Vampire's Crucible

by Yvette Bostic

  What could the prince want in the middle of the night? Couldn’t he just call? Surely he had Kellen’s number.

  “Thanks, Niyol,” I said, trying to smooth my wet clothes and push back the hair sticking to my forehead. “I need to change before seeing anyone.”

  “I agree,” Kellen said, heading for the door. “I’ll tell the guard to offer Thomas refreshments while he waits for us. He can’t expect us to be awake right now anyway.”

  I chuckled, following him out into the hallway. “He certainly wouldn’t expect to see us traipsing down the hall, soaking wet.”

  We reached the door to our private stairwell and humiliation washed over me. Prince Thomas stood at the door, wearing tan slacks and a white shirt opened at the neck. His sandy blond hair was combed to perfection. His wide-eyed stare made me hide behind my partner’s shoulders. I looked like shit right now and had no desire to embarrass myself in front of royalty.

  Kellen straightened his posture and rolled his shoulders back. “Thomas.”

  “Kellen, it’s good to see you again.”

  “If you’d like to wait in the dining room, I’m sure we can wake up one of the cooks to provide refreshments,” Kellen offered.

  Still hiding behind my partner, I didn’t see Thomas’ expression. A large puddle of water had pooled at our feet, and I stifled a giggle. We must look ridiculous.

  “It’s not necessary,” Thomas replied. “I didn’t come to inconvenience your staff. In all honesty, I forgot about the time zones. I would come back in a few hours, but I have a meeting that will suck up my entire afternoon.”

  Well that was rude. ‘Let me show up in the middle of the night and expect my hosts to jump out of bed to accommodate my need to chat.’

  “As you can see, we aren’t exactly ready to entertain company,” Kellen stated.

  “Yes, and I apologize for my rudeness, but this really can’t wait,” Thomas insisted.

  Silence filled the small corridor for several seconds. I assumed the two men were in the middle of a stare down. Would Kellen give up first? I counted the seconds as they ticked by. Men. I wasn’t standing here any longer. My wet clothes were chafing places they shouldn’t, and my toes were pruning.

  “Men are so stupid,” I mumbled, pushing Kellen aside and trying not to race up the steps. “You two keep arguing. I’m changing into something respectable,” I called over my shoulder.

  “She’s refreshing in an irritating sort of way,” I heard Thomas say even though he probably didn’t know it.

  Kellen, on the other hand, was probably well aware that I could hear them. “No, she’s someone to be treasured.”

  Chapter 23

  When I finally emerged from the bedroom, Kellen and Thomas were in the small seating area. My partner must have changed in another room because he was no longer soaking wet. I took my time selecting my outfit, a red broomstick skirt with a white camisole and sheer black blouse over top. I slipped my feet into my favorite white strappy sandals. I didn’t want ‘Prince Thomas’ remembering me as a wet rat, even if it was the middle of the night.

  The two men sat across from one another, each on a separate sofa. I shook my head, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Like I would choose to sit with the prince. They rose when they noticed me, and Thomas offered his hand to me. I hesitated, not wanting to endure the magical inquisition that came with it. But it didn’t matter; he’d already done the finger kissing thing last time.

  I gave him my hand and sure enough, his lips brushed against my fingers. I pulled my hand away as soon as I could without seeming rude and sat down next to my partner.

  “Kellen tells me you were training,” Thomas said as soon as he sat.

  “Yes,” I replied to the obvious question even though he made it sound like a statement.

  “Can I ask with what?” he pressed.

  “I would think it was obvious,” I replied, flashing a smile.

  He chuckled. “Yes, I suppose so.”

  “You said your visit was urgent,” Kellen said, leading the conversation away from our training.

  Our guest shifted in his seat and looked around the room at everything but us. Something made him uncomfortable. Surely he wouldn’t show up in the middle of the night to ask about my engagement to Kellen. Would he?

