Chapter 49
Le Tr?ne
BASTIEN
Ifell back on the pleasantries Marius expected. After all, I was still one of the twelve vampire princes, and I was obligated to uphold a code of honor. With one hand behind my back, I escorted my wife and my brother to my private study. Well, I suppose it was Tyson’s study now.
Two attendants opened the double doors, bowing low as we passed through. This room had always been a place of quiet, a space where I could think clearly. But now, the air was tense.
Marius made his way to the oversized armchair near the fireplace and settled into it, crossing one leg over the other, his goblet resting on his knee.
He was dressed in a tailored black tailcoat and blood-red brocade waistcoat.
The cuffs of his white shirt were fastened with onyx studs, and a signet ring with the Allard crest sat on his finger.
He pointed to the empty chairs across from him. A command disguised as an invitation. Reluctantly, I guided Claire to a chair and took the seat beside her. Once we were all comfortable, Marius let out a long sigh. “It’s so good to see you two.”
I knew I was meant to be agreeable if I hoped to earn his favor, but I was a man of war. I had only a small tolerance for pretty words and pretenses. “Your Grace, I think we all know why you asked for this meeting.”
Marius chuckled. “I have missed your humor, brother. It’s as dry as the wine Yves always brings back from Chateau du Mer.” His gaze slid past me to Claire. “Speaking of wine. Poppet—hand me that bottle over there. My glass has run dry.”
Claire made to move, but I held out my hand, stopping her. I tried to keep the anger out of my voice as I gave him one last warning. “Do not call her that again.”
The humor drained from Marius’s face. “Careful, Bastien. You’re on thin ice as it is.”
My rage was too close to the surface for caution. “If you think for one second that I’ll let you come into my castle and speak to my wife—”
“Your wife? Is that what she is? Because last I checked, she was your sanguine partner. The fact that she was your mate must’ve slipped your mind.”
I clenched my jaw. “Yes. I broke the law. I took my mate as my sanguine partner. The Council of Elders believed doing so would drive a vampire mad, and yet somehow I have managed to keep my wits about me.”
Marius didn’t like that answer. Not at all. “But you weren’t content to keep her on as just a sanguine partner. You married her. Sealing your bond. Behind my back. Without my permission.”
“You’re right. I failed to ask your permission. I was a little busy running your army.”
“See, this is exactly the problem,” Marius asserted. “You think you’re above every law our people created for us.”
We were both out of our chairs now. All pretense of civility gone. I shoved him hard enough to send him slamming into the back wall. The force of it cracked the stone behind him, and several pictures fell off the walls.
His eyes widened, just for a second, before narrowing into slits. “You don’t want to fight me, Bastien. I’ve always been stronger than you.”
What was left of my control snapped. I closed the distance between us and had him by the throat before he could blink. My fingers dug into his flesh, his muscles tightening against my palm. “No, Marius. I’ve always let you win.”
Marius pulled his dagger from his chest rig and lifted the blade to my throat. “You might be stronger, brother, but not smarter.”
“Enough!” The word ripped through the room. My wife put her hand between us, her eyes already glowing crimson. “If you lay one finger on my husband, I’ll find out if vampires burn as fast as witches do.”
Marius relaxed his grip, easing the dagger away from my throat. I did the same, my fingers loosening from his neck but not letting him go. Not yet.
“I didn’t come here to lay fingers on your husband,” Marius said. “I came to hold him accountable for what he’s done.”
Claire lifted her chin in defiance. “Who cares if he lied about our matebond? Who cares if he took blood from me?” she demanded. “He did it for you. To fight your war. To be your general. Which he did without question and won. You should be offering us your thanks.”
For whatever reason, my wife’s anger seemed to pave the way for cooler heads. Marius put his dagger away, and I let go of him. We both straightened and tried to appear gentlemanly once again.
“You might’ve won the war for the border, but the capital is locked in its own battle.
” Marius dusted off his jacket, continuing.
“The nobles argue about the cost of this peace. As well as the gold required for the new castle and the soldiers needed to protect it.” He canted his head to the side.
