Page 120
“I don’t have to be happy about any of this,” she murmured. “And I’m not happy. I want to be with you. But I know you and my father won’t hear it. I’m allowed to be upset.”
Softening my expression, one of my hands slipped to her throat, gentle as a breath, then cupped her chin, guiding her to keep her gaze on me. “You can be mad. You can be upset. You can be all of that,” I whispered. “But you’re also mine. And I’m yours. And as for you, I want to protect you from anything I have the power to stop. I know you want to be a part of this… but some things I’ll have to face without you.” Leaning in, closer, my lips hovered just above hers. “But I promise you, Valentina. I will return.” She softened, not in defeat, but in understanding. And that’s all I wanted. I didn’t need her to yield; I just needed her to see me, to meet me in this decision as my partner. I didn’t want this to become another battle. “I trusted you with all my heart,” I murmured, “every time you made a journey without me. All I’m asking now… is for you to trust me the same way.”
Her bottom lip pushed out in a pout that nearly undid me. She looked up, and I swore I saw the glint of tears catching the corners of her eyes. My heart squeezed at the sight. “I do trust you,” she whispered. “I’m just… terrified for you.”
“Hey,” I said, leaning in until my lips brushed the shell of her ear. “Aren’t you the one who called me your King?” Drawing back enough to meet her gaze again, a sincere grin spread across my lips. “Well then, my Queen, don’t be scared. I’m right here. And I will be coming back for you.”
A quiet giggle slipped out as she wrapped her arms around my neck, drawing me in. Leaning into her hug, our lips met in a soft, tender kiss. It was brief, just a breath, but it brimmed with adoration and reverence on both sides. Her fingers tangled into my curls, and she rose onto her toes to steal one more peck before I pulled back. “We’re good?” I asked, searching her face as I eased away.
Nodding at first, Valentina changed her mind mid-thought as she shook her head. The contradiction made my brow furrow confused. "Only halfway," she teased with a smile. "You still have to come home." Her eyes explored my face as laid out her condition. "The other half can wait until then."
Laughing, warmth bloomed in my chest as her hands slid down from my neck. “I can manage that,” I said, leaning in to press one final kiss to her lips. It was soft, certain, and sealed with promise.
I would have lingered there for the rest of the night, wrapped in the warmth of her gravity, but Bomani rounded from behind the carriage, his heavy footsteps padding against the snow and breaking my attention from her. He stood beneath the soft glow of the tea lights, his beard and shoulders lightly dusted with snow. He looked almost guilty as our eyes found him. “I didn’t mean to interrupt, but your father said it’s time to go,” he announced, keeping a respectful distance.
Straightening my shoulders, I rolled them back as I moved away from Valentina. My fingers found hers and guided her gently to my side. She didn’t resist until she dropped my hand to wrap her arm tightly around my waist, anchoring me to the snow. To her.
A slow smile crept across my lips as I looked down at her. My hand found the back of her head, smoothing over her curls. “Okay, let’s get going then,” I told him, though the smile didn’t reach my eyes. It should've felt exciting, finally getting the chance to see more of the city. Instead, it only felt bittersweet. I wanted just a few more stolen glances, touches, kisses. I’d miss every inch of Valentina.
Bomani nodded, his smile warm as he looked between the two of us. “I’ll be sitting in the front with your father. You can ride with us, or lie down in the back,” he offered. There was a flicker in his voice. Excitement, maybe?
Taking one last glance down at Valentina, memorizing the soft line of her profile, then back to him.
“I’ll sit in front with you all,” I answered, squeezing her waist before releasing her. Letting go reluctantly, her arms sliding from around me with a sigh that clung to the cold.
Bomani led us around the carriage, where Kleitos stood beside the sole horse for our journey, the same one that had taken us back to Arianna’s estate before. I recognized it instantly by the distinctive white markings on its ankles, the only features that set it apart. The rest of its coat was a deep jet black, so dark it reflected silver under the moonlight. It stood nearly as tall as I did, its shoulder reaching up to my mid-chest.
Kleitos had just finished attaching the harness. Now, he moved along the horse’s side, tugging and adjusting each strap, making sure everything was secure. Once he was satisfied, he turned to face Bomani and me, catching us watching him. “It’s time. Let’s go,” he said with a faint smile. The same glint I’d heard in Bomani’s voice was now in his.
