Page 80 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
From time to time, our eyes would lock, and he’d give me the most beautiful smile. There was something about seeing him among the vibrant blossoms and lush green leaves that made Bastien seem alive.
When we first met, I thought he was nothing but an entitled, smug vampire. Sure, he had a prickly exterior, but he was showing me there was also a softer side to him.
We waited until the last rays of light disappeared over the snowy peaks surrounding Château Rose before I dressed in thick wool and fur for travel and Bastien’s shaggy black stallion was brought around. I approached the beast with no small amount of trepidation. Truthfully, I’d never ridden a horse before. Not properly. Horses were expensive, andriding was a warrior’s privilege. Granted to the likes of my sister and other true Witches of the Light.
From time to time, when I’d been allowed off my family’s land, I’d traveled in the back of a wagon, feeling every bump as we rolled toward the falls or some other important spot for rituals. Not that I was invited to participate. Even though I was no warrior and never would be, things were different now. Tonight, there would be no wagon or coach to pull me along. I was riding with Bastien.
The horse’s breath was a visible puff in the frigid night air. Bastien patted his neck, whispered a few words in Sanguisi, and then turned his attention on me. His pale eyes blazed with blue fire, almost like he had just harnessed magick to cast a spell. For a moment, my breath caught in my chest, mesmerized as I was.
The longer I was in Bastien’s presence, the more I believed there was something magickal about him. I wondered if it was the same dark magick that he fancied protecting or if he was something else entirely.
“Don’t worry,” he reassured me, taking my waist and making my breath catch all over again. “I’ve never had any trouble on Lucien.”
His closeness had the same effect that it always did, causing heat to fill every corner of my body, but it didn’t stave off the frigid night air that had already begun to seep into my bones. Taking hold of a leather strap, I hoisted myself up. Once my foot was in the stirrup, Bastien lifted me onto the saddle, which was also cold. The horse shifted its weight, and I grabbed its mane for dear life. Worried Lucien was about to throw me off. “Bastien!” I cried.
A moment later, he was sitting behind me, his chest pressing against my back as he tightened his grip on the reins. “He’s just excited to run, that’s all.”
His body enveloped me, protecting me, and it quieted the worst of my fears. But the horse was the least of my worries. I was going to the homestead of Dark Witches who were burying their matriarch. Bastien whispered a word to the horse, and we lurched forward into the night, his hooves striking hard against the frozen ground.
“Don’t we need a guard?” I asked as the gates of Château Rose slammed shut behind us, separating us from everyone inside the castle—like Natalia and Tyson, vampires who could stand and fight if necessary.
Wrapping one arm around my middle and pulling me tighter to him, Bastien fitted his lips against my ear and said, “I’m the most terrifying thing in these woods,chérie. You have nothing to fear when you’re with me.”
Dark trees raced by as we rode and I wished I could believe him. I wished he could keep me safe from every scary thing. But no matter how strong or fast or gifted with a sword he was, Bastien couldn’t break the vow I made to my mother, nor could he remove the choker around my neck.
He might be my mate, but that didn’t mean he was my savior. However, I could still be Sera’s. “What about… werewolves?” I asked him as we rode.
A beat of silence. “Alec told you about his attack?”
“Is it true?”
“He seems to think so, and I have no reason to believe he’s lying. But… it requires more investigation. I wouldn’t let it trouble you.”
We were quiet again. The sound of Lucien’s hooves and the wind filling in silence. For hours, my mind ran through everything I’d learned about dark magick since leaving Prideaux Hill.
I told myself tonight was a turning point. If I didn’t find any issue with these witches, then I knew I’d beenlied to. I’d know that the war I’d grown up learning about was very one-sided. If it was… maybe I could somehow get Sera away from Mama and bring her to Château Rose. It was just a fleeting, rebellious thought, but it was there.
We rode so long and hard that my back and legs ached, and I thought I might never feel warm again. But thankfully Lucien slowed to a trot as we approached the wooden gate to a crooked manor nestled in the foothills of the mountains.
A healthy layer of fog stuck to the grass, obscuring the view of the grounds. A powerful charge in the air made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. A sweet smell lingered all around us.Dark magick.And by the feel of it, much more than resided at Shreesa’s.
“It’s unnatural,”Mama was fond of saying.“Demonic power isn’t meant to be wielded above ground. One day, you’ll understand what I mean.”
Fear had me pressing my back more firmly against Bastien’s hard chest.
“This coven has a reputation for being a bit standoffish and rather old-fashioned, but I don’t want that to make you fear them. They will not hurt you.”
My old fears rose up, reminding me of all I’d been told about Dark Witches, but I committed to having an open mind. We stopped before the gate, and two witches dressed in long black robes appeared from the thick fog. One was short and squat, the other as tall and thin as a willow branch. Both of their wands lifted in warning. Red eyes shone from beneath black hoods. The sight was unsettling, and my heart responded, racing faster in my chest, slamming against the bloodstone.
“What business?” croaked the shorter witch.
I tensed as Bastien encouraged Lucien closer.
“I’m Prince Bastien of House Allard, Duke of Roselyn, and I am here by invitation.”
The two witches exchanged glances. “And who is she?” the taller of the two inquired, pointing the tip of his wand at me.
I told myself to be brave, but I trembled, struggling to find a steady breath as flashes of Gran’s charred flesh and the graveworms in her chest raced through my mind.
