The Eternal Pact E-Book

Leigh Walker

• Herausgeber: 8th Note Press
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Serie: Kingdom of Eternal Night
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 316

Beschreibung

 So close to him, I could only feel warmth and safety. It was as if the connection between us served as a balm against the chaos of the world.  But I had been pierced, straight to my core.  No matter the lie my skin told, I knew the truth. I would never be the same again. In this enchanting sequel to  The Eternal Trade , Victoria finds herself trapped in the Kingdom, a realm ruled by vampires—as the betrothed of Prince Dominic, the heir to the throne. However, she is soon caught in a web of lies, forcing her to question her loyalties and true heritage.When the queen orders Victoria and Dominic's wedding, Victoria is driven by her sense of justice to protect the blood slaves...yet she also discovers a disturbing truth about her own blood. Victoria demands that Dominic promise never to exploit this power, but rumors about her abilities come to light, causing tensions within the vampire council to escalate.As the wedding approaches, Victoria reunites with loved ones she thought she had lost, but they hold a deep-seated hatred for all vampires, including her fiancé. At the same time, Dominic uncovers the queen's dark agenda…With the threat of war looming, Victoria faces a difficult decision: embrace her love for Dominic or fulfill her duty to fight the darkness.

Leseprobe

THE ETERNAL PACT

KINGDOM OF ETERNAL NIGHT

BOOK TWO

LEIGH WALKER

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Published by 8th Note Press

Text Copyright © 2019 Leigh Walker

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the publisher.

First Edition published by Leigh Walker in 2019 under the title “The Pact”

New Edition published by 8th Note Press in 2023

Cover Design by Ebook Launch

ISBN (Digital): 978-1-961795-05-1

ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-961795-06-8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Also by Leigh Walker

1. Domesticated

2. Fit To Be Tied

3. The Same Page

4. He And I

5. Forward

6. Side Effects

7. Proper Motivation

8. Worship

9. For What It’s Worth

10. Wedding Boot Camp

11. Grip

12. Candlelight

13. Mindset

14. Surrender

15. Closer

16. Perfect

17. Pierced

18. Come To Light

19. Angles

20. One Piece

21. Obey

22. Duty

23. A New Light

24. Distance

25. After All

26. Going Off

27. The Departed

28. Still Going Bad

29. Which Witch Is Which

30. True To You

Sneak Peak

Chapter One

Author’s Note

About the Author

ALSO BY LEIGH WALKER

Kingdom of Eternal Night

The Eternal Trade (Book #1)

The Eternal Pact (Book #2)

The Eternal Claim (Book #3)

* * *

Vampire Royals Series

The Pageant (Book #1)

The Gala (Book #2)

The Finale (Book #3)

The North (Book #4)

The Siege (Book #5)

The Realm (Book #6)

The Uprising (Book #7)

The Crown (Book #8)

* * *

The Equinox Pact Series

Awakening (Book #1)

Promised (Book #2)

Faith (Book #3)

* * *

The Division Series

Premonition (Book #1)

Perception (Book #2)

Salvation (Book #3)

1

DOMESTICATED

As I sank lower in the tub, I could hear Mistress Olivia bustling about in my room, probably fluffing the skirts of the gown she’d chosen for me or dusting the already-immaculate armoire.

“Are you all right in there, dear?”

Sinking another inch, I said, “Yes, thanks.” I wondered how long I could stay in the bath before she yanked me out to go about my day.

I wasn’t hiding from Mistress Olivia, of course. She was the kindly vampire maid who took care of me in the castle. But just because I wasn’t hiding from Mistress Olivia didn’t mean I wasn’t hiding. I most certainly was hiding from many things.

The blood sacrifices wanted me to work out with them. The queen wanted to start fitting me for my wedding dress. My vampire BFF, Anthony, wanted me to keep working on developing my power to erase vampire brains.

Then there was my fiancé, the prince, His Highness Dominic Allard. I would get out of the tub for him. Maybe we could pick up where we’d left off the previous night, when he’d been kissing me, his hands buried in my hair…

I shivered then splashed water on my face so I would snap out of it. I needed to keep my eye on the ball, which in the kingdom meant staying alive.

