Unraveled

NINE

WITH HER HEAD HELD HIGH, Victoria led Aden down a long—long—line of richly dressed vampires. He saw black velvet robes draping the females, jewels of every color sewn into the fabric, and silk shirts and pants on the men. There was a sweet perfume coating the air, a scent that thickened as he made his way up a dais, where a throne of the deepest ebony rested. A scent that thankfully canceled out his perfume.

Weird symbols were etched over every inch of the throne, symbols that seemed to hum with power, enveloping him as he sat, then holding him in place as if manacles encircled his wrists and ankles.

Victoria placed herself at his right and Riley his left, and the line started moving forward. Introduction after introduction was made. Male, female, young, old. Too many names and faces to remember, especially in his current, foggy condition.

Some regarded him hopefully, some with disdain. Some looked past him to the large tapestry that hung along the wall. He didn’t have to turn to know what image was woven there; it was burned into his mind forever. In it, Vlad the Impaler viciously fought an angry, determined mob. They had pitchforks; he had a bloody sword. At his sides were countless pikes—each with a human head perched at the top. Was that what these vampires would expect from Aden?

Most likely. He should care, he thought. Just then, he cared about nothing.

As the introductions continued, he found himself tuning out the voices and studying his surroundings. Even without Elijah, Julian and Caleb tossing out their opinions about everything every few seconds, Aden was still distracted, unable to concentrate. A long red carpet stretched from the dais to the front double doors. The same swirling symbols that decorated the throne also decorated the carpet.

There were no lamps present, only elaborate candela-bras that produced flickering golden flames and ribbons of black smoke. On each side of the room were, strangely enough, stone steps—or bleachers—broken only by the four round columns stretching to the domed ceiling. They led to a platform where uniformed guards stood, swords strapped to their sides.

Humans sat on the steps. He knew they were humans because their skin ranged in color, from slightly tanned to darkest of mocha. Plus, their facial features lacked the perfection of the vampires. They, too, wore robes, though theirs were bereft of both jewels and sleeves. Easier access to their pulse points that way, Aden supposed. And he didn’t have to ask them if they wanted to be here. They were watching the vamps with unabashed longing in their eyes.

Blood-slaves, he thought then. Victoria had once told him that humans quickly became addicted to a vampire’s bite. Aden hadn’t believed her at the time. He believed her now. Since then, she’d bitten him twice and each time had been…heaven. Her teeth produced some sort of chemical or drug that numbed a human’s skin, then sweetly burned their blood.

“And finally,” Victoria said from beside him, returning his thoughts to the present, “I’m pleased to introduce you to my sisters.”

They’d reached the end of the line already? How long had he been casing the room?

“The first,” she continued, “is the Princess Stephanie.”

A beautiful blonde stepped forward and inclined her head in greeting. Like the others, she wore a robe. Until she reached up and pushed the material from her shoulders, and the thing whooshed to the floor, pooling at her feet. She lifted her chin, practically daring him to object. At least she’d had clothing on underneath the robe. Now she wore a black T-shirt with a jewel-studded rainbow in the center—the makeup on her face matched perfectly—as well as black jeans and bright red boots that hit her knees.

When he said nothing about her wardrobe switch, she relaxed.

As she chewed her gum, her green gaze roved over him. “Cute,” she announced. “And oh, baby doll, you do give off a powerful vibe, don’t you? Makes me want to touch you.”

With your teeth, I’d bet. “Uh, thank you,” he said. Everyone else had said only “My king” or nothing at all. Well, the ones he remembered. “Please don’t be offended, but I’m asking that you…not.”

She grinned, as noncommittal as possible. “So you’re the one who defeated Dmitri, huh?”

“Looks like.” While fists had pounded and blades had slashed, he hadn’t known this was what awaited him if he succeeded. If he had… No, he thought then. No matter what, he would have done what he’d done. His instincts had taken over, and he’d wanted only to eliminate the person who had hoped to eliminate Riley and Mary Ann. And okay, fine, he’d also wanted to destroy the guy who planned to marry Victoria.

Stephanie arched a brow. “So how do you expect to rule us, human boy?”

Human boy. He shrugged; he’d been called worse. “I honestly don’t know.”

She offered him another grin. “Honesty. I like that. It’s different.”

Vlad had lied to his daughters? About what?

“So, listen,” she said. “I’d really love to…toast your victory. What do you say we—”

Victoria stiffened, even grabbed his arms in a protective gesture. Riley, who stood at his other side, merely chuckled.

“We do not drink from our king,” Victoria said stiffly.

What? She’d planned to toast his victory by using his neck as a juice box?

