Taking a steadying breath, she squared up to him, lifting her chin high. Her eyes flashed with anger. Part of him was impressed by her courage. Not many could stand up to a vamp. Not when every one of their human instincts were screaming at them to run.
“Don’t think I won’t tell your grandmother everything,” she said in low, even tone. Her eyebrows raised, as if challenging him, but there was a tremble in her chin.
He stared stupidly at her. She couldn’t be serious. “Tell her what? That you used me?”
“No,” she frowned, lines forming on her forehead. “That you’re phoning in this competition just so that you don’t have to find a mate. That you never were going to take it seriously. That’s right, I overheard your little conversation with Stasia.”
His mouth fell open and his eyes narrowed. Sure, he hadn’t ever intended to take the competition seriously and if he had his way, Duchess Jezebel would already be on a plane ride home. And now that he knew the truth about Cate, there was no way he’d give this competition another serious thought.
But looking at her standing in front of him, shaking with rage, he had no doubt that Cate would follow through on her threat. And if grandmother believed one iota of her story, he’d never hear the end of it. She’d be sending eligible young ladies to him in droves, just to spite him. She might seem like an ancient and genteel queen, but she had her stubborn side. He’d be paying for it for the next millennium.
The only way to appease Babushka was to complete the competition, as agreed. Then, he could go back to his ordinary life. Help his grandfather run the country and cement himself in his bachelor ways. No more thoughts wasted on the ideas of an unsuitable mate. No more dinner conversations about vampire dates. Just peace and quiet.
“Then, let us reach an agreement,” he said, tossing her a spare towel. She wrapped it around her body, her jaw still clenched with anger. “You’re going to finish out the competition, with your ring in place. No one will be any the wiser. And my grandmother will hear none of this.”
He never promised that he’d choose a woman at the final elimination, just that he’d date them. When they all went back to their countries, he would finally regain his sanity.
“Fine, then I want a plane ticket out of here and amnesty for my friend, Miranda,” she said, lifting her chin.
He blinked twice. Of course, her werewolf friend had been in on the deception. She’d probably helped smuggle her into Monstrana and into the castle. It was starting to make sense.
“Fine,” he said begrudgingly, surprised at her low demands. She was probably trying to cut her losses and run. He was a brick wall. She wasn’t getting anything more out of him. Especially not immortality.
Humanity didn’t realize what it cost for a vampire to turn another person. Despite what legend said, vampires still had souls. And turning a human being splintered off a piece of your soul and housed it permanently in their chest. His own father had changed him. He could still feel a part of him inside his head, something he’d forever be grateful for.
But that very fact kept a vampire from going out and changing every person they met on the street. Losing a part of your soul was as painful as childbirth and just as permanent. You didn’t waste it on the unworthy. There was a process.
“We have a deal.” She held out her hand toward him. There was a slight tremble of her fingers as she waited for him.
Without her magical ring, he could finally see the fragility of her human form. She was like a china doll. One fall and she could shatter into pieces. He didn’t remember feeling so frail as a human. Of course, nearly seven hundred years as a vampire tended to make oneself feel invincible. Still, he marveled at the sound of her heart as it supported her entire being.
If he was going to be stuck with her for several more days, he might as well take advantage of their time together to teach a valuable lesson. She thought being a vampire was so great. He’d have to show her exactly what this lifestyle meant. By the time she left Monstrana, she’d forget all about her desire for immortality. She’d run screaming back to her dull little human life, thankful for the mediocre time she had left.
“Deal.” His hand closed around hers. Despite his anger, he still felt a spark fly between them. Immediately, he shoved it to the back of his mind, never to consider again.
A cameraman burst into the locker room. He looked wildly around and then spotted the two of them. With a low curse, he messed with his camera and settled it on his shoulders.
“Tell me I didn’t miss anything good,” he said, the red light blinking.
“Nothing,” Viktor replied through his teeth, turning back for the spa room. “You missed nothing.”
Chapter Fifteen
CATE STOOD BEFORE A giant metal barrel and stared up at it in awe. Her arms were crossed tightly across her abdomen and her hands clasped tight over her ring. The situation with Viktor hadn’t gone as she’d imagined. He hadn’t demanded that she immediately be changed into a vampire. Or, that she be punished for her deception. But instead, he’d appeared shocked and maybe even a bit devastated. That, she hadn’t expected.
Their agreement to finish out the show just so that his grandmother would get off his back was easy enough. She could continue acting for a few more days. Then she’d run as far away as she could from this strange country. Keep her mortality, but no more Prince Viktor.
Part of her mourned the loss.
“The Monstranians are loving this show,” Stasia said, coming up behind her. She’d pulled her curly hair into a thick braid that fell down her shoulder and had a black headset on. “They’re in love with Vik and you ladies. I’ve even heard of some bets on the winner being taken. Want to know who the people think is going to capture his heart?”
Cate gave her a sad smile. Sadly, she knew how this was going to end. “Wouldn’t that be unfair?”
“You’re right.” Stasia grinned and gave her a wink. “It’s my job to stay impartial.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “But, if I’m being honest, I think you’ve got it in the bag.”
