Page 20 of Royal Protector

For the second gala, the ballroom is decorated with shades of silver, from the tablecloths to the long silken banners adorning the walls. The shades of gray and white make the room feel like a winter scene instead of an ornate ballroom on vampire property.

In the midst of it all, Isabella shines like a rose, dressed head to toe in pink. The fabric sparkles in the light of the chandelier. She’s a star above everyone else—my star. I motion her to the side of the room and point to a painting that is probably bigger than me of a sour-faced French general and his stoic dog.

“It’s very nice,” says Isabella carefully, struggling to hide a grin. “Why are you showing me this?”

“I’m not,” I say, gesturing to the man’s painted trousers. “I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you look tonight without anyone else knowing.”

“I see,” she says, her cheeks turning the same shade of pink as her gown. She tilts her head and squints at the painting as if I’ve pointed out the most brilliant artwork ever made. “Then I should tell you that you also look extremely handsome.”

“Thank you,” I say. “I’m not as handsome as he is, but I appreciate the thought.” I point at the man’s frilly coat and disgusted expression, and Isabella laughs as I escort her to where Jack and Anna stand, conversing with some of the Alphas from today’s meetings.

We arrived early today because I wanted to talk to Leo about the security of their event center, where the ballroom is situated. I don’t want us to get comfortable about the security just because nothing has happened here yet.

I hand Isabella off to Anna, with Grady and Maura trailing them as they walk around the room, admiring the decor.

“Good to see you again, Antoine,” says Leo, shaking my hand and flashing an elegant smile.

I don’t like very many people, but I’m starting to like Leo very much. He isn’t like the other vampires—he focuses on not only what’s good for his people now but what will be good for them in the future, even if that change is uncomfortable to think about.

It’s the same thinking that Isabella had earlier, and I can just imagine the wonderful things they would do together if they were only allowed to buck tradition.

“How have things been with the rebuilding of the village?” he asks as we head outside to walk the perimeter of the building.

“It’s actually going quite well,” I say. “The rest of the pack has been very enthusiastic about the construction. It gives them something other to think about than their losses. And we’re going to be updating our clinic, so in that case, we owe your predecessor thanks.”

Leo must catch my sarcasm because he gives me a dry smile. “I hope you understand that Louis was an outlier. He wanted to live like the vampires of old.”

“Oh?” I ask, examining the sides of the building. I’m not looking for anything particular. I’ve learned that you must second guess everything to stay on your toes. The tiniest gap in a drain spout could be holding a hidden camera. A priceless Ming vase could still have a bomb planted inside.

Once, on a job in Los Angeles, we found a drug smuggling ring using Christmas presents given out by a Santa impersonator. There’s nothing in this world that can’t be corrupted to cause others pain and suffering.

“Yes. He was obsessed with the stories of our ancestors. Not the usual ones like Dracula or anything like that. He would read about the different vampires who had worked their way into human high society and royalty. Louis saw humans—and werewolves, I’m sorry—as chattel, only to serve his whims and easily cast aside.” He takes a deep breath and meets my gaze. “I’m not a fool, Antoine, even if I am a bit more friendly than the others. Our very natures are based on hedonistic needs. Vampires live for blood and sex, and greed. It’s our primal makeup, just as yours focus more on territory and pack. We just have to rise above it.”

He isn’t wrong. My instincts tell me to fight and kill and protect the pack at all costs. My soul, on the other hand, knows that we need to discern between right and wrong, to depend on others to survive.

“I’m going to tell you something, and I promise you, if you tell anyone else without my permission, I will feed each of your limbs to the biggest alligator I can find.”

Leo grins at me. “Sounds like my kind of Saturday night.”

I roll my eyes at him and then say the words I haven’t been allowed for the past few days. “Isabella is my Mate.”

Leo’s smile falls as he takes in the implications of my words. Then, to my surprise, his eyes glisten with unshed emotion. “Antoine, I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you,” I respond. “I don’t see any way forward with it, not without a lot of change.”

We walk in silence, the heaviness of my secret hanging over us.

Finally, after a few minutes, Leo speaks. “I’m going to repeat the same threat regarding the legs and the alligators.”

“It doesn’t sound as threatening when you use the word ‘regarding.’”

The Alpha vampire barks out a laugh. “Yes, but you understand just the same. Everyone knows that I haven’t found my Mate. But it isn’t true.”

I stop in my tracks, frowning. “I don’t understand.”

“Did you ever wonder why a vampire from Milan is leading a pack in New Orleans?” He gives me a tight smile. “My Mate’s name is Catalina. She’s beautiful, and so very kind. And very much in love with another vampire.”

“I’m so sorry.” I can’t imagine how I would survive if Isabella’s heart belonged to another. “How are you so . . . well . . .” I wave a hand over his entire body. “Put together?”

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