Dark Prince: A Vampire Paranormal Romance (Blueblood Vampires Book 1)

by Michelle Hercules

  “End me? Aren’t you delusional,” Lucca taunts.

  They clash in the middle of the room, a blur of blows and swings. I can only see them when one or the other gets shoved against a wall. Boone gets pushed more often than Lucca, and every time he gets knocked down, his fury increases. But it’s Lucca who gets my attention the most. He’s not holding back, displaying his savagery for everyone to see. The scene should repel me, make me run for the hills, but instead, I’m drawn to his bloodlust. I want him to tear Boone to pieces and bathe in his blood.

  Fuck. What am I turning into? A vampire groupie? A blood whore?

  Lucca has Boone pinned to the floor, holding his enemy by the neck while his other clawed hand is ready to deliver the final blow—to pierce his chest and rip his heart out.

  “Enough!” A stern woman appears in the room.

  All the lights from the candles glow brighter, allowing me to see her features more clearly. She looks familiar, but it’s not until Aurora steps closer to her that I see the connection. That must be her mother.

  But Lucca doesn’t move, nor does he show any inclination that he wants to let Boone go. His friends have to drag him off the vampire, who doesn’t get up. I can only see a few scratches on his face, nothing to warrant his immobility. When he starts to moan and bitch about his nonexistent wounds, I see what he’s doing. He’s milking it to get Lucca in trouble.

  Aurora’s mother approaches him. “Oh, come on already. You’re not hurt.”

  “He attacked me, unprovoked,” Boone whines, earning a snort from both Aurora and Saxon.

  “You went after Lucca’s date. I wouldn’t call that unprovoked,” Manu retorts.

  Boone sits up and glares at me. “That’s his date? A regular? Yeah, no one believes that excuse.”

  “I don’t care about the reason for this ridiculous fight. If you can’t behave your age, pack your shit and leave.” The witch stares at Boone and Lucca. “Both of you.”

  She turns to the exit and glances at her daughter. “You, come with me.”

  Aurora sighs loudly and then spares a fleeting glance in Saxon’s direction. He gives her two thumbs-up and a silly-ass grin. I’m not sure what their exchange means. But there are more pressing problems to worry about. Manu just declared Lucca fought because of me, which puts a target on my back. I’m way too visible now, and that’s very bad news for me. One false move, one wrong answer, and the truth will be exposed.

  That should be the height of my concerns, but there’s something else competing for space in my head—the idea that Lucca might crave me. And I don’t mind that one bit.

  15

  Vivienne

  When I finally got back to my apartment in the early hours of the morning, I was exhausted but also light-headed, thanks to the lack of food. To my surprise, I found a couple of Snickers hidden under my pillow. Starving, I inhaled them without stopping to consider their source. Lucky for me, it wasn’t a prank. I suspected Aurora had left the gift for me. How she’d gotten in, I didn’t know, but I wasn’t going to complain to her about privacy when she was feeding me.

  Despite everything, I slept like the dead, only waking up because of Manu’s loud banging in the kitchen. Pissed off with the noise, I jump out of bed. Still half-asleep, I march to the common area, ready to kick up a storm.

  “What’s with the ruckus …” I trail off when I see the scene I’ve walked in on.

  Manu is not alone. She’s currently latched on to an attractive guy’s neck while he fucks her on the counter. Heat spreads up my neck and cheeks. I retreat slowly, trying not to make a sound.

  I don’t leave my room until I’m positive I’m alone in the apartment.

  Tiptoeing, I head for the front door. My hand is around the doorknob when I sense Manu’s presence behind me.

  “Did you enjoy the show, roomie?”

  I don’t turn around, or she will notice my red face. Do vampires even blush? Maybe she won’t see my reaction, thanks to the spell.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.”

  “You’re not embarrassed, are you?”

  I laugh to hide exactly that. “No. Why would I be?”

  “Prove it. Turn around, so I can look at your face.”

  Sighing, I do as she said, trying to school my expression into a neutral zone. “There. Satisfied?”

