Page 78 of The Vampire's Bride

“Yes, my Lady,” she replies meekly. “But… I am his blood wife, not his true wife.” She looks down at her hands. “His true wife is Lady Davara Blackthorne.”

My brows rise. He has a true wifeanda blood wife?

“I am his bloodsworn,” she adds.

I’m unsure how to respond. Before I can think of anything, she continues. “That color will be beautiful on you, Lady Greyvale.” She points to the pale green silken fabric that Lygra has set aside for me.

“Thank you. You may call me Juliet.”

Maryl gives me a timid smile. “And you may call me Maryl.”

Lygra goes between the two of us, pins held carefully between her lips as she makes adjustments to Maryl’s dress and then cuts fabric to drape around me for a pattern.

When Lygra goes to the back to retrieve something, Maryl turns to me. “I have not seen you before. Are you newly wed?”

“Yes.”

“And you are the true wife of Lord Greyvale?”

I nod, and she stares at me as if she cannot believe what I’ve just said.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Forgive me.” She looks down at her hands. “It’s just that… it’s rare for them to take a human as their true wife.”

“Is it?”

She nods. “You’re the first one I’ve met. Is he… kind, your Lord husband?” she asks a bit cautiously.

“Very.”

Maryl gives me a sad smile. “You are fortunate then.”

“Yours is not?” I whisper, careful to make sure I’m not overheard.

“I cannot complain,” she replies, but I don’t miss the sadness that flits briefly across her expression. “He provides for me and I have all that I need. And I am fortunate,” she continues. “Lord Stryker rarely allows anyone else to feed upon me. He does not pass me around at parties as I’ve seen other Vampires do with their bloodsworn.”

Horror trips my heart, and I struggle to keep my expression neutral.

Maryl changes the subject. “Do you live nearby?”

“We live near Corvania,” I reply, my mind still reeling from what she’s told me. “But we are visiting. My husband has an estate near the sea.”

“I’ve seen it,” Maryl says. “Mysthaven is just down the road from Darkhall Manor, Lord Stryker’s estate.”

“Then we are practically neighbors.” I offer her a friendly smile and then gently take her hand. It is a bit overly familiar of me, but I cannot help it. My heart aches for this poor woman. I wish I could help her, but I don’t know how. So, instead, I do the only thing I can and offer her kindness. “Perhaps you might join me for tea while we are still in town?”

“Thank you for the invitation.” Her eyes brighten with tears as she gently squeezes my hand in return. “I would like that very much.”

Lygra comes back and finishes up with her adjustments to Maryl’s dress before turning to me. “Have you decided which fabrics you like best?”

There are at least a dozen bolts of luxurious fabric laid out on the table before me. They are all so beautiful, I’m not sure how to pick. I trace my fingers over the various materials with a soft sigh. “They are all so lovely, it is difficult to choose.”

“Then, how about a dress made from each one?” Valaric’s smooth, deep voice says from behind me.

I spin back to face him. My heart flutters as his eyes meet mine. “It’s too much. I do not need so many—”

“Nonsense.” He turns his attention to Lygra. “We’d like one dress made from each.”

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