Red as Blood

by Anna Santos

“I don’t feel scared when you say it. Before I met you, I was terrified of leaving the place where I was born and where my mother is buried. Now, I’m curious to know all about you and where you live. I don’t know a lot about the White Cloud Kingdom. I don’t know about your culture and way of life. I don’t even know if it isn’t dangerous for a human to go and live with your kind.”

  “Snow,” Dorian whispered huskily, setting off fireworks in my stomach. “You’ll fit perfectly with my kind once I take you as my wife and make you one of us.”

  “One of you?”

  “It’s a rare gift, and I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t feel deep within my soul that I was born to meet you and spend my eternity making you happy.”

  My eyes became heavy with the closeness, and his words made my heart beat faster than when I rode Thunder across the empty fields. “I might end up out of breath if you keep saying things like that”

  “I need to know something, though.”

  “What?”

  His lips fell on my forehead, and a wave of heat claimed my cheeks and made me shiver.

  “Snow, why is your father so eager to marry you off? Does the kingdom have private troubles and need quick allies? Is the king on his deathbed?” he asked.

  Opening my eyes, I shook my head. “Frankly, I think my stepmother wants to get rid of me. She picked all the supernatural princes as my suitors. Father was the only one to pick the humans nearby. I think the queen wants my dad’s full attention. She’s been unhappy with miscarriage after miscarriage. I don’t know what to do to cheer her up, but she doesn’t seem to want me near her, either. I have no idea why she’s jealous of my father’s love for me. She’s still pretty, and father clearly does everything she wants.”

  “There’s more to love than physical beauty. You’re kind, that I’m sure of. You are also intelligent and are easy to please. If her plan was to sell you to the highest bidder and make sure you were unhappy, she lost that battle, because I’ll make sure to attend to your every need and shower you with attention.” He took my hand. “If you let me. If you want me.”

  “Can we take Thunder with us?”

  Dorian chuckled. “Of course, we can.”

  “And will you allow me to see my father from time to time?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

  “Since I met you, yes.”

  I smiled. “I’m eighteen. How old are you, Dorian?”

  “More than eighteen. Like I said, I’m young for a vampire. I’m just twenty-five winters old.”

  “Am I your first love, then?”

  He cupped my face with his hands. “You’re adorable when you ask me those questions.”

  “This might be strange, but it feels like I’ve known you forever. As if you are one of my best friends.”

  “Just your best friend?” He stared intently into my eyes.

  My cheeks burned. “You’re very handsome.”

  He removed his hands and leaned back. “You said I was hideous.”

  “Your eyes are eerily blue like the clearest sky, your skin is white as snow, and your lips are red as blood. My eyes are weirdly green, my skin is white as snow, and my lips are red as blood. We are both hideously beautiful in our own way.”

  “Can I take you away now and marry you?”

  My first reaction was to nod, but I pursed my lips and shook my head. “We’ll have father’s permission for that soon enough.”

  Dorian smiled. “And to think I almost refused coming here to meet you.”

  “That would have been a huge mistake.”

  “Indeed.”

  I giggled, completely enchanted by the vampire prince.

  Chapter SIX

  Snow’s POV

  The next day, I sat with my parents and several advisors. I never expected to move this quickly in picking a suitor. We just met the night before. Yet I already had my heart set on Prince Dorian. He was brave, kind, understanding, and admittedly handsome. I was still walking on air from our conversation last night.

  That didn’t mean that my stepmother was going to let me enjoy my happiness.

  “I believe the warlock and werewolf are the top choices,” Queen Marlena said. “They each have kingdoms and power that would be a great asset to us. Princess Snow needs to marry well in order to show that we are wanted by the best. The others barely fill that requirement.”

  “Sadly, the warlock and werewolf have both withdrawn their names,” an advisor revealed.

  “As did the elf who felt slighted by the princess,” another added.

  Queen Marlena gritted her teeth and glared at me. “Perhaps, if she had paid more attention to the suitors before running off and obsessing over a vampire, we would have more options.”

  I blushed heavily. To have three suitors withdraw so early seemed to be a shameful sign. “I apologize. Everything seems to be happening so fast. I barely turned eighteen and was thrust into this arrangement. Now, barely after the ball, we are supposed to pick the final three.”

  The king cleared his throat. “With so few left, I think we can get to the final one. Of course, my daughter’s interest in the vampire prince might indicate where her heart lies. I don’t appreciate prejudice against anyone. Snow never behaved that way with the other vampire princes. What’s his name?”

  “That one was feeding on a woman by the stables,” I blurted out.

  My father rose up. “What?”

  The chocked expressions on everybody’s face made me regret speaking.

  “Prince Alister, I mean. Not Prince Dorian. Dorian behaved like a gentleman,” I assured my dad. “He also dealt with Prince Alister. The woman went willingly to the stables, though. No harm was done.”

  “Prince Alister is out then,” my father stated. “I can’t have a suitor gnaw on another female’s neck, even if that female wanted it. His attention should be on my beautiful daughter.”

  I nodded.

  “Nonsense, vampires have needs,” the queen said, waving in dismissal. Then, she narrowed her eyes, and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “They have needs, indeed.”

