"I'm not stupid," Marie repeated; her voice cutting as she stared daggers in Lizzie's direction. "I know what is going on between the two of you. I'm not blind. Do not take me as a fool, Miss Grant. This isn't the first time such an event has occurred when it comes to Nikolai Dragulia. I promised I wouldn't let such a thing happen right in front of my face again. I have put up with too much before; I don't need to deal with it again, especially not with some human."
"May I ask you a question?" Lizzie said, giving each word weight, making sure to articulate each and every word in order to control the rest of the patience she had. "If something like this has happened before and you guys didn't reestablish your trust, then why are you marrying him in the first place?"
"You know what I think?" Marie asked, and before Lizzie could answer, she continued. "I think you are the one that is stupid, Miss Grant. Did you just ask me why I am marrying Nikolai Dragulia? Might I remind you that he is next in line to inherit the throne from his father, who has prepared to step down once the threat against Nikolai is settled? Do you honestly believe that we love each other? Maybe, once, centuries ago, but that has faded into obligation. I am well-bred and would make him the best ruler the Dragulias would ever hope he would be." She gave Lizzie a once over, her face contorted into obvious displeasure. "I do not care who he is fucking as long as he marries me and I become the Queen of vampires."
"Good, so stop bothering me about fucking your fiancé," she snapped before turning and heading into the kitchen without sparing Marie another glance.
At least Marie wasn't technically royal, not yet anyway. If Marie was going to be disrespectful to her, than Lizzie had no problem doing the same thing in return. Respect, she felt, was mutually exclusive. If she wasn't getting any, she wasn't giving any either.
Now what am I in the mood for? She thought to herself as she headed into the kitchen, temporarily forgetting Marie's temper, her hunger proving to be an excellent distraction.
13
Early that morning, when the night was still prevalent throughout the sky, Lizzie was doing her usual rounds, circling the perimeter of the castle. She started doing these the previous night, and walked around once every two hours. Many of the inhabitants thought she was being silly for checking the land because a vampire's hearing was sharp, and they would be able to tell if someone was coming from at least a mile away. However, it calmed her to know that she was taking care of things to the best of her abilities. Walking the grounds also gave her time to be alone, away from vampires and royalty in general, allowing her body to relax and her mind to slow down. She was getting more and more familiar with the property, and began to find beauty in the desolate forest – winter was making its claim, it would seem.
Running her fingers through her hair, Lizzie tried to calm herself down. For whatever reason, her confrontation with Marie really had her riled up, which was unusual for her. Normally, she was good at remaining professional, even when she dealt with people she didn't like and those who didn't like her, but there was something trying about the fair-haired beauty, and she had to wonder why Nikolai was marrying her in the first place.
Oh, that's right. It was that arranged marriage he was stuck in.
She wondered why Vladislaus Dragulia would make his sons go through something like that when he didn't have to. He had married Elise, not because he was forced or obligated to, not because he was trying to please his family in any way, but because he loved her. It was as simple as that. But for Nikolai to marry Marie Cozma, a woman –
Did he love her? That was the real question now, wasn't it? She knew that Marie must have loved him a long time ago, but that love faded and now she was looking forward to being queen. So while Lizzie believed that Marie was capable of love, when it came to Nikolai, that love was just misdirected. Instead of loving the man, she loved what he would be.
But whatever worked for them, right?
She also had to wonder if what Marie said about Nikolai was true, that he had cheated on her before. Lizzie knew that in vampire culture, such a thing was natural and common, but it would still disappoint her one way or the other. Vampires were capable of monogamy; they just chose not to dabble in it. If Nikolai chose to mess around behind Marie, did that mean she did the same to him? Maybe she was forbidden; if she wanted to have the title of queen, she would have to be faithful. But that didn't seem fair either.
Shaking her head, Lizzie thanked God she wasn't a vampire.
At that moment, before she could further analyze the questions in her mind, her phone began to ring. It was an unknown number that could only belong to one person. Her lips quirked up cryptically.
"Lizzie Grant," she greeted.
