Come for Me 2 (The Hunt #2)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Alaina

I managed to take a nap, and it was the first time I didn’t fall asleep from crying so hard. Instead, I felt hopeful of an escape and the chance to avenge my mate.

I was woken up by a bunch of maids fussing around in my bedchamber with shoes, makeup, racks of clothes, and hair products. I can hear them arguing among themselves and taking over my vanity along with any counter space they can find.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

No one bothers to turn around.

One of the maids with beady red eyes carts in a maroon gown about as tall as she is and fluffs out the full satin skirt for me to see.

My jaw drops.

The maid smiles at my expression. She can tell I like it—who wouldn’t? It’s absolutely stunning. I had to see it up close.

I throw the covers off me and walk toward the dress.

The thick straps hang off the shoulder, lined with lace all the way to its V-neckline. Beading covers the bodice and tapers off the waist.

“This beading is exquisite,” I say.

And I think that’s the first time I’ve ever used that word.

“Not beading—diamonds, Your Majesty,” she says.

Art comes in many forms, and outside of painting, I adore it all. Writing, sculpting, inventing, and of course, designing.

“Maroon for the soon-to-be hybrid,” the maid says.

My smile falls at the word.

“Let’s get you ready.”

“Get ready for what?”

“Your appearance with His Majesty, of course,” she snickers.

“All of this for a simple meeting?” I ask. People were here to do my hair, makeup, and dress me. It all seems a little much.

The maid ushers me into the seat in front of my vanity, and another begins powdering my face, while another begins blowing out my hair.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Your union has a purpose of great importance. You are going to unite our species and bring peace among the attacks of the unwanted. But it will take time for the people to accept it, and appearances matter.”

The maid stands by in my purview while they fuss over me.

I furrow my brows. “The unwanted?”

“The outcast ones, of course,” the maid answers.

Still unsure what she means, I’m silent.

The male styling my hair chimes in. “She means the vampires and rogues who plague both kingdoms.”

“Oh.” I knew they experienced the same issue, but there was one thing I really didn’t know. “We have problems with them as well. What do those problems look like for the vampire kingdom?”

The makeup artist puts a dark-red lipstick on me, then mimics rubbing her lips together. “Rub your lips together for me, Your Majesty.”

I do as she says, and she squints before going back in for a second pass. “Same thing you all experience. They attack everything and everyone. They just take and never contribute to society.”

The hairstylist gathers my hair and puts it on top of my head, looking at it in the mirror and tilting his head to the side before letting it fall and grabbing a curling iron. Big, loose curls are made to the ends of my strands. “Your Majesty’s alliance could finally put an end to it all. People will resist a born werewolf ruling at first, but once you are a hybrid, His Majesty will ensure you are protected.”

“Do you mean Colin?”

They all giggle. “You two are on a first-name basis, I see. Yes, His Majesty. He is a good man with a rough start. But he will take care of you, I am certain. Just as he has taken care of us,” the makeup artist says.

“Better than that bitch of a queen,” the hair stylist says.

They laugh and verbalize their agreement.

“Do you mean Olivia?” I ask.

“Yes, she was horrible,” the hairstylist says. “She wanted to change everything, cared more about appearances than truly taking care of her people. She was about ready to gut this entire house, stripping it of its culture to make it modern.”

“We did her hair and makeup every day, and I don’t think she ever knew our names,” the makeup artist said.

Sounds like Olivia.

“What are your names?” I ask.

“Constance,” the makeup artist says.

“Eli,” the hairdresser says.

“I’m Andrea,” the maid says.

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Alaina.”

* * *

Andrea helped me into the dress, and I’m thankful for it. Shit was heavy. But I had to give it to them, I looked beautiful.

If Dax could see me now.

There’s a knock, and one of the maids opens one of the double doors. Upon recognizing who it is, she sidesteps and curtseys, revealing Colin in a matching maroon tie and black three-piece suit. Looking at the grandfather clock behind him, he arrived right on time at eight o’clock, just like he said he would. But no matter his punctuality, it will always be the wrong time when the wrong guy is showing up for me.

