by Leigh Walker
I really didn’t want to hurt anyone. On the other hand, I hoped that if another vampire bit me, he would promptly die. I prayed my blood only had the strange effect on Dominic. I couldn’t risk having a bunch of personal puppet masters running around—one was enough.
A knock came on my door, and Mistress Olivia bustled in. “Good morning, my lady.” She smiled at me kindly. “You look like you’ve had a nice rest.”
“I did, thank you.”
She went through my dresses, humming, then smiled as she pulled out a peach one. “This should do nicely. Will you try it on?”
“For what?” I’d been told I was spending the day with the sacrifices. “I thought I was going running with the other girls today, then they were going to try to teach me something called Infernal Pilates. Or something.” I’d never done Pilates before, and I was a little scared. I’d hoped they’d been teasing me about the “infernal” part.
Olivia came at me with the dress. “No, I’m afraid plans have changed. The queen’s gone ahead and arranged a visit to the church in the village—the one you’re to be married at. She’s organizing quite a spectacle. She’s had the guards and staff out since first light, hanging decorations and making sure the downtown feels festive.”
“She moves fast.” I held my hair to the side so she could zip me in.
“Yes, she certainly does, especially when it’s in her own interests.” Mistress Olivia nodded in approval at my reflection. “That color suits you. Do you like the gown?”
I smoothed the heavy fabric. The dress had a modest lace neckline and cap sleeves. “It’s very pretty.”
“Excellent. We’ll take it off for now, bring you your breakfast, and get you in the bath. Today is a big day. You must look and feel your best.”
I forced myself to smile at her. “Great.”
Another knock sounded on my door. Without preamble, Anthony threw it open and sauntered in. “Is it true?” he asked. “Are we going to the church today?”
I frowned at him. “I don’t know where you’re going, but yes, I’m touring the church.”
“Excellent. I’ll accompany you, my lady.” He looked around the room. “Is there breakfast hiding somewhere? I’m starved.”
“Why don’t you go to the kitchen and bring a tray for the lady?” Mistress Olivia asked.
Anthony scowled. “Because I’m not a scullery maid.”
She scowled back. “No reason for the attitude, young man. I’m always taking your side, not to mention baking you cookies and cleaning up after you. All I’m asking for is a little help while I brush Lady Victoria’s hair. She’s on a schedule, you know. I can’t have her starving.”
“Oh fine.” His face softened. “I’ll be right back.”
Mistress Olivia chuckled once he was gone. “He’ll pick up something for himself, of course.”
I laughed. “He would never have agreed to do it otherwise!”
Her face creased as she smiled. “Men. You really have to figure out what motivates them.”
“What motivates Anthony? Is it just food?”
“Oh, of course he loves his food. But on top of that, for all the times Anthony acts like an arse, he has a heart of gold. He always wants to do the right thing. He just needs to be reminded sometimes.”
I nodded then sat calmly as she brushed the snarls from my hair. “What do you think motivates His Highness?”
“Aw, that’s easy. It’s fairness and justice that the prince wants.” Mistress Olivia beamed at my reflection in the mirror. “And you, of course. You’re quite at the top of that list.”
The queen was standing beside Dominic in the entryway of the palace, and she looked quite focused as she explained something to him in low tones, her face pinched. “Do not forget what I’ve told you,” she said.
“Of course.” Dom’s brow furrowed. “But you cannot forget what the council has told you.”
“Oh, I won’t. How could I?” Queen Danica’s voice was icy. “I will punish them when the time is right. Who do they think they are, substituting their judgment for mine? I will remind them who rules. Mark my words.”
Anthony and I approached, and the queen cleared her throat. She relaxed her features, all the better to scrutinize me. “An interesting choice of a dress.” Her gaze raked over me. “Peach, hmm. It’s the color of virgins and youth. How appropriate.”
I looked helplessly at Dom, then back at his mother. “Is my gown acceptable for the event today, Your Highness? If not, I’ll go and change at once.”
“I find the dress a bit childish, and I loathe the color, but the simpleton villagers will love it for its optimism and modesty.” She smiled at me without warmth. “Speaking of the villagers: you are going out among them today. The guards will bring you and Dominic to the church. We expect a large crowd—many of them have been camped on the sidewalks since dawn, when the guards first went out.”
She took a step closer to me. “You have very clear instructions for this outing, Lady Victoria. Be humble. Be grateful. Be dazzled by everything you’re shown. And most of all, be completely enamored of my son. The citizens need something to root for. I want to whip them into a frenzy about this wedding. It’s all I want them talking about—the handsome prince and his doe-eyed peasant wife, who can’t believe the good fortune the gods have bestowed upon her. They need to be ecstatic about this wedding. You have a role to play—do not disappoint me.”
I bowed my head. “Yes, Your Highness. I understand.”
“Excellent.” She straightened her spine and glanced at her son. “Who knew? It can follow simple instructions. You might be in luck yet, Dominic.”
Before he could defend me, she strode away.
“Well.” Anthony watched the queen sashay down the hall, the skirt of her black gown stiffly brushing against the stone floor. “That was mean.”
