Page 56 of The Vampire's Bride

“Juliet.” I gently rest a hand on her shoulder. “Wake up.”

Her eyelids flutter and open, widening a moment before they fix upon my face. “Valaric?” she whispers.

“It’s me.” I brush the hair back from her face. “You were having a nightmare.”

She jerks up to sitting and wraps her arms around my neck. “I dreamed of him.”

I fold my arms and wings tightly around her as the acrid scent of her fear floods the room, her body shaking with great hiccupping sobs. “Who?”

“My attacker.”

My shock quickly gives way to seething rage. Whoever he is, he will not be breathing much longer. “Who was it?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t see his face.” Juliet burrows into my chest, her warm tears sliding down my bare skin. “I was so afraid.”

Eben enters the room, but I shake my head, silently instructing him to leave. He nods and then steps back out into the hallway, leaving us alone.

Juliet trembles in my arms as I run a soothing hand across her shoulders and back. “You are safe here,” I murmur into her hair. “I will not let anyone hurt you.”

“Are you sure no one can breach the castle wall?” She lifts her head, her eyes searching mine. “That your wards will keep out intruders?”

Tenderly, I cup her cheek, brushing away her tears with my thumb. “I am certain.”

Fierce protectiveness surges through me as she seeks comfort in my arms—something that no one else would ever dare. Not from one such as me—a Vampire, a monster.

Elsie pushes open the door, surprise etched across her features when she sees us. “Is… everything all right?”

Juliet nods. “I had a nightmare.”

Elsie’s gaze slides to me. “Shall I bring some tea?”

Before I can answer, Juliet shakes her head. “I’m all right,” she whispers. The slight trembling of her form suggests she is not, but I do not contradict her.

“Thank you, Elsie,” I murmur. “But we will be fine.”

She dips her chin and then leaves. As I hear her footsteps retreating down the hallway, I glance down at Juliet. Perhaps she would prefer Elsie to keep her company for a while. I’m about to ask, but she murmurs against my chest. “Will you stay with me?”

I dart a glance toward the covered windows, sunlight bleeding in around the edges of the heavy curtains. At the height of the day it will likely become uncomfortable as I am sensitive even to indirect sun. But when Juliet lifts her gaze to mine, the complete trust in her eyes is my undoing. I can deny her nothing. “Yes.”

I draw the bed drapes closed around us. Even with this extra layer of protection, a bit of outside light filters in, but there is nothing else to be done for it.

When I shift to move further into the shadows, Juliet looks at me. “I—I’m being ridiculous. If you need to return to your room, I understand. I’ll be fine.”

I could take her to my chambers, but I worry she would not like it there. It’s dark and cold in the bowels of the castle as I require neither light nor warmth to sleep comfortably. But I also do not want to encourage her to rest with me. I need her to be asleep upstairs, safely in her room, on the nights that the curse changes me.

“It is not a hardship to remain with you.” It’s not the whole truth, but it is not a complete lie either. I’d prefer to be by her side, even if the light will cause me some discomfort. “I will stay with you, my Juliet.

When I lie down in the bed, I’m surprised she scoots closer. She rests her head on my bicep and lays her delicate hand on my chest directly over my heart.

Despite her relaxed posture, my sensitive ears detect the quickening of her pulse. “Your heart is beating wildly.” I cup her chin, tipping her face up to mine. “Are you still afraid?”

Hesitantly, she nods. “I know it was only a dream, but it felt so real.” A small shudder runs through her. “I thought I wanted to recall exactly what happened. To find the person who hurt me and bring them to justice. But now… part of me fears that Iwillremember. And I don’t want to be scared.”

“You survived something terrible,” I murmur. “And terrible things can leave scars—marks upon your very soul.”

“How do I move past them?” she asks.

This is a question I asked myself several times in the early days of my cursed existence.

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