Page 84 of Sold to the Dark Vampire Prince

The members of Lara’s communications crew were standing with the last group they’d brought out, looking utterly exhausted. Carefully, he laid a woman with a broken leg on the cold ground, then pulled off his coat to put over her.

“Your Highness, I couldn’t,” she started, even as her teeth were chattering.

“I insist, madam. If you argue, I may have to give you my shirt as well.”

This earned a round of laughter and catcalls from onlookers.

“You’re going to be okay.” Dani appeared by the woman’s side, offering a bottle of water. “Eunice, right? We had lunch together last week.”

Alex glanced up at the sound of Lara’s voice, only to realize it was coming from someone’s phone. He quickly pulled up the live feed. And snorted.

Apparently, Lara had weighed her options and decided staying onsite with a picked over crew and the worsening weather wasn’t worth it, not when she could go back to Cavalieri Tower where there was a dedicated hair and makeup team waiting to do her bidding.

Lightbulbs flashed as reporters shouted questions.

Lara held up a hand. “At this time, we only have preliminary information. Alex and I were outside at the time of the bombing, doing an inspection of the facility.”

“I assume you’re referring to His Royal Highness, Prince Alexander?”

“Yes, of course.” She lowered her head, batting her eyes. “My apologies for the mistake.”

Alex rolled his eyes. Mistake, his right fang. Maybe she would accidentally tell them what color underwear he wore next? Not that she had any idea.

“At this time, we need everyone to remain calm.” Lara’s voice hardened. “Rebel forces are intent on destroying the peace Alex and I have been trying to restore, the kingdom we all hold dear. But they will not prevail. We will not let them win.”

“We don’t yet know what happened,” Dani said quietly from beside him, watching Lara’s performance play out. “Or who’s responsible.”

“No, we don’t.” An uneasy feeling stirred in his gut.

On the live feed, there was more shouting from the press pool. “We’re getting reports that Prince Alexander stayed behind to go back into the building and search for survivors, along with several members of a news crew that was onsite. Can you confirm that?”

Lara’s expression froze. Quickly, she recovered.

“Yes, it’s my understanding that he did.”

“Was there any reason you didn’t remain to help search as well?”

“That person’s getting their press credential yanked!” someone called off to Alex’s right.

“Ooo, she’s mad!” someone else said. “She might be smiling, but you can see the steam comin’ out those ears.”

“I was knocked to the ground in the initial blast,” Lara explained to the room. “I begged Alex to let me come with him, but he didn’t feel it was safe for me to go into the building in my condition.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “He’s very protective that way.”

The crowd around them fell silent.

In her condition? Alex pinched the bridge of his nose. What was wrong with Lara? Now everyone was going to think—

Well, of course that was exactly what she wanted them to think.

Henri, who’d come up on his right, said a word under his breath Alex rarely heard him utter in polite company. “For pity’s sake, Your Highness, but if you don’t find some way to stuff that woman into the palace moat—”

Before he could finish, Daniela swayed beside him, reaching out to clutch his arm. He caught her before she could fall, carefully helping her to sit down on the ground.

“Are you dizzy?”

“Um, maybe a little sick to my stomach.” The words came out slightly slurred. “And my head hurts. I think I just need to sit down.”

Alex swore. He stood, looking for the closest medic, and quickly realized that with hundreds of people who needed to be evacuated, Dani might not be seen to for some time. He pulled out his phone and texted Sera.