Page 43 of The Vampire's Bride

Worry ripples through me. “What are you talking about?”

“You believe she’ll pass the test?” She lifts one brow. “That she’ll love both the monster and the man beneath.”

I do, but I will not tell her this. Although, judging from the sinister glint in her eyes, I suspect she already knows the answer. She’s right. Juliet and I are still so new to each other, but she has already allowed me to hold her… to touch her.The others never did.

“Until now, you’ve always believed the worst fate that awaits your brides is an enchanted sleep in a glass coffin. But I realize now that this has made things easy for you.”

“Easy?” I ask incredulously. “How?”

“They are not dead; they are merely sleeping.”

A chill runs down my spine as the pieces begin to fall into place. “No.” I can barely breathe out the word as horror grips me in an iron vise. “You cannot do this.”

“Figured it out already, have you?” The corner of her mouth tilts up in dark amusement. “Well let me state it plainly.” She lifts her hands and magic curls around her fingers like wisps of red smoke. With a flick of her wrist, she directs it toward me.

Panicked, I struggle to move, but I’m frozen in place as the long tendrils of red magic wrap around me and Juliet like binding ribbon before disappearing beneath our skin.

“To break your curse, she must speak the words. She must love both the man and the monster,” the witch says darkly. “If she does not, she will die.”

“No.” Strangling tendrils of fear wrap tight around my chest. “You cannot do this.”

“I can and I will,” she snarls. “Youbroke our bargain first, Vampyr.” She pins me with an ice-cold gaze. “I gave you the means to avenge your people, and you owed me a favor in exchange. I asked you toturnmy mate, not tokillhim.” She points an angry finger at Juliet. “She willneverlove you. Not once she sees the curse change you, turning you into your monstrous form. And when it finally claims her,you will understandmy pain.”

Rage blisters through me. “If you dare try to take her, I will—”

“I don’t have to take her,” she sneers. “Her fickle human nature and the curse will do it for me. Do not worry, Vampyr. Even in death, you can keep her close. She can stay in one of those lovely glass boxes like the others.”

“Lift the curse,” I demand through clenched teeth. “Or I swear I will find a way to kill you.”

“You can try,” she says darkly. “But you will fail, Vampyr.”

With a flick of her wrist, she vanishes into thin air.

Glancing down at Juliet, I run my hand through her silken hair and cup the back of her head as I hold her to my chest. I cannot bear the thought of Juliet ending up like the others.

Worry spirals through me as I think on the witch’s words. Juliet was terrified when she saw a brief glimpse of my dark thirst. And if that scared her, how will she react when she sees the true monster within?

Clenching my jaw, I gaze at my ashaya. She is my fated one. Surely, she will love me enough to see beyond the monstrous transformation that will be brought about by my curse. Because if she fails in this test, I will lose her forever.

I glance out the window as the moon begins to rise. Juliet is still sleeping peacefully, but I know I must wake her soon. The storm has passed, and it is safe for us to travel again.

A soft knock sounds at the door, and I move toward it. My nostrils flare as I scent the innkeeper on the other side. Effortlessly, I push aside the dresser and then open the door.

Startled, she jumps back. “Seven hells,” she swears, pressing her hand to her heart. “You gave me a fright answering the door like that.”

I arch a condescending brow. “HowshouldI have answered it?”

“To be honest, I was hoping your wife would have been the one to come to the door.” She clears her throat. “I came to tell you the weather has cleared up a bit. So, I suppose you will probably want to be on your way again, to return to your castle.”

Before I can reply, she leans to one side, peering around me to my bride. Juliet is still asleep by the fire. “You take good care of that wife of yours.” She points a stern finger at me. “And never give her any reason to lose that lovely smile she has.”

Minda is indeed brave to speak to me like this, and I bite back a grin of amusement. I cannot help but admire her spirit.Crossing my arms, I arch a brow. “I see you’ve decided you are no longer afraid of a Vampire.”

“I’ve had time to think on it,” she muses. “And it occurs to me that you’re not just any Vampire, now are you? You’re a Shadow Blade.”

Painful memories resurface, but I push them back down. “I told you not to speak of this,” I say in a low voice. “The man I was is gone.”

“You cannot truly believe that.” She eyes me speculatively. “I’ve heard the stories about you, Sir Valaric, First Knight of the Order of the Shadow Blade, and how you avenged your people after those monsters turned you.”

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