Page 79 of The Vampire's Bride

Her face lights up. “Of course, Lord Greyvale.”

“And add a few winter cloaks as well,” he instructs. “Make certain the Greyvale sigil is prominent upon each item.”

She nods. “Of course.”

I open my mouth to thank him, but Lord Blackthorne walks up beside him. “Lord Greyvale, I did not realize you were in town.”

Valaric’s face becomes a hard mask, his entire posture rigid as he straightens and turns toward Lord Stryker. “We just arrived this evening.”

“Ah,” Stryker says. He steps closer, eyeing me like a hawk sizing up a mouse. “I see you’ve acquired a blood wife. Maryl, come!” he yells, snapping his fingers as if she were a pet.

She rushes to his side, her eyes downcast.

“This is my blood wife, Maryl.” He places one claw-tipped finger under her chin, tipping her face up. “Let him look at you, sweetling.”

He turns to me and licks his lips, his eyes going black. “Yours looks positively delicious, Valaric. Perhaps you might entertain the idea of a trade?” He flicks his gaze to my husband. “It would only be for a few nights, of course.”

Valaric immediately steps between us, spreading his wings wide to shield me. “You will mind your words, Stryker.” He growls low in his throat. “Lady Juliet Greyvale is my true wife.”

Stryker’s head jerks back. “You have taken ahumanas yourtrue wife? I’ve never heard of such a thing. At least… not within the Great Houses.”

His gaze sweeps to me again, a menacing gleam in his eyes before he turns his attention back to Valaric. “We’re hosting a ball at Darkhall Manor next Saturday. If I’d known you would be in town, I would have issued a formal invitation. As it is, I would like to invite you personally to attend. YouandLady Greyvale.”

“Thank you for the invitation,” my husband replies, but his tone implies he is anything but grateful.

Valaric offers me his arm, and I loop mine through his. We start to leave, but Stryker moves with inhuman speed and appears in front of me.

Lord Blackthorne gives me a sinister smile as he takes my hand. He lifts it to his lips and places a kiss to the back of my knuckles.

Dread trickles down my spine as his nostrils flare and his eyes become twin pools of darkness. “Your scent is absolutely divine.” Wicked delight dances across his features. “It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, Lady Greyvale. And I look forward to getting to know you much more intimately.”

Valaric growls low in warning, and Stryker relinquishes my hand.

We head for the door and Stryker calls out. “I’ll tell Davara to expect you both at the ball.”

Valaric’s entire body is bristling with anger as we leave the clothier’s and heads straight for the carriage.

“Trouble?” Eben asks, his pointed ears trained toward the shop.

“That remains to be seen,” Valaric replies darkly. “Let’s go home.”

CHAPTER 29

VALARIC

Juliet is quiet in the carriage, her gaze fixed and unfocused as she stares out the window. I can sense her discomfort through the bond. “Are you all right?”

She nods absently. “Did you find your Incubus friend?”

“No, but I’m sure Aerlyx will return to Mysthaven soon.”

She is obviously troubled, but she will not speak. Inwardly, I curse myself. I should never have left her alone. Juliet is new to my world.

I can only imagine how horrific it was for her to see another human treated the way Stryker treats his blood wife. It’s one thing to hear rumors of the way many Vampires regard her kind, but it is another thing entirely to see it up close.

“It’s strange,” she murmurs, staring out at the ocean as we ride along the coast.

“What is?”

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