shoulder. Gaijryc slowly raised his head and pierced him with his blue gaze. He looked haunted and tormented, a feeling Ryce was very familiar with, a feeling he lived with every day. “Make sure this is what you really want. Make sure you are prepared to leave your heart behind, because I will tell you this, my lord. When you lose the one you love, you also lose yourself.”
“It’s all for Helina, for her protection. It’s the right thing to do.”
Ryce uttered a curse and left, not bothering to look back at his prince or comment on the monumental mistake he was about to make.
Helina sat in the living room, under the dull glow of the lamp on the side table as she read. She put the book down and looked at the clock, again. The hypnotizing sound calmed her like a perfectly tuned pendulum. The sun had set hours ago and she hadn’t heard from Gaijryc. He had never been away this long and it had fear and worry coursing through her. She had gotten used to him being around, had gotten used to the deep sound of his voice, the rough textures of his hands, and the heated look he seemed to give her every time he looked at her. Now that she was truly alone, every little sound in the cabin seemed amplified, seemed too loud for her ears.
She looked back down at the book, the words seeming to pass through her eyes unread. The pages were weathered and dog-eared, a testament to how often the story had been read. Romeo and Juliet was her favorite, but on this particular night, at this particular time, her mind was someplace else. Tossing the book on the cushion, she stood and stretched. She started pacing as she bit her nails nervously.
Dropping her hand, her eyes strayed back to the clock. She watched the hand of the clock move slowly, the thin needle making its way in a full circle. She fell into a daze, her eyes following that little stick as it touched ever number along its way. Dropping her eyes, she moved toward the window and glanced out. It wasn’t until her eyes adjusted to the darkness that her heart stopped and a scream swelled in her throat.
She could see the distinct shape of eyes, the dark color that seemed to glow in the shadows. She stumbled back until she felt the counter dig into her back. She closed her eyes, saying a mantra, a prayer for what she was seeing to be her imagination. Slowly she opened them again, her heart picking up a more normal rhythm when she saw the eyes were gone. It had to be her imagination. Gaijryc had assured her that no one would find her, that no one knew where she was.
She eyed the bed and walked over to it, sitting on the edge. Maybe all she needed was just a good night’s sleep? She was just about to lie down when a light tap sounded on the front door. Her eyes grew wide in apprehension. She glanced over at the window again, only darkness greeting her. Helina shook her head and smiled nervously. She knew she really needed to get a hold of herself. Standing, she hedged her way toward the door. It was probably Gaijryc, because he’d assured her no one knew she was staying here. She gripped the handle tightly and pulled the door open. Her heart stopped at who stood on th
e other side. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, her pallet going dry.
He stood in front of her, his body huge as he walked through the threshold. She stumbled backward in fear. He seemed as wide as the door and as thick as the wood itself. Her back hit the kitchen counter, and his steps stopped several feet before her. He was so fast that in the blink of an eye he had the door shut and was right back in front of her. Her body was shaking, her palms sweaty. “Wh-What do you want?” Her voice shook as much as her body did.
He stared at her, his expression flat. He wore faded blue jeans, a black fitted shirt and a black leather jacket. He looked like menace, like danger personified. His head was shaved, the hairs fine and close to his skull. She could easily see the black flame tattoos that snaked up the sides of his neck. All she could picture was her dead sister lying on the floor.
“Do you love him?”
Panic swelled inside of her further. Sweat was beading on her forehead and the urge to flee was strong. Lizzy’s image came to her mind and she wondered if this was how she’d felt before her life was ended.
“What?” Her voice squeaked from fear. She looked around the small room, trying to see if there was a way for her to escape. Of course there wasn’t; he blocked her only exit.
“You have nothing to fear, Helina. I won’t hurt you.”
She wanted to laugh hysterically, wanted to ask him if he had said the same thing to Lizzy before he drained her dry.
“Look at me, Helina.”
Her mind was numb, and when he spoke again, it was deeper, more commanding.
“Look at me.”
She was helpless not to obey him. It was as if there was an invisible string pulling her head up to meet his gaze. She stared into his gray eyes, eyes that seemed to glow. For the life of her, she couldn’t pull her gaze from his. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, just stared at her.
“You don’t need to fear me.”
Slowly her fear started to dissipate. It was as if warm water was being poured all over her, bathing her in a calm, serene feeling. Her mouth and brain wouldn’t work, a fog of tranquility filling her whole body. She wanted to do what he told her, wanted to obey anything he said.
“Do you love him?”
She didn’t hesitate, didn’t even think about anything but telling him exactly what he wanted to know. “Yes, very much.” Her words were spoken softly but clearly. He ran his hand over his skull and breathed out deeply. His eyes broke from hers in that instant and she felt her body becoming her own again.
“That’s good, that’s real good. Would you do anything for him?”
Her mind started to clear and the calm she had just felt was replaced with bright rage. “How dare you! I know exactly what you were doing!” She couldn’t remember what Gaijryc had called it, but she knew that their kind could control humans, could make them do what they wanted. Why didn’t he just kill her? Why give her a sense of serene calmness?
“I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to feel frightened by me.”
All the fear she had previously felt vanished. “Why did you do that? That was a total invasion!” She could feel the blood rising to her cheeks as her anger raised another notch. His lips tilted upwards slightly and he dropped his head—the smile still there as he looked back at her a second later. It had completely changed his face. He no longer looked hard and menacing. It faltered slightly, his eyes roaming over her face.
“I’m sorry, I truly am, but please, we don’t have much time.” He looked sad, as if the man he once had been was now just a hollow shell. “He loves you, so deeply. He is going to do something tonight that he will forever regret, something that will make him forever changed. I don’t want him to be like me. I don’t want him to wander this planet with no hopes, no dreams.”
