by Leigh Walker
“Yes, he is our father. Yes, we are intercrosses. And he doesn’t recognize you because I cursed him too—specifically so that he couldn’t remember you, which is as sophisticated a piece of magic as I’ve ever done—and if you tell Loverboy out there any of this, I’ll curse him too. Do you understand me?”
I nodded. “Are you very good at what you do? The emperor”—I refused to call that sullen, snobbish vampire my father—“looks rather scary.”
“Yes, I am quite good at what I do.” Isabel sighed. “But I’m not as strong as my sister, who is rumored to be the most powerful intercross ever to have lived.”
I let out a bark of laughter. “That’s a good one, Iz.”
“I’m dead serious.”
I scoffed at her. “I can’t even do anything. I can vanish someone if they’re trying to attack me. That’s it.”
“You ever try it on a vampire?” She twisted a lock of her hair, watching me.
“Yes. It worked sort of on accident, one time. And another time, it worked on this other, er, creature—Herman the Foul. But I’m not sure he’s a vampire. I don’t know what he is.” I wrinkled my nose.
Isabel approached the bed, still twining her hair. “Did you know that your blood can make them sick? That it can make them die?”
I nodded.
“Do you know what vampires’ natural predators are?”
“N-No.”
“That’s because they don’t have any.” A slow smile spread over her face. “Until now.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We hid you back in Jersey for a reason, Tor,” she said.
“What reason was that?”
My sister tilted her chin as she inspected me. “You’re the chosen one. The queen was right—you’re going to unite the realms. Just not for her.”
I opened my mouth then closed it.
“You need to stay as far away from Mom and Dad as possible while we’re here.” Iz went to the mirror and smoothed her outfit then her hair.
“Okay…”
“Have you let the prince drink from you?” She glanced at me hopefully. “You should probably give him a little taste.”
“Yes, I have, and nice try—it didn’t kill him.”
My baby sister cursed again, using yet another word I hadn’t known was in her vocabulary.
“I don’t know what’s happened to you or what you’ve seen,” I said. “But you have to know this: Dominic’s a good person.”
“Well, I don’t know what’s happened to you or what you’ve seen, but I will tell you that vampires are not people, first of all, nor are they good. Not a one of them.”
“Dominic is good. He’s kind, loyal, and brave. Do you think I would love a monster?”
“He’s a monster by definition. They eat humans, Tor. They want to make slaves from them. That’s what the emperor’s done to Mom all these years. Why do you think I transformed her into a milk-eyed zombie? So he would finally give her some peace!”
“Dominic isn’t like that, but I’m guessing we don’t have time to argue about it right now. Please tell me this—are we from this time period? Or are we actually from Jersey, like I thought?”
“We’re from here. Jersey was our hideout. I miss it, like that place we used to go to for dinner, the one with the good fries…”
“I miss it too. But if this is really our home…” I couldn’t wrap my brain around so many things, too many for me to comprehend. “Just tell me one thing: why is Mom married to the emperor? How did that happen?”
“Because she was in love with him and because she was an idiot.” She looked at me with a recriminating expression.
“I am in love with Dominic, and I’m no idiot—and he’s no emperor.”
The sound of voices came from the hallway, and Isabel shook her head. “I shouldn’t be in here—it’s dangerous. I’ll see you at tea?”
“Wait—what do you want me to do?”
“Don’t die.” She headed for the door. “And don’t marry a vampire.”
I cut her off, gently wrapping my fingertips around her wrists. “I am marrying a vampire.” I would tell her everything, including all about the queen, when I could. “But I will try to not die. Is that acceptable for now?”
“For now.” She pulled me in for a fierce hug. “It’s good to see you, sister.”
I clung to her for as long as she would let me. “It’s good to see you too.”
30
True To You
Dominic held out his arm for me. “I think that we should go for a quick walk before tea.”
“Okay.”
Though I was surprised that he wanted to leave the safety of my chambers, he must have a good reason for it. I took his arm, and we headed swiftly down one passage then another, then out into a private garden near the back of the castle.
Dominic paced near the hedge. “It’s private here.”
“My room isn’t private?” I asked nervously. Isabel and I had said enough to easily qualify us both for execution.
“It is, but we can’t be too careful from here on out. I will be certain that only guards loyal to us are protecting you, but until I’m one hundred percent certain of their allegiance, we must be extremely cautious. Trust no one.”
I nodded, wondering if I dared confide in him about his mother. I watched him as he paced, worry evident on his handsome, troubled face. “What’s the matter? I mean specifically. There’s quite a lot going on.”
He stopped pacing. “Your sister doesn’t like me very much.”
“I don’t think you should take it personally.” I tried to keep my voice light. “She just needs to give you a chance.”