Stephanie tossed up her arms. “Ever?”

“Correct,” Riley said.

Scarlet lips turned down, the lower one sticking slightly out. Her shoulders sagged. “Fine, then, but I have other questions for our future king. Like—”

“Now isn’t the time for that, and you know it,” Riley interjected gently. “Later, princess.”

A moment passed in silence. Then another, “Fine. But I will ask my questions soon. They’re important.”

Riley didn’t back down. “I’m sure they are. As for now, goodbye.”

In a huff, Stephanie picked up her discarded robe, swung around and stomped out of the room. A door slammed.

Only one person remained in the line. The other sister, he thought, her delicate face somehow familiar to him.

Victoria motioned her forward. “This is the Princess Lauren.”

The cool blonde with the crystal eyes inclined her head in greeting. Like Stephanie, she had ditched the traditional robe. Unlike Stephanie, she wore a skintight black leather half top and matching pants. She had real barbed wire wrapped around her wrists and weapons strapped all over her body.

“So you are Aden Stone, the human I’ve heard so much about. I admit there’s a draw to you, as Stephanie said, but you’re nothing like my father.”

He inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment, you idiot!”

He shrugged. She said tomato; he said suck it.

Her eyes narrowed. “Like my little sister, I have questions, human. Unlike my sister, I expect, no, I demand answers this night.”

“King,” Riley snapped at her. “‘My king.’ That’s how you will address him from this moment on.”

Her chin rose, though she never removed her attention from Aden. “In thirteen days, I’ll call him king. Until then…”

For a moment, Aden thought she might be considering unsheathing one of her blades and tossing it at his heart, and a cold sweat broke out over his skin. Not a stabbing. Not again.

But she remained in place and said, “Besides, I haven’t decided to follow him.”

Riley descended the dais to stand just in front of her, nose-to-nose. “Is that a challenge?”

Above, the guards with the swords appeared ready to pounce. On Aden, Riley or Lauren, he wasn’t sure. “Enough,” Aden said, not knowing what else to do. I am not king. I don’t want to be king. But something had to be done. “We’ll argue about this later. As for now, glad as I am to meet a member of Victoria’s family, the introductions are over. You may go.” Did that sound kingly enough?

Surprisingly, yes. With a stiff nod and murderous glare, Lauren spun on her heel and stalked from the chamber. Once again, the door slammed shut. He noticed the humans were gone, too. He’d never heard them leave, but they’d somehow silently melted away.

“What now?” he asked, standing. Dizziness swept through him, and he had to grip the throne arm to remain upright. Just how long had he been sitting down?

“There’s a reception in your honor.” Victoria smoothed the hair from his brow, the caress gentle, warm. “Are you all right?”

No. Yes. Maybe. “What time is it?”

“Almost three.”

He’d been here for four hours, then. And in three more hours, he would have to “wake up” to get ready for school. “I have to return to the ranch soon. We’ve got school tomorrow, and I can’t miss again.” He knew she could fix things with her voice, making everyone think he was there when he wasn’t, but he wanted to go. He’d had to fight to be able to attend, and he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity to learn, to better himself.

Yeah, he’d probably sleep through every class, because even now, he fought a yawn, but he’d still go. Maybe the lessons would sink into his subconscious.

“Just a little while longer, then I’ll take you home.” Her palms flattened on his shoulders before sliding around to cup the back of his neck. She pressed herself against him. “I promise.”

Did she plan to kiss him? They’d kissed before, but only gently, and not for nearly long enough. He’d wanted more then and despite his condition, he knew he’d want more now. He’d want her tongue, her taste and her teeth.

A minute ticked by, then another, but she merely held him. He tried not to wallow in disappointment. At least he cared about something now, he mused.

“This whole place is a stereotype, you know that?” he said in an attempt to distract himself. “All this black. The robes. The creep factor.”

“Father loved stereotypes. Loved playing to them.”

Her father. There was something Aden should know about the man, he thought, something he needed to tell her…but again, he could think of nothing. “Why did he love playing to them?”

One of her shoulders lifted in a delicate shrug. “People who encounter us think we’re merely humans pretending to be vampires. We’re considered weird, but we aren’t considered a threat.”

He understood. Weirdos were avoided, left alone. Threats were hunted, eliminated.

“The same could be said of you right now, Aden Stone.” Amusement layered her tone. “My people consider you weird rather than a threat.”

“And how do you know that?”

“No one tried to kill you.”

“True,” he said with a smile.

“And I’m proud of you, you know,” she said huskily, gaze dropping to his lips, then his neck.

Was she thirsty? Please…

Riley coughed.

They ignored him.