“You look beautiful, but you’re missing one thing.” He snaps his finger, and the other door opens. In walks another servant holding a diamond encrusted tiara with round rubies held in a silk lined box with several guards escorting him and the tiara safely.

Colin lifts the tiara off the pillow and lifts his eyebrows. “May I?”

The tiara is beautiful. But no matter how magnificent the jewels are, nothing could distract me from what accepting it would signify. But Colin doesn’t wait for my answer before he’s placing the tiara on my head, adjusting it a few times before he’s happy with its positioning.

He steps back, sparing it a final glance before his eyes settle on me again. “Like a queen.”

Just not your queen .

“Shall we?” He holds out his arm.

I lift my chin to walk past him and out the door, rejecting his offer to escort me.

A split second later, he’s walking beside me, with Andrea walking several paces behind me and Ash several paces behind Colin. His presence has me rolling my eyes.

This is going to be a long night.

“So, what’re we doing?”

“Eager now, are we, love?” He chuckles.

I hate the sound of his laugh or any indication he is finding joy from our interaction. This was a show to him, and the brat in me ascends at the opportunity to ruin it for him.

“Sooner we get done, the sooner I can be away from you.”

I’m about to say something else about how I can’t stand his pet name for me, when my mouth refuses to part despite my vigorous attempt. I stop, and so does Andrea behind me.

Colin stops when he’s a few paces in front of me and turns around to look at me.

I press my fingers to my lips, which I find are cold to the touch and stuck like glue. My eyes widen, and I look to Colin.

He’s smirking. The fucker has silenced me, and he’s smirking.

I don’t even think. I lunge, attempting to wipe the smirk clean off his face with my claws. He catches my wrist before I can, then grasps my other and tucks it behind my back. At the same time, he spins me and presses me up against the wall. With one wrist pinned behind me and the other against the wall beside my head, I’m trapped again before I can even get the chance to blink.

My words are muffled trying to cuss him out with every name under the sun, but my lips are still sealed. His face inches from mine.

“Shh...” The fucker is still smiling. “Quit fighting me, you don’t want people to think their rulers are in a lover’s spat already, do you?”

I struggle in his grasp, trying to wriggle my shoulders so my back isn’t against the wall with this deranged man in front of me.

He laughs low. “I mean, come on, at least make it to the honeymoon first.” The veins snake up his neck, and his eyes go black at his desire for a wedding night with me.

I knee him in the crotch, and he grunts, but doesn’t keel over like I thought he would. I’m trapped with the very bear I keep poking.

His nails dig into me, and I grimace but refuse to give him any more than that. He’s seen enough of my pain.

My nostrils flare.

“If you want to speak, you will speak to me with respect. You will not question me. Especially not in public, or I will teach you a lesson in private you’ll never forget.”

My teeth grind together at his boundary. Fuck him. Fuck his rules. I’m not scared of dying, especially with Dax waiting for me on the other side.

“Assault me or even attempt to assault me again, and I’ll take that as permission to do the same unto you.” He emphasizes the T, practically spitting in my face with the word. “And I would relish in the chance, my love.” He nuzzles into my hair, and I turn my head to the side. “Do we understand each other?”

I gulp and nod reluctantly. The hard bulge against my stomach enough evidence to tell me he’s serious.

He lets me go, retreating from me, his hands moving behind his back. “Good. I’m going to let you speak now, and I will tell you my plan for us today.”

His plan. His decision. His way. And I’m starting to see the early signs of a tyrant in the making. I look at Ash and Andrea, who don’t seem shocked.

Colin holds out a hand to me, and my lips part as I come to realize who I’m up against. Of course, Colin would expect vengeance. He knows I’d give anything to kill him right now, so he’s on high alert, bringing Ash and Andrea along as backup in case I try anything. I won’t be able to exact any revenge this way, not with eyes on me.

No one is going to save me, and I can’t best his powers. But I don’t need saving. I just need to be convincing enough to gain Colin’s trust. Which means, for the first time in my life, I’d have to start doing what I’m told and play the part I don’t want to play.