His voice faltered on the last word. She looked at him with a stunned expression. Helina wanted to know desperately what he was talking about, what Gaijryc would do tonight that would forever change what they had. “Is it another woman?” Her voice cracked as she searched Ryce’s face. All her fear and anger dissipated when she thought of Gaijryc holding another woman, being with another woman. His next words stopped the words she was about to speak.
“I didn’t kill her.”
Her breath caught and her heart stopped. “What?” Her mind felt as if it were about to explode, all the fear, anger, and confusion were about to burst through her body. “She’s alive?”
He held up his hand and shook his head. “You misunderstand me. She asked me to end it for her. That her life was ending anyway. She said her death would be slow and painful, but that if I helped her she could go peacefully.”
Tears started streaking down Helina’s cheeks. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to feel. Her sister asked to die? She didn’t want to believe him, couldn’t believe that Lizzy, her own sister, had asked to die. The doctors said she wouldn’t live past the age of twenty. They had said her body had already been through so much. The cancer had worn her body down to the bone and it was inevitable that it would shut down on itself. Of course, she had surpassed that by several years.
Was Helina so blind that she hadn’t seen what was happening to Lizzy? That she was slowly withering away? Helina sank to her knees right in front of the vampire that had taken Lizzy’s life. She covered her face with her hands as she cried hot tears. Pain wracked her body and she absorbed it, grieving all over for her beloved sister.
Lizzy had always been stubborn, had always wanted to do things her way. “I can’t believe she asked you to end her life.” She dropped her hands and looked up at him. “I can’t believe you did it.”
Ryce slowly moved toward her and dropped to his haunches. She pressed herself against the wood and held her breath. His expression was grim as he reached up as if he meant to touch her. She shrank back, not truly knowing his intentions.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. She begged me, pleaded with me to stop her pain.” He dropped his head as he spoke the last word.
“Please, tell me what she said, make me understand.”
He lifted his head slowly, his eyes haunted as started to speak. “She said her time was ending. That she didn’t want her sister to watch her die. She told me she wanted to say goodbye, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.”
“I don’t understand. What were you doing there to begin with?”
“We took over your world, Helina. We control everything you ever knew. I was there to do what I was dispatched to, eliminate or capture the lesser beings. I felt your sister’s sadness like a beacon of light. Your sister’s essence called to me, pulled me toward her. She has a strong soul.”
“Had.” She murmured that one word.
“What?”
“You said she has a strong soul. Don’t you mean she had a strong soul?”
He looked at her with surprise before shaking his head and looking down again. “Yes. I meant she had a strong soul and that was why I was drawn to her.”
Helina ran her hands over her face, trying to get a grasp of everything he was telling her. She let out a sigh and looked at the hardwood floor, trying to get her thoughts together. Lizzy was something she didn’t want to talk about. She didn’t want to picture her sister’s lifeless body across the hard, cold, ground.
“What is happening with Gaijryc?” In her heart she didn’t want to hear what Ryce was going to tell her about him, but she knew she needed to know. Maybe it was for the best—maybe she truly didn’t belong in this new world, in a world where humans were cattle, playthings. “Maybe it’s for the best.” She looked into Ryce’s eyes. He shook his head and stood, holding his hand out to her. Glancing down at her, Helina stared at it for several suspended moments before finally placing her much smaller one into his.
“I know you don’t mean that, Helina. I can look into your face and see how much you love him, how you would do anything for him. I’m not wrong, am I?”
Wrapping her arms around herself, she thought about what he’d said. It
was true, everything he said was true. Nodding, she kept her face averted as she thought about Gaijryc. She would do anything for him, do anything to keep what they had alive.
“A ball is being held for him tonight. It is a celebration that is meant for a mating, for Gaijryc to find a female to rule by his side.”
She stared at him in shock. “What? Was I nothing to him?”
Ryce shook his head, his expression serious. “It isn’t like that, Helina. He is doing this to protect you.”
“Protect me? I don’t see how you can even say that. Please, just leave.” She didn’t know how she even had the courage to tell a vampire, a creature double her size, that he needed to go. His hand landed on her shoulder and she swallowed, her courage starting to falter. His grip was gentle yet firm as he turned her around.
“He loves you, Helina. Your life was threatened and the only way he could safely protect you was to mate with Iena.”
“We could run away together. We could—”
Ryce shook his head before she even finished her sentence. “They will find you. Maybe not away, but eventually they will.” He lowered his head and lowered his hand from her shoulder. “It is forbidden to mate a human. Gaijryc is the high ranking prince and he is expected to mate a female of our kind, a female of a high ranking.”
“Because I’m a human I can’t be with one of your kind?”
“No. You can be with my kind, but not mate with them. You can be a pet.”
“A pet?” She spoke softly as she looked into his face. His jaw was clenched tightly and she could tell he touched a chord in him.
“Listen, he needs you. He needs you to show him what he’ll be losing. Only you can save what is left inside of him.”
They were both quiet for a long time, the clock on the wall ticking by the minutes as she thought about what Ryce had said. “What should I do?” She knew that she would do anything to keep Gaijryc, even if that meant standing before a whole ball full of vampires and profess her love to him. Ryce smiled, his face instantly brightening before her. He walked toward the front door, opened it, and bent down to pick up a large box from the porch. He walked back toward her, the big smile still on his face. He set the box on the counter and gestured for her to come over. She walked toward him at the same time he opened the box. When she looked inside she gasped at the dress that was inside. For the first time since her life had been destroyed by the world around her, she felt like maybe things would be okay. It didn’t have to do with the things Gaijryc gave her, but of this man letting her live her life again.