Page 13 of The Vampire Court

Alaric stands at my side but makes no move to comfort or protect me.

Then, in a low, deadly calm voice, he says, “She is not yours to feed upon or punish. If any vampire dare lay a finger on her, she has my permission to end them as well.”

Chapter Five

Clara

We walk through the empty,back halls of the castle in silence. I shiver, my clothes damp from our efforts at removing as much blood as we could. Alaric had healed my arm on the way back. The skin is smooth. Not even the faint line of a scar remains. I don’t know what that vampire had cut me with, but it wasn’t night-forged silver, and she wasn’t one of Elizabeth’s, only a lesser vampire.

I pull Alaric’s jacket tighter around my shoulders. He’s hardly said more than a handful of words since we left the theater.

“Why aren’t there other vampires in these halls?” I ask, breaking the silence.

He looks at me from the corner of his eye. “Most in the castle wish to be seen, so they stick to the main areas.” He turns to face me fully. “If you go anywhere on your own, stick to these back passages as much as possible.”

“So, I don’t have to stay locked in the room?”

Alaric’s mouth quirks up on one side. “Why would you think that?”

“Because of what I did.”

“No. Just stay aware of your surroundings at all times.”

I nod. “Will I be punished for…” My question trails off.

“No,” he says shortly. “I gave you permission.”

Neither of us needs to go into detail. They will not defy him because he is the crowned prince to the throne. That thought that churns my stomach.

We stop before our room. He opens the door but doesn’t follow me inside.

“Are you disappointed in me… for tonight?”

Alaric smiles and presses his lips to mine. The kiss is quick, and when he pulls back, his deep sapphire eyes search mine. “No, I am proud of you. I must leave you now to feed.”

Without thinking, I extend my wrist toward his mouth. “Then feed,” I say.

Alaric wraps his fingers around my hand and places a searing kiss to the inside of my wrist. “No, Clara,” he says. I open my mouth to protest, but he cuts me off. “We both know why.”

The mark. Thefinalmark.

Cherno flits past my head and lands on Alaric’s shoulder. The little demon watches me. The intelligence in their eyes and their personality is far more advanced than any greater or lesser demon I’ve crossed paths with.

Alaric takes my shoulders and says, “Get cleaned up and get some rest.”

Then he closes the door between us.

* * *

I removemy now ruined outfit and wash the blood off me, scrubbing until my skin is raw. Even when the water is dark pink, I still can’t erase the touch of that vampire. My neck is healed of the bruises from his crushing grip, but the memory his hands around my throat squeezing is a physical echo.

While I hadn’t intended to kill the vampire—at least not at that moment—I don’t feel remorse for my actions. I don’t know if I should or what it means that I don’t. It was only supposed to be a threat. How could I know he’d speed up?

I dress in fresh clothes. Familiar dark brown pants, fitted perfectly to my shape, glide easily over my legs. Then I slip a loose cream blouse over my head. The gently worn outfit is comforting against my skin. I inhale Alaric’s faint musky scent clinging to the material. It’s a relief to know I can wander freely here. The sun will rise in a few hours but I am too wound up with excess energy to sleep.

After closing the door behind me, I turn and crash into a solid form, bouncing off and stumbling back several steps. I rub my nose and tilt my head back to see what—or ratherwho—I ran into.

Lawrence looks down his nose at me, a single, thick, golden brow raised. “Is Alaric in there?”