She left her alone to stare at the giant metal barrels while the camera crew set up. It was the final date before the big selection ceremony. This was Prince Viktor’s date, designed by him. She wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be. They’d taken her and Jezebel to a giant building, more like a warehouse than anything else, filled with giant metal barrels and metal piping.
At that moment, Prince Viktor appeared at the other end of the building and strolled toward them. He wore a pair of navy trousers and a white shirt with the top button undone. For the first time, he’d allowed his severely combed hair to fall loosely into his amber eyes. He resembled everything a powerful prince should: handsome, chiseled, and confident. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, but he wouldn’t even glance her way.
“Ladies,” he said, “welcome to the Monstrana Brewery. Very few vampires get a behind-the-scenes tour of this fantastic place. Today, I will be showing you around and we’ll get to sample a few of the delicacies this place has to offer.”
Okay, beer. She could do beer. That would be easy enough.
“Lead the way, darling.” Jezebel wove her arm into Viktor’s and gave Cate a pointed look. She’d been gloating ever since her spa date with the prince. Apparently, their own oil treatment had gone a lot better than hers. Cate couldn’t help but feel a pit in her stomach when he didn’t shake her off his arm.
“Coming, Cate?” He looked over his shoulder at her. There was a stubborn glint in his eyes. “I think you’ll find this particularly interesting.
She saluted him with two fingers and smirked. “Right behind you, your highness.”
They walked between the giant vats, a low buzz in the air. Liquid was rushing through the pipes toward a conveyor belt on the far end of the room. It wasn’t moving, but several empty bottles lay scattered across the black surface.
“Over here we have something for the vampire particularly inclined toward a full bodied taste,” Viktor expl
ained with a flourish of his hand. “Although, I must admit, I like something light and fruity from time to time. We have that as well, imported all the way from the tropics. With hints of mango, pineapple, and papaya, it’s the perfect blend.”
Cate found her attention wandering. Beer flavors didn’t exactly spin her wheels. Instead, she studied Prince Viktor himself. He hadn’t shaved this morning. A layer of scruff covered the lower half of his face. It was the first time she’d seen him so unkempt. She didn’t even know vampires could grow facial hair. Still, she certainly didn’t hate it. It only served to make the butterflies in her stomach more active.
She wondered if their unfortunate incident at the spa the day before had anything to do with his appearance. Her night had been plagued with restless sleep and an overbearing craving for dark chocolate. She kept trying to tell herself this was all for the best. They didn’t even really know each other. But her conscience told her she was lying to herself.
“Would you like a taste, Cate?” Prince Viktor held a small glass beneath a spigot. He’d already poured a glass for himself and Jezebel.
“Sure,” she said without thinking about it. Maybe a little buzz would help lift her spirits.
“Here you are.” He handed her the glass filled with the most brilliant red liquid. She held it in her hand and felt its warmth permeating her hand.
Ew, warm beer. She preferred something ice cold, straight from the cooler.
“Warmed to a perfect ninety-eight point six degrees,” he said, watching her grimace. “Type AB negative, the rarest in the world. We fly it in from various blood bank locations. Easier than going straight to the vein, if you ask me. And more economical.”
Cate felt her face go white and the glass slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor. This wasn’t beer, it was blood. This entire room was filled with blood.
She stepped away from the nearest barrel. How many humans did it take to fill up one of these large tin cans? She hoped it was voluntary, but that didn’t matter to her queasy stomach. How was she supposed to pretend to be a vampire if he was going to take her places like this? Her vision began to swim in front of her eyes.
“Cate, are you okay?” Viktor grabbed her elbow, steadying her. He peered into her face as concern tugged at his frown. “Take a deep breath.”
“I’m okay, really. Just clumsy.”
She sniffed and blew air out of her pursed lips. This reminded her of the time her high school teacher had asked her to dissect a frog in anatomy class. After one nauseating look at her classmate’s project, she’d performed a passionate release for her new green friend in the creek behind her school.
“No, you’re not. Go sit down and rest. Catch up with us later.”
Their eyes met and she could see regret in his eyes. Was he sorry for choosing this particular date? Maybe she was embarrassing him. He had wanted her to maintain the facade for his grandmother. She was close to ruining it for him.
“What a klutz,” Jezebel loudly whispered to Viktor in a syrupy tone as Cate stumbled for the nearest spot to rest. “She has no etiquette, no royal breeding. I wouldn’t be surprised if her title was bought. She gives a bad name to the vampire elite.”
Cate couldn’t hear Viktor’s reply. Her ears burned, but there was no reason to reply. She had to get out of there, as fast as possible.
The final ceremony couldn’t come fast enough.
❖
Viktor glanced over his shoulder at Cate as she retreated with the help of Stasia. That had worked well. Almost too well. He’d never seen anyone go so pale at the sight of blood. If she was lurking around Monstrana to become a vampire, she certainly wasn’t thinking things through. Vampires survived on blood. Sure, he could still eat regular food, but since his change, eating a crisp, sweet apple was about as enjoyable as eating cardboard. It was the red stuff he craved. The very stuff that ran through Cate’s veins, just under her supple skin.
