“You’re tired.” She tilted her head toward the alley behind us. “Let’s go back to the squat, talk it over.”
30
ZOE
We buried my mother’s ashes next to my father in the Isle de Minuit garden. The full moon floated above us like a fat silver coin, and the air was drenched with the scent of night-blooming flowers.
All the high-ranking members of Tremblay Syndicate were present, along with Brien and his parents and most of our closest allies including Leo de Froulay, the Paris Primus. I’d refused Philippe’s request to attend. I was damned if I’d associate with him any further.
Rafe was there, of course, and Karoly Kral and his dhampir mate Rosemarie had flown in for the day. Karoly and I had agreed his attendance would send a clear signal to the world that not only was the blood feud over, the Tremblays and Krals were now allies.
My mother’s passing had sent shock waves throughout the vampire world. With Étan in his final grave as well, a power vacuum had opened. I’d have given half my fortune to walk away from it all for a honeymoon with Rafe, but I’d had no choice but to declare myself the new Tremblay prima.
I liked to believe my mother hadn’t intended from the first to slay Karoly when he’d offered her the safe conduct pass to come to New York. That she’d seen an opportunity when Tomas attacked Rafe, and taken it.
But I’d never know.
She’d left the honor of the Tremblay Syndicate in shambles. Enough of the story behind Rafe and Zaquiel’s kidnapping had leaked that I’d have to work my ass off to regain our good name.
But a part of me couldn’t help being excited. This is what I’d been born to do, and I was full of ideas I wanted to implement.
My first act as the new prima was to appoint Rafe as a special liaison between the Tremblays and Krals. I’d offered him a position with my syndicate, but he’d gently turned me down.
“I’m a Kral, sweetheart,” he said. “A made enforcer. I’m not sure Father would let me leave anyway.”
My second act was to elevate Jean-Michel to lieutenant. I needed people around me with experience, and I trusted him to be honest with me. I didn’t hold his refusal to help me and Rafe in Paris against him. In fact, he’d proved his trustworthiness in refusing to break his oath to Victorine, and he hadn’t hesitated to swear a new oath to me.
My third act was to order the cams removed from both my tower on Midnight Isle and my apartment in the Old City mansion. I kept the cams elsewhere—Rafe and I would always need security—but in my own rooms, I’d finally be free of prying eyes.
My fourth deed as the new prima had been conducted earlier tonight. With Rafe, Rosemarie and Jean-Michel as witnesses, Karoly and I had signed a new treaty—in blood. Even our offspring would find it close to impossible to break a blood treaty.
The long feud was finally over.
The clock tower struck three a.m. The darkest hour, when the Lady was at her most powerful.
The priestess and priest blessed the urn holding my mother’s ashes. I took the smooth ebony jar and placed it in the hole next to Father’s urn. The bronze fountain sent plumes of water into the night sky as the assembled vampires came forward one at a time to throw a handful of dirt into the small grave.
The priestess spoke the benediction. “Ashes to ashes.”
“Ashes to ashes,” we responded.
“Bone to bone.”
“Bone to bone.”
“Blood to blood.”
“Blood to blood.”
She brought her hands together in prayer. “So may it be.”
I stepped forward and poured a vial of my own blood on the dirt, sanctifying the spot for all eternity.
There would be no gravestone; vampires don’t mark their final resting place in the human way. Instead, I’d ordered a weeping cherry planted next to the fountain as a living memorial.
Servers appeared with trays of blood-wine. In the gazebo, a jazz quartet played my mother’s beloved French prewar songs.
Karoly Kral and Brien’s father strolled off, engaged in an intense, low-voiced conversation. The seven-day deadline had passed but Zaquiel was still missing. I knew Rafe’s parents must be frantic with worry, although Karoly appeared cool and urbane as usual, and Rosemarie seemed to take her cue from her mate.
As for me, I went cold with fear whenever I remembered Rafe chained in that cell in Paris. We all knew the danger to Rafe and his brothers hadn’t died with Tomas and my mother. I’d beefed up security on the island, including adding a third, higher gate at the causeway entrance so no one else could enter in the shadows as Rafe had. If it were up to me, Rafe and I would never leave, but as he said, that would be letting his enemies win.
