Page 22 of Cruel Vampire King (Honeyblood Vampires #1)

When I woke the next morning, there was a pleasant ache through my body. I felt as though I’d gone hard in a workout the previous night—which, looking back, I definitely did. I stretched, noting a particular soreness between my legs. It was the same sort of pleasant ache that came from a day of successful training.

“Morning,” I murmured as I opened my eyes.

I was alone.

I pushed myself up, letting the blankets fall around my waist. The big room was bathed in golden sunlight, and without Luken to distract me, I took in my surroundings. We were in the same room I’d been brought to for the masque. Slipping out of bed, I padded over to the massive library stacked up against the wall. Finally, I was going to have time to indulge my reading. I hadn’t read anything but instructional books for four years.

I’d saved Thessa. I gave up my one wish to do it, but Luken was powerful, and he was ready to challenge the Gods. He’d save Darcie. I was sure of it.

I glanced down at myself, at the vivid tattoos spread over my torso. They were beautiful. I touched them, and winced when my fingers traced the rough texture of my scars. So, I wasn’t miraculously healed. Like Luken told me—it seemed like ages ago—they were a testament of my strength. But thinking of my scars made me think of something else.

The bed was crumpled, and I returned to it, throwing back the blankets to check the sheets. There were smears of blood on the sheets that had dried to a brownish-red, transferred from my body. Some of it was mine. Some of it was Thessa’s. I smirked as I started to strip it off.

The door opened and I turned, but it wasn’t Luken who entered. A vampire woman with glowing blue eyes came in. I covered myself, but she didn’t seem to notice my lack of dress.

“Good morning, my lady,” she greeted with a curtsy. “I’m here to prepare you for the feast.”

“Feast?” I repeated.

“The celebration to honor the lives sacrificed during the Blood Trials,” she answered, peeking at me through her lashes. “And to celebrate you as the winner.”

I nodded. Still, with a blanket around me, I went to the bathing room, where I ran myself a bath. The maid kept trying to do things for me, so I finally sent her to the main room while I scrubbed myself clean. She had selected an appropriate cocktail dress by the time I was done. She did my hair and makeup quickly, perhaps sensing my impatience.

Luken would be at the feast. He must have had urgent business to take care of and that’s why he left. I hardly noticed the way she put my hair up, and I certainly didn’t spare a glance in the mirror before I left the bedroom. The maid led me to a large dining hall. A dozen or so vampires were already there, including Marissa. She smiled and whispered to the elegantly dressed woman next to her. She was a tall redhead with glowing green eyes and gave me a quick, dismissive look.

Disappointment hit my stomach. Luken wasn’t here at all.

Quickly, though, that disappointment turned. “Thessa!”

I hurried over to where Thessa stood in a corner, tugging at the tight-fitting dress she wore. Her eyes glowed brown, and when she glanced at me, I thought I had seen fear in them. But then her shoulders relaxed. A small, hesitant smile crossed her face, and she nodded once at me. I slid to stand next to her, my back to the wall. The vampires milled about, murmuring to each other.

“How are you feeling?” I asked Thessa, staring intently at her. I had no idea what changes happened when someone was turned into a vampire.

“Different,” Thessa answered. She held a glass in her hand, and with the ring finger of her other hand, she traced circles around the lip. “You make them nervous.”

I lifted an eyebrow.

Thessa jerked her chin toward the other vampires, who quickly pretended like they hadn’t been watching us. “They don’t know what your presence means. I think the only one who isn’t worried is that silver-eyed woman.”

Marissa glanced over, laughed, and linked her arm through the redhead’s.

With a delicate shudder, Thessa turned slightly, so her back was more toward the other vampires. Her gaze landed heavily on me. “You entered the Blood Trials to save Darcie, didn’t you?”

I nodded.

“But you used your one wish to save me instead.”

I nodded again. Though my stomach cramped when I thought of Darcie still out there, still doomed to be sacrificed, but we had several months yet. “It won’t happen until the end of the year. It gives me time. I’m the king’s donor now. I have more power than I used to.”

Thessa’s eyes grew distant as she touched the pendant at her throat. “So do I. I received a pardon. I’m not marked for death, and I’m a vampire… no lands, no money, but I have the blood. And you.” A fierce look of determination swept over her face as she turned to seize my hands. “Promise me that we’ll get Darcie out. Promise me that you didn’t trade her life for mine.”

“I swear it,” I told her seriously. “We will save her.”