Praise had always been a rare commodity in Aden’s life, and he soaked hers up. In the institutions, the doctors had merely questioned him and the other patients had been wrapped up in their own problems. In foster homes, neither the well-meaning nor the uncaring parents had known how to deal with him, had even feared him. At the ranch, the other kids had ridiculed him at first.

“You’re not embarrassed that I’m a weak human?” he asked her. Because he knew, even if she wouldn’t admit it, that that’s how her people saw him. Would probably always see him.

She countered with a question of her own. “You’re not embarrassed that I’m a bloodthirsty fiend?” Even as she spoke, her gaze returned to the pulse at the base of his neck, which was hammering wildly. She licked her lips.

“Is my fiend thirsty now?”

“No,” she croaked, arms falling away. She stepped backward, adding distance between them.

“Liar,” he said, but didn’t push. She refused to drink from him because she didn’t want to turn him into a blood-slave. He understood, but he hated the thought of her beautiful mouth on anyone else.

They wouldn’t argue about it now, though. No time.

“Come.” Determined, she held out her hand. “The party is waiting.”

He twined their fingers and allowed her to usher him down the carpet, Riley trailing a few steps behind. The closer they got to the doors, the more noise Aden heard beyond them. But when they passed the thick metal arches, he realized there was no one in the hallway. There were only alabaster statues of people and animals and intricately carved chests, all open and empty. What were they for, then?

Beyond another set of doorways, however, was a ballroom brimming with vampires, their werewolf guards and humans. The vampires talked and laughed, the wolves, in animal form, prowled throughout, and the humans were again on the fringes, eagerly awaiting a summons.

The cobbled walls were black, the monotony broken by long, oval mirrors, and again, the only light source was the golden glow of candles. Above, the ceiling looked like a… He frowned. Sure enough. A cobweb. In the center of the web hung a chandelier. And that chandelier had legs that stretched up, as if a spider walked along the ceiling.

Someone spotted him, and conversations halted, the sudden silence interrupting his ogling. All heads turned to him. Aden shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. Several minutes—an eternity—ticked by just like that. No one moving or speaking, just watching him, judging.

Should he do something? Say something?

They’d only ever been ruled by Vlad, he reminded himself. They were as clueless about this as he was. Not that he planned to rule them. He would figure a way out of this. Soon.

“Is he ready to see? To know?” someone muttered. Conversations started back up, the volume quickly rising. He thought he heard words like beast—maybe feast—and horde. Maybe bored.

“Should we wait until after the coronation?” someone else asked.

“Wait to see what?” he asked Victoria from the corner of his mouth.

She shifted uncomfortably, as he had done, and whispered, “They want to tell you about…they want you to know… Oh, this is difficult. I had hoped never to have to speak with you about this, but it was decided that, as king, you must know.”

“Know what?”

“That we are not…alone.”

Literally? ’Cause he could have figured that out on his own. Clearly they weren’t yet on the same page. “You want to explain what you mean?”

“No.”

“Do it anyway.”

She sighed. “There is…something with us.”

O-kay. Time to try another route. “If I’m going to…run things—” God, he couldn’t believe he was saying that, even just to get answers “—I need to know everything. So, let’s try this again. What something is with you?”

Twin pink circles bloomed on her cheeks. “This is so embarrassing, and you might run screaming from me once you find out.”

“I’ve seen you eat, and didn’t run screaming.”

“Yes, but this is worse.”

He didn’t give up. “I promise you, nothing could make me run from you,” he said, squeezing her hand. “And you know I like you, just as you are.”

“Well, hold on to that thought.” She gazed down at her feet and kicked out as if moving an invisible rock. “First, you should note that despite the familiar trappings you see here, whatever you thought you knew about vampires from your books and movies doesn’t come close to the truth.”

“So noted,” he said dryly.

Her eyes widened. “Can you be serious?”

“I’ll be serious if you relax.”

The pink tip of her tongue slipped out, sliding over her lips and leaving a sheen of moisture. Of course, she didn’t relax. “If you insist on knowing…”

“I do.”

“Then here it is. The truth. We are…more than bloodsucking vampires.” Her chin lifted stubbornly. Like her sister had done earlier, she practically dared him to protest. “There. Now you know.”

“Hardly. Explain.”

Again she licked her lips, her mulish vibe giving way to a nervous energy. “Aden…”

“Victoria. Just say it. Rip the Band-Aid.”

Her shoulders sagged in defeat. “Very well. We are more than bloodsuckers because we have…we have monsters living inside us.”

Monsters? “Again. I don’t understand.”

“We are possessed—wait.” She shook her head, dark hair dancing over her shoulders. “I’ll explain a different way. But first, the good news.”