He tilted his chin as he studied me. “And what about you, Victoria? You have decided to give me another chance?”
“I was never going to leave you, and I’m sorry if I made you doubt my intentions.” I sighed. “I wasn’t being fair to you before—I know you didn’t tell me what I was because you were trying to protect me.”
“Why the change of heart?” he asked, studying me carefully.
I wanted to tell him the truth about his mother and her threats. But I would keep my secret for the moment. I loved him too much—I wouldn’t put him at risk until I was sure we could win. I had to play by the queen’s rules. Since my sister had arrived with her own agenda, things were even more dangerous and complicated.
Taking his hands, I looked him in the eye. “It isn’t a change. My heart has always been true to you.” It was a relief to speak the truth, even if it wasn’t all of it.
He leaned down and kissed me too briefly. “When I thought you didn’t care for me anymore… I’ve never been in pain like that. You could crush me, Victoria. Do you know that?”
“Of course I do, but only because I feel exactly the same way about you. I meant what I told my sister. You are my family now.”
“And you are mine.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head, enveloping me in his warmth.
I sighed happily against him, and we were quiet for a moment. Finally, I looked up at him. “What did your mother have to say to you this morning on your journey?” I was careful to keep my voice neutral.
“Ah, the usual. How she’s circumventing the council by planning to make an announcement about the blood slaves and guards before the wedding. How she plans to take over the realms. How she wants you and me to have a child, sooner rather than later.” His arms tightened around me protectively.
“And what did you say to that?” My heart ached. I was too young to have thought about children much before, but in Dominic’s arms, I could imagine having a family with him—a family I would die to protect.
“I told her our choices and our family were none of her business. And that we will have a child when we’re ready, not before.”
“Do you want to?” I asked.
“What?” His voice was soft and tender.
“Have a family with me?”
“Someday.”
“Because I was going to say, someday when the world is safe. And I don’t know when that’s going to be, my lady.”
I buried my face in his chest. “Me, either.”
“But if it was safe—when it is safe—I would be honored to have children with you. If you also wanted this and if the gods blessed us.”
Overwhelmed, I nodded against his chest. “I want that too.”
He tipped my chin toward him, smiling down at me. “We shouldn’t be so maudlin. It’s not the end of the world. And you are here, back in my arms. The end hasn’t been written just yet.”
“I promised you, Dominic.” My eyes filled with tears. “Not even death could part us.”
He kissed me through my tears, his strong arms cradling me the whole time, making me feel the impossible—safe, loved and fully protected.
Our stolen moment had come to an end, and we headed to the appointed salon for tea with my family and the queen. “Has that happened to you before? When you had that spell and fainted?”
I nodded. “It’s called an anxiety attack. They used to happen to me back home after my mother and Iz…” My voice trailed off. After my mother and Iz what, exactly? Shaking my head, I said, “I haven’t had one in a long time.”
He gave me a quick look. “Are you sure you’re all right? You’ve had quite a shock.”
I leaned closer to him. “Now that I am with you, Your Highness, I am much better. With respect to my family, I suppose I am as okay as I could expect to be. Seeing my mother in her current state… That was difficult. I don’t know if I feel better or worse that my sister’s the one that’s made her that way.”
He nodded. “What else did your sister say to you?”
“Oh, quite a few things…” I looked around nervously. “Probably the types of things that are better spoken about in a private garden.”
“Of course.” We reached the salon, and he bent down to kiss me. “No matter what else happens, please know that there is only ever one side that I am on: yours, my lady, because I love you with my whole heart.”
“And I am on yours, Your Highness, because I love you as well. Let’s not waste another moment divided from each other like that. I have learned my lesson; it’s not worth it.”
He kissed me once again, making a fire burn deep in my belly.
Someone cleared their throat behind us, and we broke apart.
“So nice to see you two reunited,” Queen Danica said as she stepped out of the shadows. “Discussing anything interesting?” She looked at me pointedly.
“Back off, Mother.” Dominic glowered at her.
“Just our happiness,” I said, trying to smooth the moment over.
“Ah, of course. Speaking of happiness, I have good news. Lady Victoria, your wedding gown is ready. The seamstress would like you to try it on.”
“Lovely. I will go to her as soon as we’re done with tea.” I was eager to see my mother and sister again, even if we wouldn’t be able to speak freely.
“Actually, she’s just sent for you—she needs to see you now.” She smiled at her son. “Will you excuse us, Dommy? I’ll deliver your blushing bride to her fitting.”
“I’ll take her.” He stepped forward protectively.
“Dominic, it’s fine.” I laughed, hoping it sounded normal and not crazed. “It’s just the eastern wing. This way, you’ll have more time with the guests—please tell them I’m sorry to have missed them.”
The prince gave his mother one last look then kissed my hand. “I will come and see you afterward.”