Thessa nodded, drawing herself more upright. Her gaze swept over the gathered vampires again. None of them, not even Marissa, watched us. “It won’t be easy… the location of the temples moves every day. We’ll have to find where they are if we’re going to get her out before it’s too late.”

“Wait, the location changes?” I gaped.

Thessa nodded. “We never knew what would be outside the door when we woke up in the mornings. It’s one of the reasons we had such a strict curfew. If you’re outside of the temple walls when they move, then you’re left behind. It’s how I got away. I slipped out just before it moved.”

There was so much that I didn’t know about the world I lived in. I’d have to study harder if I was going to figure it out. “But Luken will know. He’ll help us.”

As though drawn by my words, the huge double doors at the far end of the room opened. Luken was announced as he strode in, wearing all black. A pleased smile played about his lips. His eyes met mine quickly, and his smile widened. Mine did, too. My heart fluttered, and Thessa gave me a quick, searching glance.

“You do know he won’t be able to come with us, right? Men can’t get to the temples unless they’re specifically invited. And if the Gods know we’re coming to take Darcie, they won’t let him near. We’ll have to go without him.” She spoke rapidly under her breath. There was a strange note to her voice, like she distrusted that Luken would come with us regardless.

The thought of leaving him again made my stomach clench but I pushed it aside. I’d get Darcie, and come back. After feeling the way he touched me last night and seeing the look in his eye as he moved in me, I knew one thing for certain.

I loved him.

I’d loved him for four years. I fell in love the moment I saw him. And from the way he looked at me, the way he mourned me when he thought I was dead, I was pretty sure he loved me, too.

“Welcome, friends.” Luken spread his arms, grinning at everyone. “I’m glad to see my closest companions all here, gathered for a feast. I present to you my new donor, Elara Tideborne. Elara.”

He held his hand out to me. My heart skipped a beat as I went to him, taking his hand. Our skin tingled where it touched. He lifted my palm to his lips and pressed my wrist into his nose, inhaling deeply.

“Ahhh. You smell even better, knowing what you taste like. It’s a shame we can’t have our own feast like last night.” He winked at me, causing me to blush.

I felt like a teenager again. Everything had worked out. With Luken, I was going to save Darcie, and then I’d have the charmed life I wanted. The man who killed my family was punished for it. I’d found the loophole to save Thessa and I would find another one to save Darcie.

Luken pulled a chair out for me, then took the one next to me. Marissa sat on my other side, and Thessa was placed at the far end of the table. Servants came out with plates laden with food. Roast meat, savory pies, seasoned vegetables. It was more than I’d ever seen before, and my mouth watered. I’d heard that vampires enjoyed indulging in normal food, even if it didn’t sustain them the way blood did. I started to load my plate, suddenly ravenous.

Marissa served herself a delicate portion of roast lamb and cleared her throat. “Well, Elara. You’ve won the Blood Trials, and you have a place at the king’s table and in his bed. What’s the first thing you’re going to do with this new life of yours?”

I smiled. “I had a sister survive the slaughter of my family.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Luken lowering his fork.

“She was taken from the nunnery where I recovered from my burns and claimed as a tribute for the Gods. It’s her final year before she’s sacrificed.” I fought back the sick feeling that filled me. I wasn’t alone in this anymore. “Thessa and I are going to find the temples and get my sister out before that can happen.”

Marissa’s eyes widened. Several of the other vampires grew quiet and shot almost… fearful looks at Luken.

“You will do no such thing,” he rumbled.

I turned, my gaze briefly catching Thessa’s. Her hands clenched into fists, staring wide-eyed at me. Before I could tell Luken exactly what I meant, he continued.

“I will not allow you to leave.”

My whole body jolted as though he’d struck me. Not allow me? When did I agree to be his property? My hands clenched into fists. I tried to remind myself that he was probably just concerned for me. But I didn’t like it.

“You won’t allow me?” I repeated softly. “I’m not asking for permission. Everything I’ve done, is to save my sister. I’m not going to let the Gods kill her. She’s the only family I have left.”

Luken leaned back in his chair, his eyes still narrowed.

“You can’t keep me here against my will,” I spat. As soon as I did it, I realized I was saying the wrong things. I needed to explain to him that as soon as Darcie was free and safe, I’d be more than happy to stay with him—I just didn’t like him making unilateral decisions for me as though I had no mind of my own.

He recognized that now wasn’t the best place for us to have this discussion, too. Not with all the staring eyes. He pushed back his chair and held his hand to me. I took it, grateful that he reached out to me still. He pulled me to my feet rougher than I expected. His arm wrapped tightly around my waist, and he half-carried me out of the room. I caught a glimpse of startled faces before we were in a closet.

