Page 8 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
I wanted to get this over with, but dread coiled tight in my gut. I’d only had a taste of her blood, and I was already fighting myself not to drag her into a corner and finish what I started. If one drop could unravel me this much, what would happen when I took more?
Still, tradition demanded a show. I took her hands, like we were about to dance, and spun her in a slow circle before pulling her into my arms. She gasped in surprise, her fingernails biting crescents into my arms.
I guided her down until her silver lilac hair brushed the red carpet and my nose was buried in the warm hollow of her throat. Gasps came from the crowd.Oohs and aahs.This was the spectacle they all wanted from their rulers.
I drew in a breath of her delicious scent and held it, letting it fill every corner of my chest. Part of me ached to sink my teeth into her and drink until I knew every secret she carried. Another part of me feared that if I did, there’d be no pulling back—that I’d lose the control I’d kept for centuries. But there was no escaping this. I had to show the courtiers and Marius that nothing was amiss.
And while all this was swirling inside my head, I could tell by the clammy sheen of sweat on her skin and fluttering pulse that she was terrified. I waited for the change to happen. For my bloodlust to be triggered. For my incisors to drop and my eyes to blacken, ready to feed.
But… nothing happened.
Chapter 4
Toucher
CLAIRE
Iheld my breath, waiting for him to strike like I was about to jump into the frigid, white-capped rapids of the Starfall River. But instead of feeling his incisors on my neck, I felt like I was floating—drifting in a current, and the only person I wanted to listen to washim. The wailing of the violins disappeared along with the low conversation of the crowd.
I swallowed a curse. The wretched vampire was in my head again. Without moving my lips, I asked him,“What are you doing?”
Silence.
“Well?”I prompted him.
“Your fear is inhibiting my ability to transform.”Each word sounded like it cost him something.“I need you to relax—to want this—or it won’t work.”
How was I supposed to relax while in such a compromising position? On stage? In front of hundreds of people? Much lesswanthim to bite me.
“I can’t relax. It’s not possible.”
He growled in frustration, and the soundvibrated against my ear, sending unexpected little bolts of pleasure down my spine.“You have to make everything difficult. Don’t you?”he gritted through his teeth. Even his voice in my head sounded exasperated.
“I’m not trying to make things difficult,Your Grace,but this whole thing is unnatural. The people.Your brothers.I’ve never been around so many strangers in my life.”
Why had I given him that truth? I needed to be more careful with my words. Much more careful. The less he knew about me, the better.
There was a pause, and then he said,“Fine. Let’s try something else.”
“Fine.”
I had no idea what I just agreed to. What else could he do to get me to relax?
Bastien expelled a deep breath against my neck, causing a wave of tingling pleasure to roll down my spine. I had to hold back a gasp. Slowly, he moved his lips to my earlobe, then breathed again. The smooth line of his mouth grazed the shell of my ear. I shivered in his arms. Never before had I felt such things. I hated this man. Was terrified of his bite. But by Diana, something inside mewantedhim this close. If only to feel his breath against me once again.
“Wh-what are you doing?”I asked.
He hummed against my skin.“Trying to appeal to another one of your instincts.”
Another instinct? Did he mean…?
Oh.Oh.
Before this moment, I’d never so much as spoken to a man outside my family, let alone had one press his lips against my neck. I’d had crushes on boys from afar, but that’s all they ever were. I was no good in a marriage alliance with a neighboring coven, despite my mother’s status. I was told she would neverforce me on a man of worth because I couldn’t defend myself or my children from dark witchery. Which meant I rarely left Prideaux Hill because I was too much of a burden to protect when we traveled.
I was often alone, content with tending the ravens and the garden, because I accepted my fate a long time ago. I was destined to be a spinster. Untouched and undesired by anyone. But the Duke’s mere breath had awakened something deep inside me I hadn’t known was there. A desire to be desired. He sighed against my skin again, this time adding a small satisfied sound. My breath stumbled.
“Much better. Your fear is dissipating. Now, if it’s okay, I want to try one more thing.”His words were slow and soft in my head, and I swallowed hard as another hot pulse of heat rolled through me.