Just until I can get close enough to kill him when he least expects it.

I can do that , my wolf says.

With my wolf and I aligned, I place my hand in his. His face softens at my touch while my wolf growls inside. But on the outside, I smile sweetly. And he’s thankfully crazy enough to buy into my sudden change in demeanor.

Time to play the part of an obedient bitch.

* * *

Colin showed me around the castle, which has paintings, antiques, and architecture dating all the way back to medieval times. Colin told me the décor has been collected over various lifetimes of many vampire royalties. Some of the castle has been restored, while other parts have withstood the many generations, like the stone walls and its original arched windows and stained glass.

Playing the part of being interested is a whole lot easier when I am genuinely interested. I find myself asking more questions.

In a hallway, lit up by many sconces, with several podiums displaying items in glass cases, it’s set up similar to a museum. We stop at one of the cases holding a pearl necklace with a gold B pendant dangling from it.

“And this is Queen Anne Boleyn’s famous necklace.”

I gasp. “How did you get this?”

“She gave it to an ancestor of Ash’s after her execution by King Henry VIII,” Colin says casually.

Now I see why humans came so far to tour the museum. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at, but then I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I face him. “Wait, did you say after her execution?”

“Yes.”

“So, she didn’t die that day?”

I’m so confused.

“No, she did. But it only started the transition process.”

“Anne was a vampire?”

Even saying the words out loud sounded crazy.

He nods.

“How is that possible?” I ask.

“What do you recall about Anne Boleyn’s execution?”

“That she was executed for false charges, including incest. Her body and head laid there on the scaffold for days until burial arrangements could be made. Then her ladies-in-waiting carried her body and head to the Chapel of St. Peter, where she was buried.”

“Or so people were led to believe. The charges were false. That part, historians guessed right. Anne was also executed on that scaffold, but her body didn’t lay there for days.”

I will him to continue with my silence.

“Burial arrangements hadn’t been made. That is correct. But that was intentional. Once executed, the lack of burial arrangements allowed for an ancestor of Ash’s to switch the head and body for one with similar features while people were too busy celebrating and preparing for Queen Jane’s wedding to notice the disturbance.”

“Who’s buried in the chapel?” I ask.

“One of King Henry’s whores he slept with while Anne was pregnant.”

“What happened to Anne?”

Colin adjusts his collar, then takes my hand again. “She transitioned with the vampire she had made a deal with prior to her execution. He wanted only one thing, her and her necklace.”

“He?” I thought he said the vampire was Ash’s ancestor.

“Yes, he. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name... Ash, do you?”

Ash shakes his head. “No, but he wasn’t a lord or anyone of status. And you won’t find him in history books.”

Colin adds, “But because he turned her through his blood, they were bonded together. Anne was unable to have kids at that point since transitioning. She and him spent the rest of their lives together in hiding until her daughter Elizabeth’s death. Anne was really proud.”

I think about my mother and wonder what she would think of me now. Would she be proud of me like Anne was of Elizabeth?

“Then what happened?”

“It was hard for Anne to go on without her daughter. She tried for as long as she could.”

“That’s so sad,” I say.

“Depends on which way you look at it and which story you believe. Some say Anne felt a sense of completion. Her own daughter was a fine ruler. She didn’t have a desire to see anything else after. She could rest peacefully.” Colin walks us further down the hall, my heels clicking in step with his.

I think about how seeing Colin’s death through would allow for a sense of closure.

It was bittersweet hearing Anne was given a second chance, but that second chance somehow saddened me. Was she happy? Or did she simply watch life move on without her? And the man, the one she was bonded to...

“What happened to the guy?”

“No one really knows. They weren’t fated mates, and their bond was bargain-made, but a bond, it was. What we do know is he secured a family line at some point and passed on,” he says.

“Did you ever meet her?” I ask.

“No. She passed away before I was born.”

Females pass us in the hall, and I see them glaring at me. One hisses slightly, probably thinking I can’t hear her, but then the hissing stops abruptly. I turn back around to see the vampire no longer of cold flesh but cold ice, frozen in time for everyone to remember her by her hideous behavior.