“I’m so fond of moments like this,” Jezebel cooed, clinging to his arm.
He raised an eyebrow at her. The cameras were watching, so he couldn’t exactly shake her off. “Moments like what?”
“When it’s just the two of us.” Her generous lips curled into a smile. “Can’t you imagine? Quiet breakfasts in bed, evenings spent in front of a roaring fire. That’s the life I prefer.”
He nodded solemnly at her, doubting very much her desire for the simple quietness of life. From what his grandmother had told him, Jezebel came from a long line of vampires in the UK. They had a hand in everything and were rising fast in the ranks. There were rumors of her powerful father beginning his own vampire coven, much like Monstrana. No doubt, Babushka believed that Monstrana would be strengthened by an alliance with this new vampire nation.
“Then, tell me, Duchess. What is it about me that you prefer?” he asked, turning toward her. The camera man moved in close, a fuzzy speaker held above their heads.
She blinked hard, her extraordinarily long lashes brushing her cheeks. “You?”
“Yes.” One side of his mouth twitched in a barely concealed grin. “Me.”
“Well, I...” Her hands fluttered as she disentangled herself from his arm. “I...I suppose I prefer your strong nature. And your ability to command.”
He raised his eyebrows and stared down his nose at her. “Is that all?”
“There are so many things.” Her smile faltered and she glanced at the cameras, as if asking for help. “I’m not very good at being placed on the spot. Let me compose myself and I’ll tell you all the ways I prefer you.”
“Very well.”
They continued walking, no longer linked. He smiled to himself, his thoughts drifting to Cate again. There had been so many things he’d liked about her prior to their awful spa date. If put on the spot, he could rattle off ten right there. He needed to figure out why she’d come here. Why she’d deceived him. If only, to get her out of his head.
And out of his heart.
Chapter Sixteen
BEFORE THE END OF THE final date, Prince Viktor had one last task to complete. This one was a special request made by the Vampire Queen of Monstrana. He brought the ladies back to the castle and through the halls to the royal suites. No cameras this time. Just a strutting Jezebel on one side and Cate on the other. He glanced sideways at Cate, noticing her unusually quiet demeanor.
He was glad to see the color had returned to her cheeks. Her lips were strawberry pink and pressed into a hard line, as if she were thinking hard about something. No doubt it was about her suddenly shrinking desire to become one with the undead. He should’ve felt accomplished at that moment, but a rock had formed in the pit of his stomach. And the longer her stared at her, the more discomfort it brought him.
“Where are we going?” she asked, suddenly looking up at him and catching his gaze.
He felt his cheeks burn and he stared sullenly ahead. “You’ll soon see. I think both of you ladies will enjoy this.”
He didn’t miss the look of alarm that crossed her face and made her hands tremble. Reaching out slowly, as to not attract Jezebel’s attention, he softly placed a hand on her arm and squeezed. No need to fear anymore. He’d done his job. Her blue gaze met his, with relief softening her lips into a grateful smile.
He stared at her mouth for a long moment, fighting the desire to pull her into another kiss. Despite the fact that he’d been so angry after discovering her humanity, he couldn’t help the feelings that still burned in his stomach for the woman. It was as if she’d wormed her way into his very bones, becoming as much a part of him as his own soul. He couldn’t shake it off.
“I’m sure I will, Vik,” Jezebel said on his other side with a toss of her hair and a dazzling smile his way. He dropped his hand from Cate’s side, his flesh burning. “Today’s been such a wonderful day. You really know how to treat a girl.”
Fighting back the sigh and eye-roll he felt lingering just below the surface, he was happy when he spotted his grandmother waiting for them down the ha
ll. She smiled and nodded her head gracefully as they approached, the smile lines around her eyes wrinkling deeply. The ladies followed suit, bowing their heads in greeting. He placed a hand on his grandmother’s shoulder and kissed her on the temple.
“My grandson,” she said fondly. “Thank you for allowing me to spoil your special guests.” She turned toward the ladies. “I have a surprise for the both of you. It’s within the royal suite I share with King Borwin. Follow me, if you will.”
He stood back and allowed the women to lead. The large wooden doors swept open into a suite far grander than his own. It was the size of an apartment and overlooked the garden below. Large windows with thick wooden crown molding lined one side. The large drapes had been pulled aside to reveal the last few rays of the setting sun. Soon, the moon would rise on the horizon and bathe the suite in silver light. It was his favorite view in the entire castle. As a vampire, it only felt right to relish the night. All these early mornings Stasia had recently forced on him were unnatural to a creature of the dark.
Cate paused in the middle of the room, her jaw dropping. Her eyes swept over the four-poster bed with the elegant sheer fabric that hung from the top. They took in the huge fireplace big enough to roast an entire cow. And then they settled on the antique wooden bookcase in the corner. He watched her approach the shelves and scan them, her face lighting up as she recognized some of the titles. She reached out tentatively to touch a small leather-bound book with dainty flower print.
“You’ve found my Babushka’s guilty pleasure,” he said, approaching her with his hands clasped behind his back. Better to keep his hands to himself. “She reads it at least once a year. You’d think she had it etched in her memory by now.”
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