“Thanks for having lunch with me,” I said, setting down my barely touched crystal glass. “I think I’ll work in my room for a while.”
“Luca…” Sylvie hesitated, her sketches forgotten.
“Really, I’m fine.” I gathered my tablet, trying to ignore how the blood roses seemed to mock me with their vibrant red petals. “I have that presentation to finish anyway.”
Her worried gaze followed me as I fled the garden, leaving behind the butterflies and sunshine for the safety of my little sanctuary.
The afternoon light slanted through my office windows, painting golden stripes across the antique desk. I’d spread my work across every available surface, trying to lose myself in color schemes and typography choices rather than think about three conspicuously absent alphas.
“Prince?” Benedict’s soft knock startled me. “Would you like your evening blood warmed?”
I glanced at the clock, surprised to find the sun already setting. Had I really spent hours obsessing over font choices and pretending not to check my phone?
“Mr. Harrison asked me to inform you…” Benedict hesitated. “The young masters won’t be returning for dinner tonight.”
Something twisted in my chest. “Oh. Of course. They must be busy with…” I waved vaguely at nothing. “Important alpha stuff. I’ll take my blood here,” I said quickly. “I want to finish this section while it’s fresh in my mind.”
He nodded, but I caught his concerned look before he left. The same look Sylvie had given me in the garden. The same look probably everyone would give me at dinner if I showed up to face another empty table.
The evening shadows grew longer as I curled up in my window seat, tablet propped against my knees. A sparkly dragon plushie sat beside me like a silent supporter while I pretended to work instead of staring at the city lights spreading out below.
A soft knock interrupted my brooding. “Your evening blood, Prince,” Benedict said, setting an elegant crystal glass on my side table.
“Thank you,” I said.
I swiped through my presentation again, adding little refinements that probably only I would notice. A slightly darker shade of midnight blue that matched Zane’s tie. A font that reminded me of Ryker’s elegance. An animation that would make Archer laugh…
My fangs ached at just the thought of them. I pressed my forehead against the cool window glass, watching my breath fog the surface. In the reflection, I could see my carefully arranged marketing notes spread across my bed, color-coded and annotated and probably destined to gather dust.
The city lights blurred as night crept in. I finally gave up pretending to work and got ready for bed, going through my evening routine on autopilot.
“Your evening blood is getting cold, Prince,” Benedict reminded me gently as he turned down my bed.
I nodded, forcing myself to drink it even though it tasted like nothing. Everything tasted like nothing when all I could think about was starlight, lightning, and sunshine.
“Will you need anything else tonight?”
“No, thank you, Benedict.”
Sleep proved elusive. I tossed and turned, replaying every moment in the library. Had I imagined the hunger in their eyes? The way the air had crackled between us? The way Zane’s arms felt, how Ryker’s voice deepened, how Archer…
Morning came too soon, painting my lavender curtains with pale light. I dragged myself to breakfast, holding on to a fragile hope that maybe…
But the breakfast room held only Great Uncle Johnathan, Uncle Owen, and Aunt Senna, their conversation dying as I entered.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Aunt Senna said too brightly. “Blood tea?”
Before I could answer, Great Uncle Johnathan cleared his throat. “Luca, dear. The boys have been called away on urgent business. Very urgent. All three of them.”
“All three?” Uncle Owen’s eyebrow shot up. “What’s so urgent they need to vanish like that?”
“Did they…” My voice sounded small. “Did they say when they’d be back?”
The silence that followed was answer enough.
“I see. Well, they are very important. Running an empire and all that.”
“I’m sure they’ll call once they’re settled,” Aunt Senna offered.
“Of course,” I said.
Stupid. Stupid. They were busy alphas with responsibilities. Not my fault they had to flee their own home just to escape their awkward brother who couldn’t control his fangs.
Back in my room after breakfast, my marketing presentation mocked me from my desk where I’d left it last night. All those careful notes, the little jokes only Archer would get, the precise data visualization Ryker would appreciate, the powerful statements that would make Zane proud…
A knock sounded at the door. “Yes?”
“Luca?” Sylvie’s voice. “Hunter and I are going to watch that new anime. Want to join?”
I glanced at my tablet, at the presentation that was probably destined to gather dust. No. I wouldn’t hide in here feeling sorry for myself. If certain alphas wanted to avoid their awkward vampire brother, fine. But I wouldn’t let it stop me from being part of this family.