Smiling, I said, “I can’t wait.”
“Right this way, Lady Victoria.” The queen motioned for me to follow. She’d changed into a formal rose-colored gown, a sparkling tiara on her head. I supposed she wanted to look regal in front of the emperor to show off her power. I was very tired of her and her showing off.
“It was interesting to see you with our guests this morning.” Her tone was casual and chatty, as if she and I were friendly and we normally had conversations about things like the weather, guests, and wedding dresses. “Your mother’s looking a bit under the weather, I’m afraid. The emperor said he found her like that one morning—she’d been cursed.”
“Cursed?” I was a terrible actress, but I hoped that just once, she would believe my ignorance.
“Yes. It had to be an inside job, of course. No one could get into his fortress without his knowledge.”
I licked my lips, which had suddenly gone dry. “Does he know who did it or why?”
She gave me a sideways glance. “He has his theories, of course.”
“Of course.”
“On a happier note, I have told the guards that I am going to issue a decree so that they may marry the slaves. And I told them they have you to thank for it.”
“Y-You did?” Having the queen do me any sort of a favor seemed worse than insidious—it seemed downright deadly. “Why would you do that?”
“Because.” She nudged me playfully, and I shuddered inside. “You helped me, and now I will help you. And it helps us both to have the guards unwaveringly loyal to our cause. They are on the right side now, you see.”
“And which side is that?”
Queen Danica smiled at me. “Our side, of course, dear. Our side.”
I nodded shakily. “Of course.”
“You haven’t said a word to my son, have you?” Her dark gaze raked over my face, and I feared she could see inside me.
“I haven’t—I promised you, Your Highness.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Wouldn’t want you to end up looking like your mother, would we? Or worse.” She tittered as I stared.
We reached the seamstress’s room and she handed me a box. A velvet jewelry box. “Ah, you might want to try this on for the fitting. I know Dominic wants you to wear it to the ceremony.”
I opened it and saw the exquisite diamond-and-sapphire necklace he’d given me. “H-How did you get this?” The necklace had been hidden in the armoire in my chambers. My private chambers.
“Everything in this castle belongs to me, Victoria. Even this necklace. Even you. You’ll do well to remember that.” She gave me one final, appraising look. “I will see you later at the reception. More of our guests are arriving. I expect it will be quite the party.”
I clutched the box against my chest. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Keep your distance from everyone but me and your betrothed,” the queen advised. “Otherwise, there will be blood. Yours, most likely.”
She looked positively pleased as she strode away.
I decided to give myself a moment before I faced the seamstress. I leaned against the cool stone wall, exhaling deeply and trying to gather my thoughts.
But the door opened a crack, and a milky, faded-blue eye stared out at me.
“What the—”
But my mother grabbed me by the collar of my dress and yanked me into the chambers, slamming the door behind me.
I gaped at her, surprised at her strength. “What’re you doing?” I hiss-whispered.
Her eyes, which were so familiar, yet so strange, focused on me. “I’m saving my daughter from making a terrible mistake.”
I looked around wildly. “Where’s the seamstress?”
My mother arched a pale eyebrow. “Taken care of.”
“Mother, we have to get back. If the queen discovers us, it’s off with our heads, or worse!”
She pursed her lips, and glimpsed some of her old spark. “Did you think I was going to let you suffer the same fate as me? They can have my head on a spike for all I care—I’ll never let you marry that monster.”
“Dominic’s not a monster. He’s good, he’s kind—”
She took out a small, but very sharp, knife and pointed it directly at my heart. “You will marry such a creature over my dead body. Or yours.”
“Mom.”
“Victoria Jayne Edwards. For once, listen to your mother.”
She nodded. “That’s right. Lucky for you, I’m just crazy enough to get us out of here.” My mother, my precious, crazy, cursed mother, kept the knife pointed in my direction.
And then she motioned for me to follow her.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING The Pact! Dominic and Victoria’s story concludes in The Claim. Hold onto your hats, it’s going to be a wild ride! Here’s the Amazon link:
www.amazon.com
This title will also be available in Kindle Unlimited.
Check out the gorgeous cover!
Also by Leigh Walker
Vampire Royals
The Pageant (Book #1)
The Gala (Book #2)
The Finale (Book #3)
The North (Book #4)
The Siege (Book #5)
The Division Series
Premonition (Book #1)
Intuition (Book #2)
Perception (Book #3)
Divination (Book #4)
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Leigh Walker
About the Author
Leigh Walker lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three adorable, brilliant children who only help clean the house when she threatens to take away Fortnite.
Once upon a time, Leigh was lawyer, with a degree in High Technology Law from Suffolk University. She also graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Journalism. Now she's a full-time writer and sports-mom, which are the two best jobs she could ever ask for.