  “Actually...”

  I was cut off by my stepmother’s hand. “We’ll go with your choice, dear. Who do you like the best?”

  I opened my mouth in awe and looked at my dad who nodded.

  The queen tapped her nails on the table. “Well?”

  My father spoke. “Prince Dorian has already requested an audience. I believe he wants to ask for your hand.”

  “He wants to court me, and I want him to do so,” I explained to my father. “Which would be beneficiary for our kingdom, since Prince Dorian is our neighbor and can help us with the problems we are having in the Black Forest.”

  The advisors nodded.

  “They are also very influential among the other courts, and we have a good commercial relationship with them,” my father added.

  “As I said, Snow can marry whom her heart chooses,” the queen said.

  I narrowed my eyes at her, unsure why she was being so nice all of a sudden. What was she planning?

  The king smiled. “Are you sure about your decision, daughter?”

  I smiled back. “Yes. I choose Prince Dorian. If he somehow falls through, we can look to your human suitors, Father. I agree that the other vampire is a terrible suitor.”

  “So, it is decided,” the advisor stated.

  “I’m happy,” the queen said, stretching her lips into a smile.

  I felt a chill in my bones. Did she know something I didn’t? Why was she so happy when she was trying to make my dad eliminate Dorian before? Was I too enchanted by the vampire prince that I had neglected to see the danger of our union?

  That night, Prince Dorian sat with me in the tea room. There was a chaperone around, but it was still cozy.

  “I never thought things would move this quickly. Am I really your top choice?”

  “Are you having second thoughts?” I wondered out loud.

&nbs
p; “No. Are you?”

  I remained silent, wondering why my stepmother believed that Dorian was a good pick.

  “What’s wrong?” Dorian asked. “You seem troubled. Did something happen or are you tired?”

  I folded my arms. “At first, my stepmother wasn’t happy with my choice. She wanted me to marry someone else. Then…she changed her mind. It’s bothering me how happy she is with my decision.”

  “Because of that are you doubting that I’m a good choice? Just because your stepmother approves of me?”

  I looked in his direction, and my bad temper dissolved at the sight of his gorgeous face. “I’m sorry. My feelings towards you haven’t changed.”

  Dorian smiled. “I’ll stay here for a week. Then, if we remain enchanted by each other, I’ll go back to my kingdom, and we’ll set a date to marry. Do you agree?”

  “Enchanted by each other? Do you think a week is enough?”

  He leaned closer and mumbled, “I would marry you tomorrow if I could. I’ve felt terribly lonely since I left you last night.”

  As much as his words made my heart flutter, I had to be cautious. “Dorian, you would never hurt me, would you?”

  “No.”

  “So why was she so happy?”

  “Who, my heart?”

  “My stepmother. She gave me the chills. I don’t think she likes me at all. Each day, I see that there’s something dark in her.” I looked at the chaperone sewing and chewed on my lower lip. That woman was probably there to spy for my stepmother. “Prince,” I whispered, gazing back at him, “are you able to glamour people to do whatever you want?”

  “I didn’t do that to you,” Dorian said with a hint of disappointment.

  “I know.” I pointed at the chaperone. “Spy.”

  Dorian nodded and got up.

  Bending closer to the woman, he offered her his hand. “Sweet lady, would you look into my eyes?”

  I watched in awe as Prince Dorian hypnotized the woman to believe that we hadn’t talked about anything important and followed protocol. The woman closed her eyes and rested on the couch once he was done.

  He resumed his place on the couch next to me. “That will give us privacy.”

  “What do you want to talk about?” I asked as I breathed deeply and sighed at the sight of him.

  “I want to talk about how much you’ve missed me.”

  I covered my cheeks.

  “Am I being too straightforward?”.

  I shook my head. “I like that about you. Still, I can’t help blushing.”

  “It’s okay. I like it.”

  I raised my eyes to meet his. “Can vampires glamour anyone they want?”

  “Some people are too strong-willed for that. We can’t glamour elves or other vampires, either. Werewolves are also hard to trick.”

  “Yes, we have a werewolf problem in the Black Forest. Did you know? Do they attack your subjects, too?”

  “No. Though, I don’t feel comfortable talking about that. Maybe once you are with me in my kingdom, you might realize that there’s more to that story than your subjects and your court is led to believe.”

  I folded my hands on my lap and nodded. “Will your family be happy if you marry a human?”

  “I’m the youngest. My father doesn’t care about what I do as long as I don’t do anything to shame our family.”

  I bit my lower lip as I looked at the tapestry hanging on the wall. “That must be a nice feeling. Since I’m the heir, I feel pressure.”

  “Your stepmother is young and can give your father a son.”

  I leaned closer and lowered my voice. “Can I share a secret?”

  Dorian nodded.

  “She believes that my mother cursed this palace. I heard her scream when I went to see her last time. She tends to mistreat her servants. She might be pretty, but she’s mean to others. Do you think she’s pretty?”

  “I’ve seen her before, my darling. Many say she’s the prettiest human on the Fayland Continent. I have to disagree with that now that I’ve seen you.”

  “So, you like me because I’m pretty?”

