Page 74 of The Vampire Curse

I trust Alaric. It’s the vampire standing before me I don’t trust. Then I chide myself for making an opinion of him just because he has never been warm toward me. I will give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, I was once wrong about Alaric, I might be wrong about Lawrence too.

The weight of the night-forged dagger in my hidden pocket gives me a small sense of safety. A girl can never be too careful.

I slip my hand into his and walk with him until we reach the music room. Half the drapes are drawn, only the ones covering the west-facing windows are open, allowing soft light in and blocking out the harsh direct rays of the sun.

Once we reach the middle of the room, Lawrence drops my hand and walks over to the piano. Lifting the lid covering the keys, he takes a seat on the bench.

“Ah, no one told me there was going to be a party.”

I jump, turning to face Victor standing closer than I expected. He wraps an arm around my waist and lifts my left hand with his free one.

“Care to dance?” he asks, not waiting for music.

He takes a few steps, picking me up just enough that my feet barely touch the ground. I’m too startled to say anything.

A jarring crash of piano keys sounds through the room, and thankfully Victor stops dancing. I don’t hesitate to put distance between us.

“It is not a party, and if you want to spend time with Lady Clara, then you can come back later.”

Victor’s brows shoot up. His eyes seem to pulse with an inky darkness, then I blink, and it's gone. “I didn’t realize you wished for alone time with her. I do apologize,” he says. “I will leave you alone.”

Victor inclines his head toward me, apologizing once more and giving me a sheepish smile, then he turns and strides from the room.

Vampires are such territorial creatures.

Lawrence positions his hands over the keys, then looks at me and dips his head, indicating the spot next to him.

Hesitantly, I walk over and sit as close to the edge as I can so our sides don’t touch. Then he begins to play. The tempo is slow, quiet, and sorrowful. I’ve never learned to play. Father always said it was a waste of time when I should be working to help our family.

As the song picks up, he moves with it until it ends on a long, soft note, like an exhale.

Lawrence turns to me. It’s like he is trying to read my mind or soul or see down to my very essence.

He slowly lowers the lid down over the keys.

“I was shocked when I first learned Alaric had finally taken part in the claiming. We all were. Did you know he has never claimed a human before?” He runs a hand over his chin thoughtfully, as if rubbing stubble that isn’t there. “I was with him the day before he claimed you. Even then, he was adamant he wouldn’t partake in the custom.”

I hold my breath, frozen where I sit. His words are innocuous enough, he isn’t saying anything cruel or untrue, but his eyes hold something deadly.

“But then he did, there was no hiding that from Elizabeth. And because he finally claimed a human, he must attend the winter masquerade. I wanted to see what kind of human managed to change his mind.”

I lick my suddenly dry lips. “And?” I prompt when he doesn’t continue. “What did you find?”

“A puzzle.”

I raise a brow in question.

“You see, you are quite unremarkable. You are not from a good or rich family, and you’re not any exceptional beauty and yet… you have him bewitched.”

I snort, probably proving his point about me. But sayingIbewitched avampireis a gross exaggeration.

Lawrence tilts his head. “Now don’t look so offended, you know the things I say are true.”

He stands and walks around the bench until he’s on my other side and rests one hand on the piano, the other on the edge of the bench.

I say nothing.

Neither of us moves for a painfully long moment. My neck begins to ache from holding it at this angle.