The Eternal Claim - ebook

ALSO BY LEIGH WALKER

KINGDOM OF ETERNAL NIGHT

_The Eternal Trade (Book #1)_

_The Eternal Pact (Book #2)_

_The Eternal Claim (Book #3)_

* * *

VAMPIRE ROYALS SERIES

_The Pageant (Book #1)_

_The Gala (Book #2)_

_The Finale (Book #3)_

_The North (Book #4)_

_The Siege (Book #5)_

_The Realm (Book #6)_

_The Uprising (Book #7)_

_The Crown (Book #8)_

* * *

THE EQUINOX PACT SERIES

_Awakening (Book #1)_

_Promised (Book #2)_

_Faith (Book #3)_

* * *

THE DIVISION SERIES

_Premonition (Book #1)_

_Perception (Book #2)_

_Salvation (Book #3)_1

FACE-TO-FACE

“Victoria, _now_. We have to go before they come looking for us,” my mother said. It wasn’t just her tone that was urgent. She was also pointing a knife in my direction.

I shook my head. “I told you. I’m not leaving.”

But she stepped closer, the blade winking in the sunlight that was streaming through the castle windows.

“Mom, please. We need to talk for a minute.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I can’t believe that my daughter—the daughter I hid so carefully all these years and that I’ve given my life to protect—is living here in the kingdom with a bunch of lunatics. And that she’s planning to _marry_ one!”

It was true. I was planning to marry a vampire, Prince Dominic Allard. He was the love of my life. No one was more surprised than I was that, at eighteen, I was eagerly awaiting my wedding to an immortal vampire prince.

My mother wasn’t just surprised by the news—she was enraged by it. When she took another step toward me, I took another step back. She wasn’t the same as the last time I’d seen her. I’d thought that both she and my sister, Isabel, had died in a car accident, but they were alive. They’d traveled through time to the year 3130, which was where—_when?_—we’d been reunited, because I’d gone through the portal and come through time too.

My sister had put a curse on my mother and the spell had physical side effects. My mother always had honey-colored hair, but it had turned ash white. Her skin was also pale and chalky, a sickly patina I’d never seen before. But her eyes were the worst—instead of their usual blue, they were faded, her irises so pale that they were almost transparent, giving her eyes the overall appearance of being milky.

She came closer, but I refused to flinch. “Dominic’s not a lunatic,” I said.

My mother kept the knife pointed toward me. “He’s a vampire.”

“That doesn’t make him crazy or bad.”

“And what do you know about it?” She laughed, but it was hollow, desperate. “Have you ever been married to a vampire before?

“No, but I know that he’s a good person, Mother.”

“Therein lies the trouble,” she said. “The fact that you think that he’s a person at all.”

I took a deep breath. She was married to a notorious vampire emperor, and though we hadn’t had time to talk about it, it was clear that the union wasn’t a happy one. Keeping my voice gentle, I cocked my head toward her. “I want to explain everything to you.”

“It doesn’t matter what you want. _Let’s go,_” she said, motioning for me to follow her to the window.

“Mom, we can’t. We’ll never make it out of the grounds alive.”

We were in the seamstress’s chambers. Queen Danica, Dominic’s mother, had brought me there only moments before. I was supposed to have the final fitting for my wedding dress, and instead, my mother had ambushed me. I hoped the seamstress was intact, locked away somewhere. If my mother had done something worse to her, our fates were already sealed.

I eyed the knife again. “Even if we make it onto the grounds,” I said, “the guards will catch us. There’s no point. The queen will never let us go, and I don’t even want to imagine what she’ll do to punish us!”

My mother looked at me sharply. “I don’t care, Victoria. I’d rather die than watch you marry a vampire.”

“Well, I would rather _not_ die, and I’m not interested in losing you again so soon. And I already told you—I _want_ to marry him.” I tried to keep my tone scolding despite the hysteria bubbling inside me. “I know you can’t understand that, but give him a chance.”

“I’m not giving him a chance, Victoria. If we don’t leave now, if we don’t get out of here and away from them, everything I’ve done will have been in vain.” Her milky eyes got watery, and a few tears spilled over. “All those years of hiding. Being separated from you…” She shook her head. “I won’t do it. If you marry him, the queen and the emperor will win. They’ll have the prize they’ve been searching for for all eternity.”

“What _prize_?” I cried.

“_You._” She stepped closer, the knife uncomfortably close to my neck. “You don’t understand your worth. You’ve been bewitched. Your sister thinks I’m deaf and blind, but I know the truth. You’re an intercross, and you’re talented. These creatures don’t love you,” she continued. “Remember that. They aren’t capable of it. They’ll only suck you dry, use you for all you’re worth, and leave your husk to rot.”

“Gee, Mom, tell me how you really feel.”

But my attempt at humor fell flat. She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the window. “It’s time for us to go.” She looked out at the sunny grounds and then up at the bright, cloudless sky. “May the gods keep us.”

She took a poker from next to the fireplace and smashed a wide pane of glass, sending shards spraying across the stone floor. Using the poker, she cleared the jagged edges from the window and shoved me toward it. “Go through,” she said, “then _run_.”

I crouched, but the door to the chamber opened and slammed shut. My mother swore under her breath.