  “We had a visitor last night,” he began, clasping his hands in his lap. “That was about six hours ago. She demanded that we apprehend the princess as soon as you showed up at our door for the party.” His nose wrinkled and his top lip rose into a sneer. “My father allowed a vampire to make demands. He should have had the monster killed on the spot, but he didn’t.”

  I glanced at Kellen and wished Logan were here. He might know the right questions to ask about vampire’s magic.

  “Which vampire are we talking about?” I asked. “And do I assume that your father agreed?”

  Thomas finally met my gaze. The single lamp in the room cast shadows across his pale skin but didn’t hide his disgust.

  “She is the ambassador for the European vampires,” he spat. “I’ve always suspected she had my father under her thrall, but last night’s conversation merely proved it. He agreed to hand you over after the party this weekend.”

  This weekend? I thought it would take longer to prepare, but apparently not. More importantly, it sounded like the king was in league with Jack or was this emissary working for Braden?

  “Interesting,” I mumbled and tapped my chin, thinking about the reasoning behind the ambassador. Did Braden send her to the king? He’d admitted to being the leader of the European vampires. But why would he kidnap me now? He needed me here fighting against Jack, not locked up in his dungeon.

  “Alisandra, you can’t really be considering attending the party,” Thomas’ panicked voice interrupted my musings. “My father’s men obey without question. We won’t protect you from the vampires.”

  Heat rose up my neck and my face flushed. “First, no one tells me what I can or can’t do,” I said, pointing at him. “Second, the vampire’s actions confuse me. How long have you had an ambassador? Do you also have a mage ambassador with the vampires?”

  The prince rubbed his hands across his face. “I can’t believe you’re not even reacting to this threat.”

  “I am reacting,” I argued. “Just not the way you expected. Will you answer my questions?”

  His eyes searched my face. “I cannot. I wanted to warn you of the danger because my instinct tells me we need you in this fight. But I can’t betray my father.”

  “I understand and appreciate your concerns.” I leaned over and reached across the narrow space between us, offering my hand to him. He tentatively wrapped his fingers around mine. “Don’t worry for my safety. I think the players are showing their cards, and I won’t be the one to fold.”

  I squeezed his hand and sent a wave of warm healing through him. Hot spikes of pain shot through my hand, and a small squeak escaped my lips.

  “Are you not well, Prince Thomas?” I asked, before thinking about how rude the question was.

  His face flushed and he pulled his hand from mine. “It’s nothing,” he replied.

  “If it becomes something, I’m happy to help,” I offered, rubbing my palm. The pain still lingered, and I wondered what would do that. I’d have to ask Göksu.

  He nodded and reached into his pocket, retrieving a small, gilded envelope. “Your invitation to the party.”

  Kellen took it and glanced at me, obviously wanting to know my thoughts. Had Thomas answered my questions, I might have shared with him still present. Not now.

  “Thank you for coming all this way, Prince Thomas,” Kellen said. “We’ll see you at the party.”

  “I hate that you’re not taking this more seriously,” the prince said as he rose from his seat.

  “If we don’t show up, your father will know we were warned,” I said. “Who do you think he’ll suspect? I assume there were very few people in the room for the meeting with your emissary.”


  He blushed again. The poor guy just wasn’t cut out for all the subterfuge, not that I was either, but at least I saw the obvious. Most of the time.

  “Thank you, Princess. I’ll help you if I can.” He bowed and started for the door. Kellen rose, laying his hand on my shoulder as he passed by me.

  “I’ll be right back,” he whispered.

  I watched the two men leave, then collapsed into the sofa pulling my legs beneath my skirt. Was Braden orchestrating this game, or did his ambassador take instructions from Jack? I was almost certain Braden wouldn’t try to take me, not yet. If it was him, what could he gain from planting that story? Was he testing King William’s loyalty or maybe the ambassador’s? Maybe he was seeing if I had a connection to the European mages.

  My thoughts rolled around in my head until Kellen returned. He dropped onto the cushion beside me and handed me the envelope. He’d already opened it.