"Miss Grant, its Jackson," the familiar voice on the other end replied. "But you probably already knew that." She rolled her eyes. Of course she did. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you that we've looked through your research, and some of our people have added to it. We've also listened to any phone calls and questioned witnesses, you know; the boring stuff as you so lovingly refer to it."
"Jackson," Lizzie said, trying to keep the smile out of her voice. "The point?"
"We've found a suspect," he told her. "I'm sending all of the information we have on him to your phone as we speak, but here's what we have on him so far. His name is Dimitri Coran, and he runs a bar in the nearby town of Apusul Soarelui. I have sent you his picture, and let me tell you, he has had a vengeance for the royals ever since Vladislaus Dragulia gave the word to execute his father, a well-known rebel at the time. He's been claiming revenge ever since, but before now, his threats weren't classified as being viable."
She frowned. A human suspect? Why would a human care enough about vampire politics to possibly want to take out Nikolai, unless it was some sort of hate group. "I'll look into it," she promised before hanging up her phone.
Tilting her head to the side, she let her thoughts wander back to the town. It seemed so quaint, so warm, she was honestly surprised that someone from there could orchestrate a hit on a future vampire king. Although, the castle was close, and it wasn’t a secret where it was located. Maybe humans were more capable than she gave them credit for. Maybe she should have put more research in a potential hate crime rather than disagreement with the chosen king.
Before she could think on this more, someone interrupted her.
"I’ve got you!" a voice said in just above a whisper. Two hands gripped her shoulders from behind her. Lizzie felt herself jump, reflexively grabbing onto one of the mystery hands. Shifting her weight, she managed to throw her attacker over her shoulder, quickly placing a booted foot on their neck, preparing to press down hard if needed to.
However, she found that it was only Nikolai, who had his elbows bent and his palms flat, surrendering. He looked as though the wind had been knocked out of him, and she couldn't hide the triumphant smirk on her face, even if she tried.
"You can get off of me now," he told her, his voice strained as he continued to gasp for air.
"I'm not sure that I can," she murmured, but finally decided to relent. She bent forward and offered him her hand. Nikolai looked at it for a long moment, unsure of whether or not to take it, before finally deciding that he should. When Lizzie helped him reclaim his footing, she glanced up at him. She watched as he stared intently at her hand, and for some unknown reason, she felt a tad self-conscious. He was slightly disheveled, having just been thrown over her shoulder. His perfectly coifed black hair started to fall in his pale face, and those beautiful eyes were such a deep, clear blue that she couldn’t not stare. He was mesmerizing. The expression on his face made her lips twitch. For someone who was so collected, it was nice to see him so clearly taken by surprise.
"I just got off the phone with –"
"What's this I hear about you and Marie getting into a fight?" Nikolai asked, clearly interrupting her. Apparently some subjects were more important than others.
Lizzie opened her mouth to respond before abruptly shutting it and narrowin
g her eyes. "Marie and I…" She tried again, but even that seemed to come out wrong. Okay, Lizzie, think. It's okay. Just tell him. It seems that he wants to know. "Marie and I got into some kind of disagreement," she finally managed to say, but her eyes couldn't meet Nikolai's. "She accused me of…" Her face contorted into disgust. "What I mean is; she accused us of…"
"Sleeping together?" Nikolai asked, amusement glittering in his dark blue eyes, his lips quirking up into a small smirk as he regarded her. "How old are you Miss Grant? Surely you've slept with someone before. Is there a reason that it was so hard for you say?"
"First of all, my sex life is none of your business," she pointed out, arching her brow as she did so. "Secondly, it was hard for me to say that I would never sleep with you."
"What's so unbelievable about it?" Nikolai asked. "I'm royalty, you're a human. We're both good looking specimen. We both exude sexuality."
"I do not exude sexuality," she told him firmly, looking at Nikolai with a pointed stare. "Or, at least, I don't try to."
"That's what makes you exude it," Nikolai said. "Women who try too hard just try too hard. There's nothing there. It takes out the fun of it, you know? But a woman who doesn't even try… There's something special about that kind of woman."