A stalling tactic, he knew, but he didn’t stop her.

“The designs you see on the walls? Well, we have them burned into our skin. All of us.”

“You have these marks?” He’d swum with her—and they’d only worn their undergarments—yet he didn’t remember seeing any marks on her. And he’d looked. Hard.

“Yes. I have them.”

“Where? And why?”

“On my chest. And they are…wards.”

He ignored the first part of her words because yeah, he wanted to stare at the area in question, and focused on the second. “Wards?” Aden blamed the pills for his inability to fit the pieces of this crazy puzzle together.

“As I said, we each have a monster inside us, and they are true beasts of nightmares. Humans would probably liken our condition to that of demon possession. Anyway, the wards in our skin keep those monsters contained inside us and quiet, rather than walking the earth.” Now she squeezed his hand. “Believe me, you never want to encounter one of these creatures. They are savage and brutal and crave the death of those we drink from. Destruction is all they know.”

He was quiet a moment, trying to absorb her words. “How did you get them? And do you have one inside you?”

As she started to reply, five men stepped forward to form a half-moon around him, each watching him expectantly. They clutched bejeweled goblets, thick red liquid swirling inside. Blood, no doubt. He smelled the coppery tang.

“You remember your council, I’m sure,” Victoria said, sounding relieved that their conversation about the monsters was over.

Not even a little. “Of course.” He met her gaze, silently telling her they’d be discussing those monsters again. Very soon. Then he turned back to the…councilmen, he supposed they were called. They were older, almost identical to each other with silver hair, strong builds and only slightly lined skin. Plus, their fangs were visible, poking from their lips.

Were they hungry? For him? If he’d had his wits about him, he might have been scared. No way could he fend off five determined vampires at once. Sure, his blades were anchored in his boots, as always, but those blades were useless against such creatures.

The only useful weapon he had was Vlad’s ring. Oh, yeah. He glanced down at his right hand and saw the opal winking in the light. He was suddenly grateful to Riley for insisting he wear it.

“Now that Victoria has explained about the beasts, let us move on to more pressing subjects,” one of the councilmen said. Before Aden could ask what could be more pressing than monsters, he continued, “There is much we must decide upon.”

“Where will you live, for one?” another said. “Here or with your humans?”

The rest jumped right in, peppering him with questions as briskly as Thomas had earlier.

“And if you are with your humans, how then will we call upon you when we need you?”

“Also, you must be introduced to our allies. When shall I set the meeting?”

“Also, you must choose a queen.”

“And you—”

“Give him a chance to catch up,” Riley barked, silencing them.

Aden was surprised when the men immediately bowed their head in agreement. Two even apologized. Riley was a guard, not a prince or a vampire at all, yet they’d obeyed him without rebuke. Very interesting.

“So, to answer your questions. I’ll live at the D and M Ranch, just as before,” he said, and all eyes returned to him. He traced his thumb over the ring. “I’ll meet your allies sometime next week—” this week was for the witches “—but it’ll have to be after school. Just let me know when, and I’ll be there.” Or here. Wherever. And who were their allies? As far as he’d known, the vampires and werewolves warred with everyone. “As for a queen, that will be Victoria.” No question. Not that he was ready to get married. Not that he’d be king for long.

Again, she squeezed his hand.

All five councilmen frowned at him. “You can’t simply pick the princess Victoria. You have yet to spend time with our other females,” one said.

“I don’t need to spend time with them,” he replied. “I won’t change my mind.”

“Complaints will be raised,” another said, irritated.

Aden shrugged. “I don’t care.”

“Fathers of eligible daughters will rebel, for they desire a chance, at the very least, to forge an alliance with the royal house. You don’t want to cause a rebellion so early in your reign, do you?” a third asked.

“No, but I—”

“Good, good. It’s settled, then.” Each of the five raised their goblets, smiling now.

He shook his head. “I don’t understand. What’s settled?”

“You’ll meet the rest of our females so that their fathers won’t rebel.”

Aden pinched the bridge of his nose. “No,” he insisted. “I won’t.”

The men muttered amongst themselves for several minutes before nodding and facing him. Their determination was palpable.

“We will compromise,” the tallest among them said. “You’ll meet only five female vampires, not including Victoria, each chosen by a member of the council. You will rendezvous with each girl and on the day of your coronation, you will name your favorite. That favorite shall be your queen.”

Uh, what now? Rendezvous equaled date, he suspected, and he did not want to date. And five of them?

“He agrees to your compromise,” Victoria said without revealing any hint of her emotions.

Aden opened his mouth to deny her claim, but the men wandered off, slapping each other on the back in a job well done.