I look back to Colin, whose lip is turned upward in a smile.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say.

But truthfully, I am glad he did. I don’t have the energy to deal with another mean girl. I have much bigger fish to fry right now.

“She didn’t have to express her distaste so outwardly,” he says simply.

“Thank you,” I say.

He clears his throat. “Of course.”

Awkward silence passes between us before I ask, “So, how old are you?”

He looks at me quizzically.

I cringe. “Sorry, was that rude?”

In the werewolf world, asking someone how old they are is a way to carry on a normal conversation. Living long was an honor, not something to be ashamed of.

“To most, it is. But because you and I are to rule next to each other, your curiosity is excusable. Do you want to know how old I was when I turned or when I was born?”

“Both,” I say.

“I was born in 1836. I turned at 32.”

“Damn.”

And I thought Dax was old.

He winces. “Are you always so vulgar with your words?”

I wanted to say, “fuck yes,” but then I remember I’m playing the part. Following his lead until trustworthy.

“Yes... But I’ll do my best to stop.”

He nods in approval.

Fuck my life. This is going to be harder than I thought.

A rare smell hits my nose again. Humans.

They round the stairs we’re walking toward, and ooh and ah at the sights with their pamphlets in hand. A man dressed in a black suit leads them and flashes a fang-filled smile as we pass him and the humans, who are all mesmerized by Colin’s looks. Despite being a stone-cold killer, I might consider him to be handsome.

“What’s with the human tourists?”

“Dinner,” Colin says plainly.

You would’ve thought he was telling me what time it was, not that the humans brought through here are on the menu.

“Do you only drink blood? Or can you eat food?”

“Vampires can eat regular food. We just prefer not to unless we need to blend in. It tastes like chalk.”

“And how do you know what chalk tastes like?” I tease.

I couldn’t resist.

He stops us in the hall and pulls my arm to spin me to face him. “Are you making fun of me?”

Colin’s tone is clipped, serious, with the control of a soda can that’s been shaken and opened.

I swear his eye twitched.

I furrow my brows at his sudden change in demeanor. “No, I was just—” Can I explain this to him, or will he find my teasing unacceptable and punish me like he said? “I was genuinely curious.” I’m not. But I didn’t want to take any chances. I think quickly about what to ask to change the subject before he decides to explode on me. “But never mind that. What does sleep look like among your kind?”

It was like setting a reset button with how fast Colin went from bordering on losing his patience to forgetting I said anything to irritate him to begin with. Because his grip loosens and he takes my hand instead, walking me like normal.

Note to self: Bratty behavior and jokes aren’t safe around him.

“Vampires still sleep. We just don’t need as much to function. Typically, we sleep during the day, as our energy is somewhat more depleted. But not in coffins, like people think. We are sensitive to the sun, but it doesn’t kill us, only burns.”

“I was aware of the sunburn. But not about the coffin,” I admit.

“It may be easier for you to ask me questions about what you don’t know, rather than for me to assume you know nothing about vampire culture,” Colin says.

For me, there would be practically no distinction, but I digress.

“Do you age?”

“No. We stay the age we are.”

Not wanting him to remember he was pissed at me seconds ago, I keep firing a round of questions.

“Can you procreate with another vampire?”

“No.”

“Do vampires keep human slaves to feed off of? What happens when a human drinks from a vampire?”

“You have a lot of questions.”

At his rude observation, I bite my tongue. Play the part, Alaina.

“Not all do, but some will. Taking on a human is like taking on a dog. It’s a lot of work. They’re fragile creatures.”

The way he talks about them is exactly like how one would a pet dog. Inferior and owned.

Like us, my wolf snarks.

So, we will let him believe , I respond to my wolf. But I have to agree with her. None of this information can help me kill him.

“When humans drink from our blood, it creates similar effects to that of illicit substances. They drink once, they’ll always be chasing that high. Our blood is each its own specific brand of drug with a unique concoction. They begin to crave us. They easily can become slaves that way.”

We stop at the top of the stairs we saw the humans ascend earlier.