“Oh please. I should be swearing at _you_,” Isabel said. She stalked in. “You behave just as badly when you’re cursed, Mother. Next time, I’m taking you straight to the greedles in the moat.”

“You’ve officially gotten too big for your britches, young lady!” My mother stepped toward her, but my sister only scoffed.

“Get up, Tor,” Isabel said. “You’re not going anywhere but to the closet to let the seamstress out.” She frowned at us, her hands on her hips. Though she looked lovely in the pale-yellow dress she’d changed into, her expression was anything but pleased. “Nice try, Mom. But did you really think I was going to let you run away like this? You’d never make it past the garden, and who knows what Queen Danica would do to you then. Let alone your wretch of a husband.”

Mother raised her chin, her crazy-looking eyes filling with hate. “I don’t care what they’d do to me, or to either of you, for that matter! We’d be better off dying with honor. We can’t let it end like this. So go on about your curses and your stupid ever-loving threats about the greedles. Let them have me! I’d rather be drowned than watch my beautiful daughter used as a weapon against my kind. I have values, Isabel. It’s high time you tried to remember yours!”

A knock came at the door, and all three of us stiffened. If it was Queen Danica, it was game over. The best I could hope for was the greedles if she caught us.

“I’m coming in,” someone with a familiar voice said. I almost fainted in relief as my friend Anthony entered the room. His bright-red hair, thick and wavy, contrasted starkly with his pale, pinched-looking face. “What the bloody hell is going on in here? I heard the window smash from outside. D’you all want to be put in the stocks?”

“I’ll take the stocks over having my head on a spike.” Isabel frowned at him. “Who’re you, anyway?”

“I’m Anthony.” He straightened his spine and held out a pale hand to shake. “I’m your sister’s best friend. We met before. Don’t you remember?”

She sniffed then stared at his hand as if it were infected. “You’re a _vampire_.”

“Um, yes, and you are…very pretty.” He smiled at her, but her expression remained hostile.

Iz flared her nostrils and turned back to Mom. “This vampire is going to take you back to tea while Tori and I clean up the mess you made. She’s going to try on her wedding gown, just as the queen ordered.”

My mother’s face crumpled. “You can’t let her go through with this.”

“Yes, I can, and I will. Nothing can be done. Victoria’s made her choice, and now we will make the best of it. We’ll lie in the bed she’s made for all of us. You’re lucky I’m being so lenient, Mother. This was a terrible risk. Cross me again, and it’s lights out for good.”

“Isabel Elise Edwards! Don’t talk to our mother like that!” I scowled at her, but she bent over and cleaned up the glass, completely ignoring me.

“Come with me, Empress. I’ve got you.” Anthony took my mother’s arm gently and then gave me a _WTF_ look before he led her out, but I didn’t dare say anything in front of my sister, who’d apparently gone completely psycho.

I turned on her as soon as the door closed. “You’ve no right to treat her like that! Or Anthony—he was just trying to help!”

“I’ve only got one thing to say to you: _you’re welcome_. Now get the seamstress out here so she can do your gown, and do it quickly. I need to put a spell on her.”

I regarded my sister. She was younger than me, but she seemed much older, hardened. “What happened to you?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes. “You mean what _hasn’t_ happened to me? Now stop being such a baby and help. If we don’t get this mess cleaned up and get you in that wedding dress, we’re dead meat. Quite literally.”

* * *

My sister expediently cleaned up the broken glass while I eyed the closet. “How did Mom get the seamstress in there?” I asked.

Isabel sighed. “You’d be surprised by how good she’s gotten at seeming old and pathetic. She’s a crafty one, our mother.”

I opened the door and the seamstress sprung out, looking quite indignant. “Where is the Empress? She locked me inside!”

Isabel frowned. “Never you mind about that. Stand still, please.”

The seamstress scowled, her glasses slipping halfway down her nose. “Pardon me?”

“Don’t say another word,” my sister ordered.

The seamstress, who typically gave her opinions freely, began to object. “The Queen will hear of this! No one speaks to a royal staff member like that without repercussion! I don’t _care_ who your father is!”

But she stopped yelling and put her hands on her head, as if she had a sudden headache. “_Gah!_ What are you doing to me?”

“Getting you to shut your mouth, and forget all about this little incident.” Isabel closed her eyes and reached out toward the vampire. “This won’t hurt a bit._”_

I watched, mesmerized, as my sister kept her arm extended. She seemed to concentrate, a small “v” forming in between her eyes. A few moments passed in silence. “You aren’t going to remember anything about what just happened—my mother, the closet, or what I’m doing to you now. And you’ll be quite polite from now on, Vampire. Remember who you are serving: your new Princess.”

Isabel’s eyes snapped open. The seamstress stood there, blinking at us. She no longer seemed upset. Instead, she reached for her tape measure and smiled. “Time to get to work, Lady Victoria! I cannot wait to see you in your dress.”

“How did you do that?” I whispered to my sister.

“The same way you do it.” Isabel tossed her hair. “Although I expect I will never be quite as adept at magic as my big sister. Now then, try on your dress. You’ve got a vampire to marry.”

* * *

The seamstress smoothed my gown and made some final markings, humming to herself, blissfully unaware that she’d been briefly taken hostage and vanished. Isabel didn’t stay long, and she averted her eyes once I’d been zipped into the gown. She couldn’t bear to look at me in my wedding dress.