Still, the plot against the Krals was out in the open now. Rafe’s father had uncovered evidence that Slayers, Inc. had been infiltrated by a secret alliance of humans and vampires who were using the slayers to settle personal vendettas or to take out powerful vampires such as Karoly himself. He’d reached out to his allies, and talks had begun about how best to fight back.
The band played the first notes of “La Vie en Rose.” My mother’s favorite song.
Sorrow pierced me. I stared down at the patch of bare earth covering her urn, wishing things had been different. That she’d been less of a vampire prima and more of a mother. That I could’ve been perfect enough for her.
Rafe set a hand on my lower back. “You okay?”
I let myself lean into him, just for a minute. “I’ve been better, but…yeah.”
Prince Brien came up to us and I straightened up.
“Zoe.” He took my hands. “I’m so sorry. That it had to happen this way… But congratulations on your ascension to prima.”
“Thank you. And before you ask, no, I didn’t stake her myself.” Apparently, gossip was going around to that effect.
Brien leaned closer. “I believe you,” he said in an undertone. “But I won’t tell anyone, and if I were you, I’d let that rumor stand. Let them think you’re that cold-hearted.”
I nodded. I’d thought of that myself.
The niceties over, Brien raked a gaze over my new mate. “Prince Rafael,” he said coolly.
“Prince Brien.” My mate wrapped an arm around my waist and smiled. Not a nice smile. A hands-off-she’s-mine smile that showed a hint of fang.
Brien returned it with an equally toothy grin. It was like seeing two male models—the sleek blond prince and the lean dark sex-god—face off.
“You’ve got a good woman,” he told Rafe. “The best. I hope you know that.”
“Brien,” I muttered. “Chill out, would you?”
The men flicked a look at me, then went back to glaring at each other.
“I know.” Rafe’s arm tightened on me. “And yeah, I know she’s too good for me. But she’s mine.”
Brien’s brow lifted. There was a taut silence. Then his smile softened, became genuine.
He held out his hand. “Congratulations, Kral.”
“Call me Rafe,” my mate returned, and they shook hands.
“Congrats to you, too, Zoe,” Brien added almost as an afterthought.
“Merci bien,” I said wryly.
We chatted for a few minutes. Brien kept glancing around the garden as if looking for someone. Finally, he asked, “What happened to that stylist? The cute one with the silver hair.”
“Lainey?”
“Yeah,” he said so quickly that I wondered if he’d been pretending he didn’t recall her name.
“What about her?”
A faint flush touched his cheeks. I blinked. Was this the same self-assured, perfect Prince Brien I’d known since I was a kid?
“I was wondering,” he said, then stopped.
“What’s up?” I asked.
He moved a shoulder. “Actually, I’d like her phone number.”
Rafe and I exchanged a glance.
“What?” Brien asked.
“Forget it,” I said. “She’s a slayer.”
&
nbsp; His brows crawled to his hairline. “You’re shitting me.”
“No lie,” said Rafe.
“That whole stylist persona was just a cover,” I added. “She’s already shut it down.” I’d checked, just to be sure.
“So that’s why she went off with Olivier,” he muttered. Then he gave an easy smile. “Just wondering,” he said, but there was something behind his who-cares attitude—anger, or maybe hunger.
His mother beckoned to him, saying there was someone she wanted him to meet, and he wandered off to make like the Perfect Prince.
Rafe still had his arm around my waist. “I like him,” he said in a surprised tone. “He always seemed like an arrogant prick, but there’s actually something likeable in there.”
I chuckled. “He grows on you.”
I glanced at where Karoly and Leo still had their heads together. “I should join them,” I told Rafe. A battle was brewing, and the Tremblays would be part of it.
Rosemarie Kral came up on my other side in time to hear me. She was a small, dark-haired force of nature with a New Orleans accent and a hard-to-resist warmth. It was easy to see where Rafe’s charm came from.
I hadn’t expected to like her. No, to be honest, I’d figured she wouldn’t like me, but when I’d told Rafe, he’d looked at me like I was crazy.
“Of course, she will.”
I’d grimaced. He didn’t understand. His childhood had been so different from mine. To me, his home life sounded unreal, like something out of a sitcom. Family dinners. A big house in the country. A mom who cuddled you and read you stories.
What would a mother like that think of the Tremblay Ice Princess?
“I’m not exactly a family person,” I told him. “There’s a reason people call me the Ice Princess.”
“Zoe.” He waited until I met his eyes. “Just be yourself. Mom is used to vampires.”