“And, no, I don’t keep slaves. My food sources stay here willingly,” Colin adds, which he seemed to feel the need to do.

Colin looks around.

“What’re you doing?” I ask.

“Checking to make sure the humans are gone.”

Colin then instructs me to hold on to him, and before I can ask why, I’m jerked and instantly at the bottom of the steps, chest to chest in Colin’s arms.

“Whoa,” I breathe. I look to the top of the grand staircase where we once were, then back at Colin. Ash and the maid stand behind him, stone-faced. Obviously not as enthused by the little party trick.

I ignore the imaginary bugs crawling in my skin from Colin touching me to ask, “Why are vampire mates so rare?”

“Oh, well . . . uh,” Colin starts.

By the parting of his lips and the stammering of his words, I think he expected the first thing out of my mouth to be for me to scold him for touching me and literally sweeping me off my feet to descend the stairs. While that’s what I would normally do, it’s not going to get me what I want. My reaction, or lack thereof, has thrown him off.

Good.

Just like I hoped, he doesn’t question a good thing and answers my question anyway.

“Because the same species where we find our mates are also that of our food source.”

Oh.

He sighs. “What they believe in the human world is true. There is one perfect person out there for them. It’s their mortal version of having a mate. I think they call it soulmates?” Colin shakes his head. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to explain this to someone, so forgive me if I’m a little rusty.”

I’m eating up his every word. I didn’t know much of vampires outside of my pack. I realize how much of a rock I’ve been under.

He continues. “It’s likely a vampire’s mate has been killed already if they haven’t died under normal circumstances.”

“Can you have more than one mate in a lifetime?”

I don’t know why I asked. It’s not like it pertained to me.

Colin tucks a loose strand behind my ear and sighs.

“Yes, it is said another chance for a human mate for vampires appears every century or so. It serves as a reset button. But it doesn’t increase the likelihood of finding your mate. It’s the same probability, just a second chance.”

His red eyes soften.

“Did you find your mate? Fated, I mean.”

He looks directly in my eyes and smiles somberly. “No, love. I did not. But I found you.”

I hold his gaze, and it looks like he wants to kiss me. That’s when I clear my throat and gently remove his hands from me. He stands up straighter and places them behind his back, then gestures forward for me to walk. I do, and he walks beside me, and our followers keep close behind us.

“Is that why you chose me? Because your mate is likely dead?”

He’s silent at first, then he says, “It’s one of the reasons.”

I shiver. At first, I think it’s because of his answer, then I realize the wooden double doors in the foyer are open, and the fall night air is coming in and quickly, creating a chill. Add that we also are passing the very room in which Dax was killed.

Flashbacks invade my mind and take over my sight. I’m reminded of the worry on his face anytime Colin gets near me, our attempts to both grasp Colin’s attention so he’d leave the other alone, and the panic that shook my core when Colin’s attention finally settled on Dax. How helpless any of us were to stop him.

I know he sent love my way in his final moments, but I could only focus on the pain he was trying his damndest to keep me from feeling. Even as the most vulnerable of all, Dax never stopped trying to protect me.

The sounds are what destroy me the most. The cracks, the splattering of blood on the floor, my screams, and Dax’s broken voice through the mindlink.

“Alaina.” Colin breaks me out of my thoughts. The black veins present on his neck. “Are you okay?”

No.

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

Colin takes my hand and opens up my balled-up fist to reveal my claws buried into my palm, causing me to bleed. “You have to be careful about bleeding around here.” He licks his lips.

I glance over my shoulder to see Andrea fighting to gain control with the black veins crawling up her neck as well. She covers her mouth to hide her fangs and turns her back to me.

“Apologies, Your Majesty.”

I turn my attention back to my hand, which, without my nails digging into the skin, has had time to heal. I pull my hand out of Colin’s grasp.

Every fiber of my being wants to kill this man. The flashbacks only solidify my mission to convince Colin of my submission so I can.

But only when the time is right. For now, I will try to remain calm.

“Understood. Sorry,” I breathe.

