Page 48 of Wicked Thirst
He stormed from the room, and though I felt he needed me, needed to talk to me, I just didn’t have it in me to follow him. I barely had any of this in me anymore.
Eloura rose to her feet and headed toward me. “I take my leave and return with all thegossipone can stand.”
“As always you are a comfort, old friend.”
She paused next to me and placed her hand on my shoulder. She didn’t look down at me to catch my eye. She squeezed her fingers and whispered, “You will always have my friendship.”
I patted her fingers. “It is a good thing, because I will always have need of it.”
She slipped her hand from mine and walked out the door. I leaned back and rested my arms on the chair. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders, and all I could do was sit there and shoulder it.
Martin and Prisha quickly followed, giving me a little bow as they left. But Sanchita hung back for a moment. “Your Maje . . . I mean, Moira, may I ask you a question?”
I waved her on. “Please do.”
“You weren’t born into this world of royal courts and such.”
I nodded. “No, I was of course a member of the Blood Born class, but it was never my intention to become royal. Things like this kind of just get thrust upon us. Don’t they?”
I knew Titus put her in this position, much to her own shock, but I could see why. Sanchita, Prisha, and Martin were all forward thinkers. They wanted what was best for the vampires, and Titus needed vampires like that surrounding him, especially now.
Sanchita gave a slow nod. “Yes, I feel like this is very sudden, and I’m not quite sure how I’m supposed to be operating. Or how I’m supposed to behave?”
A smile played on my lips. I remembered a time when I too felt the same way and the panic almost changed the course of my own history. “There is only one thing you can do.”
“What’s that? Please, I need any advice you can offer.” She rose from her chair and moved closer. Once she was beside me, she leaned against the table, waiting for me to say more.
“The only thing you can do in this situation is lift your chin and move forward in the best way you know how. Be honest, be forthright. Holding your tongue, especially now, will not serve the King or the vampires well. He seems to like you and with good reason. You are in touch with what is going on right now and that is important.”
She shook her head. “But what if I overstep or my sister oversteps?”
I chuckled. “There is no doubt that you will. Because you are young and opinionated. The only thing I will say is to move forward with honest intentions and do it in the most respectful manner possible. The King favors honesty over protocol.”She swallowed and her deep brown eyes looked like they’d shoot from her head at any moment. I reached up and gave her hand a pat. “You will find your way. Just be confident.”
“Thank you, Moira. I will try.” She lowered her voice. “I fear I worry more than Prisha does. And Martin is used to being in the castle and dealing with . . . well, everything.”
“Yes, he’s gifted in that way.” I rose from the chair, feeling the stress ache all over my body. Between my son and the duties of the kingdom, I felt as though my insides were aging, though it would never show on the outside.
Sanchita stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me tight to her. I hesitated. It’d been ages since anyone hugged me like this. I found myself wrapping my arms around her and pulling her closer, just holding her for a moment. Something inside me shifted, and I wanted to let my tears fall endlessly. It was as if the tight control I held was slipping bit by bit. With one hug I nearly fell apart.
I pulled back and cupped her cheek. "Go and do wonderful things.”
She nodded and glided out of the door, leaving me there in this room by myself. I fell back into the chair and rested my hand against my head. I knew how she felt. I knew what it was like to take a step into a world you didn’t feel you belonged in. I knew the feeling all too well. I’d felt it in this very room in a time long since forgotten.
Two Hundred Years Ago
I couldn’t breathe. The dress was too tight, the veil too thick, the walls too close. White, everything was so white. I sat in a high-backed chair trying to catch the breaths that wouldn’t come. Sweat beaded my brow and ran down my back into the layers of my dress. I shoved the veil out of my face and tossed the flowers on the table. My mother, a slight woman with brownish-red hair, paced back and forth in front of me.
“This is the choice you’ve made, Moira.” She pressed her hand to her stomach. “A royal life none-the-less.”
“Yes, Mother, I know. If I could but have a moment to myself. All will be well.” I gave her my best smile.
My mother wasn’t so easily fooled. She pursed her ruby lips and crossed her arms over her chest. “There’ll be no frolicking among the trees for you anymore after this. Nor will there be walking barefoot through the mud. Honestly, is this what you really want?”
I loved him. “Surely marriage doesn’t have to be viewed as the end of all things. It’s simply moving on to a new phase.”
“Do tell yourself that,” she snapped.
I rose to my feet and pushed her toward the door. “They will need you outside for the ceremony, Don’t keep them waiting, Mother.”
