Page 31 of The Vampire's Bride

CHAPTER 10

VALARIC

As soon as Juliet falls asleep, I use my renewed strength to cast a protective ward on our room. Raising my hands, I draw the symbols in the air, weaving the spell that will allow only those who mean us no harm to enter.

Purple light glows around the door and windows, as the spell settles into the wood before disappearing. Only a powerful mage or a witch could break through the barrier, but I doubt we’ll encounter one here in Corvania. Mages are not welcome in Morrowynd and witches tend to keep to themselves.

I’m in that place between wakefulness and dreams when the sound of chattering teeth pulls me back into awareness. My eyes snap open and immediately search for Juliet. She is shivering beneath the quilt on the bed, frozen air puffing from her lips with each breath.

Despite the fire, it is still rather cool in the room. Even more so for her since she is far from the hearth. Cold temperatures do not bother me. My kind are able to withstand even extremeconditions without issue, but humans are not. They are fragile compared to my people.

Careful to avoid the small amount of light edging in around the curtains, I make my way to my bride. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, I call her name. “Juliet.”

Her eyes flutter open, and she blinks up at me. “Is it night already?” she murmurs sleepily.

“Not quite.” Unable to help myself, I brush the hair back from her face and tenderly cup her cheek. “You are shivering. You should sleep near the fire.”

Still half asleep, she nods, her eyelids blinking open and closed before she drifts off again.

I gather her in my arms and lift her from the bed, carrying her sleeping form across the room and to the space under the comforter, between the sofa and chairs. Gently, I lay her down closer to the fire and then wrap the quilt and another blanket around her, tucking it over her shoulders.

I lie on my back beside her. Although we are married, I will not presume that she wishes for me to hold her as we sleep. So I’m pleasantly surprised when she rolls toward me and rests her head on my bicep as she presses into my side, seeking warmth. I curl my other arm around her waist as I fold my wings around her smaller form. “Is this better?” I ask softly.

My heart clenches as Juliet releases a small sigh and then snuggles into my chest. “Yes,” she whispers, no longer shivering. “Thank you.”

Closing her eyes, she falls back into sleep.

Perhaps it is her smaller form or maybe it’s the fact that she is human, but I feel very protective of her. Smoothing a lock of hair back from her face, I study her lovely features.

Her silken hair shines like gold in the glowing firelight. Long lashes fan over petal-soft skin, her cheeks flushed a lovely shadeof pink now that she is warm. Gazing at the plush bow of her lips, I idly wonder if they are as soft as I imagine them to be.

She is as beautiful as she is brave and kind.

My thoughts turn to the way she cared for me earlier. She risked her own life for mine. Despite the fast-approaching storm, she refused to leave me behind when I was injured. She helped to hide my appearance from the humans while I was in a weakened state, and protected me from the sun as she tended to my wounds.

When she discovered that her blood could help me to heal faster, she offered it to me selflessly and without hesitation, despite her earlier fears.

When was the last time someone cared for me like this? It has been so long, I can hardly remember.

When I first realized she was my fated one, I was worried. I feared for her safety because she was human, and their kind are not nearly as strong or as fast as mine. And yet, she bravely faced down a snowcat that was so much larger than her.

As I gaze down at my bride, I realize that just because she isn’t a Vampire, does not mean she is weak. She may only be human, but what she lacks in size, she certainly makes up for in ferocity.

The bond may have initially drawn me to Juliet, but it is not the only reason I care for her. My ashaya is kind, intelligent, beautiful, and brave. Tenderly, I tuck a stray tendril of hair behind the curved shell of her ear as I stare down at her in awe. I tighten my wings around her form, marveling at the fact that she allows me to hold her… to touch her.

I am humbled by her trust. Juliet deserves so much better than a monster, and a cursed one at that. Despite the darkness that resides within me, I vow that I will endeavor to be worthy of her.

I must find a way to convince Juliet to fall in love with me before the last petal falls. I don’t want to place her in a glass coffin, like the others, where she will be trapped in slumber, under the witch’s dark enchantment.

Closing my eyes, I try to force these dark thoughts from my mind. I will do whatever it takes to not lose her as I lost the others. As I slowly begin to drift off to sleep, I allow myself to dream of a future with the woman in my arms.

And for the first time in a long time, I have hope that she will be the one to break my curse.

CHAPTER 11

JULIET

As my mind slowly awakens, I snuggle deeper into the blankets, enjoying the sensation of being completely enveloped in warmth.

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