Page 39 of Love & Monsters
“Yes, I suppose. My kind, we mate for life.” His gaze burned into the side of my face as he said that. I felt each steady thump of my heart and the flush spreading over my skin. “Knox was my childhood friend. Ilya was very mean to him growing up, though she’s far younger. I’m still not sure how they mated.”
“Oh, alright.” I still couldn’t meet his eyes, even with the sudden change in his tone.
“Dreadful shock for me, as her eldest brother, to find them together. Almost killed Knox that day, but he survived,” Vadric chuckled. In my head, I could almost picture it as the story unfolded.
“But aside from that, Rykan stole from me what is mine. He’s been planning this for years. Thankfully, he’s not bright enough to realize I was counter planning all along.” Vadric dropped his arm on the ledge of the pool behind my shoulders, and I felt the heat of his body at my side.
“Well, why would Rykan do that? If it’s your seat and Ilya’s baby would be a threat that sounds to me like the title is hereditary,” I mused, thinking out loud.
“It is. My family has ruled over this realm for hundreds and hundreds of years.” His shoulders sagged. Vadric’s head craned back as he looked at the red light coming in through the window. “Rykan is my half-brother. He was a bastard born to a servant after my mother passed away. We mate for life, but my father sought comfort in mother’s absence. However, that just resulted in a bastard with more sense of self-worth than he deserved.”
“I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“Ilya and I loved Rykan growing up. He was our brother, but as we got older, I think he resented his bastard title and the fact he had no claim to the Lordship. Plainly, he schemed against me for years with this jealousy consuming him. War is the last thing our people needed, yet he’s divided the land.”
While Vadric spoke, I could feel his tension, and that was the moment I saw the weight on his shoulders. All this time, he carried this burden. I hated that for him and his family. He cared about his people and their wellbeing, but now he was stuck.
“War?” That word stuck with me.
“Yes.” Vadric angled his face to look down at me, a silent apology in his eyes. “We may dine and celebrate my freedom, our freedom, tonight. But in the morning, my people will plan for war.”
Twenty-Two
I had a lot to think about after the bath, but no time to do so. Once I scrubbed off the layer of grime from travel, servants ushered Vadric and me into separate rooms to be groomed for the feast. After what he told me, I didn’t want to leave his side.
But this wasn’t about me, and I was simply too tired to argue. After all the travel, and emotional and mental unrest, I was ready to let myself go on autopilot and coast through whatever this night would bring.
Tonight, was about Vadric and his people celebrating his freedom. I was the unfortunate human, his new pet, along for the ride. Even calling myself his pet in my mind was dreadful, but honestly better than thinking about the impending war I found myself caught up in.
The peach-skinned demon came back to prepare me for the feast. Her name was Meela, but that was about all she would say to me. As she brushed through my short blond hair, I took in the details of the room, thinking it mirrored gothic Victorian style with the dark red velvet and black wood.
Meela presented me with a dress far prettier than I’d expected. It was as light as air and the material was so sheer it was practically nonexistent. Only the slight shimmer in the material along my arms gave away it was there. Little blue and white flowers embroidered into the material over my breasts were the only things hiding my nipples from view. The flowers spread and became denser down my hips and around my legs.
In the mirror, it looked as though there were little flowers growing from my skin or floating around my legs. There was no way I’d ever wear anything like this on Earth. It was scandalous, but utterly mesmerizing.
As the pretend pet to the Lord of Monsters, I suppose I needed to look the part tonight. Vadric warned me again that it was important I play along tonight. He would have to show his claim to me, the only human.
A knock on the door caused Meela and me both to look up. She dropped the hairbrush on the vanity counter, then clasped her hands together as she walked to the door. I stood from the cushioned stool as Meela opened the door, swallowing over my nerves as I realized Vadric was standing there.
Our eyes locked, and time and space stood frighteningly still. Everything fell away, and it felt as though we were the only two beings alive in that moment, devouring the sight of one another in the deafening silence. I didn’t even notice when Meela dipped out the door and left us alone.
The top half of Vadric’s shoulder length black waves were braided back with small gold beads that matched the yellow of his eyes. He wore a black vest embroidered with gold swirling patterns over a long-sleeved black tunic tucked into his leather trousers. Even his dark boots had golden detailing at the top.
I didn’t miss the sword strapped to his waist and the golden rings on his long fingers as I assessed every impressive inch of him, from his horns to his swishing tail. Vadric looked every bit the demon lord now.
“You’re beautiful.” Vadric’s voice was so low and deep. My body reacted with an instant pulse between my thighs.
“Thank you. Um, you look really nice, too.” I waved my hand over the luxurious black and gold material clinging to his every muscle.
“This?” He shook his head. “I’d rather be wearing armor. Ilya insisted I dress the part tonight and remind the people who I am.”
“We all have our parts to play,” I shrugged out, resigned to play mine. The corner of his mouth turned down for a second.
“Are you ready?” Vadric put his hand out for me to take.
“I guess I have to be. Plus, there’s going to be food and I’m starving.” Vadric seemed happy enough with the smile I plastered across my face. Though I sensed he was wary of believing it.
He was too tall for me to loop my arm in his, so I settled by holding his arm at his side as we walked through the fortress. Vadric seemed to know this place like the back of his hand and wove us through easily.