  “When is our next appointment with death?” I asked, rubbing my fingers on the thick paper.

  “Saturday at six in the evening, London time,” he replied, throwing his arm over the back of the sofa. “So, Saturday morning for us.”

  “Two days,” I mumbled. “How do you coordinate a party that big so quickly?”

  “Money and magic, my dear,” Kellen answered.

  I pulled my gaze from the pretty paper and looked at him. His furrowed brow made his flippant comment seem out of place.

  “I’m not sure if we should go,” Kellen said. “We can’t let them take you.”

  “If Braden is involved, they won’t,” I countered, hoping I was right about the vampire’s intentions to overthrow Jack. “He needs me in the fight, just like everyone else does. After Jack’s defeat… I’ll be worried.” I folded the edge of our invitation. “Maybe I’ll ask Logan if Mr. Smith has heard anything new.”

  “You’re so certain of Jack’s defeat?”

  “Aren’t you?” I smoothed my skirt over my knees and raised my eyebrows at him.

  “I want to be,” he replied. “But nothing is certain.”

  “You better keep that uncertainty in this room,” I warned. “Your people don’t need to see it.”

  A faint smile replaced his frown. “Yes, Princess. So, what do you think Braden’s planning?”

  “Again, if he’s behind all of this, I think he’s testing his information flow,” I replied. “If we don’t show up, Braden will know that either the prince or the king blabbed. If King William doesn’t take me, he’ll know his little bitch didn’t carry through or that the king is no longer under her control.” I turned to face my partner and leaned against the back of the sofa. “If the king does try to take me, Braden gets to watch me escape.”

  “You think the vampire will be there?” Kellen asked. “And you’re also certain of your escape?”

  “If I were him, I’d be hiding in the background,” I replied. “The only way I don’t escape is if the vampires are chasing me. Evading King William’s men will be easy.”

  “Your new vampire skills?”

  “Yep, just make sure you get back to the portal and don’t think to rescue me,” I warned. “They’ll use you to make me cooperate.”

  He frowned. I understood. Even in the little time that I’d known Kellen, he didn’t run from a fight.

  We sat in silence staring at one another for several moments, both of us lost in our thoughts. Braden’s reluctance to reveal his clan to the world made a lot more sense now. He had a forced peace with the European mages. Was the king truly under the vampire’s control? Thomas seemed to think so. But was it Braden’s control or Jack’s? I shouldn’t just assume it was Braden, even though it appeared that way.

  “I was considering announcing our engagement at the party, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea now,” Kellen said.

  I tried not to cringe. “I don’t know. It’s supposed to be about the single mages. You and I shouldn’t overshadow that,” I said. “Just being there together will likely confirm any suspicions about our relationship. I’ll be sure to shun the prince at every opportunity.”

  My partner chuckled. “I was going to suggest that you flirt with Thomas in order to win over the loyalty of his mages. Maybe then they’d think twice about taking you.”

  “You’re an idiot.” I smiled to soften the insult. “I’d rather you make some rousing speech about mutual cooperation and continued efforts to find partners for everyone. I don’t trust Thomas. What if he’s the one under the vampire’s control and not his father?”

  “I hadn’t considered that.” He rubbed his jaw, then ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s certainly possible. The young prince should be married already, unless he’s been spelled by the female vampire. What made you think something was off?”

  I thought about the fake vampire bonding. It was a way for the vampire to control the human. Could Thomas be part of one? Was the pain I felt from him a result of a vampire bond?

  “When I took his hand at the end, something felt off,” I replied.

  “That’s why you asked if he was okay?”

  “Yeah, but I shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions like that,” I said. “He could be really sick and not want anyone to know.”

  A jaw-cracking yawn surprised me. It shouldn’t have. It’s not like it wasn’t well after midnight.

  “I’m going to bed.” I stood and stretched, another yawn forcing itself on me.

  “Do you mind if I join you?” Kellen asked. “I hate sleeping in the other room, but I will if you insist.”