  “Yeah, you’re totally embarrassed. Don’t tell me you’re one of those prude regulars who doesn’t screw your humans while you feed.”

  Shit. I don’t know how to answer that. If I say I do, will she be able to tell the lie? God, the furthest I’ve gone with a guy was giving a blow job to my sophomore-year boyfriend. We broke up soon after because I didn’t want to go all the way.

  “Sometimes, but I like to feed in private.”

  “This is my apartment. It doesn’t get any more private than that.”

  I want to say, Your room is more private, but I keep the comment to myself. She seems to be in a good mood, and there’s no reason to change that.

  “Okay then. I’ll try to not walk in on you while you feed.”

  She shrugs. “I don’t care either way.”

  I don’t breathe easily until I put a good distance between myself and my apartment. I meet up with Cassie and Damon at the bottom of the stairs, and we head together to our first Keepers class. I’m nervous about it. I don’t want to mess up and hurt myself in front of everyone. But those worrisome thoughts get pushed aside when all Cassie and Damon want to know about is the fight between Lucca and Boone.

  “Is it true that Lucca fought him because of you?” Cassie asks.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “That’s what everyone is talking about,” Damon interjects.

  “Manu had to say that, so Lucca wouldn’t get in trouble. You know he can’t fight Boone unprovoked.”

  “Yeah, that’s thanks to the Accords.” Damon looks left and right in a cagey manner. “Between us, I think the Accords are totally BS. Tatiana waged war against the rightful king for centuries, and now, they’re at peace? Many of the king’s supporters are livid, and there’ve been talks of rebellion.”

  “Really?” I say.

  “Oh, come on, Damon. Those rumors are crazy nonsense. Everyone loves King Raphael.”

  “No, half the vampire population loves him. The other half loves his former betrothed.”

  “Wait, former betrothed?” I ask.

  Cassie and Damon stop to stare at me in a funny way.

  “Please tell me you know Tatiana was once promised to marry King Raphael,” Cassie replies.

  Oh shit. I should have known that. Ugh. Big, stupid mouth.

  “Oh, yeah. Of course. Duh. I thought you were talking about someone else.”

  “Who else? King Raphael hasn’t been linked to anyone romantically after that fiasco engagement,” Damon supplies.

  “Oh, that’s not true,” Cassie retorts. “There were rumors that he actually fell in love with a Van Helsing.”

  “Shut up.” Damon shakes his head and laughs. “That’s a total lie, fabricated by humans.”

  We continue our trek to the classroom, but I keep my mouth shut while I absorb as much information as I can from Cassie and Damon’s argument.

  “No, it wasn’t. I’m telling you, he did fall in love with a Van Helsing; that’s why he broke off the engagement with Tatiana. She then killed the girl, and thus began Abraham Van Helsing’s obsession with killing all of us.”

  “You’re crazy. Why must females be such hopeless romantics?” Damon asks me.

  “Who says I’m a romantic?”

  “Riiight.” He stops in front of the classroom and swings his arm toward it. “Ladies first.”

  There are fifteen students in total in this class. Five are novices, including Cassie and me. Damon has been here for over a year. No one gives a fig about my companions, but they sure are interested in me. Damn. So much for wishing vampires had a short memory.

  Hanson, the class’s instructor, joi
ns us in the middle of the gym. He walks over to the table where five new shiny blades are displayed. “These are the blades each of the novices will practice with. By the end of this program, they’ll become an extension of your bodies.”

  “Do we get to practice with them now?” Cassie asks eagerly.

  “No. Today, we’ll practice with the bo staff. It’s an ancient form of battle that relies heavily on dexterity, agility, and flexibility.”

  Each student in the circle collects a staff from next to the table. I follow Cassie, grabbing my weapon, mega happy that I won’t have to handle sharp objects today.

  For the next five minutes, Hanson explains some basic moves to the newbies while the seasoned students practice on their own. It’s hard not to look. They move fast, like ninjas, and they aren’t Bluebloods.

  How in the world am I going to pretend I possess vampire reflexes and speed? God, this will be a fucking disaster.

