Page 18 of The Vampire Castle in the Sky

“That can be easily explained,” I chimed merrily. “My family didn’t want me to marry a vampire, so we eloped. After that we didn’t get the chance to tell anyone because of our loss. We were in mourning. But now, as you’re about to be appointed the new sovereign, it is both timely and appropriate to introduce your human companion to vampire society. And in a couple ofmonths, you can simply tell them that we decided to separate. Interspecies marriages rarely work, anyway. Just look at the statistics.”

“Thea,” Hector said firmly. “We cannot fake a marriage.”

“And why not?” I persisted. “It will only be for a night, and we already know everything there is about each other. And that way, I get to safely remain here, and you don’t have to fight about it with the old bastards. Let’s face it, Hector, you have never been a very good fighter. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve seen you wield a blade.”

The faintest flicker of amusement flared in his eyes. “Well,” he drawled, “I have a sword now.”

“A sword?”

“A magic sword.”

I glowered at him. “Is that a euphemism? Are you going to tell me how you wrap your hand around the hilt and—”

“Dorothea.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you and yourmagic sword.”

“Oh, for the love of the stars,” he hissed, leaping up from the couch with one hand in the air.

At once, a fiercewhooshripped through the room as a giant sword carried itself past the doorsill and into Hector’s open fist. He grabbed it midair, brandishing the blade in one fluid movement before extending it toward me, silver flashing at the edge of my vision. The needle-thin point levitated a few inches from the bare skin of my throat, but before I could protest, Hector drew it back with another masterful twirl.

“Bloody Tartarus,” I gasped, touching my fingers to where the blade had almost nicked me. “You have a magic sword.”

The weapon itself was of remarkable craftsmanship, long and wide with an intricately carved hilt encrusted with a blood-red gemstone at the top. As Hector released it from his hold, theblade simply floated by itself next to him, waiting for the next command. A magic sword, indeed.

It was both frustrating and wretchedly embarrassing to realize that allIhad managed to acquire these past four years were brand new levels of anxiety, an intractable book addiction with a subsequent fixation on unethical male leads, and a stack of letters from my mother in which she subtly but effectively criticized every single aspect of my life.

“I had no idea the Castle could make such weapons,” I admitted, genuinely impressed.

“The Castle is not some kind of treasury,” Hector bristled. “I earned this brawling with a minotaur.”

I gaped at him, uncertain if I should be more astounded by the fact that Hector had brawled with a minotaur or that he hadbrawledaltogether. “You, Hector Aventine, fought a minotaur.”

He shrugged. “It has been a busy year.”

I shook my head incredulously. “And to think there was a time I could pin you down just by sitting on top of you.”

“I don’t think this would work now,” he said in a low, almost sultry tone. “But you’re always welcome to try.”

Was he flirting with me? Surely there was no way.

Hector Aventine did not flirt. In fact, he did not engage in anything that could bring any amount of joy to a warm-blooded person. But then again, the Hector I knew didn’t brawl with minotaurs either.

I squinted at him in an air of mock suspicion. “You really know how to use this thing?”

“Would you like to see meuse it, Thea?” he offered, his fangs showing just a little. “You might have to come here and wrap your hand around its long, hard hilt, though.”

“Okay,thatwas a euphemism.”

A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth, but he brushed it away with a finger.

“Well, look at that,” I chimed. “He almost smiled.”

He rolled his eyes, reassuming the seat next to me while the sword whooshed itself out of the room. It was even polite enough to close the door behind it.

“Your plan,” Hector prodded.

“What about it?”

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