Page 174 of The Vampire's Bride

“You’re a Vampire.” My cheeks heat, and I clamp a hand over my mouth, embarrassed that I’ve said this aloud.

“I am.” A hint of a smile crests his gorgeous lips.

“I—I’m sorry,” I stumble over my words. “I didn’t mean to be rude, I—”

“It is all right.” His gaze holds mine, full of curiosity and something else—some other emotion I cannot quite place. “You seemed in a hurry to escape.” His eyes flick toward the doors. “Are you trying to avoid someone?”

Despite my nerves, a soft huff of laughter escapes me. “Is it that obvious?”

He arches an amused brow as he nods, and I laugh even more.

He’s a Vampire. His kind rarely mingle with mine, unless they are Bloodsworn. And I know I should probably be afraid of him, but for some reason, I’m not. I extend my hand. “I’m Lady Juliet Casterly.”

“Lord Valaric Greyvale,” he introduces himself with a subtle bow. “But you may call me Valaric.”

My heart stutters. Something in the way he says his name—a familiarity that tugs at the edges of my memory—gives me pause.

“Have we met before?” I ask, unable to shake the feeling that I know him.

“We have.” His gaze pierces mine. “A few months ago.”

Fragmented images of my past flit to the surface of my mind, disappearing like wisps of smoke as I try to hold onto them. “I’m sorry.” I frown. “I had an accident a couple of months back that sent me into an unconscious state for a few days. My memories around the time of my injury are a bit foggy.”

His gaze holds mine, full of concern. “What happened to you?”

“My parents said it was a carriage accident.”

A flicker of disturbance crosses his face, his eyes darkening with something akin to pain, but he remains silent.

“The healer did not believe I would survive. He told my parents to prepare for the worst. But somehow, I managed to pull through and recover.”

His crimson gaze holds mine. Something about him feels so familiar, but I cannot quite place it. Perhaps that’s why I feel comfortable enough to continue. “It’s so strange to think I might not have been here. Almost like fate gave me a second chance.”

“What do you want to do with it?” he asks softly.

I gaze up at the stars, marveling at their beauty. Ever since I awakened, I’ve found myself appreciating the world around me even more, realizing how precious life is.

“Before the accident, I believed it was my duty to follow the wishes of my parents. I was the perfect daughter in that regard,” I confess. “They wanted me to marry well, to secure our family’s status. But now... I’ve decided I want to choose my own future. To choose my life, not have it chosen for me. And I’ve decided that when I marry, it will be for love.”

Embarrassment flushes my cheeks as the declaration leaves my lips. I’ve only just met Lord Greyvale and I’m already confiding my deepest secret and desires to him. “Forgive me,” I apologize, dropping my gaze. “I’m sure you must have better things to do than to listen to me all evening.” I gesture to the doors that lead back inside. “You came here for the ball, and I’ve already taken up much of your time.”

“There is no need to apologize,” he assures me as he moves even closer. “I enjoy talking with you.”

Heat radiates from his body to mine, and my pulse quickens. He’s a Vampire. They are known for their powers of seduction, luring unsuspecting maidens into their grasps to slake their dark appetites.

And yet… I cannot force myself to step away as I stare up at him, completely enthralled. “There’s something about you.” The admission leaves my lips unfiltered. “You feel so familiar to me.”

Something sparks behind his gorgeous eyes. “I feel the same.”

A glint of silver at his neck catches my attention. It’s a pendant. A white cross with a delicate rose-covered vine wound around it, set against a green shield.

“That pendant… I’ve seen it before.” I frown, grasping at a wisp of memory that is just out of reach. “Perhaps I recall it from when we met a few months ago. Before my accident.”

Valaric’s hand instinctively goes to the necklace. “It is a remnant of my human life.” Sadness tinges his tone.

I’m surprised to learn he was once human. His sorrowful expression makes me wonder how he became what he is now. But my curiosity is overridden by politeness, and I decide not to ask the question that sits on my tongue.

Silence stretches between us a moment before he adds, “It holds many memories.”

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