I should explain.

My name is Victoria Edwards. I’m eighteen, from New Jersey, and was previously a high-school senior somewhat—okay, very—behind on my college applications. I’d had good reasons, though. My mother and my little sister, Isabel—well, I’d thought they died in an accident. But they were alive, or at least, I think they are.

I’d been living with a foster family when I got a strange anonymous letter. It asked me to go to a nearby pond in the middle of the night. It said I might find the “things I’d lost.” I’d thought maybe what I’d actually lost was my mind, but having nothing better to do, I went. To add to the crazy, another strange and anonymous letter was waiting for me at the pond. It asked me to go into the water and come out on the other side, “the side you can’t see from here.”

Again, perhaps having lost my mind, or maybe just being too curious for my own good, I went into the water and swam to the other side. That’s crazy, but when everything you love’s been taken away, what do you really have to lose?

When I came out of the water, I was in a different place and time. I learned that although there was no electricity or cell phones, and people rode horses instead of driving cars, I was in the future. The year 3130, to be exact, and I’d somehow traveled to the other side of the world, a region that most likely used to be a part of England. And that wasn’t even the crazy part!

I met Mistress Olivia and my friend Anthony, and I learned they were vampires. Then I met the prince, Dominic Allard, and learned that he was a vampire. Then he picked me out of a lineup to be his bride. I met his parents, the king and queen, and found out that his mother wanted to take vampires out of the closet and rule the world, enslaving all humankind.

That’s where I come in—well, that’s the other thing. That’s where I keep coming in. Dom told me I’d traveled back and forth in time repeatedly over the past nine years. And each time I came back, I couldn’t remember anything. I never remembered him or that vampires existed.

One other quick thing, before I forget: my blood is poisonous to vampires. If they drink from me, they die. In smaller doses, my blood makes anyone who ingests it forget they ever met me.

Dominic told me we fell in love each time I traveled to the kingdom. Now, that I had no problem believing, even if I was skeptical at first. But we were supposed to be getting married in about two weeks, by order of the queen, and she was planning a big, fancy wedding and was making some sort of public statement. She wanted her son to feed from me on a permanent basis.

Again, I was only eighteen and in no way, shape, or form ready to tie the knot—and certainly not ready to be a human feedbag.

But I would be getting married, or at least, I was going to keep pretending that I was getting married. Because the queen planned to invite foreign vampire dignitaries to the event, and therein lay the rub. Dominic told me that my mother and sister are here, somewhere. They’re in this time zone, in this land, property of a notorious vampire emperor. Apparently, my mother is married to the guy. And he’s my sister’s father. I hadn’t explored the ramifications of how that might or might not pertain to me. My poor, addled brain had had quite enough to deal with.

Anyway, though I was currently hiding in the bath, I was actually doing whatever it took to please the queen—working out with the blood slaves, the other human girls who lived on the property for the benefit and enjoyment of the royal family, and learning how to please vampires so that I could satisfy my future husband. I was being polite and not running away, screaming, though the queen was extremely scary and sometimes I wanted to.

I was being brave, playing the game. I would see my mother and sister again, and I was going to save them.

“Lady Victoria.” The knock on the bathroom door made me jump. “Anthony just popped in,” Mistress Olivia said. “He said he needs you for a little bit. Something about a project?”

Anthony was my friend, and he was also Dominic’s best friend. I knew what “project” was code for. He wanted me to work on my vanishments.

“I’ll be right out.” I drained the water and wrapped a fluffy towel around myself. Duty calls. I would have loved to stay in the bath for the rest of the day, but how was I going to win like that?

* * *

“What did you tell Mistress Olivia?” Anthony asked as we hustled down the hallway to the stairs.

I glanced at my friend. This morning he wore tan trousers, a matching vest, and a button-down shirt. His crimson hair was still wet around the edges, and his freckles gleamed prominently against his pale skin. “I told her you needed help to organize books in the library,” I said.

He frowned at me. “That was dumb.”