The seamstress secured the clasp of the beautiful diamond-and-sapphire necklace at the base of my neck. Dominic had given it to me as a wedding gift; it had been in his family for centuries.

She sucked in a deep breath as she positioned me in front of the full-length mirror. “Perfection,” she said as her glasses slipped halfway down her nose. “And you know I don’t say that easily.”

My reflection took my breath away. The necklace sparkled at my throat, and the wedding gown was gorgeous, unlike anything I’d ever seen. I almost didn’t recognize myself. Fit for a princess, it was strapless and had a tightly fitted bodice and a full skirt that was ruffled and flowing. It looked like I was floating on the most exquisite cloud. The train spread out behind me in white billows, reaching halfway across the room. “You did an amazing job. This is magical.”

“I agree,” the seamstress said. She seemed a bit nicer since my sister had vanished her.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I realized that my mother would rather see me dead than in that dress. Yet to me, it represented the possibility of so much happiness.

“We should get you back to your guests, my lady. I’m sure His Highness is missing you.”

I nodded at her, too overwhelmed to speak. My emotions were running from excitement to dread and everything in between. I’d been so focused on being reunited with my mother and sister, so elated at the news that they were alive. But now that they were here, my situation seemed even more impossible.

This weekend, I was to marry Dominic Allard, the vampire prince. I was in love with him, and being with him was what I wanted. _But how can I overcome my mother’s hatred?_ She was married to a dangerous, notorious vampire, Emperor Lucas. I understood that he wanted to help my impending mother-in-law, Queen Danica, enslave the human race. I held perfectly still as the seamstress undid my dress. But inside, my heart was breaking. I had to choose between my past and my future. And the choice might very well break all of me.2

FITTING

I stopped by my chambers before I went to the salon for tea with the royal family, Emperor Lucas, my mother, and my sister. Though I wasn’t even sure if the queen wanted me there. She wanted _many_ things, but it was best to discern them clearly before taking action.

“You’re looking quite pale,” my friend and maid, Mistress Olivia, said. She frowned, her smooth, pale skin puckering as she brushed the hair back from my face. “What’s the matter?”

“I’m not sure where to start.” I sank onto my bed. “Do you think it’d be okay if I skipped tea? They must be almost done by now.” I checked the sun, which had traveled halfway across the sky.

“Of course it’s okay. Take a nap, my lady. If anyone comes calling, I’ll tell them you needed to lie down. The foreign dignitary reception is this evening, so you must rest.”

I nodded and lay back against my pillow, not bothering to change out of my gown. “I can hardly wait for tonight.” The lack of excitement was clear in my voice.

She _tsked_ at me. “I know it’s a lot, but you’ll be with His Highness, and it will be okay. You just need to get through the next few days and stay under the queen’s radar. Then you can regroup.”

“I don’t dare take a step out of line.” The queen had me under strict instructions; I was supposed to be her puppet.

Mistress Olivia tucked the covers around me. “Try not to think about it, my lady,” she said gently. “Focus on the positive—your marriage to His Highness.”

“Thank you,” I said, but my eyes were closing. It was only lunchtime, but the day had already been too much.

* * *

“Well, come on then.” Someone nudged me. “We have to get you ready for the festivities!”

I opened my eyes and found my friend Constance the blood slave staring down at me. Her dark skin was gleaming with good health and excitement, and her ebony braids were spilling down over her shoulders.

“Seriously, Victoria! The other girls are waiting for you! The seamstress has so many dresses to choose from, but you have to pick yours first, Your Soon-To-Be Highness!”

She smiled at me good-naturedly as I pulled myself up. The light in the room had changed; it was nearly twilight. “I guess I slept too long,” I mumbled.

“No worries.” She chucked me under the chin. “I just want you to pick the most fabulous dress so that _I_ can pick the next-most-fabulous dress, then Alexandra and Elise can pick the ones after that! I beat them when we chose sticks. I’m in line right after you. The seamstress brought gowns that are just to _die_ for. Wait till you see them!”

I smiled at her. Her enthusiasm was infectious, even if I was dreading the evening. “Let me just get myself together. I’ll only be a minute.”

As I brushed my teeth and then splashed cold water on my face, I reminded myself to think about the positive things. My mother and sister were with me. They were not as I remembered, and our reunion had not gone as I’d expected, but we were together. That was something. That was _everything_.

And I would see Dominic soon enough. My skin flushed at the memory of my wedding gown—he would love it. And after we were married, we would be together forever. His crazy mother and my family’s objections aside, Dominic would be by my side. Till death, or whatever it was that happened to immortal beings, do us part. That happiness was something. It was _everything_.

* * *

The blood slaves were women chosen by the royal family to live on the castle grounds. The king and the queen fed from them whenever they desired; it was considered an honor to be kept as such a slave. Recently, the queen had decided that the slaves should be allowed to marry the vampire guardsmen, but she had an ulterior motive—she wanted the vampires and the human slaves to have babies and raise them at the royal compound. The queen wanted an army born loyal to her.

