Page 59 of Married to the Vampire Prince

Chapter Twenty-Three

Grace

“You’ve become a much better dancer,” Silas praised me.

I took a few steps to the right, as the dance we were doing dictated, then let my husband whirl me around. When he had me back in his arms, I beamed at him.

“My dance practice had to go on hold during the war, but I’ve practiced a lot ever since we came home so that I could dance with you during this victory ball,” I said with a smile.

Two weeks had passed since our army’s safe return home, and the Queen had decided to throw a ball to celebrate our victory in the war; Silas’ victory, to be honest. Considering how he had brought down the King of Rosworth and assured a ceasefire, he had once again been declared a war hero. However, this time society was speaking highly of his military achievements.

They said that he had carved a path through the enemies to get to Sherman and thus proven himself to be the most powerful vampire of the century. I supposed that view was why nobody wanted to get on his bad side. Even the media reported on his victory only in a favorable light.

However, I could sense that, underneath their honeyed words, the court of Estone still feared my husband. For the first time though, I could say with certainty that I was grateful for such a response. If that fear brought Silas the respect he deserved, so be it.

At least I knew now that I myself had nothing to fear from my husband. He was nothing but affectionate with me. I loved him just the way he was, and he loved me in return.

“You have a vicious smile on your face,” Silas tilted his head. “I quite like it.”

“I’m thinking about how much I enjoy the court cowering at your feet. It’s a welcome change from how rudely they treated you before,” I chuckled.

“So you like them being afraid of me?” He smiled, twirling me around again.

When I returned to our previous position in the dance, I replied, “I like when people respect you, even if they are intimidated by you. You deserve only good things in life, Silas.” I sobered up. “You’ve been through enough.”

Silas nodded. “But my lonely suffering is over now, isn’t it? I have you.”

I smiled. “And you will always have me. We’re mates, after all.”

“We are,” his smile brightened. He was smiling a lot more these days. “I’m happy I get to dance with you as well.”

“The fact that you like dancing motivated me to learn quickly,” I said truthfully. A blush crept into my cheeks. “I’ve wanted to dance with you so much.”

Silas gave me a satisfied look. “And it feels wonderful being able to dance again, especially with such a graceful, beautiful partner.”

I made a face.

Silas chuckled. “If you say you’re neither of those things, I will spend the whole night proving you wrong.”

“Proving how?” I winked at him.

His smile widened. He looked at me through hooded eyes. “Just the way you’re thinking.”

I smiled again. “Then I’m going to say I’m the most ungraceful dancer on the floor tonight.”

“Are you baiting me?”

“I may be,” I laughed.

Silas leaned down and placed a kiss on my lips. “That’s not nice,” he said when we broke apart.

“What else can I do when you’ve made such an interesting proposal to me? Then again, even if I don’t complain about my lack of grace or beauty, I’m fairly certain you would still make love to me all night, right?”

Silas gave me a satisfied smile. “That may be true.”

“Only may be?” I gave him a mock frown.

He chuckled. Then he leaned down and stole another kiss before twirling me around again. “What can I say, I’m in love with my mate. So there is no ‘maybe’ –I would absolutely make love to you all night either way.”

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