“What was I supposed to say? That we were going to the dungeons to work on erasing vampire brains?”

“Shut up, Tor.” Anthony whipped his head around, making sure no guards or spies had heard my outburst. “If we get caught, it’s the stake for me and the pyre for you.”

“What do you mean, ‘the pyre’?”

“That’s what they do with witches—they burn them.”

“I’m no witch,” I hissed, as I followed him down the dimly lit stairs to the dungeon.

He gave me a dirty look over his shoulder, his green eyes narrowing. “You’re not exactly normal.”

“And you are?”

“Let’s argue later. We’ve been putting this off for too long.” He zipped down the stairs, his long legs carrying him much faster than I could go in my wretched high heels. We didn’t have much time. Soon, they would look for me to take me to lessons, a workout, or another dress fitting.

We quickly made it to the bottom. Anthony opened the heavy door, looking both ways before he motioned for me to follow him into the gloomy hall. It was dark down there for a reason. Only prisoners and vampire tombs occupied the castle basement, along with the guards who got stuck with subterranean duty.

Quietly, we made our way down the hall. Anthony knocked on a door and then held still so he could hear what was happening within.

“Be quiet, you beast!” someone scolded inside. “There—stay under the bench, or I’ll declaw you myself!”

Anthony cursed. “We’re coming in, Fitzy.” He opened the door and pulled me through and then immediately closed it behind us.

“Well, hello there. If it isn’t my favorite visitors.” The prisoner smiled at us placidly. He was sitting on a stone bench, chained to the wall behind him. “Did you bring me another present?”

Anthony crossed his arms against his chest. “Where is it?”

“Where’s what?” Fitz asked innocently. With his large, crooked nose, bulging eyes, and thick, wrinkled skin, the prisoner looked just as much like a giant condor as he did a vampire.

“The bloody cat. I heard you talking to it!”

Just then, a tentative yowl came from beneath the bench.

“Damn you, Fitz! I brought you that so you could eat it, not domesticate it!”

The cat, a skinny tabby with yellow eyes, came out and stood between the prisoner’s feet. It stared up at Anthony as it rubbed against Fitz’s legs. The prisoner chuckled. “They really don’t listen, do they? They do just as they please.”

“Apparently, so do you!” Anthony went to grab the cat, and it hissed. “Don’t spit at me, you mangy beast! I’ll toss you in the moat!”

The cat hissed again, and Fitz frowned at Anthony. “Don’t talk to him like that. He has done nothing to you.”

Anthony threw his hands in the air. “I thought you liked cat blood—that’s why I risked myself to bring you the cursed thing. Haven’t the guards found it yet?”

“The guards never check on me. They’ve left me here to rot, you see.” Fitz chuckled and leaned back against the wall. The cat sat down, still staring up at Anthony. “That’s why I kept my little friend here. I decided I would rather starve to death than be alone one minute more. Solitary’s a wretched business, I tell you. I’d take a public staking any day. Get it over and done with quickly.”

Anthony just stared at him. “So you kept it as a pet.”

“Yeah, so I did.” Fitz considered him. “So why’ve you come back? Brought your mouth-watering witch friend to experiment on me some more?”

“That’s right.”

Fitz leaned forward, sniffing in my direction. “Never smelled a witch like that before.”

I clenched my hands into fists. “Will you both please stop calling me that? I’m not a witch!”

The prisoner shrugged and then nodded toward my left hand. “That’s some ring. The stone’s about as big as this ginger’s brain, I reckon. Who did you bewitch into giving you a jewel like that?”

“I didn’t bewitch anyone—it was a gift.” I put my hand behind my back, eager to hide the enormous sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring the prince had given me. “Speaking of gifts, I’m glad you like the cat. I don’t think I properly thanked you, Mr. Fitz. I appreciate what you did.”

The last time I’d been in his cell, a guard had surprised us. Fitz hadn’t helped us, exactly, but he hadn’t turned us in, either. I’d managed to vanish the guard’s brain, a trick that only vampires had mastered. The guard had been so confused that I’d convinced him he’d stumbled into my chambers in the middle of the night. He’d left us quickly and without a backward glance. Anthony had promised that his behavior meant that the guard was permanently vanished. He would never remember what had really happened.

