Page 63 of Vampire Savage

I can never tell Niamh that those meditation classes she forced me to take in college are coming in handy now. She’d be sick with gloating.

Releasing focus, I try to push down the feelings I’d gathered up and concentrate on the link between Lan and me. If I’d known he had to mark me to complete the bond, I would have asked him to and then we wouldn’t be in this situation. I’ll take what I can get, though, and wait for anything from his side.

When nothing comes, I question if it’d really happened or if it’s something I want so badly I’m now imagining it.

Then a wave of confidence and certainty, tinged with fury and passion, comes flooding into me. A sob breaks free, and I press the back of my hand to my mouth as my knees buckle from the relief.

My savage is coming for me. I don’t know what he knows, other than I need him, but I trust him. I trust him to scorch the earth for me and the first person he’ll look at is my father. I just need to survive long enough for Lan to rescue me.

Two hard knocks rap against the door and I straighten, wiping at my face to hide any evidence of tears. The door opens as I’m smoothing my clothes and Oberon’s impassive face and broad body fill the doorway. I can’t think of him as my father anymore.

“Come,” he orders. “It is dinnertime. You must eat.”

I want to refuse, but if I’m going to escape I need strength. Not only that, but I’m pregnant, which means I definitely need the food to keep my strength up. Raising my chin, I give him a clipped nod and follow him from the room.

I will be ready to take any opportunity to escape. Lan is coming for me, for his family.

When I enter the dining room after Oberon, I nearly stumble, catching myself just in time so no one notices.

Miles turns his attention from the unfamiliar comely older woman in a simple blue dress to me, smiling broadly.

“My dear fiancée!” He strides around the ostentatious dining table and wraps me in a hug before pressing a firm kiss against my lips. He pulls away before I can bite him or gag. His grip is hard on my bicep as he turns me towards the woman who is beaming at us. Looking between Oberon and Miles, both wearing pleasing, kind-appearing smiles, my brain is shrieking at me to run.

“You should have told me you were so overwhelmed by the wedding planning,” Miles chides playfully. “As your fiancé, it’s my duty to ease your burdens.”

“If only there were more men like you,” the woman, who must be in her seventies, says with a dreamy sigh. “There’d be less divorces. Don’t let this one go, young lady.”

I give her a tight smile and look at Miles and then Oberon, who is taking his seat at the head of the table. “What is this?” Out of habit, I slip into the sweet, non-combative tone I use at parties, when I really want to just scream.

“Now, dear, I’ve spoken with your father,” Miles starts and, damn, I want to slap that patronizing smile off his too-classically handsome face. “There’s no reason why we should wait, though I know all of our friends will be disappointed in missing the wedding of the year because we’ve eloped.”

My brows shoot into my hairline and I sputter. “Excuse me?” My voice breaks on the second word.

“You and Miles will marry here, now,” Oberon explains and my head whips towards him. He’s interrupted by one of his security goons walking in and going to his side. The man whispers something in his ear, and for a fraction of a second, hope that Lan is already here crests within me. It comes crashing down as I see the goon pass my pregnancy test to Oberon.

Oberon looks at it and then to me. I freeze against the intensity of anger in his eyes and though he quickly masks it and slides the test into his pocket as he replaces his congenial smile, I can’t help but feel targeted by a dangerous predator.

“This is Sandra Ellens, a Newgate judge who has graciously agreed to perform the ceremony this evening.” Oberon’s words hit me like individual blades, piercing into my body and making me bleed. “It’s a good thing Miles and I planned this, since you wouldn’t want news of your pregnancy to get out before the wedding. We can ensure everyone knows you married quickly because of love.”

“You’re pregnant?” Miles’ smile is brittle and his grip on me tightens.

Sandra claps with excitement. “Oh, how wonderful! Starting a family together is the most heartwarming and fulfilling thing a couple can do.”

I bite my tongue at her words but don’t quite hide my eyes rolling. Only Miles sees and his glare is potent. I simper back at the man I had no intention of marrying.

“I only found out an hour ago,” I tell him and press a hand to my stomach. “I’m so excited for this baby.”

I’ll give Miles some credit. He’s able to keep that fake grin of his in place as he turns back towards Sandra. My back stiffens but I move forward with him, my own fake smile firmly in place. Sandra slides a leather notebook from her purse, excitement in her eyes. I almost feel bad for her. She clearly loves weddings and has no idea what’s going on right now. She’s just another pawn on Oberon’s board, just like Simon.

I know if he’d had any idea what Oberon planned for me, he’d have never brought me here. Simon isn’t jaded like so many others in this world.

She looks at Oberon, and then beams at both Miles and me. “Let’s begin, shall we?”

My mouth turns sour as Sandra speaks about love and the joys of marriage and all I can do is scream at how wrong this is. Miles isn’t the man I choose, he isn’t the one I love. If I don’t go through with this, though, Oberon might just slit my throat right over his dinner plate. I have to survive. I have to last long enough for Lan to get to me.

I can do this. I may be shaking, but I can do this if it means getting back to my mate.

“Now, do you have the rings to exchange during the vows?” the officiant asks, her eyes crinkled with enduring excitement.

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