Page 117 of The Vampire's Bride

“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 guardswill 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 nottalkto her. Do notlookat her. Do not eventhinkabout 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 wolfanda 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—”

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