Page 158 of Vampires of Eden

Dropping my hand, I exhale and open my eyes. I’m not keen on wandering around Central Eden while emitting the marked scent of the most beloved purebred prince in the realm. Maybe if I go straight to the Opera House and come back here, it won’t be so bad?

“Yeah,” I say, feeling as if I’m digging my own grave. “I’ll call his assistant tomorrow and set something up.”

The next day, and after some cowardly hesitation and procrastination on my part, I contact Ansväd Kendrick’s assistant to schedule an appointment to visit the opera house at the end of the week.

Five minutes after I end the call with her, I’m standing in the kitchen and about to start pulling pots and pans from the cabinets when my phone rings.

It’s Alexander.

The moment I answer, his voice is bright and excited through the speaker.

“You’re doing it! My father just told me?—”

“I am not ‘doing it,’” I clarify. “I’m going to look at the music. That’s all. I don’t know yet. I haven’t played in forever and it might be too difficult for me.” Plus a million other reasons.

“It’s not that difficult,” Alexander confides. “Father let me look it over once and while it is a challenging piece, I know it’s something you can handle.”

This sparks a question in my mind. “Why hasn’t he asked you to play it?”

“My mother would burn this estate to the ground before she let Father monopolize my time with rehearsals, concerts or pretty much anything to do with the opera. She already resents him for being so wrapped up in it and downplaying his role in the aristocracy. There’s no way I could ever take that on.”

“Hm. Interesting.” Alexander’s mother sounds like one of those inevitable hurdles I’m going to have to eventually face. She will definitely fall into the “jeers” crowd.

“So, you’ll be here Friday afternoon, right? In Central?”

“Yeah,” I say absently, setting a large pot on the counter. I don’t know what Alexander’s mother looks like, but in my head, the image I’ve conjured has her palms cupped around her mouth and is booing me. Loudly.

“If you have time afterward, will you… Would you please have dinner with me?” Alexander asks.

I blink, shaking the ridiculous illusion from my brain. “At the estate? Sure?—”

“No, not at the estate. Out. In the city. There’s a place that I really love and I’d like to take you there. On a proper date.”

Tensing, I pause. Having dinner in the city means spending time with him publicly. I’m obviously carrying his scent, which means vampires will know that he’s feeding from me.

My imagination conjures Alexander’s mother once more, but this time, several unknown and faceless vampires join her. A big group of them. All vehemently booing and hating me.

“I’ll make sure we have a private booth or room,” Alexander nervously cuts into my stuffy silence, almost pleading. “And I… I won’t touch you at all. I won’t reach for your hand or try to kiss?—”

“Don’t do that,” I say, bringing my fingers to the bridge of my nose. “That makes me feel like the villain.”

“You’re not. I understand why you feel the way you do and I respect it. But I want us to go places together. Can we try? I promise to keep you safe—it’ll be fun!”

I wish he would stop making promises that he can’t keep. This has disaster written all over it.

And yet, my sweet golden rabbit prince wants to take me on a date. He wants other vampires to know that I’m his choice. How can I refuse him?

I take a deep breath and accept his invitation.

I’ve come this far. No turning back now.

Friday rolls around absurdly fast, and along with it, a heightened sense of anxiety. All week, I’ve been telling myself that I can handle this—Leoni has been reassuring me, too. That all of this is happening because it’s meant to, for whatever reasons.

It gives me little comfort, but I’m doing my best.

The first hurdle was what to wear to the opera house. For the past two years I’ve almost exclusively existed in clothes that aremore appropriate for gardening, yoga, vineyard work and rolling around on the couch. Suddenly I have an appointment at the Royal Eden Opera Houseanda dinner date in Central with Eden’s beloved Golden Purebred Prince.

Like… what the hell?