"I think a compliment just came out of your mouth," she said, trying to gain control over the smile that threatened to quirk her lips. They were having a nice conversation for once. He was actually being… civil, and so was she. Maybe they could move beyond the smartass comments and the awkward small talk.
Her brows suddenly furrowed, and she glanced up to look at him with a confused expression. "Marie said that unfaithfulness between you and her have happened before. May I ask you a question?"
"I suppose so," Nikolai conceded, curiosity tainting his tone.
"I don’t need to know whether it’s true or not, but why are you still with her if you can’t seem to be faithful to her?" she asked. She wasn't trying to be judgmental, but since she and Nikolai weren't fighting, she decided to take a chance with this rare opportunity.
"I know that monogamy isn't the most favorable to vampires, and I respect that. But you're going to get married and rule over all vampires while probably starting a family as well. Why would you get married to someone you can't trust and who doesn’t trust you?"
"Are you monogamous when you're in a relationship?" Nikolai countered.
"Of course," she said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And to be honest, I expect my partner to be too."
"Okay," he continued, stepping in front to face her, meeting his eyes with hers once again. "Even though I might not be ready to settle down quite yet, my family is very…" He paused. "They have certain expectations for me. They want me to be married to a woman in order to show my people that I am stable. My father was married before he became leader of the vampires and I think that he wants to inspire monogamy in vampires, despite how hard for a vampire it might be."
"The difference between you and your father is that he was – is – in love with Queen Elise," Lizzie said, her voice low. "I don't think you should lie to your people, whether it's good for them or not. But I can't tell you what to do. It's your life, and I'm just a passerby."
14
It was probably dawn and Lizzie wanted nothing more than to go to bed. However, instead of snuggling into the warm comforter and going to sleep, she was half-awake, running her long fingers through her hair, and staring at the laptop screen. She was wearing a tank top and skirt, her hair in a messy ponytail, and hands cupped around her face. She was waiting for her best friend Rachel to get on Skype so they could get run down this potential lead, Dimitri Coran.
Rachel Simmons had been Lizzie's best friend since before her mother died. She had grown up with her after Rachel's mother, Kathleen, took Lizzie in, and they have been inseparable ever since. They both applied for and received top jobs at the Nocturnal Defense Society, but while Lizzie had decided to be an assassin, Rachel was a researcher. Rachel was probably the smartest person she knew, but nobody seemed to realize it because they were blinded by her obvious beauty. Rachel didn't mind actually; she was comfortable with her sexuality and had needs just as much as the next woman. It wasn't like she was looking for any kind of relationship, at least not for now. Lizzie was just glad she got to talk to Rachel; it had been days since the last time they had spoken.
In a manner of moments, Rachel popped up on the computer screen, looking just as tired as Lizzie felt.
"Okay sweetie," she said in a weary voice, looking at Lizzie with her almond shaped eyes. "Seriously? Five thirty in the morning should be banned. I am so exhausted."
"I know," Lizzie said; a tiny smile on her face. "I know Rachel. I'm drained too, and I really want to thank you for all your help. It really means a lot."
"No problem," Rachel said, flashing Lizzie her usual disarming smile.
Rachel Simmons was half-Caucasian, half-Chinese. She had dark chestnut brown hair that fell down her back in waves, with side swept bangs and ivory colored skin. Rachel was five foot ten, taller than Lizzie by four inches, with enviable long legs. Her fashion sense was also to die for, and Rachel wore the latest fashions all the time, always looking like one of those beautiful models from the fashion magazines. Currently, she was wearing Calvin Cline pajamas; blue pajama pants with red apples and a white tank top with a red apple on her chest, emphasizing her long and lean body. Her hair, like Lizzie's, was pulled into a ponytail, and currently, she was rubbing sleep out of her eyes as she tried – and failed – to stifle a yawn.
"So, sweetie," Rachel finally said as she began to type furiously away. "How's Prince Hottie? Is he as good looking as his picture makes him out to be?"
