by Leigh Walker
The girl looked annoyed. “Aren’t I what?”
“Sad about leaving your family?” I didn’t even know enough about this strange land to understand if the girl, or anyone else in the chattering, excited crowd, knew that vampires were walking amongst them. Anthony continued to watch me from his spot near the front. He shook his head once, a reminder. Speak to no one.
“That’s a funny question.” She looked at me as though I had three heads. “Where did you say you were from?”
“Margate.” I swallowed hard. “The idea of leaving my family makes me feel sad, I guess. I didn’t know if you felt the same.”
The girl laughed, but it was not a nice sound. “There’s nothing to be sad about—you live like a princess inside those walls. ” She gestured behind her, and for the first time, I noticed another wall, smaller than the one surrounding the village. It was made of the same smooth stone, with a murky-looking moat surrounding the base. I shivered and wondered if the water had alligators in it or, given the circumstances, perhaps small Loch Ness–like monsters.
“I don’t know what Margate’s like, but I’m from here—and let me tell you, I’m over it. I’m not going to miss a thing about this filthy village,” the girl continued. “It’s supposed to be beautiful inside the castle. There are fresh flowers in crystal vases in every room, paintings and chaise lounges and a new gown for every evening. It’s paradise. I’m going to drink champagne and eat strawberries every day for the rest of my life.” She sniffed. “Why would I want to stick around here—to marry some dull laborer and have six kids? That’s what I’m afraid of—dying of boredom, with too many mouths to feed.” She eyed the crowd with disdain. “Let them have their sacks of grain. Even if I never eat goat again, it’ll be too soon.”
I nodded, unsure if I should also complain about the goat meat.
She stuck her nose into the air. “I expect His Highness will take a special interest in me. I’ve heard he has excellent taste, so why wouldn’t he?”
“Yes. Well…good luck.” I half hoped the smug girl would get picked. Then I would never have to see her again, and I could go back to the lake and try to find my way home. I caught Anthony still staring, and I smoothed my complexion. Can vampires read minds? I seriously hoped not. Redheaded freak, I thought, just to test the theory. But trumpets blared, disrupting my experiment. The sound of groaning metal came next.
The other women turned to face the wall behind us, and I followed their lead. When the musicians stopped playing, a hush fell over the crowd as a wooden drawbridge lowered, creaking in its descent. From our position atop the stage, we candidates could see everything first. A procession of armored guards appeared, crossing the bridge two at a time, carrying purple flags bearing a gold emblem—the same mark I’d seen embossed on the prince’s tunic.
Prince Dominic himself came next, and did I imagine it, or did several of the girls near me sigh? Idiots. Although even I had to admit that he looked handsome in his tight-fitting tunic and his tall black boots, his muscular thighs bulging above them.
Thunderous applause erupted as the prince strode toward the crowd, his cape sailing behind him. He was followed by a regal-looking couple who could only have been the king and queen. The king was tall, his broad shoulders and athletic build impressive beneath his tight-fitting leather armor. He had the same dark hair as his son and a trim gray beard. The queen was just as tall as her husband, and she radiated strength and good health as she waved to the candidates, a broad smile on her face. I had to catch my breath as she came forward—she was stunning, her coffee-colored skin glowing in the midday sun, her raven hair in thick braids beneath a handmade crown of flowers. A real lady. I could see what the girl had meant. The queen’s satin, deep-emerald gown clung to her muscles and curves. It was clear where Prince Dominic had gotten his good looks from.
Walking into the crowd, the guards fanned out in front of the platform, flags waving, sword handles glinting at their waists. The prince entered the square first, and the crowd went wild, clapping and cheering in a frenzy. When the king and queen entered, their applause turned thunderous again. The royals bowed to the villagers, then the king strode up the stairs, followed by the queen and then the prince.
A hush fell over the crowd as the queen stepped forward to speak. “Citizens of the kingdom, thank you for joining us today for this sacred event. The Trade embodies all the best elements of our nation: our ability to work together for the common good, the unification between the crown and the people, and our continued commitment to thriving and maintaining our way of life.” She raised her chin as she motioned to the candidates on the platform. “The candidates you see before you are our nation’s heroes. Their loyalty and bravery are unparalleled. They are a credit to the kingdom.”
Once again, the crowd went wild. The girl next to me put her hands on her hips and raised her nose even higher into the air, as if they were cheering specifically for her.
The queen waited for the applause to die down. “We know that this tradition is borne from hardship. Every year, we gather to remember the famine.”
Most of the villagers bowed their heads.
“We gather to remember the time when there were no harvests, when the drought cost us our crops and our livestock. We remember those we lost.” The queen bowed her head as well. After a moment, she continued. “And to honor them, we honor the symbiotic relationship between the royal family and the loyal citizens of the kingdom.”
Symbiotic relationship… I filed the queen’s words away to ponder later.
She raised her eyes again. “Every spring, a time of rebirth, one of our young maidens gives her life to the royal family. She leaves the old ways behind and is born anew. Her new life begins and ends with my family, and we promise to hold her in honor and celebrate her sacrifice.”