We move past the dreaded room and into a sitting room with modern black-and-white sofas and marble tiles. The modern interior makes me scrunch up my nose. It doesn’t fit with the rest of the castle. It ruins it.

Colin gestures for me to have a seat on the uncomfortable-looking couch with the crisp lines. When my ass hits the cushion, my suspicions are confirmed. This couch wasn’t meant to be used, it was meant to be a show of wealth. If those factors weren’t enough to tell me who made the awful decision to modernize a historical masterpiece, the faint stench of the vampire bitch lingering in the room did.

Rest in agony, Olivia.

Colin takes a seat on the couch across from me. Ash and the maid stand in the doorway. Out of nowhere, a butler comes in, bringing a glass of blood in a short glass to him, served on a literal silver platter. Another stemmed glass with red wine remains. He hands it to me, and I take it.

Colin holds out his glass to cheer, and I fake a smile.

I hate red wine, and I can tell by the smell this one is bitter. I sip it and try to pretend it’s beer. It didn’t work.

I shiver while Colin seems incredibly comfortable. When did it get to be so cold?

“Ash,” Colin says. He nods to the fireplace.

Ash raises his hand and opens his palm to the fireplace. A ball of flames forms in the palm of his hand and shoots out, landing on the wood.

Colin uses his fingers to gesture me to go to him.

I join him on the couch but only because I’m cold and he’s closer to the fire.

I scooch next to him, and he pulls me onto his lap. I feel like a teenager on a date trying my hardest not to look at him for fear he’ll try to kiss me. Is he trying to seduce me? The fire, the lighting, the wine ... highly likely. Maybe I can change the subject.

“What’re the other reasons you chose me?” I dare ask.

Yeah, let’s seem like I’m fishing for compliments. That’ll help deter him.

“I think I’ve answered enough of your questions for now. My turn.”

His turn?

“Tell me about your people,” he says.

I blink rapidly, trying to fight my wolf from surfacing, but I can’t help but feel instantly protective. “Why?”

He tucks my hair behind my ear. When his hand drops, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, silently praising and thanking my wolf for not biting his hand off.

“Of course, love. Hard to serve and protect them efficiently if I don’t know anything about them, starting with who they are.”

That surprises me even more than him asking.

“You want to protect my people?”

Was he really planning on upholding his deal? He plans to care for them?

Still skeptical, I decide the less he knows the better, keeping it brief. “Well, there’s my best friend, Taya, but I haven’t seen her since...”

Since before the Hunt , I realize. My chest feels heavy. It’s been so long since I’ve seen her.

“Then there’s Sam . . .”

“Sam?”

“Yeah. He’s like my big brother. When I thought Dax was dead in the past, he’s really the only one who helped me stay afloat.”

“I see,” Colin says. “What else?”

I avert my eyes. It felt wrong to talk to him about my life that he’s taken me from. I felt protective, and rightfully so. And he keeps prying. I’m unable to hold in the attitude when I ask, “Why do you want to know so much?”

“I’ve spent the last couple hours answering all of your questions. You can’t answer two of mine?”

I’m startled by his equally disrespectful tone, causing me to jump. Instantly, I’m kicking myself as to why. Since when was I scared of anyone?

“Alaina, hey, look at me.” He moves my face toward him with a hand on my cheek. My eyes meet his beady reds. “I’m not a bad guy. I know what I did hurt you, but I genuinely care and want to get to know you.”

I hold his stare. I believe him when he says he wants to know me, and it terrifies me to find that I could believe anything this man says. What else could he lead me to believe? I make a mental note to be extra cautious if I want to survive his manipulation.

He leans in, and I intercept with my terrible wine. He clears his throat to recover.

“I’m still not used to the new sleep hours. I think I’ll retire to my chambers.” I go to stand, but his grip holds me to his lap.

His eyes and veins are black, catching me off guard.

For every normal moment he has, I forget he’s insane. And it takes me a minute to try to get inside his crazy mind to realize what he’s waiting for. “May I retire to my chambers?”

His eyes go back to their normal red. He sighs, relieved. And his grin returns.

