CHAPTER SIX
His form emerged from the shadows. The soft glow of the candlelight kept him partially hidden, as if the dark refused to release him, or it was just a part of him.
“He ruined the surprise.” His voice was silken smooth, but it carried an edge that kept me far from his plans.
He stepped closer into the light. He was leaner than Sebastian, though just as tall, and he was lithe.
He moved gracefully, like a prowling cat.
He was handsome with a boyish charm, but I could see past that charm because death laid heavy in his eyes.
It seemed as if he picked the most alluring disguise to hide the demon within.
He had dirty blonde hair with strands that glowed golden in the light.
It hung in soft waves down to his shoulders.
He smirked, and I caught sight of a dimple.
He appeared to be about my age. Though since vampires had longer lifespans than humans, he could have been older.
As the reality set in that what had been haunting me was now before me in the flesh, I clasped my hand over my mouth to hold the scream in.
He frowned, cocking his head to the side. “Why don’t you allow yourself to scream anymore, love? It was music to my ears.” His smirk turned wicked.
I backed away from him as he prowled towards me. I kept my back open, maneuvering around the bed.
“So, it’s true? You have some twisted plan to overthrow the king and rule Kilthorne?” I couldn’t feel my face. My lips were numb as the words fell out.
He slid his hands into his pockets. His smile could fool anyone with his mask of innocent charm.
“I’m sure Sebastian”—he spoke his name in mockery—“painted my plans in less than pleasing colors, but yes, it’s true.” He grinned. “You’re looking at your new king, and I’m looking at my new queen.” His voice grew darker.
My mouth fell open as he almost closed the distance between us. I leapt up onto the bed and scrambled across, dismounting clumsily on the other side. “You are delusional,” I bit out.
He appeared in front of me so fast, I barely had any time to process it before I felt my back slam into the wall. I couldn’t even tend to the pain as I cringed from the sound, praying to Brennus that no one heard.
His proximity swallowed up the warmth of the room.
His slender fingers wrapped around my throat and pressed tightly.
He was so cold, unnaturally so. His face hovered above mine.
We were far from the candlelight now. He was just a darkened mass before me.
He breathed deeply as if he were breathing me in. It made me shudder.
“You will pay for your denial, love.” His words dripped with sugar and venom.
“I will tell them,” I choked the words out as I dissolved from his touch, his chest pressing into mine. “When they find out it was a vampire all along, they will stop at nothing to hunt you down.”
He raised his other hand to my face, cupping my cheek.
His thumb wiped away the tear I hadn’t felt escape.
“Your father likes to pretend he knows all, but he really knows so little, practically nothing at all. He will not believe you, sweet dove. And you will only worsen your case by spouting off nonsense. He will certainly call for that third exorcism then,” he crooned.
Rage split through me at his words, at the truth that fell from them, burying me in their weight.
Father did not know that vampires could cast illusions.
What else did he not know of? And it set in then.
Alaric had been responsible for it all. For the fear, the pain, the torture.
For my life as an outcast, for why I could never be normal.
He kept me from what was so mundane but what held so much peace.
I wielded my hands back and barreled towards him, pushing him with all that I had. He didn’t move an inch, and his dark chuckle raked over my spine.
“So, you see. It’s true.” He twirled a strand of my hair with his finger.
I shivered. “Listen closely, love, for I won’t tell you again.
And you definitely don’t want me to repeat myself.
You will continue on like normal, keep up the performance that you have mastered, that all is well.
And in the meantime, I will build us an empire. ”
His grip loosened around my throat as he ran his fingers down my neck and along my collarbone, his touch leaving behind a trail of ice. I remembered I was in nothing but my nightdress, and I wanted to fold in on myself.
He disappeared, tossing me into a biting void as he did so.
My limbs felt as if they moved on their own accord as I slipped into bed.
I laid still, flat as a board, staring blankly at the ceiling.
I shivered from the cold. The warmth hadn’t returned to the room, as if he took it with him.
An odd sense of peace washed over me. Perhaps, he had terrorized me enough tonight.
I should be safe until dawn. And with that strange reassurance, my eyes grew heavy, and I tumbled into sleep.