“Aden,” she said.

His narrowed gaze swung to her. “I don’t care what you told them. I’m not dating anyone else.” She was the only girl he wanted. The only one he dreamed about, hungered for…

Her expression was blank, just as it had been when she’d arrived at the ranch earlier. Only this time, he doubted she was “exaggerating” to be more humanlike. This was not a “ha-ha, let’s tease” subject.

“They were right.” She released his hand, severing all contact. “If you refuse to date anyone else, families will complain, and complaints will lead to unrest. Unrest to danger. You face enough of that already.”

Was she trying to protect him again? Or was she really okay with the thought of him seeing other girls? Because he might pound any guy who looked at her into dust. Then spit on that dust. Then flush that dust down the toilet.

“I’d rather deal with the danger,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Well, I wouldn’t.” Her expression remained implacable, her tone dead.

“Don’t care.” She was mentally pushing him away, he realized. One second comforting him, the next seemingly done with him, and he didn’t like it. For his own good or not.

“This must be done, Aden.”

“No. I—”

“Wonderful. A lovers’ spat. Let’s mingle instead,” Riley said, giving him a push, “and spat later.”

Aden and Victoria glared at each other for a moment. Then she nodded stiffly, and he followed suit. But this wasn’t over. On any level. He was not dating other vampires. And she was going to apologize for acting like she didn’t care. Unless she hadn’t been acting. Perhaps vampires saw nothing wrong with dating more than one person.

What did he know?

She had kissed him while engaged to Dmitri, after all. But she’d hated Dmitri, and had wanted nothing to do with him. Still. If that was the case, she could be seeing someone else right now. And if that was the case, he didn’t know what he’d do. Besides involving himself in a knock-down-drag-out.

“We’ll talk about this later,” he said quietly, fiercely, before turning away from her.

She gave another stiff nod.

Silent, they entered the masses. Multiple hands brushed against him. Someone thrust a goblet at him and he grabbed it before it could fall and shatter. Do not forget what’s inside and accidently drink.

“Do I scent a…fairy?” someone suddenly growled.

He froze, Victoria and Riley moving closer to flank him.

Nostrils began flaring. Many vampires cringed. Once again, the room fell silent and all eyes landed on him. Only this time, those eyes were filled with horror and hate.

Great. The cologne must be wearing off.

The vamps backed away from him, until he and his friends were enclosed in a tight circle. Riley was rigid, ready to attack. Victoria finally exuded emotion—fear. Until the werewolf guards pushed their way through the crowd and joined Riley in the circle, facing the vamps, growling for them to stay back.

Unwavering, unquestioning support. For me. How odd.

One dark-haired vampire who looked to be Aden’s age finally stepped forward. He ignored the wolves, his cold gaze locked on Aden. “Are you already a traitor, cavorting with our enemy?”

Aden laughed. He just couldn’t help himself. If escaping repeated death-attempts could be classified as cavorting, then yes, he was.

“You dare laugh?” the boy gasped out.

“You dare question your leader?” Riley snapped.

The boy squared his shoulders and raised his chin. Though he spoke to Riley, his gaze never left Aden. “I will say what most of us are thinking. He’s too weak to lead us. Anyone in this room could enslave him in a matter of minutes.”

Finally. The threats he’d expected. “Anyone in this room could try.” Brave words, foolish words, but he meant them. He would lose, no doubt, but he would fight ’til the end. That had always been his way.

“Our enemies will assume we’re as weak as you are and attack,” his accuser continued. “You should never have accepted this position.”

Accepted? Ha! The position had been thrust at him, and he still didn’t want it, but now wasn’t the time to try to find someone new. They’d assume he’d done so because he was “weak.” “From what I’m told, fairies protect humans. Perhaps those same fairies will wish to ally themselves with you, now that you’re being led by one of those weak humans they so love.”

Not that he was going to lead these vampires, he reminded himself. Again. God, he was digging himself in deeper just to leave with dignity.

Still his opponent persisted. “And goblins? Do you know how to deal with them?”

“Yes. As Vlad did. By sending the wolves into the forest at night to fight them.”

“And how can you send the wolves to fight them when you yourself have never fought one? That smacks of cowardice.”

“I might not have fought a goblin, but I have fought a vampire. Need I remind you the outcome of that?”

Murmurs erupted. The circle was tightened. Saliva dripped from the wolves’ still-bared teeth.

Finally the boy nodded curtly and rejoined the crowd. Once again, conversations resumed, and the circle expanded. Crisis averted, Aden thought, and yet, relief eluded him. Just how long was this unspoken truce going to last?