Page 4 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
CLAIRE
Ithought the spell would provide me a quick death, but apparently, Mama hadn’t granted my failure that kindness.
Another drop of blood landed beside my hand, and a sickening wave of dizziness broke against me.Partly because I couldn’t stand the sight of it, and partly because I was going to die here, at Château Corbin, on someDiana-forsaken balcony, miles away from my family home where my spirit could be at peace.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I collapsed against the railing. I had so many regrets. Most about my failings as a sister and a daughter, but at least Seraphina wouldn’t have to see me like this.
The sharp sound of metal striking stone came from behind, and once again, Ifelthis presence. Slowly, I turned to find the Duke of Roselyn mere inches away, staring at me with those cool blue eyes of his.
He was back.Why?I searched his face for an answer but found only an emotionless mask. He grabbedmy chin in his cold hand and tilted my head to the side, examining my neck, which caused the searing pain to spread. I swallowed a scream as tears raced down my cheeks.
“Who did this to you?”
When I didn’t answer, he released his hold on me, but the pain didn’t. A breath passed. The barbs dug deeper. Another wave of dizziness had me stumbling right into his arms. He drew his dagger and slid the cold blade between the lace and the thin skin covering my throat.
My eyes went feral when I realized he was going to cut the choker off, which wouldn’t work. It would kill us both. This wasn’t just a scrap of lace, but an enchanted object. No one but Mama or a true Prideaux witch could remove it.
“No! Don’t!”
His hand stilled, the blade waiting against my throat. We stared at each other for a hot, tense moment. Tears leaked down my cheeks. Fear gathered in my chest. I was waiting for him to say something,anything. Instead, he pulled the dagger away and brought the bloodied blade to his lips. He dragged it across his tongue, sucking the tip, staining his lips red. The sight of my blood turned my knees weak. He fitted his arm around my waist, holding me upright.
When I looked into his eyes, I wondered if this monster would be the last person I’d ever see. If he’d be the last one to hold me. I hated how desperate that thought felt.
“Your blood is tainted with magick,” he rasped. “Did you know that necklace is cursed?”
I didn’t dare answer.
“How foolish could you be?” the vampire continued. His voice was dark. His expression pinched. “Magick isn’t something to meddle with.”
As if he cared.Vampires didn’t concern themselves with humans, even though it was their promise to keep the balanceof power and protect innocents from evil. It was hard to focus on my hate when red tears leaked down the front of my dress.
Live, live, live,my heartbeat sang.Live long enough to avenge your family. To protect Sera.
“Please,” I pleaded, meeting his cold eyes. Knowing this was my last chance. The pain made words nearly impossible. “Help me. Save me.”
The shadows around his eyes darkened, and his incisors lengthened into sharp points that peeked out from beneath his top lip. He wasn’t my savior. He wasn’t going to make this better. He was going to drain the rest of my blood and leave me for dead. Fear sharpened all my senses, and I struggled to escape his grip, but Bastien’s hold on me was absolute. His fists like manacles around my arms.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
Before I could respond, the door to the balcony was thrown open, and Marius, the High Prince of the Unified Territories, loomed behind us.
Now I was alone with two vampires.
Like Bastien, Marius was in his monstrous state. His eyes were coal black and shadowed, and his fangs were bared. Bastien released his crushing hold on me, and I fell to my knees. I scraped my palms catching myself on the rough stone floor, but the pain didn’t stop me from crawling away, needing to put space between me and the two brothers who looked like they wanted to tear each other apart.
“Dammit, Bastien. I know you don’t want to be here, but how could you feed from a girl without a contract? In the middle of your Sanguination Ball?”
“I have done no such thing,” he snapped back, turning to glare at me with murder in his eyes. “This girl is bewitched.”
I wasn’t technically bewitched, but I didn’t think revealing that would help.
Turning to the moon, I said a silent prayer to Diana to protect me. If the vampires discovered I was sent from the Prideaux Coven as a spy, I’d be thankful that the collar would kill me before they tortured me into providing information.
“Don’t test me, brother,” Marius cut in. “The proof is in front of me. Her blood is on your lips. The law dictates death for a vampire who feeds without contract.”
Death?No. If Bastien died, I would too, and this would all be for naught.
“I know the law, and I didnotbreak it,” Bastien refuted. “I tasted her blood to confirm the presence of magick.”
