Page 49 of Wicked Thirst
In truth I craved a moment to myself. Her words were echoes of my own worries. I could hear all the vampires gathering in the throne room where we were to be married. I had to stand in front of them all and take unbreakable vows. The mere thought of that sent me into having panicked breaths.
Perhaps I couldn’t do this? Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps this wasn’t meant to be?Doubt like I’d never known flowed through my veins, and the need to run back to my home and safety of the fields and forests was nearly overwhelming. Alone in the room, the walls seemed to close in on me. I went to the door. I pressed my ear to it, hearing no one. I reached for the doorknob and yanked it open, ready to make a run for it back to my home and back to the safety of the life I knew. Who was I to think I could possibly manage in such a position in life?
I was two steps out the door when I nearly collided with a huge vampire. He reached his hands out steadying me and I sucked in a sharp breath. “Graymont . . . I?—”
“—Looked like you were about to run out of this castle as fast as your feet could carry you.” He gave me a warm smile, and suddenly I felt foolish.
“I must admit, I was feeling a bit panicked.” I blinked up at him, feeling like the words and feelings were silly now.
“Have you got doubts?” The smile fell from his face.
I shook my head. “No, I just . . . what if I fail at this?”
He guided me back into the room and closed the door.“Fail at what?”
“My royal duties. What if I fail the people?” As the words were pulled from my mouth, I felt a knot tighten in my chest. The possibility of failing at so much responsibility was daunting to say the least.
“How could you possibly?” A light smile played on his lips as though this was a silly notion.
“I do not jest.” I put my hands on my hips.
“I have discussed this thoroughly with my brother, and he has all the faith in the world in you, as do I. And, well, if you have the faith of a King, there is not much else needed but the backbone to take the place that is rightfully yours.”
I sucked in a deep breath. “Yes, you’re right. Of course.”
He kissed me on the cheek. “Now, shall we attend a wedding, or have you decided to run off?”
I sucked in a deep breath. Knowing that Titus also had faith in me brought a calm to my nerves I hadn’t felt before. I nodded. “You know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”
“I hardly think that applies to me.” He winked, ever the playful vampire.
A light knock came from the door and then it opened a crack. Familiar brown eyes peeked around the door as strands of wavy brown hair fell into his eyes. “What are you lot doing?”
“Marius, old friend, leave it to you to be pushing for punctuality.” Graymont shook his head with a light chuckle.
Marius stepped through the door and let it fall shut behind him. “Well, there is a whole roomfullof vampires waiting.”
“A whole room? You don’t say. Intimidated to be aroundallthose vampires?” Graymont teased.
Marius waved toward the door. “Of course not, but really, the wedding can’t take place without you. It would ruin all appearances if you two didn’t show up.”
I smiled and a light giggle played on my lips. “Indeed, you are right. We have a wedding to attend.”
I shook my head and turned for the door. How naive I’d been. How full of hope I’d been. How . . . unprepared I’d been for the future and this new reality where hope scarcely existed.
CHAPTER TWENTY
GRAYSON
They say the descent into madness is a slow and steady decline . . . they lied.
Thirst burned my throat like a smoking hot poker that scorched me from the inside out. I pressed my hand to my neck, hoping the pressure would somehow stop the fire within. All it did was cut off the air to my lungs.If only I could die like this. Death was not a luxury I’d be afforded at this time though. Atlas’ face flashed through my mind, and I was reminded of his vow to me. It would only be a matter of time before he found me, so death may not come when I prayed for it, but it would come in time. There was comfort in that.
My stomach felt sloshy like I’d drunk my fill and then some. I knew I’d taken blood on this night, but the memories of how I’d done so were fleeting and hazy. I heard the echo of screams in my ears, felt the ache in my hands from the destruction I wrought, and scented the blood that wasn’t my own. Flashes of throwing furniture and feeble humans ran through my mind. Guilt, madness, and pain all warred within my body, each one taking their turn to torment me. My heart was a pit that twisted in my chest, and at times felt so empty I was a mere shell. At other times, it felt so heavy I might suffocate under the weight of emotions I could no longer endure.
I tried to gain my bearings. I looked around at my surroundings and had no idea where I was or how I’d gotten here. The night sky began to lighten to purple, and I knew the sun would soon come. I crouched down in a heavily wooded area and leaned back against a tree trunk. The bark bit into my back, but I couldn’t stop myself from rocking back and forth against it. I pressed my hands to my temples, hoping to squeeze the torturous voice from it. The cool air did nothing to calm the raging fire I felt burning in my throat, down my chest, and through my body. I was sure I killed innocents tonight, innocent people who didn’t deserve to take the brunt of my madness. If I were a Night Spawn, I’d have met the sun by now. But my royal blood made it impossible to die that way. At least until my best friend finally found me.
I shook my head, unsure if he already started hunting me or not. The memories were foggy at best. I knew we’d fought. I felt the injuries to my body. They were slow to heal and ached all over. I’d been thrown but then again so had he. The smell of blood that was not my own filled my nose, and when I looked down at my hands, they were coated in crimson. I bellowed and pulled at my hair, throwing my head back against the tree. I looked to the sky, hoping my prayers for death would soon be answered. Piper had to suffer this, and I would not drag her down with me. She was perfect in every sense of the word. She didn’t deserve what I’d done to her. I squeezed my eyes shut and was tortured by visions of striking out at her, hurting her. I’d covered her body in scratches and bruises.