Children from the unions of vampires and humans were called intercrosses. I’d recently learned that I was an intercross. They—_we_—were very rare. Throughout history, vampires were forbidden from mating with humans. Historically, the reason for that was the desire to preserve pure vampire lineage. But after learning more about my kind, I knew about the more compelling reason: intercross blood was dangerous to vampires, often deadly. We looked the same as regular humans, but our blood didn’t nourish vampires; it destroyed them. The vampire council was dead set against allowing the blood slaves and the guardsmen to marry, but Queen Danica was hell-bent on supporting the move.

She would use the army of intercrosses to destroy first the council then any vampires who opposed her, and then position the army to enslave all of humankind. I had to stop her, but first, I had to deal with my crazy family and stay alive long enough to marry the prince. And oh yes, the foreign dignitary reception—I had to get through that.

The blood slaves were in an uproar by the time Constance and I reached the sanctuary. That night was only the second time in recent history they’d been invited to a royal event. Dress racks were spread across the room, and the blood slaves were inspecting them closely. Some of the women appeared to be guarding dresses, giving side-eye to anyone who got too close.

“Hands off that pink gown!”

“I saw it first!”

“The teal one’s mine. I don’t care what you say!”

“Now, now,” Constance said as we entered the fray.

The seamstress was standing at the front of the room, clutching a clipboard. She looked at us helplessly. “They’re a bit aggressive.”

“I’m going in there.” Constance squeezed my hand. “I have a dress to guard.” She didn’t give me a chance to respond before she disappeared into the racks.

A rather disheveled-appearing Alexandra appeared by my side. “Hey.” She fanned herself. My friend was normally immaculately pulled together, with her hair smoothed back in a sleek bun, her lithe ballerina-like body encased in flowing silk. But that afternoon, her hair had flyaways, one of her dress straps was hanging to the side, as though someone had yanked it, and her skin was glowing with a sheen of sweat. “Can you hurry up and pick your dress? You have to choose before the rest of us can,” she said. “It’s starting to get ugly.”

“Uh, okay.” I motioned to the seamstress. “Did you have something in mind for me? I don’t want to take someone’s first choice.” The blood slaves watched me warily. The occasion was important to them, and clearly, they wanted to look their best. I didn’t want to steal anyone’s prized dress.

I couldn’t blame them. Chosen as candidates from the Trade, they’d lived on the palace grounds their entire lives as blood slaves to the queen and king. The young women had no other role, no other duty, and no other connection. They lived together in their sanctuary on the grounds and had no families to speak of. But Queen Danica was about to change all that, for better or for worse…

“Lady Victoria, are you quite all right?” The seamstress peered at me. “I said, right this way. I set aside a special gown that I think will be to your liking. The queen herself approved it.”

Trying to push the swirl of thoughts in my head aside, I swallowed hard and followed her. I would be no good to anyone, least of all myself if I weakened before I even reached the reception.

“Here we are,” the seamstress said, keeping her voice low. She looked around then pulled an enormous garment bag out of a trunk she’d stashed near the back. After carefully unzipping the bag, she pulled out a flowing scarlet gown with a plunging beaded front. Its rich redness sparkled in the fading light.

I sucked in a deep breath—the dress, what there was of it, was sexy and sophisticated. Though I hated it automatically because the dress had the queen’s stamp of approval, even I had to admit it was __ stunning. I also had a feeling the prince would love it. Still, I wasn’t certain it was fit for public viewing. “It’s a bit racy, isn’t it? What there _is_ of it.”

“The queen was very clear that she wanted you to wear red and that she wanted your physical assets prominently on display.”

“But why? It’s a reception for the dignitaries—shouldn’t I be looking digni_fied_?”

The seamstress smiled at me kindly, a first. “Our kind considers it a sign of accomplishment to have our human guests elaborately dressed, their bodies on show. Leaders from the foreign realms respond to such pageantry, and the queen is intent on showing you and the other women off. Does that make sense?”

“Yes.” It was in my best interests to keep the queen happy.

She beamed. “Then let’s try it on, shall we? I’m certain it will be becoming on you.” She really was a bit more pleasant since my sister had zapped her.

I stood to the side and let her fasten me into the dress. It fit snugly, accentuating my curves. The neckline plunged daringly, and a large slit up the front showed off my legs. The dress was a risk. I wasn’t sure I had the courage to wear it in public. Although I hadn’t realized it, the chatter in the room had died down. When I turned around, all eyes were on me. Several of the girls whistled. Then they began to clap, and their applause grew thunderous. “Long live the princess! Long live the prince!”

My friend Elise wolf-whistled, still staunchly guarding her gown. “You look amazing, Victoria!”

Embarrassed, I motioned for them all to quiet down. “I’m glad you like the gown,” I said. “But more importantly, I am honored that we will attend the reception tonight together. You are all so important to me.” My heart rose to my throat. Those human women felt like my responsibility. I was the only one standing between them and the queen. I might be the only half-human to know the truth about her plans. “Now choose your gowns. There are plenty to go around. And don’t fight with each other, please. Remember, we are all in this together.”

They might not all understand the full meaning of my words, but it didn’t matter. I had a duty to protect them. At that moment, as they laughed and chatted with each other while trying on their dresses, I felt my responsibility fully.

I looked down at my gown. It was fetching, daring, and bold. But I felt none of those things. I wanted to find the nearest closet to hide in. But more than ever, I had to be strong.

