Filed to story: The Vampire Prince’s Bride
“I thought not.” She swished her dress around herself and settled onto one of the sofas in my sitting room.
I followed her lead, situating myself in the one across from her and waiting for her to continue.
“I received a letter from the Haven,” she said. “Their leader-Mary-is opting not to send any princesses to the Vale for your selection.”
I thought back to what Laila had told me of the Haven-they were the kingdom in India that was neutral on all vampire politics. The one with the vampires who survived on animal blood and tiger shifters to protect them. A kingdom of neutrality hardly interested me, since I doubted they would have any interest in furthering my cause of a revolution against the Vale, but it still wasn’t good news to hear that my options were going to be limited.
“That’s a shame,” I said. “Did they give any reason why?”
“Of course not,” she said. “Although it’s clearly an issue of neutrality. They can’t make an alliance with the Vale and remain neutral. Although they did wish you best of luck with your selection, and said that they’re looking forward to see who you decide to wed.”
“Where does this leave us?” I asked her.
“The same place as before.” She straightened, her gaze cool and composed. “An alliance with the Haven would have hardly been to our benefit, so this doesn’t foil our plans at all.”
“As for the other kingdoms?” I asked. “All is well?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “King Nicolae is sending a fine choice for you-Princess Bianca of the Carpathian Kingdom. She’s everything I could ever want for you in a match. She was only turned about a decade ago, making her young like you, and she’s also extremely beautiful. I think you’ll be pleased when you meet her.”
“She sounds lovely,” I said. “But he’s only sending one princess?” After all, each kingdom was asked to send two princesses. It wouldn’t make sense for him to send only one, unless he was truly that confident that I would choose PrincessBianca.
“He’s sending two,” Laila said. “His second choice-Princess Karina-confuses me, but I’m sure the king has his reasons.”
“Why does she confuse you?” I scooted forward on the sofa, curious.
“Karina was turned in the late 1800s,” Laila began. “She soon fell in love with a man named Peter, and she insisted that Nicolae turn Peter into a prince so they could live out their immortal lives together. The two of them were deeply in love…” Her eyes went far off, as if she were imagining a love of her own.
But I knew better than that. Laila didn’t love anyone but herself.
“What happened?” I asked, snapping her back into focus.
“Peter was killed about twenty years later, in the Great War,” she said. “He was staked in the heart by a group of Nephilim. Karina was there with him, and after witnessing his death, she murdered every single one of those Nephilim herself. She emerged from the battle covered in their blood. Soon afterward, she attempted to take her own life, but King Nicolae stopped her. I see her during my visits to the Carpathian Kingdom, but she’s different from the way she was before the war. Darker, and more tortured. I’ve heard that she fights the wolves that surround their walls for fun. She’s a fierce one… but she’s sad, too. Her sadness is so strong that it radiates off every inch of her being.”
My first thought was that a fighter like Karina might be good for my cause… if she supported my desire for a rebellion.
My second thought was the one I voiced out loud toLaila.
“Now she’s coming here for my selection,” I said thoughtfully. “And you’re skeptical about her putting herself forth. Do you believe she’s ready to move on fromPeter?”
“I do not,” Laila said, quickly and surely. “Truthfully, I don’t think she’ll ever move on. She and Peter were soul mates in the purest sense of the word.”
“But she can’t live in the sadness of his death forever,” I said. “Perhaps she wants to move on. Coming to a new place-like the Vale-and participating in the selection might be good for her.”
I said it, although I didn’t believe it. Because from what Laila had said, Karina had no interest in moving on from Peter. Surely there were other reasons for her coming here. I suspected Laila knew that, but I didn’t want to give her any cause to raise those suspicions further.
“Perhaps,” Laila said simply, and I could tell by her distant tone that she didn’t believe it. “I think it’s far more likely that Nicolae knows I seek an alliance and that he trusts Karina can get the task done. After all, Karina is Nicolae’s favorite. But if she is coming here because she truly wants to move on… I think you’ll like her. Her soul is dark like yours.”
“So that’s why you came here today?” I asked. “To warn me aboutKarina?”
“Precisely.” Laila stood up and smoothed her gown, and I stood with her. “I think you would be happier with Bianca, as I think you deserve someone who can give you her full heart. With Karina… be careful that her motives are pure. While I value the alliance we’ll make, I also want to see you happy.”
With that, she gave me once last smile and let herself out, leaving me with only one thought on my mind.
If Karina was as fierce and sad as Laila had said… I was determined to learn more about her and find out if she might be interested in helping my cause.
Sean
T he day was finally here-when I would meet the princesses who had journeyed to the Vale from the other four participating kingdoms. The Carpathian Kingdom, Utopia, the Ward, and the Tower. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my cufflinks in preparation. But as I looked at my reflection, all I could think of was her.
Scarlett.
Since meeting her, I’d been replaying the moment I met her over and over in my mind. I would never forget how beautiful she’d looked that night-how full of life. On the day that I’d tried to rescue her from the Vale, she’d had so much hope in her eyes. And when I’d kissed her…
Emotions rolled through my body at the memory of her kiss. Pain, anger, regret. I’d known it could never work between us-not with me being a vampire and she a human-but I’d thought she’d had her entire life in front of her. I’d wanted to help her escape the Vale and give her a chance to be happy.
All hope for that had been ripped away the moment Camelia had thrown Scarlett’s corpse at my feet.
I would never forgive myself for failing her.
And I knew that none of these princesses I would meet would compare toScarlett.
I’d never believed in love at first sight-lust at first sight, sure-but not love. Now when I thought of Scarlett, all I could feel was a gaping hole in my chest where my heart should be.
But I needed to get a grip on myself and stop brooding.
So I straightened, staring at myself in the mirror and pushing all thoughts of Scarlett out my head. She was gone now… there was no point in wishing for something that could never be. I needed to focus on the present. On the future. On doing whatever was necessary to start a rebellion against the queen of the Vale. To change the way that the entire kingdom was run. It wouldn’t be easy-thatI knew.
But it would be easier if I had a princess by my side-an alliance with a kingdom that might support my cause-to stand behind me.
So I turned around, left my room, and prepared to meet the princesses.
* * *
I didn’t go straight to the throne room-instead, I’d been asked to first go to Laila’s chambers to convene with the family before the reception began. They were all there-Laila, Scott, Lauren, Alexander, andDeidre.