“You got that guard pretty confuzzled.” Fitz cackled. “And it’s a good thing because he was a nasty one. Would’ve taken you right before the queen.”

“Enough with the chitchat.” Anthony stepped forward and then pointed at the cat. “Anthony giveth and Anthony taketh away. So will you help us again, Fitzy? The lady needs to practice her vanishments. It’s not like you’d be sad to not recognize her, right?”

The prisoner shrugged. “She didn’t get very far with me last time.”

“She’s learning. That vanishment she did on the guard was legitimate—he didn’t know what hit him. So? Are you in?”

“I’ll do it on two conditions.”

Anthony crossed his arms. “What are they?”

“Get the cat some food. Tibby—his name is Tibby. And write that down, in case I forget it. He’s just getting used to it. No sense in going backward.” The wizened old vampire turned to me. “Now go and do your magic, witch. If you somehow erased my memory, it would be a blessing. I would probably owe you a cat. Just don’t take mine.”

“I won’t, Mr. Fitz.” I smiled at him. “Now relax, all right? This won’t hurt a bit.”

2

FIT TO BE TIED

“Why didn’t it work?” I moaned as Anthony helped himself to more than his fair share of the sandwiches Mistress Olivia had prepared.

“I don’t know.” He picked a bit of watercress off his bread and scowled. “Maybe we should try it on someone else.”

“Like who? Are there any other prisoners?”

“None safe enough to approach. We could kidnap a guard, I suppose…”

“That doesn’t seem like a great idea. If we get caught, the queen will hear about it for sure. It’s too risky.”

He contemplated what remained of his cucumber sandwich. “I wish I understood more about how your power worked. The one time it’s stuck, the only time, was when you were threatened.”

“Maybe you can have Mr. Fitz yell at me.”

Anthony shook his head. “It might have to be real danger. I don’t know.”

I shrugged. “Maybe it doesn’t matter.”

He put down his food and stared at me. “Of course it matters. You want to save your mother and sister, right?” Anthony had listened to me talk endlessly about my family’s plight.

“Of course I do.” It was the thing I wanted most in the world.

“You want to stop the queen from enslaving all of mankind, don’t you?”

I sighed. “Yes.”

“What’re you sighing for? We’re talking about humans being trafficked for their blood.”

“I know, I know—but I’m sighing because I’m a human. What am I going to do against Queen Danica, the most powerful vampire alive?”

Dominic had shared that his mother was one of the oldest vampires in existence. She was almost impossible to destroy; he’d seen her rip stakes out of her heart and live to tell the tale.

“Something—you’re going to do something. I don’t believe in coincidences anymore.” Anthony grabbed a slice of pear from the plate. “You have your powers for a reason. I know it. Now we just have to get them to work—and we will.”

“I’m glad you’re so sure. The only thing I’m certain about is that I’ll be summoned any minute. They’ll try to squeeze me into that dress again, then the seamstress will jab me with her wretched needles and suggest I stop eating until the wedding. Then she’ll come at me with a corset. Not my idea of a good time!”

A knock came at the door. “Lady Victoria? It’s time for your fitting,” the seamstress called.

“Great. I’ll be right there.” I frowned and put down my sandwich. Parting with food was definitely against my better judgment.

Anthony laughed as I stood up and wiped the crumbs from my gown. “Have fun, Tor! I’ll just stay here and finish your lunch.”

“You do that.” But grumbling wouldn’t do me any good. I headed to the door, determined to meet my afternoon with a positive attitude. I might’ve failed again at my vanishment attempt, but I refused to fail as a bride-to-be. Too much was riding on it.

* * *

Proof that things didn’t improve one hundred percent for women in the future—the seamstress did indeed lace me into a corset.

“It’s just for the fitting—I’m sure you can whittle yourself down a size or two before the ceremony.” The vampire seamstress pushed her glasses up on her nose. They’d likely slipped because she was sweating as she tried to wrangle me into the impossible contraption.