“Actually, yes. Is it the one about the demon lord who opens a coffee shop?”
“That’s the one!” Hunter’s voice joined in.
Sylvie’s enthusiasm was contagious. “Come on, we’ve got the whole media room set up!”
I smiled. Maybe I couldn’t control whether three certain brothers wanted to be around me. But I could control how I handled it. And Luca Valentine didn’t hide from his problems.
Well, okay, maybe he did. But Luca Bennett? He faced things head-on. Usually. Sometimes. When properly motivated by anime.
“ P rince?” Benedict’s voice pulled me from my brooding. “Your outfit has arrived from the atelier.”
I turned to see him holding up what could only be described as aristocratic elegance.
The outfit was a masterpiece—a deep royal purple coat draped over the shoulders, the satin-like fabric shimmering subtly in the ambient light, edged in intricate embroidery that looked like it had been stitched with threads of moonlight.
Beneath it was a black brocade vest designed to be worn over an open white silk shirt.
“It’s stunning,” I breathed, running my fingers over the sumptuous material. The hauntingly beautiful cut seemed to toe the line between courtly and seductive, every detail crafted with precision.
As Benedict helped me into the outfit, I couldn’t help but remember Archer’s excited chatter about this night. “The Park Clan always goes all out,” he’d said, eyes dancing with mischief. “We’ll have to make sure you outshine everyone, Luca!”
Now the thought of facing supernatural society’s elite without my brothers made my stomach twist. Not that I needed them. I was totally capable of attending my first major social event without three overprotective alphas hovering, right?
“Luca!” Sylvie’s voice sang out as she swept into my room. “Oh my God, that outfit is even more perfect than I imagined!”
Sylvie looked every bit the young supernatural aristocrat in a flowing midnight-blue gown that made her pale skin glow like moonlight. Her hair was swept up in an elegant twist, tiny diamonds catching the light like stars.
“You’re the one who designed it,” I reminded her, smoothing my hands over the rich purple fabric of the coat.
“And you wear it perfectly.” Sylvie circled me, designer heels clicking on the marble floor. Her excitement was practically tangible. “Can you believe we’re actually going to meet ECLIPSE? In person!”
Despite my nerves, I couldn’t help but smile. “You mean the group whose latest video you’ve watched approximately five hundred times?”
“Five hundred and twelve, actually,” she corrected primly, then ruined the effect by bouncing on her toes. “Did you see Aria’s crystal formation during her solo? The way she manipulated those light patterns? And now we get to see them perform live!”
“Ladies and gentlemen?” Aunt Senna appeared in my doorway, resplendent in deep burgundy that highlighted her elite bearing. Her eyes softened as she took us in. “Oh, my beautiful children.”
I found myself fiddling with the silver embellishments on my vest. “Is… is Archer…”
The slight pause before Aunt Senna’s answer felt like an eternity. “Thomas is waiting with the car, dear. Your Uncle Owen arranged for additional security.”
Right. Of course. Stupid to even ask. Why would I expect any of them to keep their promises after The Incident two weeks ago?
“The Grand Crystal Hotel’s ballroom will be packed,” Aunt Senna continued, smoothly changing the subject. “Remember to stay close to our security detail.”
“We know, Mom.” Sylvie rolled her eyes, but her excitement couldn’t be dampened. “Can we go? Please? I don’t want to miss a single moment!”
I took one last look in the mirror. The vampire prince who stared back looked refined, mysterious, and impossibly magnetic in his courtly attire—ready to face supernatural society.
If only he felt that way inside.
I caught Harrison’s approving nod as we descended the penthouse’s grand staircase.
Our normally stoic butler actually smiled—probably pleased to see me in evening wear instead of my usual array of casual outfits.
The past two weeks I’d thrown myself into work, practically living in the Whitlock Group’s marketing department while certain alphas were away on their “urgent business trip.”
At least the Beyond Beauty campaign was coming along brilliantly. Marcus and the team had embraced my ideas with enthusiasm, even if their actual boss was mysteriously unavailable for input. Their excitement about potentially working with ECLIPSE almost matched Sylvie’s—almost.
The private elevator whisked us down to the garage level where Thomas waited with the Whitlock Clan’s armored limousine. Four security SUVs flanked it, a reminder that even a simple party required careful planning when you belonged to one of New Vale’s ruling clans.
Table of Contents
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- Page 32 (Reading here)
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