Page 16 of The Vampire Court

“Are you feeling okay?” he asks.

My muscles resist movement, but I force them to obey, managing to sit up.

“I’m fine,” I say with a weak smile.

“You’ve been asleep all day. You should get some food in you,” he says, rising from the edge of the bed. “We have a long night ahead of us.”

With those words, I’m wide awake.This is it.

I throw the blankets off and stand, swaying slightly. Alaric grips my upper arms and steadies me. The back of my legs press against the mattress, my front pressed against him. My nerves chill the blood in my veins.

“Already?” This is the moment we have to pretend perfectly. There will be no room to allow even the tiniest bit of doubt in anyone’s mind. They must believe that I am fully his.

He nods.

I lick my suddenly dry lips. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

Alaric hooks a knuckle under my chin and lifts my head. “You will do fine. You are stronger than they know.”

My brows pinch together.

“Let them underestimate you,” he says, his voice thick.

“And let them live to regret it,” I finish. It’s clear by my tone that I don’t believe it.

The ghost of a smile touches his lips, then he places a quick kiss on my mouth before releasing me. He turns and strides to the door.

I’m not sure if he’d meant to kiss me or if it was a reflex.

Alaric’s hand hovers over the doorknob as he looks back. “I won’t be able to see you until the masquerade tonight.”

I say nothing because what can I say to that in this situation?

“Someone will be by later to help you get ready.”

And then he’s gone, leaving me alone. Again.

This visit isn’t exactly how I imagined it would be. I thought we’d be with each other until we grew sick of it, but the truth is I’ve hardly seen him in the short time we’ve been here.

* * *

“No.”I back away from the woman advancing on me. “I can do my own hair.”

The older human woman who was sent up here to help me get ready frowns, her hands fisted on her hips. Her displeasure seeps through as she takes me in. As if allowing her to spend the last half hour stuffing me into a corset and dress wasn’t enough. I can barely breathe in this wretched thing. I don’t need my hair pulled tight and pinned uncomfortably, giving me headaches.

“I can’t allow you to show up looking like a feral demon.”

I stop retreating and narrow my eyes at her, folding my arms over my chest. “I can brush my own hair. Believe it or not, I’m capable of that much, despite what you may think.”

She rolls her eyes and drops the brush onto the dresser. “All right then, I’ll leave you be, but at least wear the jewelry set out for you.” She turns to leave, muttering under her breath about how vampires are never this difficult.

I’m relieved when she’s gone, allowing me to finish getting ready in silence without the pressure of being told I’m not good enough.

The dress is all red with a full skirt of layer upon layer of tulle. The corset is low, covered with intricate beading that drips down over the skirt. Delicate sleeves start just below the shoulder and widen slightly, extending just past my wrist. There’s a brace strapped to my left arm for the dagger. I slide it into the sheath. With the loose fabric, it’s not even noticeable. I practice drawing the blade several times until I can do it without almost cutting my arm or slicing the dress.

I clasp the necklace, a simple, delicate chain accented with three rubies on the left trailing down from my collarbone. It looks like drops of blood. Tracing a finger over the slender piece, I scrunch my nose at it. Three rubies, three drops of blood… three marks.

There’s a knock at the door just before it opens.