  He offered me a lopsided grin. “No. You are the prettiest because you are kind and pure.” He scooted closer to me and reached for my hand. “Let’s make a deal. We’ll only speak about us when we are together.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “We have a lot that we don’t know about each other. I know you like horses, you care if other people are in danger, you’re brave and kind. You also dance well. Yet, I have no idea what’s your favorite flower and what are your hopes and dreams for the future. Do you want to go for a walk in the garden? I heard it’s one of the most beautiful gardens on the continent.”

  “My birth mother loved her roses. Our gardeners are proud of the amount of exotic and colorful flowers and plants that we have. I have a favorite spot. Do you want to see it? Oh, wait, I heard vampires aren’t fond of sunlight.”

  “Sunlight doesn’t affect us as much as the other races believe. We merely have poorer vision in the daylight. I’ll be fine if I wear a hat.”

  I couldn’t stop smiling when I was with him. Dorian’s voice and eyes were sweet. He also smelled nice. I leaned forward and placed my hand on his cheek.

  “What?” He caught my hand and kissed my palm.

  “You feel warm. I thought—”

  “That we were cold, and our skin felt like porcelain?”

  “Just that you’d be colder than me.”

  “You feel hot, too.”

  “That’s because you’re touching me. I’m always…” I gulped. “Does your heart also race when you’re with me.”

  He nodded. “And it hurts when we are apart.”

  “As much as I’m happy for meeting you and for being your bride, I’m still concerned about something.”

  “Ask me anything.”

  “I know your kingdom is very different from this one. Your culture is also peculiar and unknown to many of us, myself included. I’ve tried to learn as much as I could about other races. For some reason, there’s little information about vampires. It doesn’t say anything about protocol. Not only that, there are few reported marriages between humans and vampires.”

  “Are you afraid that we might kill our brides?”

  “What?” My heart raced. “Do you?”

  “Some say we do.”

  I looked him in the eye. “I don’t think you’ll do that to me.”

  “Why not?”

  “I saw your true self before you knew who I was. You were concerned about me and that lady.” I paused and pursed my lips momentarily. “The other vampire fed from the woman, but she survived. Even if you need to feed from me…” Blood rushed to my cheeks again at the idea of feeling his lips against my throat. I held his hand tighter. “I’ve thought about this.”

  His brows knitted together. “You did?”

  I added, “If it’s you, I don’t mind. It seems, I become reckless when it comes to anything related to you. I’m afraid, though.”

  He cupped my face. “Of what?”

  “That you won’t love me as much as I’ll love you.”

  I froze when his lips feathered my cheek, his hand moved to my nape, and his free hand snaked around my waist. “Vampires are often impatient beings, my love. I’ve vowed only to taste the blood of the woman I love and marry. Once we do that, I’ll love you above everything else, and you’ll be one of us.”

  “What does that mean?” My body quivered for being so close to his.

  “It means that you’ll be my beloved like you were born to be.” He kissed my neck. “The more I’m with you, the more I realize that we belong together.”

  I raised my shaky hand and touched his chest. Instead of pushing him away, I fisted his coat and pulled him closer. “Again. Do that again.”

  He complied, and his mouth left a trail of kisses down my neck. “Maybe we should marry tomorrow.”

  “I’m so scared.”

  He lifted his head, his eyes
reflecting mine. “Why?”

  “What if someone enters and sees us like this?”

  “That would be embarrassing.” He grinned, and I saw fangs in his mouth.

  My mouth widened in awe. “Your teeth.”

  “Is it scary?”

  “Different.”

  He drew back and held my shoulders “You don’t react like other humans. Aren’t you afraid of me in the slightest?”

  “Should I be?”

  “Vampires are predators.”

  “You’re my future husband.”

  “That makes it worse because I’m crazy attracted to you, Snow. I lose rationality and all sense of decorum when we are together.”

  I moved my face closer to his as his words engulfed me in a spiral of love and abandon. “And to think I’d never experience this if I had to marry someone other than you.”

  His hooded eyes widened, and his grip tightened. “Although we met last night, I’m willing to do anything for you. I’ll be mocked by my siblings if they see me this helpless.”

  I giggled.

  “I’m glad I amuse you, my love.”

  I shook my head. “I’d love to have siblings. I felt quite lonely before meeting you.”

  “You have a loving father. My parents were always too busy to care for anyone but the oldest of us.”

  “Daddy loves me, but he forgets about me ever since he remarried. I was raised by the servants. I can’t complain. Even if I am lonely, I have a good life.”

  “Will you write to me when I go back home?”

  “You said you’d stay for a week,” I mumbled, almost out of breath. The closeness of our bodies made me wonder why we were still talking instead of having our lips glued together. My stepmother often did that when she wanted my father to do what she wanted.

  “Where did you just go?” Dorian asked.

  I glanced at the chaperone who was quietly looking at her embroidery as if she was anywhere but here. “Does she know what we are doing? Can she hear us?”

  “She’s in her own world, probably dreaming of finishing what she started. She won’t tell anyone what happened here.”

  I looked at his handsome face and his mouth. “Your fangs are gone.”

  “I willed myself to calm my bloodlust.”