Page 64 of Eternally Yours

“It’s why I returned,” I said. “To rectify the mistakes I made.”

Walking toward the antique table by my bed, she picked up my dagger and examined the blade, pressing a finger to the tip and licking off the drop of blood that beaded on the surface of her skin.

“Don’t insult me with your lies,” she quipped over her shoulder. “I know exactly why you came back home, and it has nothing to do with pride or duty to your family. Nor atonement for the shame you caused my coven.” Moving back toward me, she gripped the dagger in her hand, her menacing gaze a rebuke. “You came back because you needed our elite forces to take down the Order to rescue the hybrid monster you sired.”

There was that word again.Monster.I clamped a fist. I needed to keep my restraint or I’d end up shredding this woman to ribbons. “Loren. Is. Not. A. Monster.”

Inclining her head, she approached closer, her face too close for comfort. “She’s not one of us. And I won’t allow that creature to threaten my family’s legacy.”

I felt the tip of my dagger as she pressed it right below my ribs, the vulnerable area not covered by armored-plating. A not-so-subtle warning.

“The throne belongs to me, Nicholas,” she continued. “I am meant to rule at your side. Make no mistake, I’m agreeing to this union out of my own volition andonlybecause I want what’s rightfully mine.”

Taking a deep breath, I peered down at her, meeting her gaze with an equal warning. “I am promised to you. And I intend to follow through with my duty as my father’s son so long as Loren is kept safe.”

“I know what that…womanmeans to you,” she gritted. “If you are bloodmated—”

“We’re not.” I lied, taking the dagger from her hand in one swift move, thankful that my father had kept my indiscretion hidden, otherwise the DeLorenzo’s wouldn’t have agreed to our union.

“Good,” she said with a mirthless smile as she put her hands up in defense. “I need not remind you that the only way to break that bond is through death. I won’t share my throne with anyone.”

Her threat toward Loren reminded me why our friendship never matured into anything else. Why I wasn’t able to fathom being bonded to someone so unscrupulous and power-hungry. But now I had no choice. This was the only way for me to secure Loren’s safety.

“I need to finish getting ready,” I said coolly, unable to look her in the eyes without showing her the disgust churning inside me. “Once the Order is defeated and Loren is safe, we will proceed with the ceremony.”

“I look forward to it,” she said, her voice now calm and saccharine. “Despite my ill feelings toward you, I can’t deny I always did wonder how well you mated. The houses will bear witness to our bonding. Make it believable. I want everyone to be certain of our devotion to each other. There can be zero doubt of our union. That we’re the right ones chosen to rule our people.”

My mind flashed with images of the ritual that was part of the union ceremony—the extravagant, erotic masquerade followed by a private showing of our mating atop a golden altar. My gut knotted with repulsion. The thought of mating with anyone other than Loren—of sharing my blood with this woman—made me want to punch a hole through the fucking wall.

My only solace was that even though I’d be betraying Loren with my body, our bond would remain intact. I didn't know how long my ruse would last, but for the time being, I needed everyone convinced I was prepared to offer the DeLorenzo family my full commitment to their vampire princess.

Only the most prominent members of each family were allowed to witness the moment we became one, the ritual culminating in an all-out vampire orgy that lasted until dawn. There was no escape from the final act. No way to fake we’d completed the union. As much as it would kill me to claim Mariellena as mine, I would ensure the houses had their show.

Clenching my jaw, I growled, “I won’t disappoint.”

She winked, turning on her heel as she ambled toward the door.

“Mariellena,” I called out to her.

“Yes, Nicholas?” she crooned as she looked over her shoulder.

“If you threaten Loren ever again…” I paused, wanting the words to sink into her skull.

“Yes?”

“I will kill you.”

The wailing of our security alarms cut her off before she had a chance to reply.

A sensation rippled through my veins. An awakening.

Loren.

I could sense her presence through our bond. She was here. Which also meant we had a breach.

The Order had brought the fight to us.

Chapter Twenty-One

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