AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s been some time since we’ve seen you around these parts. What brings you into town?”
I do as Julian said and remain still with my eyes locked forward. I’m unable to see the man that Julian converses with, but something tells me I wouldn’t want to anyway.
“Dinner,” he says, nodding his head in my direction. I see this action out of the corner of my eye and have to try very hard not to react to his suggestion.
“Good catch. It’s a rare occasion when a human that delectable crosses our paths,” he says covetously. “Rafael will be disappointed if you don’t come by the club. He was just saying the other day how different things are, now that you’re in power.”
His words cut through the air like a shotgun, challenging.
“Please give Rafael my apologies for missing the club this visit. I’m sure you can imagine how eager I am to... snack.”
My stomach drops. I know he’s doing this for show, but I can’t help but be disturbed by it.
“If I might say, Julian, it would be very advantageous for you to show your face at Levine, especially with this human on your arm, submissive. It would show any naysayers that Julian Bellamy is the right heir.”
“You speak very loosely to your king, Vzar.”
“My apologies,” he says, not sounding apologetic at all. “I thought we were friends. We have been for so long. I didn’t think that a throne would change that.”
“If only friends shared the same values they always had.” Julian’s voice is harsh. His words are a riddle to me.
The man’s voice drops to a whisper. “Not all of us have the luxury of disappearing for years, Julian. I had my own legacy to step into. It doesn’t mean my stance on things has changed, but I can’t make changes from the outside.”
Julian’s shoulders relax, hand shooting out toward Vzar.
The man bypasses Julian’s hand, pulling him into a tight man hug. I relax, hoping this means we’ve run into an ally.
“What’s going on here? You’ve started bidding and taking donors?” The man sounds slightly disgusted, which bodes even better for me.
“Vzar, this is Marina. Marina, my friend, Vzar.”
I look at him out the side of my eye, silently questioning whether I can break the act.
“Marina. It’s fine.”
I turn my head toward the other man, realizing instantly that he too is a vampire, as I suspected. I nod my head in his direction.
“The collar?” Vzar says with a laugh.
“For safety.”
The guy chuckles, “Nothing ever changes with you.”
“She wanted dinner and I wanted to keep her safe.”
Vzar narrows his eyes, smiling at Julian, but he doesn’t say anything.
“What’s the word on the streets tonight?”
“I’m serious when I say you need to make an appearance, Julian. The Council is all over you, and if word gets out that you were here and didn’t make an appearance, it will be another strike on a long list of strikes. They’re determined to find a reason to start the proceedings to try to extract you from the title. And it doesn’t help that your brother is at the forefront.”
“How do I do this and keep her safe?” Julian says, looking toward me.
“You’re still king. For propriety’s sake, they’ll all obey. The Council isn’t in town, only Rafael. Say she’s off limits, and she’ll be off limits. If anyone steps out of place, I’ll be there to help intervene. Besides, on a Friday night, the place will be teeming with humans. Her blood won’t be any more potent.”
Julian nods, turning to me. “I’m sorry you’re in the crossfire, Marina. I shouldn’t have ever brought you here.”
“What’s going on?”
