Page 9 of The Vampire Curse

“This is impossible,” I say. The freedom he promised me slips from my fingers, like smoke from a doused fire.

“Perhaps it is, but without the mark, it is our only option.” He straightens his back and looks almost regal. “There will be several tasks, the first of which will be presenting you to my guests tonight.”

“Present me?”

“It is a simple matter and one of the things we must do to avoid their suspicions. Otherwise, they will wonder why I am hiding you.” His lips draw into a tight line.

I take in a breath then release it slowly.

“Tell me what being marked entails,” I say, then hold up a hand. “Not because I want it, but knowing will help me do what I need to do.”

Alaric’s eyes darken a shade. Then in a blink, he is a hair’s breadth away. His hands come up to cup my face, bringing his face closer. My eyes slide shut, ready for the kiss I’m sure will come.

“First,” he whispers, his breath brushing my lips. “There can be no attempts on my life.” One hand tangles in my hair, the other moves around my waist to pull me flush against him. “And second, you would not pull away.”

Alaric kisses along my jaw and down my neck. I try not to move or react, but my damned body has a mind of its own, pressing even closer to his.

“Yes, like that,” he says. “And it ends with youneedingto obey my every word.” And then he releases me. The cold air contrasts with his embrace. My eyes snap open and Alaric stands halfway across the room.

I nearly gasp at the sudden loss of his warmth and the last thing he said.Shit…He manipulated me so easily.

I narrow my eyes.

“I am not your puppet,” I snap.

“This is not for me, my dear Clara, but so the others believe. You are—” he shakes his head. “I would never want you to be a mindless puppet. This is nothing more than a part we must play.”

“I hate this… it makes me feel like… like…”

“A possession?” he offers, with a hint of bitterness to his voice.

I nod.

“Then, you must remember, my dear Clara, that you are not.”

I clench my fists in the folds of my skirt. “You could always let me go.”

“I’m sorry, that is no longer an option. You have been claimed. The others know you live and who you are.”

It isn’t the answer I wanted, but in truth, I did not expect anything else. Still, knowing that does nothing to ease the ache in my heart.

Alaric backs away to leave. “Mrs. Westfield will be in shortly to help you prepare for the night.”

I nod. There is nothing else I can do.

He pauses long enough to say, “Remember to obey.”

Chapter Four

Clara

I don’t missthe fact that my dress is the exact shade of blue as Alaric’s eyes. I tilt my head, contemplating how much time and effort it must have taken to make sure the material ended up this particular shade.

Reaching up to run a hand through my hair, I barely manage to stop myself in time from ruining the long and painful hour Mrs. Westfield had spent arranging it into intricate knots and curls. Whether I was in more pain, or she was, is still up for debate.

My neck and shoulders are bare, and the neckline is low in the current fashion for extravagant parties. Long gloves rise halfway past my elbows to hide the thin wrapping on my healing arms.

I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. Alaric had said he was going to present me to the four vampires. I’m not ready for that many eyes on me, let alone the possibility of more than being watched.