“I don’t plan on losing a size or two.” I winced as she pulled the laces tighter. For a tiny little thing, she sure had a powerful grip.

“I mean, you could try to drop three sizes, but you haven’t much time… And of course that would require real willpower and commitment.” She sighed as she kept cinching as if she didn’t believe I had what it took.

She was correct, of course. “I’m already committed—to a very rigorous schedule of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Not to mention snacks.” I briefly stuck my tongue out, grateful that she couldn’t see my face. “And I want to look like myself on my wedding day, thank you very much.”

“That’s exactly what I want.”

Dominic! My heart soared. “Can you pass a law banning these terrible things, then?” I joked. “Or issue a decree on the matter?”

My betrothed, Prince Dominic Allard of the kingdom, strode into the room. “I just might,” he growled.

In addition to my oxygen supply being cut off by the corset, the sight of him had me breathless. He was very tall and strapping, his muscular chest and broad shoulders encased in a form-fitting black ceremonial tunic. His legs were long, and his thighs, athletic; I could see them bulging beneath his fitted pants. My gaze rose higher, taking in his handsome face. He had a square jaw—which grew taut when he was upset—even features, and an aquiline nose. His close-cropped dark hair framed his face. But my favorite things to stare at were Dom’s eyes. They were a dark, depthless brown, almost black, a color I’d never seen before, framed by a set of heavy black lashes.

I sighed in contentment. Even the corset couldn’t mar my enjoyment of the view. But the prince’s face twisted with sour disapproval once he got closer. He could see how tight the laces were.

“Get that thing off her.”

“Your Highness, please—the undergarment’s just for the fitting. I promise the lady won’t have to wear it for long.” The seamstress adjusted her glasses again. “And forgive me for saying so, but you’re not supposed to be in here. It’s bad luck to see the bride trying on her dress!”

His nostrils flared. “That’s a silly superstition from centuries ago. And that,”—he pointed at the corset—“is an abomination. Get it off the lady at once!”

She scurried and loosened the laces of the vile device. “Yes, Your Highness.”

She removed it, and I took a deep, relieved breath. Then I grinned at the prince. “You really are my knight in shining armor, you know that?”

“Ha-ha.” But he looked pleased. “I prefer to rescue you while you’re still breathing, my lady. Otherwise, we would be in quite the predicament, with the wedding two weeks from now.”

I grinned at him, and he grinned back. The seamstress cleared her throat.

“Leave us,” he commanded without tearing his eyes off me. “I’ll only be a moment, but it must be a private one.”

She curtsied. “Yes, Your Highness.” She fled the room still clutching the corset, and I hoped she burned the thing.

I wrapped my robe around me and smiled at the prince. “To what do I owe the honor of this visit?”

“I have something for you.” His eyes sparkled.

“Ooh, is it a kiss? I’ve missed you all morning!” I went closer to him and put my hands on his muscular chest, positioning my face so it would be easy for him to oblige me.

He chuckled. “No, but perhaps I can spare one of those as well.” He leaned down and gave me a quick, chaste peck on the lips.

“No fair.” I shook my head. He knew that was not what I meant. “Don’t tease me like that!”

He grinned wickedly and brought his face closer again, then he brushed his lips against mine. But he quickly pulled back, a smug expression on his face.

“I am not amused.”

He chuckled, deep and throaty. “Very well, Victoria. Let me see what I can do about that.”

Dom ran his hands down my sides and positioned them on my hips, and the room suddenly got very, very hot. We stared at each other for a moment, and time stopped.

The prince loomed over me, and I could feel his cool breath on my face. My heart pounded. Dom leaned down, his hands still planted firmly on my hips, and kissed my cheek, my jaw, and my forehead, holding me close but still making me wait.

Just when I was about to mutiny, he must’ve sensed it—he finally kissed me. He pressed his lips to mine, and I melted against him. Dom delved his hands into my hair, and I arched my back, trying to get as close to him as humanly possible. He opened his mouth, and our tongues connected, making me ache deep inside. I moaned as electricity zipped through me. Not only was the room hot, but I was burning up as well.

