Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
SAMARA
Long Ago
Istood next to Reve, fiddling with my hands in a restless tangle of fingers that would have earned me a swift correction had my mother been closer.
I’d been reminded countless times through pinched expressions that it wasn’t the most ladylike thing to do, but my mother was across the room, engaged in conversation with someone far more important than her fidgeting daughter.
The brief freedom from her scrutiny was a small mercy I wouldn’t waste. Beside me, Reve maintained that perfect stillness he’d mastered years ago, his composure making my nervous movements even more conspicuous.
Earlier in the day, my father had told me he’d found me a husband. He said it over coffee, as if it were nothing. I’d nearly choked on my eggs.
I knew the drill of being a princess. I had no choice or freedom. Still, there was a part of me that had hoped my father would allow me to pick my match. Instead, I was a pawn in his political game.
“Are you okay?” Reve didn’t look at me as he scanned the room, as he always did.
He was lucky. He would get to choose his wife and future queen. I’d like to see Father try to force him to marry someone against his will. The mere thought almost made me laugh despite my situation.
Me? I couldn’t do anything to protect myself from being bartered away like a prized mare. I had no leverage, no power, and nothing to bargain with.
I could run away. The thought slipped into my mind so naturally it was as if it had always been waiting there. I could vanish into the night, leave behind the gilded cage and all its expectations. For the first time that day, my restless fingers stilled as the possibility took root.
“Would you be okay if you were forced to marry someone you didn’t know? What if he’s an asshole and bad in bed?” I crossed my arms, not caring if my mother saw my posture.
Reve let out a soft groan and looked at me. “I don’t want to hear about that kind of stuff from my little sister. I’m sure everything will be fine. The northern vampires are well-respected, and Val seems like a good enough guy.”
His reassurances did nothing for the nerves coiling in my belly. Tonight, I would meet Val for the first time. There was no date set for when I would have to marry him, but it would be soon.
Maybe I could make him hate me so much that he’d reject me. I could be vulgar and inappropriate, insult his family lineage, or question his political relevance. I would do anything to make myself so utterly repulsive that he’d march straight out of the castle.
Or maybe I’d give him such a lousy blow job that he’d demand a different bride. How hard could it be to do it badly? I could use too much teeth, gag dramatically, or simply look bored throughout the entire performance.
The mental image of me deliberately butchering such an intimate act made a hysterical giggle bubble up in my throat. How ridiculous that I was plotting sexual sabotage rather than facing the simple truth: I was powerless.
I looked down at my black dress and smoothed my hands over the lace fabric. I hated dresses, but they were a necessary evil for princesses. Pants were unbecoming of a lady—not my words, but my mother’s.
“A vampire, though? Has Father lost his mind? They’ve been after power for centuries. What if marrying me is some kind of coup?”
As a servant passed by with a tray of drinks, I grabbed one from it and drank it before my brother could stop me. It was discussed at breakfast that, under no circumstances, was I allowed to drink. When I had too much, I got a little out of control.
All it took was one night of drinking too much and dancing on a table with my skirt lifted to get me banned from drinking at parties. I couldn’t help that I hated parties and needed a drink or eight to make it through the night.
Reve plucked the empty glass out of my hands and frowned. “That’s the only one you’re getting.”
“You try being told you have to marry a vampire.” I shuddered, and my fingers itched to reach out and take another glass as another servant walked by. “He’s going to bite me and shit. What am I supposed to do about that?”
Reve grunted and took a sip of his champagne. He didn’t have drinking restrictions because he never danced on tables. “You’ll deal with it. If he hurts you, let me know, and I’ll kick his ass.”
I appreciated that my brother was fiercely protective of me, but he wasn’t protective when it mattered most. That became painfully clear when Val and his father entered the ballroom.
The second they set foot inside, the air in the room changed with a rolling tension. There were already vampires in attendance, but these vampires were ruthless. Not the in-your-face ruthlessness of the southern vampires, but a quiet kind that always made you wonder what they were up to.
My heart nearly leapt into my throat. Reve chuckled and elbowed me in the side. “He’s headed this way.”
I really wanted to run and hide. Maybe no one would notice if I ducked under a table and stayed there for the rest of the night.
I’d only heard a little about Val during dinner conversations. Mostly that he was gorgeous, with eyes too blue for a vampire. If he was so easy on the eyes, why did he need to be married off? Did he have a third nipple? A small dick?
The people around us seemed to part to let him through. Before I knew it, the tall, handsome vampire was standing directly in front of me. His eyes sparkled with amusement as they roamed my body from head to toe. He stopped briefly on my breasts before meeting my eyes.
“Samara.” He offered me his hand with a smile. I hesitated as I noticed his smooth skin and well-manicured nails.
My hands had calluses from holding my carving knife. Maybe that would be enough for this entire arrangement to be stopped.
I placed my hand in his, and he brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles gently. Tingles ran up my arm and then straight down my spine to pool in my core. My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn’t speak.
Damn it.
Something had to be wrong below the belt. My eyes traveled south, took in the bulge in his pants, and then snapped back to his eyes. They were sparkling with a knowing glint that made the butterflies in my stomach swirl.
It was awkward, standing there staring at him with wide eyes. I probably looked like a deer about to be taken down by a hunter. It was the “oh shit” moment when it realized it was fucked.
My brother sensed my unease and sudden inability to form words and held out his hand to Val. They shook in that way two alpha males do, squeezing each other’s hands a little too tightly.
My palms were sweating, so I wiped them on my dress. Val noticed, and he grinned. “Would you like to dance, Princess?” He held his hand out to me again.
I looked at Reve, who was smirking. He nodded his chin slightly, urging me to go, but really what I wanted him to do was save me from this experience. He knew I was a horrible dancer. Every time I danced with him, I would step on his feet.
