Page 36

I did. I wanted to get back at her, but she turned this into something else entirely. How was I to go back with her to the palace, have her stand by me day in and day out, andnotremember what happened between us?

I opened my mouth to tell her to wipe the look off her face, but there was a commotion out near the entrance. All vampires in the area stiffened, many looking back to the hallway that led to the entrance.

There was fighting. Shoving. The sound of glass shattering. Voices raised. Grunts. Bodies colliding into each other.

My eyes met Fredrick’s as he quickly tried to conceal Dalia.

There’s an uninvited guest.

Then, chaos.

Vampires started to filter out of the room and run out the back, many trying to hide their faces. Crowds passed, none of them daring to peek inside to see what was happening. The risk of being caught by an uninvited guest was too great.

They were not held to the same standards as everyone else here, and if it was a royal who got involved, it was unlikely that we would be able to kill them for what they saw.

I jolted up, nodding to Fredrick.The night’s business had to be cut short, and I would have to find us some other time to talk.Vesper was still between my legs, her eyes carefully watching my reaction.

I fixed my underwear and dress before pulling her up.

“Something’s not right?—”

“Uninvited guest,” I muttered and pushed her along with the crowd. I ignored the temptation to look at the entrance. “All vampires heard it. We are now exposed and have to get out of here before?—”

Vesper dragged me closer and placed her arms over my head, shielding me from any possible view.

Another surprise.Any other guard would be trying to run out and save their own hide, but she somehow thought to try and hide me first.

We were pushed by the crowd of panicking patrons, all of us trying to get out as soon as possible. Bodies slammed into us, vampires and humans alike. Their voices ringing in my ears.

It felt like an eternity before we finally made it out to the gardens at the back of the house. All the staff who had been lingering up front were now waiting at the far end of the garden wall in a single line, as per protocol. All faces shrouded in darkness.

Vesper spotted our driver before I did and steered us toward him.

“Jacket,” Vesper ordered him as soon as we got close enough. He gave her a startled look before slipping off his jacket and handing it to her.

Warmth enveloped me as she placed it over my head and shoulders.

“Princess, the car is waiting,” my driver said and quickly led us out of the mass of people.

It wasn’t until we were safely in the car and driving away that I dared peek at the entrance.

Not one but three vampires were forced to the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.

My dead heart lodged in my throat when I recognized their uniforms.

“Looks like the prince is not so keen on finding his wife in a sex dungeon,” Vesper murmured.

Of course she just had to fucking open her mouth.

“He was kicked out,” I hissed, my eyes darting to hers. Her mouth was still shining with my wetness. When she noticed where my gaze landed, she licked her lips. “Alongtime ago.”

“How embarrassing,” she said with a sly tone. “Princess Aurelia coming in under three minutes, all thanks to the weak human guard. The prince must really beawfulin bed?—”

“Shut it,” I growled. “No one asked you to defame the prince like that.”

She raised a brow at me. “Then what do you call spreading your legs for a human in front of all those people? You think my words changed what they thought of you? You think that one remark all of a sudden made what you were doing in front of them any less insulting than if you fucked me right in front of him?”

Her words caused my mouth to slam shut.