I lost myself in the kiss, in his arms. All I wanted was to be closer to him because I was never close enough. But as usual, the prince pulled away first. He blew out a deep breath and took a small step back, putting some distance between us. “That was…” He shook his head as if to clear it then laughed. “I don’t know what that was.”

“D’you think we should try it again so we can figure it out?”

He laughed again. “Absolutely. But I’m staying over here.”

“Why?” I felt like a small child who’d had their favorite cookie taken away.

“Because we have to be good. Your seamstress is right outside the door, probably eavesdropping on us.”

I had to agree with him on that. She likely had her ear pressed against the door, the nosy little thing. “Fine.”

He stepped a little closer, a small smile on his face, trying to make it up to me. “And I came here because I have something for you—a present.”

Though I wanted to argue that he’d already given me what I wanted, and now I wanted more, the sparkle in his eyes told me he was excited. My curiosity piqued, I asked, “What is it?”

“It’s something for the ceremony.” Dominic pulled out a rectangular black velvet box. “I know it’s old-fashioned, but I always remembered the saying: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in silly superstitions.”

He gave me a sheepish smile. “I guess I’m just selective about which ones I choose to adhere to.”

I was touched. “So… people still say that?”

Dominic shrugged. “I think some villagers do. I remember hearing it as a child. For some reason, it always stuck with me.” He handed me the box, looking a bit nervous all of a sudden. “I didn’t know if you were familiar with it, but I thought I would be prepared just in case. It’s your something blue. I thought you might try it on with your dress.”

“That’s very sweet.” I opened it and gasped. Inside was a stunning sapphire-and-diamond necklace, fit for a princess and probably worth a large fortune.

The prince leaned forward. “What do you think?”

I gaped at it. “Dominic… I can’t. This is beautiful, but it’s too beautiful.”

“It’s been in my family for generations. As its newest member, the necklace belongs to you.”

“Dom.” I cocked my head. “I’m from New Jersey. I used to shop at Walmart. My favorite restaurant back home served drinks in Styrofoam cups.”

When he looked confused, I continued, “I’m just saying that I’m pretty simple. And this necklace is anything but.”

“Ah. But I think you are anything but simple. In fact, you are the most complicated person I’ve ever met.” He chuckled quietly.

I arched an eyebrow in response.

His chuckle turned to a cough. “I meant that as a compliment, of course. And I’ve brought this for you because not only do I think it would suit you, but it’s something from my family as yours to keep. I want you to have it. It would mean something to me for you to wear it.”

I clutched the box against my chest. “That’s very kind. Thank you.” I was not ready to be married, but if I were, Dominic was whom I would choose a thousand times over, to infinity and beyond. He was so thoughtful and loyal. If the necklace meant something to him, I would honor that, even if I felt a bit like a fraud wearing something so opulent.

He kissed my forehead. “Thank you.”

Grinning at him, I said, “Now, I want you to stay. In fact, I want you to excuse me from fitting duty and take me back to my room so we can—”

He suddenly bent down and put his lips on mine. I leaned into the kiss, into him, and the rest of the world fell away. Dom ran his hands down my back, cradling me closer, enveloping me in his firm embrace.

He held my face in his hands when our lips finally broke apart. His eyes were blazing but not in the vampire way. “I would like nothing more than to take you back to your room. In fact, I would throw you over my shoulder right now and carry you back if I could.”

“Oh.” I blew out a deep, shuddery breath. “You should totally do that.”

He smiled at me, and it was like the sun coming out. “I will someday. But today, you need to be fitted for your dress, and I need to get to my council meeting. We’re waiting to hear from some of the foreign dignitaries.” A shadow crossed his face.

“Is it about…your mother’s plans?” The queen was rallying other powerful vampires around the world to join her in her quest to stop hiding and rule mankind out in the open, master and servant.

“Yes.” Dominic frowned and then looked at the door. “But let’s not speak of that now.”

“Of course. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the necklace. That was very thoughtful of you. I love it.”