What was wrong with me? I wasn’t considered shy, but I was acting like I had never interacted with other demons before.
But this wasn’t just another demon. It was my future husband.
I took a deep breath and gave him my hand. He smiled and placed my hand in the crook of his elbow as he led me to the dance floor. This was going to be the worst first impression ever.
Did I want to make a good impression? Perhaps I could use my two left feet to my advantage and scare him off.
“I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into,” I mumbled under my breath. It wasn’t a comment meant for him, more for myself.
He threw his head back and laughed. The smile on his face was so contagious that a smile formed on my own.
“Are you talking about your subpar dancing skills?” One of his hands rested on my hip, and he took my hand in his. We glided across the dance floor. “I’ve heard a few stories about you.”
I scrunched up my nose and kept my eyes on my feet. I did better if I could see where they were. His hand cupped my chin and tilted my head up.
“I don’t want to step on your feet,” I squeaked. Apparently, I’d started caring what this man thought of me.
“You won’t. Trust me.”
Trusting him was a lofty promise, considering we’d just met.
The music picked up tempo, but Val matched it effortlessly, guiding me across the floor with practiced ease. Under his lead, my feet somehow found their rightful places. Not a single toe was crushed.
“I was promised a disaster on the dance floor.” His breath tickled my ear as he pulled me closer. “Either I was misled, or you’re holding back your true talent for stomping on toes.”
A small laugh escaped. “Give it time. My incompetence usually reveals itself after the third song.”
“Then I’ll have to keep you dancing until it shows.” His hand tightened slightly on my waist, the heat of his palm seeping through the fabric of my dress.
Three songs turned into four. Then five. My cheeks flushed from exertion and something else. I caught my mother’s pointed stare from across the room, her eyes narrowed in warning.
“Your mother looks ready to drag you away by your ear.” Val spun me in a graceful turn.
“She’s worried I’ll embarrass the family again. It’s her default expression when I’m involved.”
Val chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into mine. “Tell me about this table-dancing incident I’ve heard so much about. I find myself incredibly curious.”
“Absolutely not.” I felt my face heat further. “Some things should remain mysteries.”
“I do enjoy a good mystery. Though I prefer solving them.”
The music shifted to something slower and more intimate. Val drew me even closer, our bodies nearly flush against each other. I became very aware of his hand on my waist, our palms pressed together, and his thigh occasionally brushing mine.
“You’re not what I expected,” I admitted.
“Is that good or bad?”
“I’m still deciding.”
We moved in silence for a few moments, and I relaxed into his hold. The dread that had been building all evening began to lessen. Perhaps this arrangement wouldn’t be the nightmare I’d imagined.
The song ended, and Val’s hand slid to the small of my back as he guided me away from the dance floor. Instead of returning to Reve, he steered us toward the exit.
He leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. My breath hitched as a delicious shiver ran through me.
“What do you say we sneak up to your room?”
My nipples hardened, and I bit my lip. Who did this guy think he was, wanting to sneak off? Who was I, getting turned on at the suggestion?
He probably wanted to bite my neck and suck my blood. I wasn’t keen on being a snack, but the idea of it didn’t repulse me like it should have.
“I don’t think my parents will appreciate that.” I looked around for them and Reve but couldn’t find them.
“Some other time, then.” He stepped away and straightened his jacket. “I hope to see you again soon.”
Before I could even protest, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving me in shock. Did he really just leave because I wouldn’t sneak away with him?
What an ass.
Once it was acceptable for me to leave the party, I made my way up the winding staircase to the second level of the castle. I was exhausted after spending almost the entire day worrying. Now, I was even more worried because of Val’s sudden departure.
I thought maybe he had gone somewhere and would come back, but he’d disappeared. If that was how our marriage was going to go, we were going to have issues.
But when I opened my bedroom door, there he was, lounging in a chair in the corner. I could only see part of his face in the shadows, but the part I could see was relaxed, and his eyes danced with glee.
I put my hand over my chest to keep my heart from jumping out of it. “What are you doing in my room?”
He stood and moved toward me. “It took you long enough.”
“If this is your way of courting me, your technique could use some work.” The words came out sharper than I intended, my frustration getting the better of me.
Finding him lounging in my bedroom like he owned it struck a nerve. Did vampires have no concept of boundaries? Or was it this vampire who seemed determined to keep me off-balance?
He stepped in front of me and brought his hand to my cheek. I desperately wanted to swat his hand away, but my body wanted him to touch me. My face heated as thoughts of kissing him took over.
His eyes traveled to my mouth, and his tongue darted out to wet his lips. Crap, I was in big trouble.
I’d only been kissed once, and although I’d read all about sex, I had absolutely no clue what I was doing.
My arms fell to my sides, suddenly feeling heavy. “You left me downstairs. What if I found another man to keep me company, and he’s on his way up right now?”
Val’s eyes darkened, and he stepped closer until I could feel the heat radiating from his body. His jaw tightened as his fingers trailed from my cheek to my neck, leaving a path of electricity in their wake.
“Lying doesn’t suit you, Princess.” He tilted my chin up with his thumb, forcing me to meet his gaze. “There’s no other man. I can tell by your scent and the way your pulse quickened.”
I forgot how to breathe as his other arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush against him.
“You’re mine now, and I want you.” His voice dropped to a husky whisper that made my knees weak.
I should have been outraged by his possessiveness. Instead, I melted into his touch, my body betraying every reasonable thought in my head.
“I want that too,” I whispered, the admission barely audible even to my own ears.
His lips crashed down on mine, claiming me with a hunger that left no room for doubt. His kiss was a declaration, a promise, and a warning all wrapped into one intoxicating moment that stole what little sense I had left.