Page 107 of The Vampire's Bride

“Ourproblems?”

“Yes.” His lips form a thin line. “Rumors have already begun to spread of the human you have taken as your true wife.” He glares at me. “Did you truly think something like this would escape the notice of our kind?”

I did not. I simply hoped I could find a way to break my curse and then deal with the rest later. But it seems I was wrong, and now Juliet is in danger. “We ran into Stryker,” I say grimly. “He invited us to his ball tomorrow evening.”

A string of muttered curses leaves Damar’s mouth, and he begins pacing back and forth as he often does when troubled by something. He stops abruptly and turns to me, his eyes blazing. “Do you haveanyidea what happens to non-bloodsworn humans in a room full of Vampires?” He shakes his head. “She’ll be lucky to get through the evening alive.”

Panic trips my heart, but it’s quickly replaced by raw anger. “I will kill anyone who dares try to harm her.”

“Donotspeak that way,” he snaps. “The last time you killed one of our kind, I barely managed to convince the High Council not to put a wooden stake through your heart.”

He clenches his jaw. “Do you have any idea what I had to do? The promises I had to make to spare your life all those years ago?”

His question stops me short. He never told me how he negotiated my pardon, and I am ashamed, in this moment, to realize that I never asked. “What did you—”

“It doesn’t matter,” he grits through his fangs. He begins pacing again, scrubbing his hand across his jaw and through his hair. After a moment, he turns to me. “I’m going with you.”

I’m shocked. “You would help me protect her? Despite your hatred of humans?”

“I do it foryouand our Great House, nother.” He meets my gaze evenly. “I know we’ve had our differences in the past, but you are still my clansman, Valaric, and we must defend the strength of House Greyvale at all costs.”

Of all the ways this could have gone, I never expected this. I thought for sure that he would disown me, cast me out of his Clan and strip me of my title at the very least. “Why are you helping me? The way we left things… I thought you hated me.”

“I do nothateyou.” Irritation shifts into his gaze, as if what I’ve said is entirely ridiculous. “You were made. Not born. And you have not been part of this world long enough to understand this yet, Valaric, but the bonds forged between clan members is as strong as those made in blood.”

“But youleft,” I state accusingly as the old wounds I’d thought had healed long ago begin to ache once more. “The last time we spoke you were so angry… so disappointed. I thought you never wanted to see me again.”

“Even now, you still think like a human.” Disdain drips from his tone. “A few years is nothing to our kind. I grew tired of arguing with you about your unhealthy despair over what you’ve become. It seems that time has not cured you of this ailment. You still stubbornly cling to your humanity.”

Sadness and anger rise within. I hadn’t realized until now just how much his leaving had affected me. He was all I had after I was turned—after I lost my entire family and everyone I knew.

He continues. “Prince Raine will be in attendance.”

I still. “Are you certain?”

Prince Raine is a dangerous and powerful Vampire. It’s rumored he has the ability of the Ancient Ones. That he is avocari—a Vampire that can read and control the minds of others, forcing them to do his will.

“Yes.” A muscle ticks along the edge of his jaw. “His father—King Corvin—informed me.” Blood red eyes brimming with disapproval meet mine. “It seems the prince’s curiosity was piqued when he heard rumors that a lord from one of the Great Houses took a human as his true wife.”

I open my mouth to respond, but a familiar scent drifts on the wind. Sweet with a hint of jasmine. I turn toward it and see Juliet walking toward us.

“What are you doing?” I rush to meet her. “You should be inside.”

She glances at Damar before her green eyes fix upon mine. “Tomorrow night, at the ball… you must tell everyone I’m your blood wife, Valaric. Nothing more.”

“Why are you saying this?”

“Because I don’t want to make your House appear weak.” She touches my face. “I don’t want to cause you any problems among your people.”

“Too late,” Damar mutters bitterly behind me.

I level a dark glare at him over my shoulder before turning my attention back to her.

She gazes up at me, her expression full of concern. When was the last time someone cared for me like this? “I have already told Stryker you are my true wife, and I will not take it back.”

“It’s too late, anyway,” Damar grumbles. His nose twitches in disgust. “Word has already spread of your relationship among the High Council and the nobility. You have even managed to capture the attention of the royal family. Prince Raine will be at the ball tomorrow.”

“The Vampire Prince?” All the color drains from Juliet’s face. It seems even word of the Prince of Morrowynd has reached the human kingdoms. Raine is a skilled warrior and rumored to be as ruthless as his father, King Corvin.

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