  Hanson then pairs us up, so we can practice. We’re an odd number, so I’m the unlucky one to get stuck with him.

  “All right, we’re doing the first advance movement. Let’s see what you’ve got. Attack me.” He positions his staff in a defensive stance.

  I do as he said, but my hit does nothing to him. I don’t even make him step backward. It’s like I just hit a marble statue.

  “What the hell was that, Vivienne? Attack me like you mean it. Remember, you’ll be defending a Blueblood. You can’t half-ass your way through it.”

  I have no idea why vampires think Bluebloods need protection—much less protection provided by regulars. Bluebloods are ten times stronger and faster than regulars. So, what’s the deal? By a miracle, I keep all these comments bottled up inside.

  “I’m not trying to half-ass my way through anything. I’ve never handled a staff before.”

  “You’re not even holding it right.” He drops his weapon to the floor and circles around me.

  He guides my hands to the proper position, but all I can think about is that he’s too close, and my panic is rising. It doesn’t help that he smells like the vampire who attacked me, who had a preference for a sickly-sweet perfume.

  “I-I think I’ve got it,” I say.

  The gym door opens with a loud bang, prompting Hanson to step away from me. I breathe out loudly in relief, but it’s short-lived. Lucca and his friends are the newcomers. My heart continues to beat at a faster pace, but it’s not because I’m panicking. It’s excitement that’s screwing with my pulse.

  When did I make the switch in relation to Lucca? It has been only a few days since he threatened to kill me. He’s not treating me with animosity now because he thinks I’m one of them. What’s going to happen if he discovers my deception?

  Stupid is as stupid does. That’s for sure. I’ve turned into a walking cliché, yearning for the bad boy. Fuck me.

  I can’t let lust cloud my judgment, distract me from my end goal. My brother needs me. God knows what Larsson is doing to him.

  “Lucca, to what do I owe the honor of your presence here?” Hanson asks, not hiding the contempt in his voice.

  With an arrogant smirk, he replies, “I came to see firsthand what your Keepers training program is all about.”

  “I suppose since you’ve missed so much, you could benefit from a refresher.”

  Lucca trades a quick glance with his Viking-looking friend, and then he watches Hanson with eyes that are filled with mirth. “Sure.”

  No. No. No. If I was nervous before, making a fool out of myself in front of Lucca will turn my jitters into a seizure. My palms are sweating, and I can’t hold the damn staff steady. I rest the end on the floor, so it’s not obvious that I’m shaking.

  “It seems you’re a fighter short,” Saxon chimes in. “I’ll spar with Vivienne.”

  Lucca sends him a glower, but the male is already walking over, smiling from ear to ear. Crap.

  “I’m not very good,” I say.

  “Don’t fret, darling. I’ll be gentle.”

  A rogue staff comes flying, hitting him on the back of his head. “Ouch!” He massages the sore spot, glaring over his shoulder in Lucca’s direction.

  “That’s enough,” Hanson retorts. “If you came here only to disrupt my lesson, you’d better leave.”

  “Sorry,” Lucca replies. “Ronan and I will just watch for now.”

  They walk off the tatami, and Hanson resumes his lesson. Saxon assumes a defensive stance while I’m supposed to attack. Not wanting to be the obvious human here, I give my all, remembering the last time we were up and close—aka when he thwarted my escape at Havoc. My arms strain from the blows, and it’s sad for me to realize that Saxon is not even trying to block my attacks. But at least he doesn’t make any cynical remarks about my lack of skills.

  “All right, switch positions,” Hanson commands.

  Ah hell. Saxon is going to make pâté out of me.

  Maybe reading the fear in my eyes, he whispers, “Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you.”

  I raise my staff and brace for his attack. True to his words, he barely makes contact with my weapon. It’s like we’re rehearsing a fake battle scene for a movie. After a minute or so of this, Hanson notices that Saxon is not really trying and stops our exercise.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He glares at my sparring partner.

  “You don’t seriously expect me to fight an inexperienced regular, do you?” he rebuffs angrily.

  “She’s never going to improve if she’s not challenged.”

  Lucca snorts. “She’s never going to improve, period. None of your students will.”

