Page 55 of Sold to the Dark Vampire Prince

Everything made sense now. The connection she’d always felt to Zander. The way she couldn’t banish him from her thoughts no matter how hard she tried. The almost sick desperation she’d felt to see Alexander again after the first time he’d fed from her.

She wasn’t going mad. It hadn’t been one sided. He’d felt that draw to her on some level, too.

They’d always been linked, bound together by fate in a way neither of them had understood.

But even as part of her wanted to shout in triumph at the news that she, and no one else, shared this intimate link with Alexander, the impending feeling of dread that had tormented her ever since their first night together hadn’t abated.

Neither Alex nor Sera indicated the slightest bit of hope that this changed anything.

And of course, why would it?

The vampire must either get mated to their blood bonded, or the human has to die.

If anyone at the palace were to discover that Alexander bore a mating mark, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill her.

“We’re out of options,” Dani said softly. “I don’t like this, but I agree it’s the only way. We have to keep our wrists covered. No one at the castle can find out.”

Alex pressed his forehead to hers. “I will keep you safe, Daniela. I swear to you. Whatever it takes.”

Evan sighed. “There’s another problem. There are aberrants, ones who’ve been working for the resistance quietly behind the scenes for years. Now they’re going missing.”

“You’re sure? There were a lot of people who got picked up during the riots.”

“Most are back out now. Much as the king hates rioters, he can’t afford to lose us working grunts. But there are reports anyone with aberrant abilities, anyone with even a hint of power, has just disappeared, and that’s really scary.” She turned to Dani. “You’ll be in danger from the moment you set foot in that castle.”

“You’re an aberrant?” Alex asked, fingers ghosting over the binding mark at her wrist.

“I can blur memories. Just a few minutes at a time, and only with physical contact.” Dani watched as Alex and Sera exchanged a worried look.

“There’s something we need to tell you about our father.”

They listened in silence as Sera explained about the powers the king had long kept concealed.

“There have been rumors for years,” Evan said at last. “But nothing more than that.”

“He’s very careful to control all the people in his inner circle,” Alex said. “Everyone who works at the palace has families and fears swift retribution if they were to talk. He’s done it many times before.”

“Can he be stopped?”

“It’s complicated.” Sera sighed. “Our father drains anyone he touches, anyone who gets close to him. He tried to drain Alex the other night and wound up killing the two guards holding him. He wasn’t even touching them directly.”

“He killed them through my body,” Alex added grimly. “And it wasn’t the first time.”

“That’s horrible,” Dani whispered.

Evan lowered her voice. “We have someone in our network who can poison drinks with only a few seconds of contact. It might work.”

“An aberrant?”

“Yes. We’ve been trying for over a year to position them close enough to someone within the royal court to make a statement. If we can get her into the palace—”

“I’m sorry, but what you’re talking about is impossible.” Alex shook his head. “My father has all his food tasted. He’s highly paranoid. The kitchen and serving staff are carefully vetted and have worked there for years. They don’t just hire random staff who apply off the street.”

“They might, under the right circumstances. We’ve gotten people in before.”

Alex shook his head. “This is an area where I’ll ask you to trust my judgment, Evangeline. It won’t work.”

“Fine. It was just an idea.” Evan blew out a breath of resignation. “So when do you leave for the castle?”