Page 34 of The Vampire's Bride

“Wait!” He stands, knocking over his chair to rush toward me. He grabs my forearm, and I react on instinct, swiftly kneeing him in the groin.

He howls, doubling over in pain. “What was that for?” he coughs out. “I was merely trying to—”

His face goes slack as a vicious growl sounds from behind me, raising the hair on the back of my neck. The other diners snap their heads in our direction. I turn and find Valaric, his eyes black as midnight, his fangs bared in a vicious snarl. “Shesaidshe wasn’t interested in your advances. If youdaretry to touch my wife again, I will end you.”

All the color drains from the man’s face as a writhing mass of shadows swirl around Valaric’s form, long tendrils of darkness snaking toward him. “For—forgive me.” Stumbling over his words, Harvik holds his hands out in a placating gesture. “I—I meant no harm. I swear.”

“What is going on in here?” Minda walks in. Her gaze snaps from Harik to Valaric and then her face goes deathly pale. She drops the tray in her hands, shattering plates and cups, sending shards of porcelain skittering across the floor. “Seven hells! You’re a Vampire!”

Harvik jumps to his feet and scrambles to the door, rushing back out into the blizzard.

The shadows around Valaric’s form retreat and then disappear entirely.

“Minda,” I say gently, pulling her attention back to me. I offer her my best smile, trying to smooth the situation. “My husband decided to join me after all. I hope that’s all right.”

Her jaw works a moment before she replies. “Of—of course.” She gestures nervously to one of the empty tables. “Any—anywhere you’d like.”

The other diners remain frozen in place, staring at Valaric as if they’ve seen a wraith. Which—I glance back at him again and his eyes are still black with rage—I suppose he does appear rather terrifying right now.

His expression softens as he turns his gaze to me, the normal red color returning to his eyes as he cups my cheek. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

“Will you be wanting a”—Minda halts abruptly, wringing her hands in her apron as if trying to pick her words very carefully before she says—“meal as well, Mister—”

“Greyvale,” Valaric replies. “Lord Valaric Greyvale, and this is my bride, Lady Juliet Greyvale. We’ll just need the one meal for my wife, and I will take a cup of tea if you have it.”

“Tea?” her voice rises in pitch. “I mean, yes, of course. Right away, Lord Greyvale.”

She hurries off to the kitchen and Valaric guides me to a nearby table, completely ignoring the blatant stares and worried looks of our fellow diners as we take our seats.

As soon as we’re seated, I lean in and whisper under my breath. “I thought we were tryingnotto draw attention to the fact that you’re a Vampire.”

“We were. But that wasbeforethatmaltakstarted harassing you.”

“You shouldn’t have revealed yourself,” I chastise. “I had it handled.”

“You aremy wife,” he states firmly. “As long as I draw breath,no onewill touch you against your will.”

My heart flutters at his possessive words, but as I gaze at the people around us, worry begins to creep in. “What if someone tries to attack us, now that they know what you are? What if a hunter comes?”

“Let them try.” His eyes darken again as he growls low in his throat. “My strength has returned. You are mine, Juliet. I will end anyone who dares try to harm you.”

An unexpected thrill runs through my veins. I love how protective he is. He makes me feel safe.

Even my own parents did not instill this feeling in me. The real reason I hadn’t told them I broke my engagement to Jonathan was because I worried they would try to force me to marry him anyway, despite my concerns about his temper.

My prejudices against Valaric’s people made me afraid of him at first. But now, I know that he would do anything to protect me.

Minda comes in with our food and drinks. The plates and cups rattling on the tray as she sets it on the table with shaking hands. She takes a healthy step back, her knuckles white as she grips the silver cross on the end of her necklace. “Will you be needing anything else?” She swallows hard. “Bernyd can go to the butcher and see if he has any fresh blood if you’d like, Lord Greyvale.”

“Thank you, but that will not be necessary,” Valaric replies as he settles back in his chair.

He reaches for his tea, and Minda gasps, her gaze locked on the rune tattoo on the inside of his wrist. The one I’d noticed earlier that he claimed was unimportant.

“It cannot be,” she murmurs, eyes widening. “You’re one of theShadow Blade.”

Shadow Blade.The familiar term tumbles through my mind as I struggle to recall how I know it.

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