Page 52 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
“Are you trying to punish me?”
I studied the harsh line of his jaw. The tightness around his mouth. The wild light in his eyes. “Of course not, Your Grace. I’m simply following your orders.”
His grip on my wrists tightened, and he slid my hands up the cold glass. My breath hitched. There was something about the power he possessed—his dominance. Knowing that I wasat his mercy. Knowing that I was the one driving him to act this way. It was nothing short of intoxicating, but I wasn’t going to be like a reed in the wind, bending to his whim. Not this time. Even when his gaze lingered on my mouth. This was about defeating the Dark Witches who’d murdered my grandmother and who this vampire loved so well. And a little about my pride.
My back flattened against the cold glass when he inched closer. The hard line of his body pressed through the soft folds of my skirts, reminding me how very little space existed between us. If he wanted to stay away, why was he always getting so close?
“I-I thought you didn’t want to touch me again.”
Bastien held my gaze for a tense moment, then released my wrists. My hands fell limply to my sides, brushing my skirts. He didn’t step back. Instead, one of his hands braced the glass beside my cheek, the other gripping his cane, which was flush against my hip. Caging me in.
“I regret taking my temper out on you last night. That wasn’t gentlemanly of me. Nor was myotherbehavior. I apologize if I made you feel like any of it was your fault. To be clear, it wasn’t.”
I nodded once. Swallowing hard. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
He studied my face like he was searching for something. If he found it, I wasn’t sure. “No matter what Lady Natalia has told you, you are not required to select consorts today. In fact, you’re not required to have any at all.”
I was playing a dangerous game with Bastien, one that I had to play carefully if I wanted to earn his trust. So, I decided to give him another truth. A dangerous truth. “Last night, you showed mesomething. Something… I am very grateful for. But I understand our relationship must remain professional. So, now, as a twenty-five-year-old woman whose femininity has finally been awakened after a life of seclusion, I am excited to explore more of who I am outside of prayers.”
His eyes fluttered shut and he muttered something in Sanguisi under his breath. “You deserve that.”
Our eyes met. I nodded. So did he. An understanding passing between us. “Before you meet these applicants, you should know there are a few rules. First,and most importantly,no one can touch you if you’ve been drinking.”
“Why is that?” I replied as sweetly as I could.
“It’s for your safety. There are no exceptions. Do you consent?”
I considered pushing for a better explanation but decided there wasn’t a point. I didn’t drink very often, so he could have his way.
“Fine.”
“Second, if I desire your presence, my request trumps anyfunyou may be having, and you must attend me. Is that understood?”
I raised a brow. “How often do you plan on exercising this right?”
“As often as I please,” he gritted out. “You are a vital part of my life—of keeping me alive,” he quickly corrected himself.
“Are there any exceptions?” I asked. “Let’s say if it’s not life or death. You’re fine, just hungry, and I’m with one of my consorts. If we’retogether,” I forced myself to say, cheeks reddening with heat. A low growl emanated from Bastien’s chest. “and you knock at the door, am I allowed to finish?”
“Miss Donadieu,” he growled.
Something inside me purred with satisfaction. “I’m only asking to clarify, Your Grace.”
He rolled his lips together, leaving them wet. “I will wait outside your door for three minutes. After that, if you don’t answer, I’m coming in.”
“Well, if they are as skilled as Lady Natalia says,” I replied offhandedly, “three minutes should be more than enough time.”
Another growl came, and I wondered what he planned to do. If he’d smash one of these glass windows or throw his cane across the room like he’d done at the inn. But he did neither. He simply asked, “Do you have any other concerns?”
I had many concerns, but I kept them to myself. For now. I shook my head. “Not at the moment, Your Grace.”
Slowly, his hand dropped from beside my face, and he backed up a pace, allowing me space to finally draw a full breath. “Should I send them in?”
Our eyes met, and once again, a flash of tortured pain swept across his face. I could feel it land inside my chest too. He didn’t want this arrangement. He didn’t want me to have consorts. And neither did I. Not really. I wanted his mouth on my throat, his hands on my skin. I wanted him to unravel me until there was nothing left. But more than that, I wanted his company—to sit with him until late in the night, talking about his greenhouse, his roses, the things that made him human.
I wanted to strip away all the rules and let him show me exactly what I’d been missing my whole life.
But that was impossible. There was no future where my revenge, my mission, and my happiness all lived quietly together. I lifted a hand to the choker around my neck, and released a pent-up breath. There was no turning back. No room for fantasies of me and him. This was the next step in collecting more information.
