Christian takes one more step toward me, and then he drops to one knee. He bows his head just slightly. “I was wrong, Alivia. You were indeed born to lead this House. You’re a ruler, a true Royal. And if you will have me, I will follow you.”
I reach down and take one of his hands in mine. Christian looks up at me expectantly. “Your words mean everything,” I say, my expression open and true. “Because you know. You are the son of a good man who did his best. You know. And, I swear to you, I will do my best.”
He nods. “I know you will.”
“Welcome to the House of Conrath.”
Christian stands, holding my eyes the entire time. The weight and loyalty behind his eyes is present, heavy.
“Let’s get to this party, shall we?” I ask as I allow a smile to begin forming on my face.
Christian offers his arm, and I loop mine through his. My heels click over the hardwood floor, and he opens the door to let us both out.
Music and voices float up to the second floor. There are people everywhere—in the hall, in bedrooms. Down the stairs, couples are scattered about. Everyone is dressed in their best.
My arm still looped through Christian’s, we make our way down the stairs. And the scent of human blood grows stronger and stronger with each step.
The fire leaps into my throat, quickly spreading through my body like a match set to a dry field.
The ballroom is crowded. The foyer is packed to the brim. People wander in and out of the library. The halls house many groups.
But even with the mass numbers, I hone in on the humans like they are a bloody beacon. The woman in the black cocktail dress. The twin men in their suits. Three younger-looking teenagers.
They’re scattered about the house. Fangs sink into necks. Vampires chat with them, laughter at unknown conversations.
I don’t recognize any of them.
“The House of Allaway brought their own snacks to share with everyone as a gift,” Christian offers.
The burn in my throat leaps to life once more. It shoots throughout my body like a flame set to a puddle of gasoline.
I grab for the woman chatting with a group of vampires I do not recognize and my fangs sink into her neck. Two pulls, three. The woman doesn’t move, and a blissful moan bubbles up from my throat.
“I’m sure she is tasty,” Christian says. And suddenly, he’s pulling her away from me. “But we must leave enough to share.”
I snap back to myself, my fangs retracting. I let the woman go, and she stumbles back to the others in a daze. I blink the blood haze from my eyes and look around. The other vampires look at me with slightly disgusted expressions.
“Forgive me,” I say, offering a small smile. “I guess it’s been a few too many days since I last fed.”
A man offers a smile, breaking the tension. “No worries, my Lady. We’ve all been there. Some of are still there.”
I smile once again and shuffle off with Christian, who offers me a handkerchief. I wipe at my mouth, clearing away the mess.
“How long until I get this under control?” I ask. “I can’t keep snapping like this.”
“Usually about three weeks,” he says as we stop among the crowd. He takes the cloth from me and clears away the rest of the blood himself. “How long has it been?”
“Almost two and a half weeks,” I say, offering him an appreciative smile as he finishes.
Christian nods. “It will be over soon. And then, you’ll only need to feed once a week or so, just like the rest of us. You’ll get through it.”
“There she is!”
The commanding voice booms behind us. We both turn to see Cyrus walking toward us. Flanked at his side are a man and a woman.
“Chelsea, Charles,” Cyrus says as he walks to my side, dismissing Christian. He loops an arm around my waist. I notice our outfits match. He wears black trousers and a black jacket that looks fit for the King he is. His collar is high and regal, just like mine. “I would like to introduce you to the lovely Alivia Conrath.”
I flash my most brilliant smile and step forward to shake the woman’s hand first. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“And you as well,” Charles says as I shake his hand next. He brings my hand up to his lips, where he presses a kiss there.
“Chelsea and Charles lead the House in Vermont, covering the surrounding region,” Cyrus says. His voice is loud, excited. He’s fit for a party such as this one. It is the second one he’s thrown since his arrival, after all. “They came into leadership after their mother was assassinated a few years ago.”
“Thirty-five years isn’t exactly just a few,” Chelsea chuckles, eying the King with a flirtatious eye. Her hair is brilliant red, as is her twin brother’s. They look so alike in so many ways, they can’t be anything but twins. Even the crowns on their heads are identical.