“Did she just call me ‘it’?” I wrinkled my nose. “I thought she liked me better after I let you feed from me last night, Your Highness.”
“I’m afraid she doesn’t like anyone right now,” Dominic said. “The council voted unanimously to block her from transfusing the blood slaves. To put it in the vernacular, she’s quite pissed.”
Anthony scrubbed a hand over his face, looking confused. “What’s that? She wanted to give the sacrifices new blood?”
Dom exhaled. “She wanted to drain them to near death then transfuse them with donor blood. She said it was to keep things ‘interesting.’”
“She’s crazy.” Anthony laughed. “It’s sort of a fun idea, of course, but wow. She’s just about lost it.”
The prince scoffed at him. “You think it sounds fun?”
“When you haven’t heard a new idea like that in over a hundred-something years, and you’ve just been doing the same-old, same-old—forgive me, but yes, it sounds sort of fun. Like having a purple-velvet cupcake instead of a red-velvet one.” He shrugged. “You don’t have to be so high-and-mighty about it.”
Dom stared at him.
Anthony’s cheeks reddened a bit, and he shrugged. “I know you don’t eat cupcakes, and all, but I’m just saying. It’s not heresy to say fresh blood might make for a nice change of pace.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Really, Anthony?”
“Not you too!” He threw up his hands. “Don’t start ganging up on me—”
“Fine. My apologies.” Dom looked like he was cashing in the last of his reserved patience. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
Anthony jerked his thumb toward the front door. “I’ve some business in the village. Thought I’d come along to give the happy couple my support.” Before we could gang up on him further, he turned on his heel and led us through the lobby.
Dom grabbed my hand and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “Good morning, my lady.”
I cleared my throat. “It is still rather sore about last night.”
“Ah.” Dom kept his voice low as he leaned closer to me. “You have my standing apology about that. But we ha
ve larger issues to deal with.”
I jerked my head around to look at him. “Like what?”
“My mother informed me this morning that the final replies to the wedding invitation have come in. All of the foreign dignitaries are coming to the ceremony.”
My heart rate kicked up. “All of them?”
“Yes.” He squeezed my hand. “Including Emperor Lucas and his guests.”
Tears pricked my eyes. My mother. My sister. “They’re coming?”
He grinned at me. “Yes, my lady. They’re coming. Your family will be here in time for the ceremony. We must be prepared.”
“How?” My breathing was rapid. “What can we do?”
Dominic tightened his grip on me. “We have a few tricks up our sleeves. I’m certain we’ll figure it out.”
“Has this… Has this ever happened before?” I’d been visiting the kingdom for nine years. Are we about to retrace our steps yet again?
The prince raised his chin. “Never, my lady. This will be a first on many levels.”
I nodded shakily, too surprised and anxious for words. My mother and Iz… Mind swirling, I held on to Dominic for dear life as we left the castle and headed for the village.
8
Worship
They’re coming. They’ll be here. I will see them again…
The things you’ve lost… They will come back to you.
“Are you all right?” Dominic asked.
I turned to him, surprised. “Um…yes?” I’d been lost in my thoughts and hadn’t paid any attention as we left the castle. A number of guards encircled us as we made our way into the town square. Anthony was nowhere in sight. We’d gone over the moat, but I hadn’t even noticed. Villagers were chanting up ahead.
“Victoria.” The prince said my name slowly. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Y-Yes.” I nodded. “I think I might be in shock.”
He stopped walking. “We can go back.”
“No, absolutely not.” I squeezed his hand, dragging him forward. “I’ll be fine. We have a ceremony to plan.”
He gave me a quick, searching look.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing.” But his brow furrowed, as if he were trying to piece something unpleasant together.
We didn’t have time for me to ask questions. Just as we reached the square, the villagers went wild. “Long live the prince!” the crowd chanted. “Long live the princess!”
Dom quickly plastered a winning smile on his face. “Be prepared to smile and wave.”
I nodded, his mother’s words ringing in my ears. You have a role to play—do not disappoint me. I wouldn’t. Everything was riding on the wedding.
As we entered the melee, I clung to the prince. Hundreds of citizens surrounded us. “This is quite a turnout!” I had to holler to be heard above the crowd.
Dom leaned down and spoke in my ear. “They’re very excited. This is the first time in history one of the commoners has been elevated to royalty.”
I nodded, even as my heart sank. If only they knew the truth. About me, about Dominic, about the queen. But they didn’t, as evidenced by the burst of applause we received when we made it to the center of the square. Dominic bowed, I curtsied, and the guards kept the audience a safe distance from us. I thought I caught a flash of red hair up ahead—Anthony had slipped through the throng and was heading into the tenements. What’s he up to?
Dominic raised his hand, and the crowd caught on, eventually falling silent. “Thank you so much for joining us today,” he said, his rich voice booming. “It is my honor to show Lady Victoria the church where we’re to be married. We’re thrilled to be able to bless our union together with our people, the citizens of the kingdom. One crown, one cause.” He bent his head, and the villagers went ballistic.
When he lifted his chin, his smile was infectious. The cheers became a deafening roar. I grasped his hand, and together, both of us grinning, we continued through the crowded streets.
