Page 73

As if to prove my point, she swallowed thickly. The smallest coat of pink stained her cheeks.

Ah, how I wish to keep you for just a bit longer.

She had been such a refreshing break in the constant downpour that had been my life. With her, I didn’t have to think about the prince or my duties to the palace.

I was justexisting. And what a relief it was to justbe.

“Is this a part of your plan?” she asked, doubt heavy in her voice. “I didn’t expect us to go to another one of these with your wedding so close.”

“Don’t remind me,” I said with a scowl. “But yes. It’s a part of my…plan.”

More like a final effort. I wished I had any semblance of a plan.

“Please tell me it doesn’t involve thatdaddyvampire.” The word “daddy” was coated in disgust.

For the first time in days, I let out a real laugh. But instead of lifting the immeasurable weight off my chest, it just made ittighter. Like it was a reminder that this might be the last time I ever let out such a genuine laugh ever again.

The car came to a stop, and I gave her a halfhearted smile before stepping out.

No, it wasn’t the daddy vampire. It was another vampire entirely. One more powerful than him, and one who could kill me in a second.

And she was waiting for me, right at the entrance.

It had taken more than a few bribes to get the human guards to send a message to her, but it worked.

Atlas Nox stood before me in all her glory. Long black hair was pinned at the sides and flowed down her back. Her usually hazel eyes had just a hint of red in them. And her full lips were pulled into a smirk.

She wore a black button-up that dipped low on her chest with matching black pants topped with a bloodred coat with black swirls meticulously sewn in. I think I even caught some small jewels shimmering in the dim light.

She didn’t partake in families like most vampires of her status did. Instead, she decided to keep them as small clans, but had them dispersed around the country. Something reminiscent of the past. No one truly knew how many people pledged their allegiance to her or how big her army could get.

That was a part of her power.

I was lucky to even catch her in this part of the country.

Her face lit up as I came closer, and in an instant, her arms were around me, pulling me to her. I inhaled deeply, letting myself find even just the littlest bit of comfort in her embrace.

“Aurelia! How long has it been? You look stunning as usual.”

“Atlas,” I greeted and pulled away with a smile. “I would have gotten in contact sooner if I could have.”

Her hands squeezed my shoulders.

“Yes, well, I know your father is—oh,who are you?” Her attention was immediately pulled to Vesper as she walked up behind us.

“A guard,” she answered, though there was a tone to her voice that Atlas caught right away. In an instant, the happy-go-lucky version she had shown was gone, and in its place was a stare that made even my skin crawl.

“A plaything,” I corrected her, and placed my hand on Atlas’s hip. “Shall we?”

She gave Vesper a lingering glance before nodding and plastering another one of those brilliant smiles on her face.

“After you, my love.”

Vesper

Ihated that vampire.

Something was off about her, and I had an inkling of suspicion she was insane.