Putting on my game face, I turned to the seamstress. “Let’s see if we can find a lipstick to match this gown, shall we?”3

SEEING RED

Mistress Olivia put a hand over her heart when she saw me in the red dress. “Good heavens, child, His Highness is in for quite a shock!”

“Er…” My insides twisted as I adjusted the gown’s thin straps. The front of the dress was practically nonexistent; it plunged almost to my navel. I frowned at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The push-up bra had my assets prominently displayed. Now that my ensemble was complete, I had even more reservations. The seamstress had forced me into mile-high open-toed high heels, and Mistress Olivia had blown my hair out stick-straight. “It’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

Mistress Olivia gaped at me. “No, it is _not_. There’s nothing to it!” She fussed around with the bodice, trying to cover my chest more and failing. “I daresay you’re vampire bait, my lady.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Is that a bad thing or a good thing?”

“That all depends, of course. Good if the vampire is your betrothed, whom I trust inherently. Bad if it’s some vile foreign dignitary who attempts to kidnap you.” She sighed. “But I am being overprotective, I suppose. His Highness won’t let you out of his sight—or keep his hands off of you, for that matter.”

Someone knocked on the door, and I grinned at her. It was the prince. “I hope you’re right, of course.”

The door swung open, and two guards stepped through, lining the entrance.

“His Royal Highness, Prince Dominic Allard,” one of them formally announced.

Then the prince strode through, all six-foot-three, square-shouldered, solid-muscled handsomeness of him. He was wearing a jet-black ceremonial tunic, his ebony boots polished to a gleaming luster. His closely cropped dark hair framed his handsome face and square jaw perfectly, the fine bones in his cheeks jutting prominently in the firelight. But my favorite part of the view was, by far, his eyes. They were a dark, depthless brown, a color I’d never seen before and sparkled with warmth, humor, and kindness.

He did a double-take when he saw me. “Lady Victoria. You look stunning.”

“H-Hello.” He made me stutter. “You’re looking very dashing.”

He smiled at me, and my heart stopped. When I smiled back, he held out his arms for me. “Come here.” Dominic’s voice was husky, and the guards and Mistress Olivia looked away as I went to him. The prince carefully pulled me against his broad chest. “I missed you this afternoon,” he whispered. “You were gone too long.”

I looked up at him, worried. “Did anyone else notice?” I asked, careful to keep my voice low.

“No.” He released me and took my hand. But I could tell from his expression that he knew exactly what had happened. _Anthony._ Our mutual best friend must’ve told him about my mother’s attempted escape. “We should go.” He held onto me firmly, as if he were worried I might disappear. The prince nodded to the guards as he led me from the room. “Please give Lady Victoria and me some privacy on our way. We haven’t had an opportunity to speak this afternoon.”

The sentinels kept their distance as we swept down the hall. My heels echoed against the stone floor, and my long train flowed behind me. It was quiet…too quiet. Dominic and I always had to be careful about our conversations inside the palace; the queen had spies everywhere. My nerves became more and more on edge as we headed down the corridor. I was thrilled to be reunited with the prince, but I feared what the night held for us with my mother and sister, not to mention the queen.

“How are you, my lady?” he asked, keeping me close and his voice low.

“Better now that I’m with you.” I breathed a sigh of relief as I nestled against his powerful chest, careful not to trip in my barely there yet strangely restrictive ensemble. “The rest of the day’s been a bit of a disaster, though.”

“Anthony told me what happened. Your mother is lucid, at least. Isn’t that better than what you thought?”

When she’d first come to the kingdom, my mother didn’t appear to be able to either see or sense me. I’d escaped her recognition completely. Isabel had cursed my mother in order to protect her from seeing me with a vampire and also to keep her vampire husband, Emperor Lucas, away from her. “I think the spell was reversed somehow. She could see me, and she certainly knew me.”

Dominic frowned. “Maybe your sister’s not as powerful as she claims.”

“Maybe. Or maybe my mother’s stronger than my sister gave her credit for.”

“Perhaps. Anthony said she tried to escape and bring you with her.” He studied my face for a moment.

I exhaled shakily. “It’s true. She’s a bit…” I was uncertain what I could tell him and still save his feelings, so I tried to change the subject. “Does your mother have any idea about what happened?”

“Absolutely not. Anthony had the mess cleaned up before my mother caught wind of it, thank goodness.”

“I’ll have to remember to thank him for that.”

Dominic’s jaw was taut, and he had concern in his eyes.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

He pulled me closer to his side. “Anthony said your mother’s very upset. She told him she’d rather die than watch you marry me.”

“She doesn’t mean it. At least, she won’t once she gets to know you. I think she’s had a difficult experience with her vampire husband, is all. She’s worried about what life will be like for me, which is a legitimate concern, though it’s nothing to do with you.”

Dominic exhaled deeply. “I’d hoped to have your mother’s blessing, at least at some point. I was already certain that your sister’s completely out of reach.”

I squeezed his arm. “She may come around yet.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Victoria, please. At the very least, we should be honest with each other.”

“Okay, Iz’s a bit of a beast, and she hates vampires. I don’t see that changing any time soon.”

He laughed, but it was without humor. “We’re to be married soon. This is supposed to be a happy time for us.”

“It is.” I stopped walking and grabbed his hands. “But that doesn’t mean we should expect everyone to feel the same. They cannot feel what we feel. If they did, they’d be nothing _but_ happy for us.”

