Chapter 48
CHAPTER 48
VALARIC
L ightning fast, my claws lengthen and my fangs extend as I turn toward Raine, bracing myself for his attack. At the last moment, he twists to one side, catching me by the arm.
“I’m not fighting you,” he hisses under his breath as he spins us, taking my hand in his and looping his other arm around my waist. “I am dancing with you, you idiot.”
A low growl rises in my throat as he takes my other hand, placing it just above his hip as we dance. I sweep my gaze to Juliet, checking to make sure she is all right.
On the other side of her, Damar gives me a slight nod, letting me know he is watching over my wife.
Raine tries to lead, but I push back.
“Where are your manners?” He frowns. “I am your prince. You are supposed to let me lead. Not the other way around.”
“What do you want?” I grit through my fangs.
“Ah.” He chuckles darkly. “Straight to the heart of it. That’s what I’ve always liked about you, Valaric.”
“And I have always disliked your games, Prince Raine.”
A sly grin curls his lips. “How do you know if you’ve never played?”
I narrow my eyes. “I’m not interested.”
“Do not flatter yourself,” he scoffs. “You’re not my type either.”
I glance at his blood wife. “But she is, isn’t she?”
His expression darkens as I strike a nerve.
I continue. “Is that why you’re so fascinated by the idea of my taking a human as my true wife?”
“Mind your tongue,” he warns. “Else you may find yourself without it.”
This male is dangerous, and I’ve had enough. I turn to Juliet, dancing with Raine’s blood wife. Aerlyx hides in the shadows behind them. She can easily be teleported away before—
“The Incubus will not be fast enough,” Raine says.
A chill runs down my spine.
“Not to escape me, anyway.”
My heart stops as a smug smile curves his mouth.
“I must commend you on such an inventive plan, Lord Greyvale. If my father’s advisors were even half as clever as you, perhaps our people would have conquered the seven realms by now.” He sighs. “But as it is, we often find ourselves having to make concessions with the humans, even though they are beneath us.”
His gaze slides to Juliet, and I growl low in my throat. “If you do anything to my bride, I will—”
“Remember who it is you are speaking to, Lord Valaric,” he cautions. “Besides, I am merely trying to determine if I truly need to rescue your human, as her king has requested, and return her to her people.”
Rage blisters through me. Prince or not, I will end him if he tries to take Juliet from me.
The tempo changes and, before he can react, I push away from him and rush toward my wife. I cannot risk remaining here any longer. We’ll have to chance escaping with Aerlyx.
“Stop!” Raine’s voice is like a thunderclap in my head.
Shocked, I turn back to him. The prince is a vocari— a mind whisperer, like the Ancient Ones.
His crimson eyes pierce mine as we regard each other warily.
There have always been rumors that Raine had the gift of mind speech. Some even claim that he is able to manipulate the thoughts of others, bending them to his will.
Fated mates are able to speak to each other in their minds, after they have sealed their bond, but to speak in someone else’s mind is an entirely different thing. Many consider it dark magic.
I’m stunned he would demonstrate his power to me. The royal family of Morrowynd has many enemies within its court. But if the prince’s ability became common knowledge, the number of those against them would likely double.
The Ancient Ones—the original Vampires—had this same dark power. It’s how they kept the Vampires they had created to be their soldiers enslaved. Drovyan the Conqueror led an uprising against them nearly five centuries ago. It was how he became king, the first ruler of the current royal line of Morrowynd.
Historians cannot agree upon how Drovyan managed to overthrow the Ancient Ones, but if vocari magic ran through his veins, like it does through his descendent—Prince Raine—perhaps he was able to use his power against them somehow.
“If you run, I will be forced to hunt you,” Raine’s warning echoes in my mind.
He walks toward us with his blood wife, and flashes what could be mistaken for a friendly grin if he hadn’t just been threatening me in my head. “I’m taking Alayna outside for fresh air.” He gestures to the doors. “You and your bride should join us.”
His words could be construed as a suggestion, but Raine is the crown prince and I have no doubt that he is issuing a command.
Across from us, Damar’s gaze meets mine. His expression betrays nothing, but I know him well enough to recognize his concern in the tense set of his shoulders and the slightly pinched lines in the center of his brow.
He looks at the shadows, silently asking if I intend to run to Aerlyx.
I know if I did, Damar would do his best to shield me, to buy us time to reach the Incubus and escape. But Raine already knows of Aerlyx, and Juliet is human. I’m not sure we could outrun the Vampire prince.
Subtly, I shake my head at him and then rest my hand possessively on the small of Juliet’s back as we follow Raine and his blood wife outside. As soon as we step into the gardens, the prince snaps his fingers and two of his guards appear on either side of us.