"I should have expected such a question out of you," Lizzie murmured, looking into the Webcam and feeling her heart clench with how much she missed Rachel. "But, I won't lie because you'd be able to tell. Prince Nikolai is definitely a looker. Too bad he has that mouth of his."
"I hate it when pretty boys talk," Rachel agreed, shaking her head in disapproval. "There's really no point. I like to look at you, not listen to you, you know?" The two shared a smile, and Rachel's dark eyes suddenly sparkled with mischievousness. "So? How far have the two of you gone, exactly?"
Lizzie's face crimsoned at the thought of going all the way with Nikolai, but she shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thought. "Please, Rachel," she said with the roll of her eyes. "There's no way I would ever sleep with Nikolai Dragulia. He's arrogant and thinks he can get any woman he wants. If I give into him, it would just tell Nikolai that he's right. Plus, I am very professional when it comes to my job. I don't intend to sleep with my clients, thank you very much."
"I bet he'd be a good lay," Rachel said, staring off into her own world. "He has, like, five hundred years of experience, you know." She looked over into the Webcam and flashed her grin. "But come on, Lizzie. You can't honestly say that you don't want to."
Lizzie rolled her eyes again, the corners of her lips curled up. She refused to answer that question, which, to Rachel, answered everything. "Anyway," she said with a firm emphasis, though she was still amused with her friend. "I wanted to look up a contact because Jackson called last night to give me a suspect name."
"Of course," Rachel said with a smile and began to type away at her computer. After a moment, she looked back up. "Ready when you are."
"Okay, his name is Dimitri Coran," Lizzie said before spelling out the name for her friend. "Jackson says he runs some kind of bar in the nearby town of Apusul Soarelui. He faxed over the guy's picture so I know what he looks like, I just need the address and name of the bar so I can go pay this guy a visit tonight."
"Okay, got it," Rachel said, seconds later. This was why Rachel was so damn good at her job; she was fast. "Dimitri Coran, a Virgo, runs the Angel's Den. My contact says there's usually some gambling done there Wednesday nights, so if you do go, prepare for that." After giving Lizzie the address of the bar, s
he quickly looked up dress code. "And for what to wear…" Her fingers tapped furiously away on the keys until Rachel smirked triumphantly. "Wear something sexy but not slutty. If you show off your boobs, make sure your ass and legs are revealed, but in a classy way." Her eyes widened. "I have the perfect idea. Why don't you take Prince Hottie shopping with you? I'm sure he has excellent taste in that particular area of clothing."
"I'm going to sleep now, Rachel," Lizzie said, her voice flat. "I'll talk to you later, okay? Thank you for all your help."
"Take pictures, okay?" Rachel said, and then in a flash, the Webcam turned off and Lizzie threw a look at her bed.
God, she loved beds at moments like these…
Elizabeth normally didn't dress sexy. There were times when she wore clothing tighter than normal for the club atmosphere, but even then she had more clothes on compared to the other women who adorned places like Nocturnal. When she awoke later that day, she quickly changed into her jogging attire and began her run, deciding to stop into town, grab an outfit, and check out the location of the bar Dimitri Coran owned.
When it was seven at night, she quickly ate a light meal and took a shower before preparing to get ready for her night out. She was surprised that such an old-fashioned town had modern style dresses, but the woman who ran the shop said she had to keep up with the fashions and made every piece in the shop herself. The first thing Lizzie did was slip on the tight dress; it was a deep forest green color which only enhanced her eyes. The dress itself was halter-style with a plunging neckline, so plunging in fact that it went past her breasts a couple of inches. However, her chest was held in position, and Lizzie made sure she taped them down so they wouldn't fall out. The skirt clung to her legs, reaching midway down her thighs, before it flared out just past her knees. On her feet was a pair of matching heels. Lizzie took a half an hour to apply her makeup because she wanted it to look good. She left her hair down in rich waves, deciding that it was more comfortable and gave the formal dress some casualty. Now all she needed was her purse and then she was ready to go.
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