I shiver. This time, not because I’m cold.

“Of course, love. Andrea will escort you and light the fireplace in your bedroom for you. I’ll come check on you later.”

Oh, great. But I hold in my sarcasm and curtsey before making my way to the bedroom.

* * *

I’m in bed when I suddenly sense Colin’s weight on the other side of it. I’m exhausted, and the last thing I want is to put energy into trying to rein in the hatred I have for him to play nice just so he doesn’t harm me.

I sigh. “You’re here. Is something wrong?”

He places his hand behind his head where his elbows are in the air, propping himself up on the pillow. “To apologize. And make sure you’re okay. I don’t like when you cry. And I really don’t like being the cause of it. I did what I needed to do. You might not be able to understand now, but in time, you’ll—”

“Oh, I understand why you did what you did. I get that it’s meant to be political and not personal.”

It’s like he thinks I’ve forgiven him when he beams. “Yes, and I didn’t—”

I hold up a hand. I notice he came to me alone, which I take as a good sign that he’s beginning to trust me—since the last time we were alone, I threw a vase at him. My plan must be working. Therefore, I try my hardest not to make my interruption any more disrespectful than it already is by softening my tone as much as I can. “But despite your intent, it was still personal for me.”

When he doesn’t respond, I put my hand down and turn to my side to close my eyes. Not that I think I’ll be getting much sleep with my mate’s murderer by my side.

Softly, he says, “It’s not just political for me, though.”

The other side of the bed creaks at his movement, and his arm snakes around my waist.

Shame creeps in when I don’t pull away. When I don’t run . But I can’t if I want my plan to work. I have to play into his delusion.

“Think about it. No one has powers like me. You think if I didn’t want the throne, I couldn’t take it?”

I consider his words, concluding he’s right. “So, why didn’t you?”

When he doesn’t respond, I peer over my shoulder, my body still facing away from him. “Colin?”

Like I’ve burned him, he removes his hand instantly from my waist.

I roll over to him to see he’s rubbing his hand down his face.

“Colin?”

When he doesn’t answer, my anxiety quickens my heart rate. I’ve never felt like I was walking on eggshells quite like this before. Shit, what’d I do? Why won’t he answer me?

He doesn’t look at me. “Please stop saying my name like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you don’t entirely hate me. Like you’re actually interested in what I have to say and not just entertaining the mentally insane vampire. Like I’m not crazy. I might start being able to think what I have to say matters, that I matter.”

He removes his hand from his face to meet my stare. “Like you might care to stay long enough to get to know me. When we both know you really want to run.”

Victims recognize victims. And his fear of vulnerability, giving into intimacy and abandonment, resonates with me.

I’d be lying if I said it was just for purposes of gathering more information about my captor, but I am genuinely curious. With someone as powerful as him, who could have hurt him? Who made his power bend to the point it breaks? And how do I replicate it?

It’s a risky plan, and there’d be no turning back once I’d begin. And if I’m not careful, I could end up being the one to not only bend but break.

With a shaky hand, I go for it. I place my hand on top of his. “Why me?”

His lips part at my initiation of the intimate gesture, and he sucks in a breath before clearing his throat. “I’ve been nothing more than tolerated my entire life. My brain has always been wired differently. I know I’m crazy.” He chuckles somberly.

At least he knows.

He rolls onto his back, taking my hand with him. Placing it on his stomach, he draws light circles on top of it with his fingertips. His other arm is behind his head, propping him up. “Unfortunately, so did everyone else, and many people used this against me with promises of me, one day, taking the throne. I know now they never intended to give it to me, but when you want something so bad, it’s hard to see the signs.”

He inspects my hand against his, measuring it.

“They used me for whatever they needed anyway. I worked for the crown. For a long time, I was a lethal weapon to be brandished and showboated. Then, when they were done with me, I was hidden away until I was needed again for their next task or war or what have you. I should’ve known when I wasn’t always invited to the important meetings, but they always gave me another task to do. But the throne was indeed promised to me in case of Ash’s absence, as I was the one with the next most powerful ability. I was told when that time would come, a regent would operate in my stead, and Ash would teach me what he knew until I was ready. But my parents had spent my entire life preparing me for the day. I was ready whenever, if ever, it was to happen.”

