Tempting Raven (Curse of the Vampire Queen #1)(41)

"And what if I asked it not to make me queen?" I mumble, taking the choker as he hands it to me.

"Unfortunately, almost nothing can change that." He whisks toward the closet as he singsongs, "Only Fate itself."

I trudge after him, feeling as though a huge ogre is sitting on my chest. All these rules that bind me to the king-to Rhyland-I don't think I can do it. But I might not have a choice, unless I want to let the rebellion destroy the vampire world, or until I can somehow talk directly to Fate and plead with it to pick someone better. As far as I know, that's not possible.

Or is it? Because, so far, I feel like I hardly know anything about my world.

"Fate can change who the queen is?" I ask, stepping into the closet.

Dex nods as he sifts through dresses. "But don't get too excited. It's only happened once that I've heard of, and the story could easily be a legend."

I lean against the doorjamb. "Is it even possible to talk to Fate? I mean, it talks to the Eternal Readers, right?"

"No one really knows if the Eternal Readers speak directly to Fate, or if they communicate with another form." He yanks a lacy black dress off a hanger.

"But they do communicate with it or else there wouldn't be eternal readings."

He holds the dress up in front of me. "If they didn't, then our entire history would be structured by lies."

"True." I thrum my fingers against the sides of my legs. "If I tracked down an Eternal Reader and asked them to speak to Fate for me, would they?"

He glances up at me as he pulls a leather jacket off the hanger. "I'm not sure  …  Why do you ask?"

I straighten and shrug. "I just want to know why it picked me as queen." Lie. I want to try to convince Fate that I'm not right for the job, but I'll keep that little secret to myself.

He eyes me over with heavy suspicion. "Well, I'm not sure if you can. And it'd be in your best interest to stay away from the Eternal Readers. They can be very tricky and manipulative when they're not on duty." He turns back toward the clothes, then pauses. "Promise me you won't go looking for them. It's too dangerous." 

"I won't." The words aren't entirely a lie. I have no plans on going to look for the Eternal Readers. How could I when I'm not allowed to leave the castle without a bodyguard?

But my Eternal Reading is in less than a week, which will give me the perfect opportunity to plead my case.





14





A handful of minutes later, my mom messages me that she got called into a meeting and won't be over until early tomorrow morning. Effie messages me, as well, begging for deets. Since I still don't know what I can tell her, I reply that I'll explain everything when I can.

I hate myself a little bit for not telling her the truth. Hate being secretive with the only vampire, besides Anders, who ever went out of their way to make friends with me. But my self-hating thoughts quickly get distracted as I begin to get ready for dinner.

Apparently, having a stylist means overdressing for every occasion.

After putting waves in my hair and tracing my eyes with kohl liner, Dex tells me to put on the outfit he selected: a black, silky, lace trimmed dress; a leather jacket; knee-high tights; and velvet platforms for me to wear to dinner. To add to the look, he laces a silk choker around my neck and weaves a halo of silvery black bleeding stars and raveling vines through my hair to form a crown, telling me I'll get to wear the real one soon.

Fake crown or not, I still resemble a princess. Or a queen. Which is the point, Dex said, when I tried to argue that I was too dressed up.

"You're the vampire queen," he stated. "And you look like it. Now go to dinner and make sure to drink enough blood to get rid of that dragon burn on your neck."

And that was that. He ushered me out the door with Kingsley following at my heels.

"Where am I supposed to be going?" I call over my shoulder as I stroll down the wide hallway illuminated by iron lanterns.

Charmed mirrors decorate the crimson walls and reveal my reflection. If I were in an ordinary world, I wouldn't be able to see myself. Lucky, I've never been to the ordinary world, only heard rumors of it, but it sounds like a dreadfully boring place.

"Just keep walking. I'll let you know when you get there." Kingsley's texting on his phone with his head down, matching my steps perfectly, as if he's wholly in sync with me.

I slow down my pace to see if he will and smile when he does. To test my theory further, I weave left than right. When I peer over my shoulder, my grin magnifies as Kingsley traces my route. I'm not even sure he's aware he's mimicking me, which makes this even more hilarious.

"Are you blood drunk this evening?" he asks without looking up. "Or do you just find yourself amusing?"