“Take the humans,” he commands.
Immediately, I pull Juliet behind me, spreading my wings wide to shield her as a deep growl rises in my throat. Lengthening my claws, I prepare to fight. I don’t care if he’s the prince. I will end him before allowing him to touch her.
“Calm yourself,” he speaks in my mind. His eyes remained locked on me as he speaks aloud, ordering his guards to stand down. He turns to the closest one. “Our wives can enjoy the conservatory while I speak with Lord Greyvale. See to it that they are comfortable, protected, and well fed.”
One of the guards starts toward Juliet, but I bare my fangs. “ Do. Not. Touch. Her,” I grind out.
“I vow that no harm will come to your wife, Lord Greyvale,” Raine says smoothly. “I merely wish to have a discussion with you.”
When I don’t move, he blows out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. What will it take to convince you that I will not hurt her?”
I keep my gaze trained on the prince as I call out to my friend. “Aerlyx.” I don’t have to look to know he’s somewhere nearby, concealed in the shadows. Since Raine already knows of him, I won’t deny his presence any longer. “Stay with Juliet. Do not leave her side.”
“Of course,” he replies.
Alayna gasps behind me and Raine’s eyes widen as he looks over my shoulder.
“This is ridiculous,” the prince huffs. “You cannot expect me to allow an Incubus near my blood wife.”
“Why not?” I counter. “Your guards will watch over Alayna, while my Incubus guard will protect Juliet.”
“I prefer the word ‘knight.’” Aerlyx grins widely. “Incubus knight has a much better ring to it. It sounds more noble, don’t you agree?”
I suppress the urge to throttle him as he winks at the prince. It is not wise to antagonize someone so powerful.
“He’s an Incubus ,” Raine says incredulously. “You’re a fool to allow him anywhere near your bride.”
“You asked me what it would take to trust you. Well, this is it.” I gesture behind me. “My Incubus guard will watch over my wife while we talk.”
“Incubus knight ,” Aerlyx corrects, waggling his brows. “Remember?”
Now is not the time to be joking. I clench my jaw, trying to project a calm I do not feel. “Yes. My Incubus knight,” I repeat, trying to keep my voice even despite my irritation with my friend who seems to have a death wish.
“And not just any knight,” Aerlyx adds as he puffs out his chest and dramatically flares out his wings. “I am Aerlyx the Great, Son of the Fourth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Ryx, Heir to the Divine Rings of Tanos, and Knight of the House of Greyvale. Trust me.” He winks at the prince. “Your blood wife is in good hands here.”
Raine looks at him as if he’s sprouted two heads, before quickly regains his composure and growls, obviously unimpressed.
When this is over, Aerlyx and I are going to have a serious discussion about his teasing during inappropriate times.
Raine levels a dark glare at me. “You’d do well to not provoke me, Lord Greyvale.”
“I could say the same to you,” I state firmly, not backing down.
His nostrils flare and his eyes swirl with black as he speaks in my head. “Provoke my wrath and by the time I’m done with your mind, you won’t even remember how to say your own name.”
As he uses his dark gift, I notice the fine sheen of sweat across his forehead and the slight wince as he speaks. It seems his vocari ability takes a physical toll on him.
Focusing my thoughts, I reply, wondering if he can hear me. “If you had that kind of power, you would have used it already.”
When he narrows his eyes, I know he’s received what I sent.
“If you think that I—” He starts to speak in my mind again but stops. Closing his eyes, he grimaces, and puts a hand to his forehead. A trickle of black blood runs from his nose, dripping onto his tunic.
“Raine!” Alayna pushes past me, rushing to this side. She pulls a handkerchief from her dress and dabs at the blood. “You need to sit down.”
“I’m fine,” he grumbles.
“No, you’re not,” she insists. “You’re—”
“I said I’m fine,” he snaps.
She recoils as if slapped.
He jerks his head up to her, his expression full of remorse. He looks to his guards. “Leave us,” he commands. “Stand post at the doors. Make sure no one disturbs us.”
They bow and then head back to the manor, standing guard at the entrance to the ballroom to ensure no one else comes outside.
Raine turns to me. “Dismiss your Incubus. Now.”
I turn to Aerlyx. “Stay close,” I mouth.
He dips his chin in a subtle nod and disappears into the shadows.
Raine turns his attention back to his blood wife, and I’m surprised by the tenderness in his gaze as he takes her hand. “Forgive me,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist. “I did not mean to—”
“You were in pain,” she whispers, cupping his cheek.
Juliet moves to my side. She trails her hand down my forearm and then threads her fingers through mine.
Raine blinks up at us, as if only now remembering we’re still here. “Come,” he says, his expression hardening again. “Follow me.”