I waited for her to be more specific about exactly what happened to the chosen girl, but the queen didn’t elaborate.
“In return, we bestow upon the kingdom the gifts of grain and crops, enough to enrich what you’ve worked so hard to build, enough to bring new life forth to sustain our nation.” The queen clasped her hands together. “The gods have been particularly generous with us this year. Therefore, your bounty is plentiful.”
She motioned behind her, and guards began wheeling out large wagons laden with sacks of grain and seeds. Row after row of the offerings were displayed for the villagers, who oohed and aahed every time the guards brought something else forth.
“We have been blessed with an abundance of livestock this year. Truly, the gods favor our union,” the queen said.
The guards brought out pairs of animals—goats, cows, horses, and pigs. The villagers clapped as the animals were paraded through the square and led out through the other side.
“My family has another gift for you—the gift of jewels.” The queen raised her chin, watching as the villagers listened, transfixed. “These riches will keep you and protect you and generations for years to come. Bring them out.”
Two guards carried out a table, and another arranged several large decorative boxes on top. He opened them and held up the largest rubies, emeralds, and sapphires I’d ever seen. They were the size of small boulders and glinted in the sunlight.
Stunned, the villagers clasped their hands together, as if in prayer. Someone in the crowd started weeping.
I leaned in closer to the girl next to me. “Is this a particularly generous year?”
Her eyes shone. “The royals are always good to us, but yes, this is the largest offering by far. They’ve never given us jewels before, at least not that I’ve heard.”
She paused for a moment, thinking it through. “The gods show us favor. Things have changed. Perhaps it means that… It couldn’t.” Brow furrowed, she looked quickly at the other girls. “Could it?”
“Could it what?”
The girl looked up at the sky. “Perhaps the prince is ready to be married.” She turned to me, two spots of color blooming on her cheeks. “Perhap
s to one of us.”
9
Chosen
“Now, hold on,” I said to the girl. “Married? I’m barely eighteen!”
“I wouldn’t worry about it.” She looked me up and down. “You don’t have the right attitude, and if you ask me, that dress is a bit desperate looking.” She promptly turned away and began chattering excitedly to the girl on her left.
This was insanity—the girl had to be mistaken. The prince might choose his wife like this? It’s no better than a meat raffle! I struggled to pay attention to what was happening and not the buzzing in my head.
The queen beamed at her audience. “And now my husband, King Declan, would like to tell you some very special news.”
He stepped forward. “Loyal citizens, beloved candidates, it is with honor and excitement that I make this announcement. The time has come for my family to grow.”
Excited chatter broke out in the crowd, and the king smiled at them, waiting for the audience to quiet down. I glanced at the prince. He was standing stiffly behind his father, an unfathomable expression on his face.
“The Trade has always been about unifying our interests and strengthening the bond between the crown and the people,” the king continued. “This year, I am so happy to announce, there will be a wedding. To show you our true commitment to the people of the kingdom, my son will choose one of these candidates as his bride.” He gestured across the platform as the crowd broke into cheers and deafening applause.
No way. Uh-uh. Better a blood sacrifice than a bride. Get me out of here!
The villagers didn’t share my sentiment—their expressions ranged from shock to elation. They hugged each other, many of them crying.
“One of us!” a woman near the front said. “The gods have shown us more than mercy! The tides have turned—finally, good fortune!”
The king beamed at them. “The wedding will take place in public, for all members of our nation to celebrate. This is history in the making, and I am very proud of my son as he takes his place as a member of our court.” He motioned to the prince, and Dominic bowed deeply.
I started moving ever so slightly closer to the stairs.
The prince smiled as he stepped forward to address the crowd. “Dearest citizens, it is a great gift for you to share your loyal maidens with us today.” He held out his arms toward the candidates, and the audience erupted into more cheers. “They are heroes, a credit to our kingdom. There is no finer group of women among us—their bravery and willingness to sacrifice their old lives illustrates their commitment and patriotism. I am honored to choose one of them to be my wife.” Still smiling, he bowed again as the audience burst into frenzied, rapturous applause.
“And now, if I may, I would like to meet each of the candidates. I will speak with every young lady, and then I will make my choice.”
He turned to the woman next to him, a beautiful brunette with dark skin, whose braids cascaded down her back. She gazed up at him, starry-eyed. The prince smiled at her, asking questions softly, looking as though he were making small talk at a cocktail party. He shook her hand then began talking to the next young woman, who had killer curves and auburn hair. The girl next to me straightened her spine and smoothed her dress with shaking hands.
“Isn’t this a bit crazy?” I asked her. “For the prince to choose a bride so quickly?”
“It’s often said that the prince has the Sight,” the girl said. She kept her voice low. “That he knows things others cannot. So perhaps this is an easy choice for him, one he has foreseen.”
“I hope he chooses you,” I whispered. She seemed to want it badly, and I certainly wanted less than nothing to do with a wedding, the prince’s alleged “Sight,” and a possible vampire coven waiting on the other side of that wall.
The girl nodded once before she turned away. “Me too. This is the opportunity of a lifetime—of a hundred lifetimes.” She didn’t wish me good luck in return.
