Page 135 of Vampires of Eden

“Gods have mercy.” Nadya blows out a breath and turns to Sebastian. “You’re in a nasty mood. Are we going to fight all night? Is that the objective?”

“I just feel as if I’m being left behind,” Sebastian says, pouting. “I hate it.”

“What do you mean, ‘Forgotten his place’?” I ask, regaining my bearings after the initial shock of his callous words. “He’sranked. Outside of Eden, ranked vampires intermingle and couple with purebreds all the time and no one bats an eye. Why are you talking like some archaic aristocratic purebred?”

Sebastian looks down his nose at me and huffs. “We’re not outside of Eden, though, are we, Aleksey? Geography has never been my strength, but I do believe we’re firmly inside of Eden at the moment. And here, that shit doesn’t fly. You know that.Unless… you wanted to have a little meaningless and sexy fun with him behind closed doors. To which, well, who am I to judge?”

“That’snotwhat I meant?—”

“Good evening, my handsome young prince.” Lord Cherrington materializes before me, smarmy and grinning like a salesman who’s about to offer me a deal on a piece of shit car that I don’t need. Perfect. “It’s a pleasure to see you here this evening. Am I interrupting something?”

“You are,” I say flatly, annoyed.

“Is that so?” he charges on, unaffected. “The fact is, I am simply dying to spend some time with you this evening. May I have this next dance?”

“You may not,” I say. I almost add, “mother fucker,” but I restrain myself. I’ll be damned if I give himanyfurther opportunities to let his hands roam across my body.

What a terrible night this is turning out to be.

“His next dance is promised to me.” Nadya sets her glass down on the table behind her, then confidently reaches for my hand. I take it. Without another word, she guides me past Lord Cherrington, onto the dance floor and through the crowd.

We move, our palms clasped and everything feels overwhelming. Too much color and light. Along the edges, too many shadows. Too much noise—voices chattering, exclaiming and whispering. Music floating through the air. Glasses clinking. Bodies moving.

Too many personalities to juggle and so muchtalking. Greetings and explanations. Attacks, defenses, jealousy and confusion.

God. How did I handle this before? I haven’t been here fifteen minutes and it’s as if I’ve been swallowed by a beast and am thrashing around in the pit of its chaotic stomach.

When Nadya and I are well into the throes of the crowded dance floor, she turns and lifts her hand. I take it, but ask, “Are you leading, or am I?”

She blinks, smiling sweetly. The rich lighting overhead catches the subtle blue tinge of her large irises. “You can lead.”

I set my free hand on her waist, then smoothly guide her along to the slow tempo of the music. Oliver taught me this lesson the hard way. Another assumption I always made and got very wrong.

“Thanks for the rescue,” I tell her as we move. “From both Lord Cherrington and Bas.”

“Bas just misses you. We all do. You’ve been very… different, since your engagement with Oliver fell through.”

“I am different. It wasn’t just the failed engagement. A lot of things happened that made me change the way I look at the entire system of arranged bondings. Our society and the vampires around me. I can’t keep blindly playing along, Nadya. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I guide her into a turn and she spins elegantly. When she’s facing me once more, she nods. “I do, believe it or not. I’ve also made some important decisions lately because I’m sick of the silly games we play.”

Something Sebastian said floats to the top of my mind. “Is that why you’re shadowing your mother?” I ask. “Does it have something to do with the Royal Order?”

She lifts her chin. “It sure does. Mother told me about Lord Cherrington’s proposal after the last meeting. She said, quote, ‘It feels as if the Governing Board has lost our grip on Eden’s soul. It’s time to relinquish it to new hands.’ She asked if I’d be willing to step up if she decided to retire early and I said yes. Looks like I’ll be joining you on the board this spring, Goldie.”

“What?” Thrilled, I take hold of her waist, lift and spin her to the melody before setting her back down. She grips my shoulders and laughs in surprise, but when I set her feet to the floor, she punches me in the chest.

“Don’t do that, you maniac!”

“Sorry,” I laugh, rubbing the tender spot where she hit me. “This is amazing news. A relief, to be honest.” Nadya is the most level-headed vampire that I know. Having someone pragmatic and sensitive on the board will create more balance. In addition tomyself, she’ll be a second tally mark in the “new ways of thinking” column versus the old.

“This is why Sebastian is salty,” she explains. “Both of us will be on the Governing Board, but so far, his mother shows no signs of wanting to retire. Also, I don’t want to stress you out, but I’ve heard some things… about you.”

The song ends and we both stand on the floor, watching each other. “About me?” I ask.

She takes my hand again, but pulls me to the opposite side of the room. Away from where Sebastian and Ashwin are standing. When we’re off to the side and tucked away from prying ears, she speaks with her voice lowered.

“My primary maidservant and I talk quite candidly—like you and Raphael. She told me that the community of ranked vampires are paying close attention to you. Something about you spending a lot of time in the countryside and at the village markets with Leoni and her first-gen housemate—Daniel, right?”