Page 45 of Vows Forged in Blood

Alaric reaches forward and adds his stone.

“Vale, brothers,” he says quietly. I turn and our gazes meet, and I wish so badly I could read what’s churning beneath his golden depths. Again, that longing to lean forward, that desire to climb into his arms and never leave, rushes over me, covering me like a blanket as soft as a whisper.

“My Lady,” Takara calls hesitantly from a few feet away. I jerk my gaze from Alaric to my Keeper. “Your dinner is served in your quarters. I…I think you need to eat a proper meal,” she adds a little sternly, giving me a pointed look. As if in answer, my stomach chooses that moment to make an obscenely loud grumbling sound, demanding its due. I pull in my lips to keep from laughing and when I look back at Alaric, he looks to be doing the same.

“You better go,” Alaric says. “That sounded…dire.” His tone is dry but I do believe he’s trying at humor. I scramble to my feet, inclining my head to him before I turn and join Takara.

“And what was going on out there?” she asks quietly in my ear as we walk back across the field and into my wing of the cabin.

“He was…making sure I was alright, I think.”

“Hmm,” is all she says in return as she escorts me to my dining room where a feast large enough for ten people waits.

“Takara!” I gasp.

“You need to eat!” she says defensively. “And I didn’t know what you might be wanting after…after everything, so I had Reginald make some of everything. There’s pheasant and elk and chicken, and the foul-smelling stew that you seem to love for unknown reasons. Cheese and fruit and freshly baked bread. Potatoes with extra cheese…Oh and the pudding! Four different kinds of pudding. I know how much you love pudding…” She trails off as I wrap my arms around her middle. After a moment, she embraces me back and lets out a long, shuddering breath.

“Thank you,” I say, my eyes stinging yet again with tears. Will they ever cease?

Takara sniffles and when I pull away and look at her, there are crimson-tinged tears in her eyes. She quickly wipes them away and shifts her shoulders back.

“Well get on with it then. The sounds your stomach is making are truly horrendous. Humans are so awful sometimes. I can’t believe I used to be one.” I roll my eyes and she smiles, settling into the chair across from me as I admittedly gorge myself on a little bit of everything.

Somehow, after everything of the past few days, I go to sleep tonight with a smile on my lips.

I pace in my room,working up the nerve to go see Alaric. I’m going to ask for—no,demand—what I want. I’m his Consort. My wish is supposed to be his command, but…I know for certain no Consort has ever wished for this. I bite my lip and fiddle with the ring my father gave me the day of the Choosing. It has becomea habit over these months, to rub the stone for comfort or when I’m feeling nervous. It makes me feel closer to him, as if he’s in my ear, encouraging me or comforting me.

“Just fucking do it, you coward,” I tell myself in the mirror. On a whim I can’t even quite explain, I pull the pins from my hair, letting my curls fall loosely down my back. I march determinedly to Alaric’s wing, but just outside the door to the war room, I pause. He’s speaking with someone inside. I don’t mean to eavesdrop but with my senses a bit sharper because of Alaric’s blood, it’s much easier to do. I can’t help but lean in a bit closer when I hear my name.

“Sir, I would like to put in my name for consideration as a replacement on Lady Dahlia’s guard.”

“Highspear, I am not making any decisions on that front at this time,” Alaric says, not unkindly, but there’s a slight tremor of annoyance in his voice.

“I would take the position very seriously, sir, I promise you. I know you did not…trust me,” he sounds as if he’s saying the words with a barely hidden sneer, “to be a sergeant yet, but you can trust me in this.”

“Highspear—”

“Please sir. I want…I want to matter! I deserve to matter!” the soldier explodes, startling me. “I amready.”

“You aren’t,” Alaric snaps, cool authority in his voice. “I am sorry, Highspear, but you are not ready. You are not ready to be a sergeant, you are not ready to lead others, and you are sure as fuck not ready to protect what’smine.” I blink at the fire in Alaric’s words, the vehemence and…possessiveness.

There’s a long, uncomfortable silence before the soldier says in a deadly quiet voice, “you have no idea what I’m capable of.” The words sound like a threat and I hastily retreat down the hallway, trying desperately not to get caught listening in on conversations I’m obviously not meant to hear.

I make it back to the entrance room of the cabin when I hear the doors to the war room open. I think about trying to hide, but decide against it just as the vampire’s quick footsteps draw near. He freezes when he sees me. He looks young, maybe only nineteen or so when he was turned. His face is round and boyish, his eyes a bit too big for his face and a deep, muddy brown. His hair is the same color, short, but with a bit that stands up awkwardly in the back.

He inclines his head quickly. “Lady Dahlia.”

“Hello.” I smile at him, knowing he’s upset by the meeting with Alaric. The one that clearly went badly. His hands are opening and closing into fists at his sides, the muscle in his jaw clenching and unclenching. My da always says that sometimes what someone needs on their worst day is just a kind smile—and a pint. I can at least offer this man—Highspear—the first. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced, but I’ve seen you about the camp.”

He relaxes a bit at that, blinking in surprise, but then his lips tilt up ever so slightly at the corners. He’s clearly happy to have been recognized among all of the soldiers by the High General’s Consort.

“I’m Luca. Luca Highspear, my Lady.”

“It’s an honor to make your acquaintance, Luca.”

“The honor is mine.” He studies me for a long moment, suddenly looking a little uneasy and pale. “I…I heard you were injured in the attack on the road. Are you quite alright?”

“I am,” I assure him. “I’ve got a very tough-looking scar to show off now. I fancy it will get me lots of free drinks around the tavern back home.” I smile widely and he smiles hesitantly back, still looking…off. Probably still upset about how Alaric had dismissed him so harshly.

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