That was fine by me. I took another step backward, trying to appear as though I was simply giving her space. Instead, I was preparing to escape. Anthony had said that I did, in fact, have a choice. I would exercise that right by running out of there and never looking back. But Anthony was watching me carefully. He might chase me, but I doubted that he would risk biting me in broad daylight. If he flashed his fangs, the ceremony would turn to bedlam. He wouldn’t dare, I told myself.
I took another step toward the stairs, and Anthony visibly stiffened. The prince was working his way down the line of candidates, already halfway down the platform. What on earth could he be asking them? “Do you like sunny days and long walks on the beach? What’s your sign? D’you mind if I drink your blood? PS, you’re hot, let’s get married!” It was preposterous, yet each girl he spoke to looked at him in adoration, a lamb practically begging to be slaughtered.
They want to be his wife, I reminded myself. It must be different from being just a sacrifice, which they’d also been happy to volunteer for. Maybe, like the girl next to me, the other candidates wanted to get away from goat meat and drudgery, and choosing the royals was the only alternative. I shivered, desperate to get back home. I might’ve been alone there, but at least I had options.
Speaking of options, mine were running out. Prince Dominic was quickly working his way through the candidates. I had to get out of here; it was now or never. I moved back a bit so that I was in the shadow of the tall girl and took a deep breath. Three, two, one. I quickly, quietly moved toward the stairs. Maybe everyone would think I was sick or feeling faint. It didn’t matter—I closed the distance to the top of the stairs, ready to run for it.
A streak of red flashed in my peripheral vision, and Anthony was suddenly standing at the foot of the stairs. “Get back up there.” His voice, though low, was a clear warning.
Not knowing what he would do, I hesitated, then I shook my head. He hissed, so quietly that only I could hear.
I shook my head again, and suddenly, a large hand was on my shoulder.
“Going somewhere, my lady?” The prince’s breath tickled my ear.
I turned to find him inches from my face, smiling down at me.
“Come on, now.” His smile deepened, and his dark eyes gleamed. “It wouldn’t look very good for me to have such a lovely candidate running for her life, would it?”
He clasped my hands firmly and pulled me back to my spot on the stage. The girl next to me watched us with narrowed eyes and thinly veiled distaste.
“W-What do you want from me?” I kept my voice low so no one else could hear.
The prince’s kind expression didn’t waver. “A smile would be a good start.”
When I didn’t move, he tilted his chin. “Sweetheart, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I should tell you that I prefer the easy one, but of course, you do love a good fight.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My voice was a whispered croak.
Another streak of red caught my attention, and Anthony glared up at me from the front row, his lips set in a grim line.
“Are you going to sic your beast on me?” I whispered.
Prince Dominic was quite tall, his shoulders broad beneath his tunic. He leaned forward, his handsome face and full lips very close to mine. “I don’t want to do that. So can you please smile for my adoring fans, and also, that wench next to us? She’s going to put up a fuss about all of this, I can just tell.”
“You should pick her. She wants to be a princess.” Making a stab at obedience, I fake-smiled. It probably looked ghoulish.
“I think not, my lady.” He clasped my hands. “Now then. I have met these other candidates, and I am proud to know each of them. They are a credit to our kingdom. But you, my dear, have that special something, that je ne sais quoi I’ve been looking for my whole life. I would like to ask you—would you accept my proposal? Will you be my bride?”
“No.” I said it louder than I meant to. “Absolutely not.”
Anthony hissed again from the front row. Wh
en I glanced his way, he lifted his lips just enough so that his fangs peeked out a little, a preview of coming attractions meant just for me.
My heart thudded in my chest. This can’t be happening.
“Anthony has vowed to keep you safe. It might seem like he’s got a funny approach, but in time, you’ll understand his methods.” The prince brought his face closer, his dark eyes never leaving mine. “And now I’m going to ask you again. Will you marry me?”
A hush fell over the crowd. They might not be able to hear our words, but they could see our hands entwined, our faces inches from each other. I could feel hundreds of eyes on me, including the king’s and the queen’s.
“No, thank you.” I kept my voice low, but it was firm.
He squeezed my hands. “That wasn’t the answer I was hoping for. And if you knew the whole story, you would say something different.”
The prince leaned in even closer, and I was momentarily mesmerized by his dark eyes. They suddenly brightened, almost blazing for a moment, and I gasped. Recognition dawned on me, and Dominic smiled, victorious.
He’s a vampire. And I’m officially out of options.
“Will you marry me, my lady?” The prince looked a bit smug.
I wanted to smack him. I wanted to run. I wanted to smack him then run. But Anthony stood at the foot of the platform, and the vampire prince had his hands wrapped around mine. I wouldn’t even make it down the stairs.
Adrenaline flooded me, making me shiver. I knew what my body was asking. Fight or flight?
It was true, what Anthony had said. Some choices were better than others. I could be torn limb from limb, or I could take part in the charade.
I took a deep, shuddery breath. “I accept you, Your Highness.”
10
Lady Victoria From Margate
“By the gods, you have brought me great joy!” The prince beamed down at me. “Thank you, my lady.”