“You’re looking lovely, Lady Victoria!” one woman called, beaming at me.
“Thank you!”
Mindful of the queen’s orders and flattered by the happy attention of the crowd, I smiled and spoke kindly to everyone I met. I accepted a bouquet of flowers from a small girl who grinned at me shyly. Following Dominic’s lead, I shook hands with as many passersby as I could manage. The look on the citizens’ faces touched my heart—they were in awe of us. Several women were crying, as if they couldn’t believe their good fortune to be able to see us up close.
By the time we made it through the streets to the church, my heart was overflowing. But underneath was a current of sadness. These poor people. They’d no idea they’d been duped all those years by the royals. They didn’t know that the royals were vampires and that they’d taken virgin sacrifices each year as just that—sacrifices. Dominic had said so himself. The citizens had been vanished so many times that their memories were full of gaps and lies.
I blew kisses at the crowd before we entered the church. They clapped wildly, whooping and whistling. Once the guards closed the doors behind us, I turned to the prince. “I feel so sorry for them. They’ve no idea.”
His expression darkened. “I know.” He looked meaningfully at the guards nearby. “We’ll discuss it later.”
I nodded, but I felt unsettled. The queen had to be stopped. I realized I felt responsible for the citizens. How will I live with myself if she turns everyone in the kingdom into a blood slave? But really, how can I help? I’m one measly human. How can I save the kingdom when what I need to concentrate on is saving my mother and sister—not to mention staying alive myself. And I’d no idea how I was going to do it.
I turned to find Dominic staring again, that same inscrutable expression on his face. “What is it?” I asked.
He motioned toward the interior of the church. “What do you think?” His voice was low, husky.
I blinked at the nave of the church. It was simple but bright and beautiful. The pews were a rough-hewn dark wood, nicked and dented from years of use. The altar was plain, with a wooden pulpit before the stone wall, which was adorned with a small cross. But the stained-glass artwork that decorated the walls was intricate and beautiful. Each pane depicted different saints and scenes I recognized from the Bible. Despite its age, the whole interior of the church was light and airy, thanks to the many ornate windows that lined the walls.
“It’s lovely,” I said. But I felt my breath coming faster. My nerves were creeping up on me. Seeing the church firsthand made the wedding seem real, more real than it had up to that point.
Dom smiled at our surroundings. “I think it’s lovely too. My mother will have the pews updated and some other improvements made so that she feels it’s fit for a royal ceremony with esteemed guests. But I will make certain that the spirit of the place stays intact. It’s a very old church. The villagers worship here every Sunday.”
I nodded and took a step down the aisle, trying to picture being there, so soon, in my wedding dress with a hundred guests staring at me. But I couldn’t. The idea was too foreign and scary for me to handle. Yet I had two weeks before it was reality. I blew out a deep, shaky breath.
“We don’t have long—the guards need us to return to the castle in a few minutes. Do you want to see anything in particular?”
Shaking my head, maybe a little too vehemently, I said, “I’m good.”
He laughed, but he didn’t sound particularly amused. “But you are not good, Victoria.”
I blinked at him. “I’m sorry?”
The prince watched me carefully. “You are petrified.”
I jerked my thumb at a nearby guard. “Can we maybe talk about this later?”
He came and stood over me, and I was momentarily mesmerized by his dark, depthless eyes. “Of course we will talk about it later. Having a petrified fiancé is hardly the sort of thing one can ignore.”
“I’m not petrified.” I aimed for indignant but ended up sounding merely de
fensive.
He tilted his head and looked me over. “You have a very expressive face, Victoria. I can read you like a book.”
I opened my mouth then closed it. Because if he knew what I was thinking… What on earth could I say to that?
Once we reached the grounds, Dominic turned to the guards. “Please report to my mother and let her know that the visit was a success. And leave us, if you will.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The lead sentinel bowed, and the troops fell in step behind him toward the castle entrance.
Dom held his hand out for me. He did not look pleased. “Walk with me, my lady.”
I took his hand, and we headed toward one of the private gardens. Even with ominous quiet between the prince and me, the beauty of the grounds was not lost on me. The perfectly manicured shrubs contrasted with the riot of multicolored wildflowers. Elegant marble statues dotted the trimmed grasses. The castle grounds were from another world, one fit for Greek gods, fairies, and gnomes and…other supernatural creatures.
When I glanced at the supernatural creature who was holding my hand, his brow was furrowed as he led me down a pebble path into a high row of hedges. “You don’t seem pleased with me,” I said.
He pursed his lips. “I could never be displeased with you, Victoria.” He didn’t speak again until we reached the garden’s center, a small clearing with two stone benches opposite each other. Dom released my hand and sank down onto one.
I warily sat down on the other, facing him. “Why do I feel as though I’m about to get grounded?”
The prince cocked his head at me. “What does that mean?”
I smoothed the fabric of my skirt. “It means I’m in trouble, and you’re about to punish me. Getting grounded is like getting your rights taken away—back in my old life, my mom would take my cell phone away.”
“And that was considered a punishment?”
