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A guard stepped forward, announcing us all. His booming voice reverberated around the ancient stone walls. It was then he turned toward the suitors. He went right down the line, introducing first their clan and then the men themselves. All the prominent Ravana Clan members who’d been invited craned their necks to see them. In my head, I knew this would be a spectacle. It was a new idea, so there would always be questions, but since this was basically an arrangement of marriages, people were particularly interested.

When one man’s name was called, the crowd gasped. I quickly scanned the tables and stopped, my heart pounding against my chest. I had zoned out while they were introducing the clans, but this one was different. The Rajyviks.

Whispers rose up. It was easy to guess what they were all saying. They weren’t a ruling clan. Over the years, they’d practically joined with the Ravanas because we were so close. Their ranks had gotten smaller and could therefore no longer support their own ruling body.

I locked eyes with Alexei. He took the slight in stride, never wavering, only standing when his clan was called along with his mother Natalie. Alexander was there, too, with Christopher, Alexei’s older brother.

A figure stood, drawing everyone’s attention. He spoke loud enough over the crowd until they quieted down. He was stark and formidable, and from what I’d seen of his clan already, very much rule followers. “May I ask the kings and queen of the Ravana Clan why a clan with no leadership whatsoever has been allowed to offer up a future mate for the future queen?”

Down the line, Papa Christian prepared to answer, but I drove to my feet instead. “Nolan Clan, thank you for your inquiry.”

Theo Nolan’s father’s eyes rounded as I addressed him personally.

“It was my decision to include the Rajyvik Clan. Since it is my personal future we are all here for, I’m sure you will understand that it is my wish.”

I prepared to sit, but Nolan spoke up again. “With all due respect, Princess. It is not just your future at stake here. We have come on good faith that you will choose to align yourselves with a number of the ruling clans all over the world for the sake of our people. The Rajyviks are not a ruling clan.”

I could feel Papa Stephan’s eyes on me, though I didn’t look down at him. I knew they all wanted to help, but this was something I had to take care of on my own. Instead of sitting, I continued to stand. “With all due respect, Sir, you will have to trust that I make my decisions for the good of the clans in all possible manners, including this one. The decision is final, but I thank you for your question. Please move on,” I said, nodding to the guard who’d been running the ceremony.

I sat without looking at the Nolan Clan table again, my stomach in knots. I felt the wave of pride coming from my family, but we dared not look at one another for the sake of keeping face, and not embarrassing the Nolan Clan any further. All this was a tricky business, but I was going to be queen someday, and I could not have anyone questioning my decisions right from the beginning.

I, however, did let my gaze wander to Alexei. He was staring at me, his blue eyes intense as he regarded me. He dropped his chin when he saw me looking at him, and I wondered again why he took up such formality with me sometimes.

When all this was over, he was going to pay for this. Not telling me he wanted to be involved. Making me stick up for him in front of everyone. Even now, I restrained the urge to give him a dirty look he so deserved. Or worse. Though, I don’t think I wanted people remembering I flipped a possible future mate off during the welcome ceremony.

Beyond all that though, my mind was already working on what I was going to do with him. Alexei, my best friend, or so I’d thought. Could I add him to be one of my future mates? Did I feel for him in that way now? Or could I ever?

I guessed that was the larger question here. I couldn’t fall in love with these men over the weekend. I could only choose them based on what I felt my propensity to love them was. Whether I could open my whole heart to them in the future. There would be those I could trust, and those I couldn’t. Those I felt would be safe with my heart—and the good of the clan—and those who wouldn’t. I would have to go with that feeling first and foremost.

Chapter Five

It wasn’t until the potential mates were called upon to show me one skill that it dawned on me we were missing a family. The Rajyviks had their own table, but that table had not initially been assigned to them. I leaned to my mother as the guard introduced Alexei to come forth in front of everyone to display his chosen fighting skill. “Where are the Chang’s?”

Without looking at me, she said, “We’re unsure. There’s been no word from them at all. We assumed they would send one of theirs, but it’s possible they chose not to.”

My fingers dug into the armrest of the wooden chair. Most would have sent word, and I felt the slight, intentional or not. I did not want anyone to be here who did not wish to, but to not send word at all was downright disrespectful.

I clenched my teeth but dwelling on it would have to wait. Alexei approached our long table. He bowed after he came to a stop in front of us. I moved to the edge of my seat. I knew Alexei’s fighting style. He was the absolute best at hand-to-hand, but how could he show that here without an opponent. My stomach churned for him in the brief few seconds as he stood before us. My heart reached out. I was closer to Alexei than anyone beside my immediate family. The last thing I wanted was for him to be embarrassed and unprepared.

A yell came from out of nowhere though. My heart raced as a figure ran from the back of the room toward Alexei. Three others appeared, and a battle ensued in front of us. I tried to rise to my feet, but Mother put her hand on my knee. “He is showing us his skill, Izzy. Calm yourself,” she reminded gently.

It was instinct. Instinct to want to jump from the chair and help my friend. At the same time though, a heavy rush of embarrassment poured over me. Alexei would be mortified if anyone had seen I’d been willing to jump over the table to help him, especially during this.

I took a deep breath and leaned back in the chair as casually as possible. He dismissed the first attack easily, but then two converged on him at the same time. He locked the first one up, and then moved him in front of his body as a shield while he dealt with the second, incapacitating him by throwing his shield’s head at his opponent’s. Their heads cracked off of one another and the crowd hissed. It was brutal. I wondered who he had gotten to volunteer to do this for him. Students? Other teachers? They were all wearing masks, so it was impossible to tell. What was readily apparent though, was Alexei’s skill. I’d always known he was the best. This wasn’t about showing me or my family, this was about proving it to the rest of the ruling clans. The Rajyviks were a clan to be reckoned with. They might not hold a title or ruling power, but they were as honorable and skilled as any other prominent clan.

Pride seeped through my pores and I could not help but smile at Alexei as he sank a sidekick into his last opponent’s midsection, sending him flying in the air. The masked attacker crumpled to the floor and a round of applause rose from the crowd.

A long time ago, vampires weren’t encouraged to fight, as ridiculous as that sounded. They had superior strength and abilities that were needed for the fighting arts. It wasn’t until my mother came and encouraged the vampires to look out for their own safety that vampires training became more essential. They stopped letting the humans do their dirty work for them and started doing it themselves. Samuel Rajyvik, Alexei’s uncle whom he’d never met, had been one of the first casualties after they decided to start standing up for themselves using their own skills. Though he hadn’t succeeded, Samuel’s name would always go down in history for changing it forever.

Alexei’s family history was just as important as the rest of ours, and he just showed that.

He stood in front of us once more and bowed his head. Afterward, he helped the surrounding guards right his opponents and then checked on them individually. I felt Papa Stephan’s anxiety as to their well-being. He peered over the table, assessing them for permanent injuries. When all of them walked away without assistance to their own round of applause, he calmed down.

When Alexei took his seat, Felix Dumont stood, that same smirk on his face. The guard announced, “The Dumont Clan would like to go next.”

Felix shook his head, a sneer replacing the smirk. “Since you don’t mind inquiries, Princess, may I ask to why this is needed? I mean, I admit, Rajyvik’s skill was tremendous indeed, but to what end? Are we supposed to show our proclivity for defending you? What of your skills I’ve heard so much rumor of? There is so much mystery.”

Gasps sounded from around the room and the smile on Dumont’s face widened. So, this was his reason for being here. To question, to cause unnecessary drama.