“It’s my pleasure.” He bowed, still grinning. “I will see you later, Lady Victoria. I’m looking forward to it.”

Watching him stride from the room, I sighed. “Not as much as I am.”

3

THE SAME PAGE

The vampire seamstress kept me busy all afternoon. I actually did nothing—I just stood there as she adjusted the lace of the dress and pinned, pinned, pinned. To her credit, she didn’t jab me once. She also didn’t mention me losing weight again. Being engaged to the prince certainly had its advantages.

When I got back to my room, I carefully put the jewelry box in a drawer. I snuck one last peek at the necklace. Its diamonds and sapphires glittered against the black satin of the interior. I was touched that Dominic had given it to me. He’d seemed so earnest about it, so sweet.

I sighed as I closed the box. The necklace was probably the most beautiful and expensive thing I would ever wear in my life. I wasn’t comfortable with that sort of extravagance, but that wasn’t what troubled me most about the gift.

As I regarded the fire, I tried to understand the root of my discomfort. The prince seemed truly excited about getting married. Dominic remembered everything from the last nine years, every time we’d fallen in love. He was also a thousand years old. He seemed ready for the commitment of marriage and didn’t appear to have a doubt or hesitation. I had feelings for him, with a capital F, but my memories of our time together only went back a couple of weeks. Added to that was the fact that I was only eighteen and hadn’t even graduated from high school yet.

A knock at the door interrupted my reverie. Mistress Olivia bustled in, her gray dress and spotless white apron starched to perfection. Her hair, dark with silver streaks, was pulled back into its always-immaculate bun. “You’ve been summoned, my dear.”

“Summoned where?”

Her smooth, round face broke into a forced smile. “To dinner with the royal family.”

“Oh, crap.” Nothing frightened me more than the queen. The last time I’d dined with her, she’d insulted me, scrutinized my every move, and stared at me as she fed from her slave.

Mistress Olivia pursed her lips. “I know. But I think the queen wants to make sure that you’re coming along nicely. With the wedding so close, she needs to be sure you’ll behave properly.”

“I’m not some sort of pet that’s being trained!”

She sighed. “Well, I know that, but the queen? She views these things a bit differently, I’m afraid.”

I groaned. “I know she does. She would probably be fine with the prince leading me around on a leash, giving me a treat if I sat pretty.”

Olivia nodded. “That may be true, but let’s just do our best, shall we? That’s all we can do.”

At that, she threw the wardrobe open and started moving hangers, searching for a dress. “Something cheerful would be nice. Ah, here we are—blush pink. That’s always an optimistic color, I think.”

I grimaced as she brought the pretty gown over and held it against me. “Asking me to be optimistic tonight might be…too optimistic.”

She chuckled. “Put on your game face, my lady. I expect you’ll need it. And hopefully it will help keep you off leash.”

* * *

“You look beautiful, Victoria.” Dom held my hand as we traveled down the dim hallway to the dining room. “I’m very fond of that dress.”

“Thank you.” The gown fit snugly, accentuating my curves, and its delicate pink satin train trailed out behind me. It was a regal gown, fit for a princess. But dining with the vampire king and queen was also regal and fit for a princess, and that had me quite queasy, so I tried to keep my mind on the present moment, which was much preferable to what came next. “You look very handsome.”

“Ah, I do what I can.” He winked at me, but the playful look slid from his face when he sensed my nerves. “Has dinner with my parents got you stressed?”

“Yes, but I’ll be fine. I’m assembling my game face as we speak.” But my stomach fluttered as we neared the hall. The last time we’d dined with them, the queen had insisted that she and the king drink from their blood slaves in front of us. It had been disturbing, to say the least. The queen had gotten sort of primal with her slave, ravishing her neck, writhing and moaning in enjoyment as the poor slave sat there, terrified. The king had been more restrained, politely drinking from his slave’s wrist. Still, I hadn’t enjoyed watching my fellow human being used as a walking blood bank.

“They’ll have slaves at dinner. My mother insists that she shouldn’t have to hide what she is in her own home.”