A small smile played on his lips. “That’s true. At least, I hope it is.”

“I, for one, am _very_ happy.” I smiled back at him, shoving my worries aside. “No matter what the troubles are around us, it’s still just me and you. We’d do well to remember that.”

He bent down and kissed my cheek very gently, careful not to smudge my makeup. “I agree, Victoria.” His cool breath on my cheek had me shivering. “And now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, I should tell you that I am more than fond of that dress. It is _very_ becoming.” His voice was a growl. “I declare it a keeper.”

My cheeks grew hot. I grinned up at him. “There isn’t very much of it to keep.”

“That’s fine with me.” He beamed down at me, then his face grew serious. “Are you ready for this evening? There’s quite a bit going on.”

I nodded, linking my hand through his again and squaring my shoulders as we started back down the hall, the guards still a respectful distance behind us. “The blood slaves will be here with the guards. They’re very excited about being included.”

“The council isn’t happy about it, of course. Which I rather think my mother enjoys.”

“I’m sure she does. Will she be making any sort of announcement tonight?” The queen planned to issue a decree about allowing the slaves to marry the guards, and the council was in an uproar about it, as it contravened centuries of vampire protocol. But she didn’t care about the council or the protocol. She only cared about herself and her plans to take over the realms. I wondered what the foreigners would make of her position.

“I think she’s going to wait. She wants to work everyone into a frenzy, and leave them gossiping about what’s going to happen.”

“Sounds like your mother,” I said. “Who else will be in attendance tonight?”

“Many of the foreign guests arrived this afternoon, some of whom I’ve never met. We have the empress from the north, the southern laird and his family—this is the largest gathering of vampire dignitaries we’ve had in years. I’m meant to show you off, of course. I imagine that gown will be a big hit.”

I fidgeted. “Stay close, please?”

He chuckled. “There is literally no chance I’m taking my hands off you for the rest of the night.”

“Ha-ha.” But thank goodness he wasn’t joking. Facing my family again, not to mention the emperor and the queen, had me queasy. We reached the grand ballroom, and I wasn’t the least bit sorry to have his hands secured to my waist.

Everyone stopped talking as soon as we crossed the threshold. The ballroom was packed, the women wearing brightly colored gowns and the men wearing dark ceremonial tunics. Alexandra, Elise, and Constance were standing in a knot together, whispering. Many vampire guardsmen were in attendance, wearing their finest decorated uniforms. Through the crowd, I thought I glimpsed my sister, her hair in an elaborate updo, a marigold ball gown billowing out around her, but my mother was nowhere in sight.

“Are you ready?” Dominic asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Queen Danica spotted us from across the room. She and King Declan were surrounded by what looked like vampire dignitaries. The queen was wearing a crimson gown, the same color as mine. _She wants us to look like we belong together, that we’re on the same side._ I shivered as she motioned for us to enter then nodded to the sentinels who lined the entryway.

_No, I am not ready,_ I thought. _Not ready at all._4

THE PLUNGE

I waited, clutching Dominic, as one sentinel sounded a trumpet. Another guard stepped forward. “Announcing His Royal Highness, Prince Dominic Allard, and his betrothed, Lady Victoria from Margate.” Polite applause broke out, and I was glad for the noise. Most likely, Isabel was snorting at the announcement—I was lucky I couldn’t hear her. I steeled myself as we swept into the room.

True to his word, Dominic kept me close as the reception guests prepared for the guests of honor. Two lines formed across the ballroom, facing each other—blood slaves and off-duty guards in one line and council members and vampires I’d never seen before in the other.

“Just smile and nod,” Dominic said under his breath, his instructions mirroring the one Professor Talbot had already given the humans. “Don’t shake hands—vampires aren’t used to such contact from humans. And don’t be surprised if they stare, because they will. That’s why you’re wearing such a skimpy gown—to show off what a prize I have.” He pulled me protectively against him. “Of course, I already know how lucky I am.”

“Okay.” I looked down at my dress. The vampires, along with everyone else, were certainly going to get an eyeful.

“Don’t worry.” Dominic chuckled. “I mean, under normal circumstances, I would absolutely tell you to worry, but I’ve got you. Let them look. Besides, if anyone dared to try to drink from you…”

Any vampire who drank from me would most likely die on the spot. _One of the perks of being an intercross._ I looked around nervously. _Does anyone know what I actually am?_

Dom kissed my cheek, and my whole body warmed up, flushing with pleasure. It didn’t matter what else was happening. Being so close to Dominic made me burn with longing. I ached to be alone with him, safe in his arms. At least they were wrapped around me, protecting me against a pack of bloodthirsty vampires.

I plastered a smile on my face as we began working our way down the lines of guests. I greeted the blood slaves warmly, along with the guards. I was more reserved with the foreign guests, meeting each dignitary with a tight-lipped smile. Several of them spoke languages I’d never heard before, but all of their gazes, of both the men and the women, traveled appreciatively and a tad inappropriately down my dress.

It was unanimous: all eyes were on me, raking over me hungrily. Several of the dignitaries whispered to each other as Dominic and I proceeded down the line. I had no idea what they thought of our union or what, if anything, the queen had told them about me. The only thing I was certain of was that my dress was an unbridled hit.

