Filed to story: The Vampire Prince’s Bride
Her friends all looked at her, and the blonde girl even smirked.
I was barely able to breathe as I waited for her response. How had this one girl-this human-bewitched me so quickly?
“Scarlett?” the blonde said, squeezing the brunette’s arm. “Aren’t you going to say yes?”
“Scarlett,” I repeated, her name rolling easily off my tongue. “One dance. That’s all I ask.”
I held out a hand, and her friends backed away, leaving only the two of us standing there.
The girl-Scarlett-still looked at me with suspicion, and I had a feeling that gaining her trust was going to be a challenge. But it was a challenge I wanted to take. After all, I was strong. I could resist the call of her blood.
So I made a promise to myself-a promise that I would never hurt her. And I knew, deep in my soul, that it was a promise I would keep.
“Fine,” she finally said, her gaze not leaving mine. “On one condition.”
“And what’s that?” I was taken aback that she hadn’t accepted instantly-in my human life, most girls I’d approached were always interested-but I didn’t let my surprise show.
“You tell me your name.”
“Ja-,” I started, but then I realized I couldn’t say my real name. The humans in the village might not know what I looked like, but they’d certainly heard the name of the latest addition to the vampire royal family. “Jake,” I said, catching myself before I’d finished saying my name.
“Okay, Jake.” She nodded and placed her hand in mine, her eyes glinting with challenge. “Let’s dance.”
Scarlett
I didn’t know what had prompted me to say yes to this man.
At first I’d assumed he wanted what most guys wanted at a celebration like this-to see how far they could get with me. But those guys-the “players,” as my friends and I had called them back home-almost always tended to be drunk. And despite the hood creating shadows over his face, I knew that Jake wasn’t drunk. Because his eyes-such a unique shade of gray that they could almost be described as silver-were focused and clear.
He looked somewhat familiar, but I would never forget eyes like those, especially the contrast they had with his dark hair. And he was watching me so intensely that it felt like he was gazing straight into my soul.
When I said yes, I was as surprised as anyone. But I’d already said it, so there was no taking it back.
He reached his hand out to take mine, and his skin was so cold that I nearly flinched.
“What?” He stepped closer, placing his other arm around my back and pulling me toward him.
“Nothing,” I said. “It’s just-your hand is so cold.”
Something crossed over his eyes-panic, perhaps? But then they were cool and confident again. “Maybe you’re just warm,” he said with a smirk.
“Maybe.” I rolled my eyes, because if that was some kind of pick up line, it was pretty lame.
We swayed in time to the music, and I found myself at a loss for words. It had been so long since I’d attended a party like this. I supposed I was out of practice.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you around before,” he finally broke the silence. “Have you lived here your whole life?”
“No,” I said sadly, holding onto him tighter. “I was brought here a little less than a year ago.”
“So it’s your first Christmas in the Vale,” he realized.
I nodded in response, not trusting my voice to stay steady if I spoke.
“It’s mine too,” he said.
“When were you taken?” I asked, glad to have found this common ground between the two of us.
“A little less than a year ago,” he said. “Just like you.”
“A lot of us were taken around then,” I said.
“They were.” His eyes darkened-he must not like remembering his story of how he was brought here any more than I liked remembering mine. I couldn’t blame him… but I was also curious about his story.
Then I realized why he looked so familiar.
“I recognize you,” I said slowly. “Or at least I think I do.”
“Really?” He raised an eyebrow. “Because I know we haven’t met before. You’re not someone I could ever forget.”
My cheeks flushed, and I cursed my body for betraying his effect on me. “You remind me of that swimmer,” I said. “The one who was on track for the Olympics.”
“You follow sports?” he asked.
“I was a gymnast.” I shrugged. “I was never good enough to try for the Olympics, but I was hoping to compete in college.”
“But now you’re here.” His deadpan tone got across what he meant-that now I would never be able to compete in the sport that I’d previously dedicated my life to.
“Yes,” I said. “Now I’m here.”
I waited for him to answer my question-to tell me if he was that swimmer-but he said nothing. I supposed I would have to prod further.
“Am I right?” I asked. “About who you are? Well… who you were? Before being brought here?”
“No.” He laughed. “I do get that a lot though. Apparently I look a lot like him.”