Luken’s hard body pressed up against mine, and a fire swept through my veins. Even angry at him, I couldn’t help but enjoy the feeling of him against me. And judging by his hardening length, he was just as intoxicated by my presence.

The fantasy was short-lived.

“I very well can keep you here, or anywhere else for that matter, as long as I want,” he snarled, his face inches from mine. “I’m the king. My word is law in this kingdom.”

“Then you’ll send for my sister and get her out of the temples,” I answered quickly. “You’ll have her brought here, and I won’t have a reason to want to leave.”

Luken’s amber eyes blazed more brightly. “Is that what this has all been about, then? Your sister?”

“Everything I’ve done, it’s been for her.”

His hand roughly grasped my hip and pulled me tight against him. “Is that why you gave me your virginity? Because you thought it would buy your sister’s life?”

My fingers curled into his shirt. “I slept with you because I want you. Because I’ve felt the connection between us for four years, even when I hated you. But you said… last night…” I struggled to remember his exact words and gave up. “You’re the king. You can get her back.”

Luken snarled lightly. “I wish I’d fucking known that’s what you wanted before now. All that talk about saving your team, and this random panther girl! What were you thinking? You should have asked for your sister if you wanted to save her.”

The heat of his touch cooled. My scalp prickled. “Luken…”

“There was a prophecy long ago. Only a king united with his true mate can defeat the Gods and free this land from their cruel grip.” Luken’s own grip tightened. His fingers bruised my skin. “You are my true mate, Elara. I knew it the moment I saw you. And you knew it, too. It’s why you have felt this draw to me, even when you didn’t want it.”

I remained silent, trying to process what he was saying.

He nuzzled my neck, inhaling my scent. “The moment our eyes met, we both felt it. That connection. From the instant I saw you, I knew you were meant to be mine. That your blood would make me stronger than anything else. You were the one that would fulfil the prophecy.”

Was that all it was, then? The prophecy is what brought us together? I tried to think of it as a romantic fate but I couldn’t quite get there. This was all so… confusing.

“It’s why my brother targeted you. It’s why your family was killed, because he was trying to keep me from getting you. You have no idea how powerful I will be with you at my side, Elara.” He touched my chin, and this time, he was gentle. “It’s why the Gods set my brother up to do their dirty work. I will overthrow them, and you are central to those plans.”

“If you want to overthrow them, then you can make your first act saving my sister,” I said quickly.

Luken shook his head. “I have not been laying plans for a hundred years just to throw it away on a bitch I’ve never met.”

I shoved him hard. “Don’t call my sister a bitch!”

“She is nothing. You are my mate, and I’m yours. The tattoos that appeared on our bodies when we fucked prove it,” he said. “I am your mate, Elara. I’m the only one you need.”

“It’s not about needing anyone,” I tried.

Both of Luken’s hands cupped my face, staring intently into my eyes. “You shouldn’t have lied to me. I gave you the girl. You can’t expect that I will be able to move the heavens to get what you want. Nor will I. I have far more things to care about than the life of someone you don’t even know anymore.”

I couldn’t hide my shock. Couldn’t even try to. “You’re being cruel,” I whispered.

“That is because I am a cruel man, Elara. After three hundred years of ruling this kingdom, my own brother stabbing me in the back…” He shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine. “No. You give me my strength, and I will not let you go. You will stay here, with me, at all times. We will marry and fuck, and I’ll drink your blood, and it will give me what I need to defeat these false gods.”

His grip tightened again. Not painfully, but the look in his eye said it wasn’t a discussion. He’d made up his mind and chose my fate.

I kept making the same stupid mistakes.

He didn’t save me because he loved me. He didn’t care about my death because it hurt him to his soul. No. It was just because if I was dead, he wouldn’t have access to this strength. I was a tool to him, something to increase his power.

It felt as though my chest was torn open. The same bleeding pain that I’d suffered while lying helpless in the hospital bed came back to me in a rush. He wasn’t going to help me save Darcie. I had to fight him to save her… and myself. And I’d shown him my hands. I’d given him my heart and now he crushed it in his hands.

I closed my eyes, forcing the numbness I needed to fill me.

“Very well,” I said flatly.

“You understand?” he asked, his breath on my face.

I nodded. I understood perfectly. He betrayed me. And I would never forgive him. I would hate him for this. I would hate him until I was dead.

*****

THE END