My tenuous confidence faltered when I reached Emperor Lucas and my sister. The emperor’s gray hair was combed back severely from his lined forehead, his slightly hooked nose and flaring nostrils giving him the appearance of sneering at me. He studied me coldly, with vague distaste, and I was relieved to see that his gaze didn’t dwell on my décolletage.

“Emperor Lucas.” I half curtsied to him.

He nodded at me dismissively and completely without recognition, immediately focusing on Dominic. “Congratulations, Your Highness. I wish you every happiness from your union.”

Dominic nodded once, equally cool. “Emperor.”

My sister was next. I was curious about what her relationship with the emperor was like. They were standing next to each other stiffly. Still, she looked lovely in her deep-yellow gown, her hair braided and arranged elaborately in an updo. I wondered what the other vampires made of my sister and what they knew about my family’s history. Looking around, I watched as the dignitaries eyed my sister and me. _Do they think her as scrumptious as me?_ They would be in for a surprise if they attempted to bite her. Or maybe they all knew what we were, and that hunger in their eyes was for something else—a desire to destroy us.

Isabel held her head high. She didn’t appear to be afraid of a thing as she dropped into a perfect curtsy. When she rose, she looked me square in the eye. “Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Thank you, Lady Isabel.”

She nodded at Dominic. “And to you, Your Highness. I am sure your union will bring you great bounty.” The fact that she didn’t mention happiness wasn’t lost on me. She didn’t think that was possible for us.

“I’m less concerned with my bounty than with Lady Victoria’s happiness,” Dominic said.

Isabel’s face was a smooth, perfect mask. “We’ll see about that.”

The emperor looked at her sharply, and I cleared my throat—I didn’t want him frowning at my sister like that. “Where is the Empress Elizabeth?”

“She was weary from our travels and is in her chambers, resting,” Emperor Lucas said, watching Isabel’s expression. “She hasn’t been well of late.”

“Maybe she just needs to be left alone,” Isabel said pointedly.

My sister needed to shut her mouth. “I hope she feels better soon.” I smiled at them, a strained silence settling over us. No matter what, I felt truly sorry for my mother. Yes, she’d accosted me at knifepoint earlier that day, but she was still my mom. I hoped both the emperor and my sister would take pity on her.

Neither Emperor Lucas nor Isabel said anything else, and I had the sense that we’d been dismissed. I was on the verge of being grateful that we’d reached the end of the line, but Queen Danica and King Declan were waiting, watching us from the raised dais where they were presiding over the festivities. Steeling myself for what was sure to be either a completely fake or a completely unpleasant conversation—or most likely, both—I studied my future in-laws as we made our way toward them. The king was tall, his broad shoulders and athletic build visible beneath his tight-fitting ceremonial uniform. He had the same dark hair as Dominic and a trim gray beard.

The queen was just as tall as her husband. Although the king was handsome, the queen’s beauty fully eclipsed him. She was stunning, her coffee-colored skin glowing in the candlelight, her raven hair tumbling past her shoulders, a jeweled crown gleaming atop her head. The queen’s gown, the same crimson silk as mine, hugged both her muscles and her curves. I grimaced at our matching dresses. She wanted to show everyone that I belonged to her. Remembering her recent words, I shivered.

“_You helped me, and now I will help you. And it helps us_ both _to have the guards unwaveringly loyal to our cause. They are on the right side now, you see.”_

_“And which side is that?”_

_Queen Danica smiled at me. “Our side, of course, dear. Our side.”_

Our side, indeed. But though they matched in color, our gowns made two very different statements. Mine was designed to put my body on display. The queen’s was designed to showcase her power. Not just her physical strength, which I believed to be great, but also her station. Her dress’s neckline was studded with jewels—diamonds and sapphires and emeralds. There was no chance they were fake, nor were they merely for show. Queen Danica was staking her claim. She did not just look like the queen of the kingdom that evening. In her regal attire, covered from head to toe with jewels, standing on a raised platform above all the other dignitaries, she looked like what she aspired to become: the ruler of the realms.

My heart plunged as low as my neckline when we reached them.

“Darling.” The queen made a great show of air-kissing Dominic on each cheek. “Look at how handsome and regal you are. You command the room, my son.”

“Thank you, Mother. You’re looking very ostentatious.”

She arched an eyebrow. “I’ll take that as a compliment, even though that’s clearly not the intended spirit.” She turned to me. “Lady Victoria. I am very pleased with your choice of gown. It’s perfect for the occasion and sends the right message.”

“Th-thank you.” I looked down at what there was of my dress, frowning.

“You look worthy of being indoctrinated into the royal family, dear. It’s a first for you—enjoy it.” The queen sounded at once annoyed and pleased. “Every vampire in here desires you. I’ve already had several of the dignitaries remark that they might also encourage members of their court to look into the concept of human spouses.”

Dominic and I shot each other quick looks.

“Really?” he asked. “Why’s that?”

“Because it’s been forbidden for so long, bringing a human into the family is viewed as very forward-thinking. It’s considered _liberated_ and a bit sexy. No one dares broach the topic of children, of course. I suppose they’re waiting to see what we do first.”

“But what about my mother…and my sister?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “Empress Elizabeth is human. What does everyone make of that?”