“And she shouldn’t.” I believed that in theory if not in practice. “Perhaps she’ll be better behaved tonight.”

The prince just shot me a look. After living with her for a thousand years, he probably knew better than to expect too much.

I took a deep breath as we entered the dining room. It was a grand space with soaring ceilings, an enormous chandelier lit with hundreds of candles, a large table, and a roaring fire. King Declan and Queen Danica were waiting for us on the far side of the room, near the fireplace. The king was wearing a gray ceremonial uniform that showcased his tall, muscular frame. His hair, like his son’s, was dark and close-cut, and he had a neatly trimmed gray beard, the only real visible clue to his age.

The queen was as tall as her husband and was also very fit. Her coffee-colored skin was luminous, as was her raven hair, arranged in intricate braids coiled like snakes atop her head. She was wearing a powder-blue gown covered in gold brocade, with heavy gold bangles and earrings to match. A hint of gold powder showed off her dark-brown eyes, so much like her son’s. Queen Danica was, hands down, the most stunning woman I’d ever met. But pretty is as pretty does, as my mother used to say.

“It’s about time.” The queen’s voice was filled with disdain as her gaze raked over me. “You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

Pretty, indeed. Every time she opened her mouth, I felt like I’d bitten into a rotten apple. She never failed to both surprise and disgust me.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.” I curtsied stiffly—it was a skill I still hadn’t mastered. “The prince and I were catching up.”

“Do not include my son in your excuses,” she said coldly. “If there are problems, you are the one responsible. It is the humans that are the lower form of life, slower both mentally and physically. My son is not responsible for your many deficiencies. Is that understood?”

I felt as if she’d slapped me, but I nodded. “Yes, Your—”

“That’s enough, Mother.” Dom stepped in front of me protectively. “I won’t have you speak to Lady Victoria like that. We weren’t bloody late, and if we were, it was my fault. So shut your mouth, and stop talking about her race that way, or we’ll leave right now.”

“First of all, do not speak to your mother like that.” Her voice was icy. “Second…” She came closer, inspecting Dominic’s face. “You really do seem changed. Perhaps your new engagement has turned you into a man. Or perhaps… Maybe I’ve just never seen what loyalty looks like on you, my son.”

“Maybe. Perhaps Victoria’s the first one to have properly earned my allegiance.”

They faced each other; the tension rolling off them in waves. I expected to hear hissing at any moment.

“Right.” King Declan cleared his throat. “Let’s have some wine, shall we?”

Both Dominic and the queen shot him nasty looks.

He cleared his throat again. “Let’s have all the wine. I insist. Now, Victoria,”—he offered me his arm—“tell me more about what you’ve been up to.”

“Um…” I wracked my brain. Traveling through time? Making out with your son? Trying to vanish a prisoner? Plotting my escape? “I’ve been getting fitted for my wedding gown. It’s spectacular.”

“Ah yes, the seamstress has told me about your sessions.”

“She has?” I tried to picture the tiny seamstress gossiping to the strapping king.

“Yes.” King Declan smiled at me kindly. “She said you’ll make a lovely bride.”

“That’s really nice. I hope she’s right.” I smiled hopefully back at him, not wanting him to stop chatting with me. He might be useless regarding stopping his wife, but he was so much easier to talk to than she was.

“Please, let’s sit.” The king pulled out my chair for me then snapped his fingers.

Two servants sprang forth and filled our goblets with wine. I sipped mine carefully; Dom had warned me that the queen performed some sort of magic on it to make the humans more pliable.

Queen Danica sank into her seat at the head of the table. Her bell was nearby, the cursed thing. She used it to summon her meals—the human slaves who lived on the property and existed, in her mind, just to serve her. “I’ve had dinner prepared for you, Lady Victoria.”

She rang the abominable bell, and its tinkling noise made me shiver. The servants brought out a bowl of steaming chicken soup and thick, crusty bread slathered with homemade butter. They placed it before me with a flourish.

“This looks delicious. Thank you.” I nervously handled my spoon while the king and queen stared. They watched me in painful silence as I had my first taste then another. “It’s excellent.”