Page 18 of The Vampire Court
If I thought he would lead me in a quiet dance around the outer edge, I was wrong. He twirls us and spins me with flare until we are in the center of the room.
“Oliver,” I hiss his name as the song draws to an end. I pull my hand from his, backing away, but he catches me, leading me into the beginning of another dance. “I’d rather not stick out like a sore thumb.”
“Oli.”
“What?”
“Call me Oli, and I promise to behave.”
I clench my jaw and grind out his name through my teeth, “Oli, we agreed ononedance.”
He grins triumphantly but edges us away from the center to blend in with the other dancers.
I look to where Alaric stands beside the queen. He glowers at us, making me want to shrink away. I’ve never seen that look on him before.
As soon as the music slows, I rip my hand from Oliver’s and head to resume standing against the wall. I’ve already messed up by agreeing to the dance. At the last second, I alter my trajectory and exit through the nearest door.
In the hallway, I feel like I can breathe again, but I don’t slow until I round the corner.
“Clara, I wanted to talk to you,” Oliver says, his tone serious.
I spin on my heel and face him, spearing a finger at his chest. “Stop whatever it is you’re doing. It’s not helping.”
“Isn’t it?” he asks. He takes my hand in both of his and lowers it. “Alaric would never have marked you otherwise, even if you’d asked. Tonight, he didn’t even know you were in the room—too busy being the queen’s lapdog.”
I snap my mouth shut. I don’t know how true it is, but his intentions don’t seem devious.
“Well, stop it.” I shake my head then blow out a puff of air. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” I admit quietly.
Oliver grabs the back of my neck and pulls me forward, pressing his forehead to mine. He smells of warm pine and earth after a spring rain.
“I wanted to thank you.”
“Thank me?” I pull back, looking into his amber eyes. My annoyance dissipates into air at the sudden change in his demeanor. “For what?”
“You saved a cub of the Shade pack.”
I stare blankly, not understanding fully.
Oliver continues despite my confusion. “I hadn’t heard of what you did until a week before coming here.” He cups my face, squishing my cheeks. “You saved the future Alpha’s mate. That is no small thing.”
Oh. Oooh.The morning of Kitty’s wedding.
“I am sorry if I have caused you any trouble, Clara.” The corners of his mouth tug down. “I can’t protect you from these monsters here, but I can break the bond and take you away. They wouldn’t be able to reclaim you.”
I try to pull away, but his hold is too strong. “Why? How?” I step back, shaking my head. “I don’t need to be saved or protected, Oliver.”
“Become my mate. It will sever the mark, and you will be protected by the pack.” Oliver lifts my hand and places a kiss on my wrist.
“Mate?” The word comes out choked and strained.
He’s nice, sweet even, but to be his mate? I have no idea what the full extent of that entails. I don’t understand his world—I’ve barely scratched the surface of this one—but even so, I know accepting his offer would leaving Alaric behind. It would mean severing whatever it is we have. And I can’t.I won’t do that.
“Well, well, isn’t this a sweet little moment,” a voice croons.
Oliver retreats several steps as a vampire approaches. His disheveled hair looks like someone had been running their hands through it. He swerves slightly as he walks.
The vampire sniffs the air. “A human and a …wolf.” He wrinkles his nose. “What would the two of you be doing out here—alone. Where are your masters?”