After an awkward pause, during which the king guzzled his wine while Queen Danica arched an eyebrow, she said, “This is only the second time in history the emperor has brought your mother to court. The talk has always been that she’s some sort of witch, that she put a curse on him to force him into marrying her. There’s no other explanation for it. She hasn’t aged well—she’s not exactly a looker, your mother.”

“She used to be.” My tone was defensive.

The queen waved me off. “The emperor is considered rather eccentric, and he’s extremely private. No one really knows what he’s been up to in his isolated realm, and quite frankly, most of the other rulers don’t care. I see his value because he’s an ancient and powerful vampire. But the others don’t because he’s not fashionable.”

I looked out at the crowd, scanning until I found the emperor. He was standing stiffly next to my sister, peering down his hooked nose at the other guests. No one came near him.

“Our family is a different matter altogether,” the queen continued. “Dominic is young, handsome, and charismatic—he’s a royal superstar. So now that he’s marrying _you_, __ all the other dignitaries want to copy us. You’re like the hottest new accessory, Victoria. Everyone wants one now!” She tittered, and King Declan motioned to a nearby waiter, who immediately refilled his wine goblet. Queen Danica paid him no mind. “Dominic, I need you to make sure that you mingle with all the right people. It’s very important, of course, that you highlight Victoria’s humble background.” She leaned forward and looked around, making sure no one could overhear. “Margate’s our story, and we’re sticking to it.”

Dominic’s arm tightened around me protectively. “I agree with that, at least.”

“Excellent. Don’t let Victoria speak too much. She might screw it up.”

His face grew stormy. “Mother—”

She waved him off. “Oh, hush now, Dommy. I’m letting you marry her. Stop your whining. We’ll want you two to chat with the laird and his family and of course the empress from the north. I must mention that she’s a bit of a sourpuss. I guess it’s because no matter how much land she has, her people do not love her. In fact, they call her Her Horsiness—have you heard that terrible laugh of hers, Declan? It’s like she’s braying.”

King Declan responded by chugging more wine.

“Who else do we need to lobby, Mother?” Dominic asked, his voice tight.

“Fashionable or not, Emperor Lucas and his hellish wards are still at the top of my list. You must win them over, Dommy. Especially the girl.” Queen Danica’s eyes narrowed as she watched my sister listlessly pop grapes into her mouth, staring out at the partygoers with a mixture of revulsion and boredom. “I hear she’s being quite insolent.”

I was dying to ask what she meant, but the queen motioned for us to enter the fray. “Tick tock. Get to work, you two. And make sure you’re extremely positive about the guards and the blood slaves. My proposal has everyone talking, of course.”

“Of course,” Dominic said under his breath as he led me to the bar and nodded to the server. “Two champagnes, please.” He handed me my flute then tipped his glass toward me. “May the gods keep you.”

We clinked our flutes together. “I’ll drink to that.” I was going to need the gods’ help to get through the evening, let alone everything else. “What did your mother mean about my sister? What’s happened? What have you heard?”

Dom’s brow furrowed as he watched Isabel. She’d drifted away from the emperor, who was examining a large antique painting. My sister was sullenly drinking from her own flute of champagne.

“I don’t know. But we should go and see her. She’s looking rather isolated.” Dominic drained his glass.

“Dominic, one thing.” I leaned closer to him. “I hadn’t thought to ask until now, with all the excitement, but…does anyone know what Isabel actually is? I know your mother says people don’t care about the emperor, but they still must talk. If they think my mother’s a witch, what do they make of my sister?”

“The common theory is that she is the emperor’s stepchild. She and your mother were gone for a long stretch of her childhood, which is why the other vampires were so easily convinced that she was not his biological child. Also, you must remember that your sister is only sixteen. For vampires, that is a very short span of time. So they have gossiped about her, to be sure, but in the scheme of things, it hasn’t been long, and she’s been gone for most of the time.”

“But doesn’t anyone suspect that she’s his biological daughter?” I asked.

Dom’s face darkened. “Having a child with a human has been expressly forbidden up until now. To accuse the emperor of such conduct would be akin to charging him with a serious crime. As my mother said, he’s mostly kept to himself in his own realm, and he is very powerful. I don’t think any of the other dignitaries have wanted to quarrel with him like that—it’s not worth it to them.”

“But the queen intends to change all that, about the children.” I swallowed hard as Dom studied my face. “Don’t you think it’s going to cause an uproar? She’s started already with us. Now, with the blood slaves and the guards, isn’t she asking for a stake to be sharpened in her name?”

“If only it were that easy.” The prince studied the crowd. “The others look up to my mother. She’s extremely old and powerful. And she’s the opposite of Emperor Lucas in that she’s the very height of fashion. Where she leads, they very well may follow.”

I watched the queen, who’d come down from her platform to mingle with the dignitaries. “Your mother’s boldness isn’t safe, but that doesn’t seem to be deterring her.”

The prince finished his champagne. “She believes that fortune favors her. Her boldness is based on her confidence. Oh, bloody hell.”

“What’s the matter?”

But he didn’t need to answer. I followed his gaze back to my sister. Anthony was standing before her, a grin on his face as he held his hand out to her, apparently asking her to dance. But Isabel’s face was red with rage. She looked as if she might stake Anthony right there, in front of the most powerful vampires in the realm. I hung onto Dominic’s hand for dear life as we raced for them.