I catch him off guard, and we fall in a tangle of limbs. The skin along my elbow stings as it scrapes along the rough, stone floor.
Alaric shifts and holds himself up by his arms. His eyes darken, and I can’t help but react. I shift underneath him. He groans and drops his forehead to my shoulder.
“Clara…” My name comes out as a pained plea on his lips. After several heartbeats, he lifts his head. “I think that’s enough for today.”
In a rush of air, he stands, reaching to help me up for the thousandth time. As I steady on my feet, my stomach grumbles from hunger.
“Let’s get you something to eat,” he says. Alaric’s gaze dips to my neck. I can almost feel his fangs pierce my skin again. He, too, needs to feed.
After removing the dagger from the door, he hands it to me. I slip it into my boot as he grabs the torch from the wall. He takes my hand and pulls me close, leading me silently back down the labyrinthian halls.
Tired and weak, I appreciate the peace that has returned between us over the training session. Even the dank underground tunnels don’t bother me.
As we reach the top of the stairs that lead to the servants’ halls, he stops. I look up at him, wondering what could be wrong.
“Would you like it if we went somewhere this evening?” he asks.
I blink. I had expected him to say a number of things, but this is a surprise.
“Where?” I ask, hoping it won’t be more training. My muscles need a full night to recover.
“To the theater.”
I can’t help but smile at the simple question. “Yes, I would like that.”
As long as it is out of this castle, which I can only assume it is. I think it will be nice to spend some time away from this place while we can because there’s no telling what tomorrow will bring.
Alaric takes a step then pauses, turning back to me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “If anyone threatens you while you’re here, do not hesitate to defend yourself. Kill them if you must, but keep in mind that there will be consequences, so do not act rashly.”
“Consequences. You mean I will die?”
Alaric shakes his head. “No. Not you.”
“What about the laws? They would still kill me for…” I don’t need to finish. We both know my crime. He doesn’t need me to remind him of what I’ve done.
“I have claimed you,” he says as if that answers everything.
Though, I know so little about the way things work here, maybe it does.
Chapter Four
Clara
I run my fingers down my dark red, silken skirt. The front is short, only covering my upper thighs but lengthens in the back, trailing down my legs. Underneath, I wear soft doeskin leggings with black boots that lace up to my knees. The corset forms to my body over a dark red shirt with capped sleeves and a strip of material that ties around my neck. It both manages to simultaneously cover my shoulders and neck while leaving the top of my chest exposed. Every scrap of material is either black or blood red. I list my head to the side. It’s a style I’ve never seen before.
The servant who delivered my clothes three hours ago offered to stay and style my hair. I appreciated the offer but I prefer to wear it loose.
A knock on the door brings a smile to my face. Alaric insisted that he get ready in another part of the castle, promising to come for me when it’s time to leave.
I pull open the door to see him standing, fist still raised to knock. He doesn’t speak as he takes me in. As the silence stretches on, I squirm under his inspection, wondering if I put the outfit on incorrectly or if I’m missing a key part of it.
Cherno leaps from his shoulder and swoops into the air. Their wing glances off the top of my head as they pass into the room.
“You look beautiful,” he says, extending his arm toward me.
My face warms from the compliment, even if it was a reflex. Words catch in my throat, and I lick my suddenly dry lips. “Thank you,” I say, dipping my chin and looping my arm through his.
Part of me wonders if this is what being courted is like for everyone else—except I know that is not what we are doing. Alaric wants space from the queen and his memories. I’m going with him because he doesn’t trust anyone here to not kill me while he’s gone.
I watch him out of the corner of my eye. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other’s company. We are… friends.
Out in the hall, he turns us toward the left. Our soft footsteps are the only sound around us as the firelight flickers in the sconces, making shadows dance along the walls. Every several yards, there are shallow alcoves along the inner wall. Within each one, a white stone bust sits atop a gray podium. They are all different, but each face is beautifully carved and stoic.
Only a few sconces along the wall light the way, in contrast to the other way where all are lit. I frown.
Alaric’s gaze flicks to me as though he could sense me my eyes on him. His fingers squeeze my arm gently before relaxing again. “I would like to avoid being stopped unnecessarily by any court members who happen to be in the main halls tonight.”
I sense there’s more to it than that, but I don’t push the issue.
We reach the top of a narrow staircase. I take one step and pause. My eye is drawn to yet another bust, this one is of a young woman. The detail of each line and groove stands out. There is a lifelike quality to this one. Unlike the others, the corners of her lips are turned down into a slight frown and her eyes are closed. The sorrow of her expression is heartbreaking.
Her eyes snap open. I stumble back several steps, bumping into Alaric. He clutches my shoulders, steadying me.
“Is everything all right?”
I look from him back to the bust. The face is unchanged.
“Ye-Yeah,” I breathe the word. “I thought I saw something, but it was just the shadows.”
This creepy castle has me seeing things. I shake my head and descend with Alaric, leaning into his side.
My jaw drops when we step out of the carriage. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Gas lamps line the sidewalks, lighting the streets and buildings, and even more lights glow from within shops, turning the night into day. There’s no sign of a single demon anywhere, not even in the shadows of alleyways.
I’m dressed similarly to the other women out tonight. A mix of old and new styles.
A woman dressed in brightly colored silks brushes her knuckles over her lover’s cheek. He smiles down on her and rolls his sleeve up to his elbow before, offering his wrist to her. She kisses his palm just before her mouth clamps down, teeth sinking into his flesh.
My mouth goes dry.
Demon shit. This is a town of vampires, and Alaric has dressed me up as one of them. A shiver crawls down my spine.
“Alaric,” I say barely above a whisper.
He takes my arm and tucks me into his side, placing a kiss on my cheek. “You do not have to hide here.”
Inside the theater, the crowd gathers in the corners and along the walls. Alaric leads us to our seats. I sit on the inside next to a man who looks a few years older than Alaric.
We take our seats. I ignore the man on my other side, but the weight of his stare is intense, demanding my attention. I swivel my head and meet his gaze. He watches me with unabashed curiosity, grinning and showing his fangs. He scents the air, probably to gauge if I am human or not.