Their energy had a grounding effect on me. My own anticipation bubbled low in my chest like a pleasurable ache. I could feel the charge building in my limbs. Bomani turned to flash a grin toward Arianna, who stood by the entryway. She raised her hand in a casual wave, her voice drifting toward us like snow on the breeze.
“Don’t get my bultungin killed,” she called. “Or you’ll owe me your life. He’s priceless.” Even with the humor in her tone, a thread of warning lingered beneath it.
Bomani laughed. “You have no faith in me now, Fallen?”
Arianna’s eyes narrowed into slits at the sound of the unfamiliar name. Even from where I stood, I heard the sharp inhale she tried to swallow, a breath that came out as a strangled laugh instead. “You just come back,” she said, voice low and tight.
Bomani nodded to her, biting down on his bottom lip as he took one last long drink of her presence. Then he dropped into his seat, back pressed tight against the cold leather of the carriage. Their small exchange only fanned the flames of my curiosity. That wasn’t just imagination. There was something between them. Clear in the most subtle of ways.
If it weren’t for the dozens of blood boxes stacked in the back, I would’ve gladly taken the warmer route. But the idea of being squished next to a blood bank’s worth of O-negative? Yeah… I’d take the freezing wind.
Before climbing the carriage steps, I turned toward the three being left behind, though my gaze lingered longest on Valentina. I dipped my head with a smile. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t miss me too much.” Then I took my seat beside Bomani, just as Kleitos slid behind us in the driver’s position.
Kleitos didn’t say a final goodbye. Instead, he cracked the heavy leather reins against the horse’s back, and the sound snapped through the night like a whip. The strike sent visible ripples across the animal’s muscles as it reared up, one leg slicing the air before launching forward into the darkness. The carriage surged ahead, the horse galloping confidently along the snowy path, already familiar with the terrain of the stables. Its hooves thundered against the packed snow, carrying us swiftly toward the castle gates.
Two guards at their posts didn’t hesitate. With synchronized force, they hauled the towering iron doors open just in time, allowing the gates to swing wide and slam into the stone walls with a thunderous clang. The echo crashed through the forest, and in its wake came a chorus of howls. Some were sharp like the squawks of birds; others were guttural, full-throated howls like wolves crying into the night. The sounds weren't just eerie; they were electric.
A shiver ran down my spine, but it wasn’t fear. It was something far more primal. I wondered what kinds of animals might be lurking through the deep woods. Since they'd brought horses here, other creatures from Earth might have been brought through portals, like settlers once did. For some reason, I couldn’t help but feel that this place had its own native life. Creatures made to survive long winters and endless dark nights. It only made sense. If vampires had only recently discovered this world, then it must already belong to something.
Lord Dracos’ estate disappeared behind a thick wall of snow-white branches. As towering trunks greeted us, dusted in frost, the night around the carriage began to breathe. The forest had lungs of its own; the wind shifted through the hollows like a whisper. It was as if Draco’s home had been frozen in stillness, and the moment we left, the world came alive.
Letting my gaze drift upward, I admired how clear the sky was. This was the first night I’d been allowed outside this late. The only other time I had, I’d been kept up sparring with Arianna until dawn. I’d never had a chance to stand there and take in the night’s beauty. The air felt colder than it had during the day. Nothing obscured the strange aurora borealis light that clung beneath the twin moons in streaks of violet and warm orange. It painted the snow like glitter, lighting up our path.
I missed so much of this world, trapped in castle rooms, crammed in carriages, or humbled in a cold demon’s cottage. I was grateful for every experience that led me here, but no blue-misted sunrise could compare to the brilliance of this moment.
At the tips of the tree line, something stirred, swaying the limbs until snow tumbled from the leaves like falling rain. It cascaded down like diamonds dropping from the sky. Our steed remained steady, following the carved trail through the terrain. Besides a few mounds of lumpy ice, the path ahead was mostly clear, lit by golden streetlamps that stretched high enough to bathe nearly the entire length of the trees.
Above the rustling treetops, fluttering through the obscured sky, a flock of winged creatures took flight. There were about a dozen of them, each with a long, pointed beak. I wanted to call them birds, but their wings didn’t resemble feathers at all. Instead, they looked more like the translucent wings of the Fae I once encountered in the woods. They were delicate, ethereal, and glowing faintly pink. Their long, thin legs dangled beneath their small bodies as they glided silently above us. The snow-covered canopy caught their glow, briefly setting the treetops ablaze with a soft rose light.
