Chapter 49
CHAPTER 49
JULIET
T ension is thick in the air as the prince leads us further into the labyrinth of the gardens. The hedges lining the walkway are as tall as trees. When we reach the end of the path, it opens up into a wide space full of flowering bushes and a ring of white marble columns that look out over the cliff and the ocean below.
I’m so worried this is all some sort of elaborate trap. The dull roar of the sea carries on the wind. Hopefully it’s loud enough to mask the sound of my rapidly beating heart.
Raine stops near the edge of the cliff and turns to Valaric. “You should thank me, you know.” His gaze darts to me. “Her scent is enticing. True wife or not, it was unwise to bring her here when you haven’t yet fully claimed her. My attentions this evening have kept the others away from your bride.”
Valaric narrows his eyes.
I glance up at my husband, wondering again why he has not given me his mark and his venom. Is it because he believes I do not want this? Or is it something else?
Doubt wraps tight around my heart. Perhaps he is undecided about staying with me. Maybe that is the problem.
“Are you going to growl and glare at me all evening, Lord Greyvale?” Raine huffs. “Or are you going to thank me as you should?” He gestures to me. “If I’d done as my father instructed, I would have already taken her from you to return her to the human king and his sniveling nephew.”
“Touch her and I will end you,” Valaric grinds out.
“Those are treasonous words,” Raine says darkly. “It’s unwise to threaten royalty. Especially if you value your life.”
“You will not take my mate from me.” Valaric growls.
“Tell me why I should not?” he counters. “Our ally, the human king of Aralon, is demanding her return to his nephew—her betrothed.”
“Jonathan is not my betrothed,” I interject.
The prince’s gaze slides to me, eyes narrowing. “So you’ve said.” He turns to Valaric. “I will see for myself.”
“Raine, no.” Alayna’s voice is urgent. “Don’t do this. Please.”
He ignores her as his crimson eyes fix on my husband and then turn into obsidian orbs.
All the color drains from Valaric’s face and he drops to his knees. “Juliet, go,” he grinds out in pain, covering his ears. “Now,” he barely manages.
“Valaric!” I fall to the ground beside him. “What’s wrong?”
He glares up at Raine; his body shudders a moment before he bares his fangs and issues a threatening growl.
“What are you doing to him?” I yell at the prince. “Whatever it is, stop it! Now!”
Valaric’s limbs are shaking as he slowly pushes back up to standing. He curls his hands into fists. The muscles along his shoulders and neck bulge with effort as he grits his fangs and slowly lifts his head, fighting some unseen force trying to push him back down.
His eyes are pitch black with rage as he growls at the prince. “Enough!”
The prince’s eyes flare wide in shock, the red coloring of his irises returning.
Valaric heaves a great sigh as the tension leaves his body. I wrap my arm around his waist and he curls his wing around my shoulder.
“Are you all right?”
He gives me a faint nod, his dark glare never leaving the prince.
Blood trails from Raine’s nostrils down his chin, dripping onto the ground at his feet. He touches his fingers to his upper lip and stares down at his own dark blood.
“Interesting,” he muses. “Not quite what I had expected, but fascinating, nonetheless.”
Alayna reaches for Raine, but he gently waves her away. “I’m fine.”
A rumbling growl vibrates in Valaric’s throat. “Do that again, and I will—”
“Have you reconsidered your position?” Raine cuts him off. “Will you speak with me alone now while my guards watch over our humans?”
“ My guards will stay with Juliet,” Valaric snarls.
A massive wolf with russet colored fur and reflective silver eyes steps out from the bushes at the same time that Aerlyx emerges from the shadows.
“Your dog may remain,” Raine says, nose wrinkled in disgust. “But not the demon.”
“Knight,” Aerlyx corrects him with a smug look. “Or demon knight if you prefer.” He turns to Alayna and flashes a flirtatious grin as he winks. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you much better, my fair Lady.”
A deep, rattling growl echoes through the garden as Raine stares daggers at the Incubus. “ You, do not talk to her. Do not look at her. Do not even think about her.” His claws lengthen into razor-sharp talons. “If you dare try to use any of your magic to tempt or seduce she who is mine, I promise you will meet a very violent end, demon.”
Raine’s head snaps to Valaric. “The Incubus must go,” he states firmly. “This is non-negotiable.” When Valaric opens his mouth as if to protest, the prince adds, “Or would you prefer your mate remain here while we speak? I’m sure she would be very interested to learn of the secrets you’ve been keeping from her.”
Valaric stills.
My heart stutters and stops as I look at my husband, guilt easily read in his features. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask what Raine means, but I bite back the words. We must present a united front. We cannot appear weak. I’ll not allow Prince Raine to sew any seeds of discourse between us. I trust Valaric.
Whatever it is that the prince is referring to, we can talk about it later.
“Aerlyx, go,” Valaric says. “But remain nearby in case you are needed.”
He inclines his head and then fades back into the shadows.
“Tell me,” Raine says, cocking his head to one side. “How did you manage to leash a wolf and a demon?”
“They are not bloodsworn, if that is what you are asking,” Valaric replies.
“True loyalty,” Raine muses. “Interesting.” He snaps his fingers and the two Vampire guards rush to his side in a blur of movement. “Take the humans to my chambers. No one else guards them but the two of you.” He darts a glance at Eben. “And the wolf shifter.”
Their heads jerk back in shock, but they quickly bow to their prince.
The prince turns to Eben, his gaze raking over the wolf in disgust. “Shift back into something more appropriate before you go inside. It’s bad enough to have a dog in the house, you do not need to look like one as well.”
Eben looks at Valaric, his fluffy pointed ear shifting forward in a questioning look. My husband gives him a slight nod and Eben shifts into his two-legged form.
Valaric takes my hand with a beseeching look. “Juliet, I will explain everything to you when I can. I—”
I press a finger to his lips to silence him. He’s worried I don’t trust him after Raine’s comment about keeping things from me. But I’m not going to let the prince divide us. “It’s all right.” I cup his cheek. “I trust you. Completely.”
Something—an emotion—flits briefly across his expression, but it’s gone too quickly for me to know what it was.
I glance again at the Vampire prince. I don’t know what Raine did to my husband earlier, but I do not trust him. And I hate the idea of leaving Valaric alone with him.
Removing his cloak, Valaric drapes it around my shoulders and presses a tender kiss to my lips. I’m vaguely aware of the prince and the others watching us curiously, but I ignore them. He drops his forehead to mine. “Stay close to Eben,” he whispers.
I nod, and he slowly pulls away. He turns back to Raine and the Vampire guards escort Alayna and me back inside the manor.