He pauses.

“It was starting to look more and more probable that it would. After Ash’s mate died, he was then and still is set on not continuing his line, refusing to take a mate to breed. No one can or could outmatch his powers, so it wasn’t as if anyone could force him to breed with another for the sake of the kingdom. He wanted his power to die with him. And he didn’t care who or what succeeded him after.” Colin turns up his nose. “Whether he cared or not, someone had to succeed the king when his powers eventually began to dwindle. Without heirs, the council had no choice but to choose to alter the line of succession by crowning a replacement bloodline. A duel was held to choose the next successor, and my power of cryokinesis bested them all. When it came time for me to claim my rightful place, the council denied me. They said I was too ‘unpredictable’ for a ruler. But I had followed all the rules, so this didn’t make sense to me. I had done more than prove myself that my flawed brain wouldn’t impact my ability to be a great ruler. I pressed them further, and they told me that no one wanted me as their king because of all the heinous acts I had committed. That they told me to do. That pissed me off. That’s when I snapped.”

He spares me a glance to check if I’m still listening. When he sees my eyes haven’t left his, he swallows. “I knew my flaws wouldn’t be accepted among society, so for years, I did what I could to hide who I was to settle for being tolerated. Can you imagine what that must be like to never be able to fully explore who you are for fear no one will like what they see? Then come to find out I spent my entire life avoiding discovering who I am. Finding out my true potential, for who I hoped to be, and no one ever planned to welcome me anyway.”

His last sentence has a direct hit to my heart. And I hate to admit it, but I could relate more than I would like to.

I reach out to rub his cheek, and his eyes flutter closed, taking me in. Disgust and pity all wrapped up in one simple act of will.

He regains his composure and sighs as he gently removes my hand from his face and looks at me with pleading eyes.

“I could kill them all, take the throne, and choose another bride, sure. But despite what you may think, I don’t want vengeance to those who’ve refused me. Revenge and anger are easy, especially for someone with my power. Rectification and forgiveness are hard. And I think they can accept me if they know you do.”

I guessed this already, but before I saw it as selfish and manipulative. Could it be it’s more than that? Could it be his intentions are... honorable? Confusion etches over my face, and he grins. He almost seems normal.

“I wasn’t born a villain. I was made one and outcast for it. That was my mistake for choosing to hide from myself. And that’s mostly who I’m mad at. I spent the rest of my time away from court, proving that I wasn’t the monster they made me be, that truthfully, I chose to be. I devoted time to unlearn what I can of what they’ve instilled, extending kindness to others like me. I don’t like what I’ve done to you, and I know I’ll always be a villain to you. But if you can open your heart to do more than just tolerate my company, let me try to rectify this and help me gain the council’s approval to become what I was always meant to be...” He swallows. “Well, the only person I’d ever strive to be again is yours.”

My breath hitches, and I search his face for any signs of manipulation, but all I see is determination and devotion. I begin to doubt my ability to not let loneliness, empathy, and grief sabotage this plan to do exactly what everyone else has done by using him to get what I want. But then I shake the thought and remember he is to blame for those feelings to begin with. Despite the empathy I may have, it changes nothing.

“I could never willingly love the man who murdered my mate,” I whisper softly.

He swallows and nods vigorously, averting his eyes and licking his lips. “I want to try anyway. Will you let me court you?”

I snort at the outdated word and possibly the idea altogether. But I immediately regret it when I see the look on his face tells me he wasn’t kidding. In fact, he looks pissed.

“Are you laughing at me?” His eye twitches, and his veins gradually darken.

“I’m sorry...” Quick, think of an excuse. “Just nerves.”

His eye stops twitching, and the veins disappear.

Relief washes over me when I see he’s calm. Damn, that was close.

He’s unpredictable. I need to be more careful.

“So, will you let me court you?” He searches my eyes.

Afraid to risk upsetting him further, I say, “Yes.”