Chapter One
My blood is frozen.
At least that’s what it’s felt like for the past twenty four hours after learning that Carden lives with Raphael. He’s here, I felt his skin, heard his voice. Jade had slept in my room last night, holding onto me the entire time. I hadn’t slept at all. Just as I thought I’d be able to move one, here he is, graduating from lurking in the shadows of my mind to real life. He looks the same, sounds the same, feels the same. But he isn’t. The man I met yesterday wasn’t the Carden I knew and loved. He’s someone else, a snarkier quick to judge version that just might be a side effect of being a vampire.
A soft knock echoes on the bathroom door and I sink lower into the bubbles in response. Eden and Scarlet can go to hell for all I care right now. I’d much rather sit in the bath for the rest of my life than brave a breakfast table I know Carden will be sitting at. The door cracks open and my irritation spikes until Raph pokes his head through the door, his eyes covered with one hand. The sight makes me chuckle softly. He’s seen every part of my body naked, and yet he’s covering his eyes to respect my privacy. I guess chivalry isn’t dead after all.
“Good morning Blair. May I come in?”
“I suppose so,” I reply, sitting up in the bath. “Did you draw the short straw of coming in to gauge my shit mood this morning?”
He laughs, hand still over his eyes. “Maybe I did, but I don’t mind. It’s my fault anyhow. I meant to warn you, even tried to several times, but then. . . well, you know what happened.”
Yeah, I think sarcastically. I had a mental breakdown about Carden and wouldn’t let him speak, even to utter that very important detail about us going to see Carden. The entire day was a mess before I even rolled out of bed. So no, I don’t blame Raphael or any of the other lords. I know that he meant well by taking Carden in and helping him acclimate to his new vampire lifestyle. I just didn’t think it’d hurt so much to see him again.
“I’m not mad, really. I was already in shock, and then I saw him and. . . well, you know what happened,” I reply, mimicking his words. “And would you take your hand away from your eyes? It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”
His cheeks color, telling me that he’s had blood already today. “No can do, I’m not sure I could resist you when you’re dripping wet and naked in the bath.”
“What kind of dripping wet are you referring to?” I purr, thighs clenching at my own words.
My eyes take him in hungrily as he shifts from foot to foot, that being the only sign that he’s uncomfortable. Uncomfortable, or turned on? I’m not sure because I can’t see his eyes. His fangs are slightly longer than usual which is as good of an indication as any. But I shouldn’t tease him, shouldn’t egg him on. Now isn’t the time for it, not if all I want is a distraction from the reality waiting for me downstairs. I move to the edge of the tub and lean my arms against it, hiding my breasts and body from view.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I’ll stop teasing you, you can look now. I’m covered, I promise.”
He peeks out between his fingers before sighing in relief and dropping his hand. “For being a human woman, you’re quite alluring.”
I narrow my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He holds up both hands, eyes widening. “It wasn’t supposed to offend you. As you know, vampires have magnetism magic, it’s literally in their blood to lure a human in. I just meant that it feels like you have the same qualities, is all. Much like the other women we’ve been with. . .” He trails off lamely, knowing full well that he’s rambling.
I smirk at him. “Right.”
“Right, well, I’ll wait out in the sitting room for you to get dressed, then we can head to breakfast together,” he replies, the tips of his ears turning pink.
Before I can say anything else he slips out of the room. Sighing, I pull the plug from the drain and let all of the water rush out as I sit there, watching it swirl around and around. Minutes later I’m cold and shivering in the polished wooden tub when Eden pulls me up and out, wrapping a plush cream towel around my body. Her face is full of quiet worry, but she doesn’t voice it aloud as she leads me into the closet.
“Pick out what you’d like to wear, these are all Scionset style clothes. I think they’ll suit you,” Eden says.
I step forward and run my hands over the tunics. All of them are in the rich colors of fall. The dresses are the same but have interesting fauna designs etched into the hem and cuffs. I finger the material and am surprised to find it soft and warm, a complete contrast to the dark itchy material of Divian royal clothing. Eden’s right, this style will suit me just fine. I pull a deep orange tunic from a rack at the end of the closet and she helps me into it before twisting my hair into a French braid down my back.
Scarlet enters then, sitting me down at the rustic style make-up table. I close my eyes and tilt my face toward her, allowing her to smear sparkling eyeshadow onto my lids to match the outfit, and paint my lips a flattering orange. When she taps my chin once, I open my eyes to study the finished look. If fall were a person, I’d be it right now. That seems to be the theme of Scionset with its cobblestone streets and rustic buildings kept in good condition. Plus, the grand castle I’m in right now is made entirely of mahogany and polished cedar.
“Alright, go and face it,” Scarlet says in a no nonsense tone, ushering me out of my seat.
I do as I’m told and stride into the sitting room. Raph rises from his perch on the edge of the couch, eyes roving over me. Does he like me wearing the colors of his coven? Is he weary of it? Did the previous woman wear it better? I want to ask him, but I’m not sure I’d like to know the answers.
“You look amazing, Blair,” he replies, winking.
Damnit, I think. It’s still unbelievable that they can read my thoughts. He didn’t answer the question about the last girl, but I guess that’s understandable. They never directly asked about Carden or any of my past relationships. It would be rude for me to do it. That’s probably what he’s trying to subtly tell me. I follow him down the hall, worrying my lip the entire way. Will Carden be there? Probably. Will I act weird because of it? Definitely.
“You’ll be fine,” Raph soothes, falling back to put his hand on my arm.
“I still hate that you can read my mind. When are you going to teach me to stop shouting all my thoughts at you?”
“As soon as you face what holds you back the most, my dear,” he murmurs.
Instead of responding and embarrassing myself further, I walk ahead of him again. It’s easier to say nothing to him, to any of them. We have this bond that I’m not sure I understand. How did I go from hating them to wanting them so badly? And is it all carnal desire? Or something more? I want to believe that it could be something more, and I want to believe that I can move on from the man I’m about to meet again for the first time.
Even if loving him and holding him feels like it all happened yesterday.
Voices drift in from the dining room around the corner, and Jade’s high boisterous laugh rings out down the hallway, reaching for me and pulling me in. I’m excited to see her. If nothing else, she can calm me right now. I rush into the room, eyes darting around to take in the seating arrangements. As always, the lords are seated at the head of the table with one seat open between Uriel and. . . Michael. Of course, Raph will sit at the head of the table as it’s his castle. The heavy presence of carved wood, along with the smell of white pine and leather proves it. As if Raph’s very essence had been built into the walls.