“And with your stunt at the Sanguination Ball, followed by your roguish behavior, you have caused me unnecessary problems.”
I held out my arms, knowing he came to do more than just exchange angry words. Marius had made excuses for me at the Sanguination Ball when it appeared that I’d bitten Claire without contract. But now, he was done covering for me. “Enough. Tell me my punishment.”
Marius looked from my wife to me and back to her again. “There is only one thing I could do to truly punish you, Bastien.”
“Which is?” Claire demanded. “You claim not to want to hurt him.”
Marius’s smile widened. “Bastien, your punishment is to handle the mess you created. You will return to the capital at once, and you will become the new High Prince of the Unified Territories.”
I froze. That was not what I was expecting.
My brother took a step closer. “You’ll be in charge of answering all the courtiers’ questions. Placating the lords and ladies. Holding court. And your wife will help coordinate sanguination balls and name day parties and the like.”
High Prince. He was going to trap me in that wretched castle, surrounded by liars and schemers, until it suffocated me. Until it drove me mad.
“No,” I said flatly.
Marius’s eyes gleamed. “Just think of all the parties and dances you’ll be hosting to win the nobles back over to your side. And all the financial documents you’ll review to levy the coin needed for that new chateau.”
“I don’t do parties,” I said, running a frustrated hand through my hair. “And I don’t fret over coins. I’m a commander. Not a politician.”
“You are now,” Marius replied. “This is your punishment. The position is yours. As is the burden.”
I set my hand on the desk I’d sat at countless times, pouring over maps and strategies, trying to quiet my thoughts. This wasn’t a death sentence. This wasn’t banishment. However…
“Marius, I promised my wife…” I began, trying to find the right words.
“I promised her we’d live a quiet life. She has sacrificed more for our people than any lord or lady who dares judge us.
” I rubbed at the bridge of my nose, then turned to face him.
“This is the last thing she deserves. Don’t punish her on account of my behavior. ”
Claire, who had gone rather pale after hearing this news, came to stand by my side. Neither one of us quite able to process the gravity of the situation. Of the enormity of this demand.
“Your life won’t be quiet,” Marius said more gently. “But your wife will want for nothing. Your children will have the best tutors. You’ll have your pick of blood nannies so your wife can rest.” Claire and I exchanged a look. “It’s either this or I have your head. Banishment is not an option.”
My heart broke when I saw the tears shining in her eyes. “We’ll do it,” she answered.
“No. I promised you—”
She took my face in her hands. “If it’s the capital or death, then I’ll take the capital.”
I closed my eyes, the fight leaving my body. “Fine. We’ll do it.”
Marius’s smile was smug. “I knew you would.”
Once again, Natalia had been right. Marius hadn’t come to chop off my head. I was too valuable to him now. Instead, he had sentenced me to a throne.
Claire and I did not return to the party.
We returned to our bedchamber, which was a smaller room inside the Duke of Roselyn’s private residence.
We didn’t talk much. We sat on the floor by the fire and watched the flames as they danced in the hearth.
She cried for a while. I held her, saying nothing.
Later, when we finally crawled into bed, she couldn’t sleep.
So I told her a story I remembered from my youth.
One that my granny used to tell. I just kept talking until she finally fell asleep.
As soon as her breathing changed, I lay beside her, wishing for the relief of sleep but knowing this was the cost of immortality.
The curse of it. To never die, to never rest.
My thoughts turned to whom I would ask to accompany me to the capital and whom I should leave behind to help Tyson. For whatever reason, Imogen’s face appeared in my mind.
What was I going to do about the old Witch of the Tide? Should I tell Tyson, and risk exposing her further? Or should I allow her to live undisturbed under the castle?
I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath, remembering what Natalia had said about not trusting Tyson’s story. I decided that my nephew didn’t need to know about the seer that lived below the castle. The fewer who knew, the better.
Claire stirred, and I set my hand on her waist and pressed a kiss into her hair. Savoring these last few moments inside the castle that made me into the man I was today.