  Hanson whirls around. His spine is rigid, and his animosity is clear. “Let me guess. You don’t approve of my methods. Why am I not surprised? How about you show the class your skills?”

  The mischievous smile that blossoms on Lucca’s face tells me that’s exactly what he was hoping to achieve. I watch him push off the wall and walk over with all the confidence and swagger only a powerful Blueblood vampire can muster.

  “Are you challenging me, Hanson?” he asks.

  “Yes, I’m challenging you.”

  He raises his staff, assuming an aggressive stance, but Lucca simply shakes his head and approaches the table where the five daggers meant for us are on display.

  “Oh no. If we’re putting up a show for your students, we’re doing it right.”

  Lucca picks up a blade and twirls it around his dexterous fingers without even looking at it. If I tried to do that, I’d probably lose one. I have never been quick on my feet. My only true talent is singing, which I’m beginning to miss terribly. I wonder what Karl, Cheryl, and Vaughn are doing right now.

  Hanson drops his staff and grabs a dagger as well. Saxon steers me off the tatami, and the other students follow suit. Lucca and Hanson begin to circle each other, and once again, I become enthralled by Lucca’s movements. His eyes are narrowed, and his body is ready, but there’s no tension around his mouth. He seems amused.

  Hanson makes the first move, going on the offensive. Lucca easily evades the attack, circling around his opponent with the grace of a dancer. No, that’s not the right way to describe him. Lucca is a predator, nimble as a panther.

  This dance continues for another minute until Lucca, instead of sliding away from Hanson’s attack, blocks his blow. What happens next is too fast for me to follow with my human eyes. There seems to be a lot of slashing though, but the fight is over after less than a minute when Hanson’s dagger flies out of his hand and Lucca’s blade presses against his neck.

  “It seems to me you’re the one in need of a refresher,” Lucca says, cold and hard, before stepping away.

  He glances at me then, and holy baby llamas, a surge of heat comes from deep in my belly, spreading like wildfire through my veins. His eyes have a hint of red, and when he smiles, the tips of his fangs show. Once again, I don’t understand why I’m not repulsed or afraid of him.

  Before I combust on the spot, I switch my attention
to Hanson. My fire is doused when I read the pure hatred shining in his eyes as he glowers in Lucca’s direction.

  Shit. He just made an enemy.

  I can’t believe this. I’m actually worried now about the dark prince. Did this damn concealing spell mess up my brain?

  16

  Vivienne

  Lucca and his entourage left soon after he humiliated Hanson. During the rest of the class, the male vampire took out his frustrations on us. He had special words to describe how useless we all were, and by the end of the lesson, not only was my self-esteem down in the sewers, but Cassie’s and Damon’s were as well.

  “Damn, that was rough,” Damon says. “Could you please tell your boyfriend to not show up anymore in our class?”

  “My boyfriend?” I squeak. “Don’t be ludicrous.”

  “Boyfriend or not, there was clearly a pissing contest back there,” Cassie adds.

  “It’s not my fault Bluebloods feel the need to compete about the sizes of their dicks all the time.”

  Cassie snorts while Damon laughs out loud.

  “So, you’re thinking about dicks, huh?” he says.

  Heat creeps up my neck, spreading through my cheeks. I am thinking about Lucca’s dick now, and the thought is making me hot and bothered. Shit.

  A commotion ahead rescues my mind from the gutter. There’s a circle of students shouting and waving their arms in a manic manner.

  “Uh-oh, let’s find another way to Etiquette class,” Damon says.

  “Why? What’s going—”

  Someone grabs my arm hard and steers me toward the crowd.

  “Hey! Let go of me.”

  “Shut up, fresh meat. It’s time for you to pay your dues,” a wiry Blueblood male retorts.

  “What?” I look over my shoulder, seeing that both Damon and Cassie are also being dragged by other Bluebloods.

  Before I can make eye contact with Damon and ask what the hell is going on, I’m shoved forward, landing inside the circle next to another regular. She’s crying already.

  When Damon and Cassie join us, I ask, “What’s this?”