When I shook my head, he said, “She lives with my dad, doesn’t she? He’s not exactly Mr. Warm-and-Fuzzy. And besides, inside, you’re warmer than you think. And I’m not just saying this. I can feel it. You don’t have to please Victorine anymore. You’re free to figure out who you really are.”
“Yeah,” I said slowly. “I am, aren’t I?”
Now, Rosemarie slid an arm around my waist from the other side so I was between her and Rafe. She followed my gaze in the direction of Karoly and Leo. “Let them talk. Tonight, let yourself mourn your mother. Forget that you’re the new prima. You’ll have time enough for that tomorrow.”
“But—”
“I wouldn’t argue if I were you.” Rafe slanted me a grin. “Just nod and go along with whatever she says. It’s easier that way.”
Rosemarie’s lips twitched. “He’s right. Just say, ‘Yes, Mom,’ and we’ll get along fine.”
A lump filled my throat. “You want me to call you Mom?”
“Of course.” She leaned into me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The heart that Rafe had already opened gave a hopeful lurch.
“Okay.” I took a breath—and gave it a try. “Mom.”
She squeezed my waist. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
“No,” I said. “It wasn’t.”
My heart expanded a little more. Maybe I could do this family thing after all.
My arms were still at my sides. It felt…wrong. So I slid one around Rafe’s waist, and the other around Rosemarie’s.
Dawn approached. A hazy pink line appeared on the horizon, warning that sunrise was on the way. The chateau grounds had emptied until only Rafe and I remained. The human thralls had gone to bed, and our vampire security detail had retired to their bunker in the forest.
The tower clock was striking five a.m. when Rafe pulled me into the ballroom. “Let’s dance. We didn’t get a chance at your ball.”
I counted back. Was it only two weeks since I’d first seen Rafe at the Crimson Ball? It seemed like a lifetime ago.
“No, we didn’t.” I looped my arms around his neck. “But I have to warn you that I’m not going to last much longer. The day sleep…”
“No worries.” His grin sent a hot shiver up my spine. “I’ll put you to bed.”
“I like how you think, Kral.” I pressed myself against his hard, warm body and started humming the Ariana Grande song from that night.
Rafe joined in, a raspy tenor that made me smile. But then, it didn’t take much to make me smile these days.
He wrapped his arms more tightly around me. We stopped moving our feet and swayed to the rhythm as we sang the words to each other.
This time no one was watching us, and we didn’t have to keep it secret.
Neither of us knew the last verse. We trailed off. The only sound in the ballroom was our two hearts, beating.
I rubbed my cheek against Rafe’s. He’d shaved earlier, but black stubble had already sprouted. He smelled of the summer night and his own special male spice.
“I love you,” I said.
My Dark Angel. My lover. My mate.
I finally understood Victorine’s burning obsession with revenge. She’d waited almost two centuries to find her mate, only to lose him within a dozen years.
That didn’t make what she’d done right. But if I lost Rafe to another vampire’s blade, maybe I’d go a little crazy, too.
“Love you, too.” Rafe’s mouth covered mine in a soft, sweet kiss I felt clear to my soul. “Let’s go to bed,” he said against my lips.
Yes,” I said, and together, we walked up the winding steps to my tower.
Coming soon: TAKEN
The final book in the Dark Angel Trilogy brings you Zaq and Ridley’s story. Get ready for a dark, fast-paced, enemies-to-lovers romance.
She’s a monster-hunter.
And he’s a monster.
Also by Rebecca Rivard
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About Rebecca Rivard
Rebecca Rivard read way too many romances as a teenager, little realizing she was actually preparing for a career. She now spends her days with vampires, shifters and fae—which has to be the best job ever. When she’s not writing, she walks, bikes and kayaks in the Chesapeake Bay area with her guitar-playing, storytelling husband.
Five of her novels have been awarded the coveted Crowned Heart Review from InD'Tale Magazine and the FADA SHAPESHIFTER SERIES was voted Best Shifter Series in the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer’s Choice Awards.
Her books have won the prestigious PRISM Award (Charming Marjani), and the PRG Reviewer’s Choice Award (Saving Jace). Her stories have also finaled in the RONE and the HOLT Medallion.
Craved: A Vampire Syndicate Romance
The Vampire Syndicate Series
Copyright © 2021 by Rebecca Rivard
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