  He stood beside me but didn’t invade my space. I looked up at him, trying to read his expression.

  “Just stay on your side of the bed,” I said.

  Without waiting for a response, I raced into the bathroom to get out of my silly outfit and into one of Logan’s t-shirts. It hung loosely on my narrow frame and smelled heavily of spearmint. I took a deep breath and crawled into bed, trying to ignore my partner. The fears and memories from this room faded from my mind. Honestly, there wasn’t any room in my tiny brain to really think about it. I had two days to mentally prepare myself to be kidnapped.

  Another yawn escaped me as I pulled the quilt to my chin.

  “Thank you for bringing my quilt,” I mumbled.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Chapter 24

  I didn’t see Kellen at all the next morning, but several of the council members found the time to track me down. The first was at breakfast while I enjoyed my steaming pile of pancakes soaked in maple syrup. A large cup of coffee accompanied my outstanding meal that wasn’t eggs or cereal. For some reason, it still mattered to me.

  “May I join you?”

  I looked up to see the young councilman with green eyes smiling down at me. A tray of food balanced easily in his hands as he waited for my response. I really should remember his name, I thought. But I didn’t, which meant I’d have to look like a fool and ask him.

  “By all means,” I replied, waving at the chair next to me.

  “Thank you.”

  I watched with fascination as he removed his plate of bacon, eggs, and toast from the tray still balanced in one hand, adjusting the plate of food several times. Next came the cup of orange juice set just above his plate and to the left. Then his cup of coffee right next to it. He snatched his utensils, still rolled in their paper napkin, off the tray and set it on the empty table next to us.

  He looked over and caught me watching him. I blushed furiously and returned to own food as he laughed at me.

  “My mother beat it into my head as a child,” he said, still chuckling. “I haven’t managed to break the habit.”

  “No need to explain it to me,” I said, stuffing pancakes in my mouth. “I have enough oddities all by myself to make fun of anyone else’s.”

  I saw him unroll his napkin out the corner of my eye and strategically place his utensils. Somehow I knew he would, but I didn’t want to get caught staring like an idiot. I kept eating.

  “I doubt anyone would cal
l your talents an oddity, Magister,” he said after everything was to his satisfaction.

  “Please, call me Alisandra,” I requested after swallowing the sweet gooey bite I’d just taken. “The Magister was my mother, and I wish to distance myself from her in every way possible.”

  He rested his forearms on the edge of the table, and I couldn’t help but notice his stillness. I set my fork on my plate and turned to him. He studied his food, but I didn’t think he really saw it.

  “What’s on your mind?” I asked, trying to figure out a way to ask him name without sounding foolish.

  He looked over at me and sat his utensils down. “Your words at the meeting the other day meant a lot to us,” he said. “Many of us have spent hours in the training rooms since then trying to connect with our elements.” A small smile lit up his face. “Mine talked to me late yesterday evening. It scared the shit out of me when its voice echoed in my head. I haven’t been able to stop smiling ever since.”

  I took a deep breath, trying to force down the lump in my throat. Elation washed over me in waves, as I suddenly realized I’d doubted my own words. It was certainly possible I was an anomaly, but it felt good to be wrong.

  “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me,” I said. “I truly hope you continue to grow with your element. You have water, correct?” I assumed so, based on his eye color. Most water mages seemed to have green eyes, just as most air mages had blue or grey and earth had brown. It’d be embarrassing if I was wrong, though.

  He nodded. “I’m trying not to bug it all the time. I don’t want to seem like a silly child.”

  I laughed, and his smile faltered. “My water elemental calls me a child every time we speak,” I explained. “Of course, I really am just a baby mage.”

  He picked up his fork again. “Thank you for giving me that. I never would’ve found it on my own.”

  He turned his focus to his food, and I returned to mine. It felt really good to make a difference, to see the happiness on his face. He’d given me a gift as well, the hope that all my frustrations and heartache mattered.