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Draven’s guards and Hydes people. Her heart skipping a beat at the thought he might be here. Hidden in the crowd of perfect faces. Perfect bodies that all turned to look at her as she passed them.
Draven stood tall and held out his hand to her. His dark eyes staring at her.
He pulled her close and kissed her softly on the lips. Almost chaste. Before turning to the room.
“My wife has returned!”
At his announcement, the room filled with applause as, one by one, every vampire stood to their feet. Blinking in the soft light, her eyes moving around what seemed to be a never ending sea of faces. Her fingers tightening around his. Talia took a deep breath.
She hadn’t expected that announcement. Shooting him a glance, she kept a smile on her face. The last thing she wanted was to cause a scene by denying the “wife” comment. It was clear that Draven fully expected their relationship to return to what it had been hundreds of years ago.
So much for giving her time.
There was a murmur in the crowd as the werewolf guards brought a high back ornate chair to sit next to the kings. The red plush velvet matching his, as did the wood carvings.
“My wife has returned, and in due time there will be a ceremony to bring her back into our fold. This is a time for celebration,”
At his last word, a side door slid open as elaborately dressed men and women stepped into the room. Their bodies dressed in silks and fine gauze. Their attributes were clearly on display as they moved into the crowd.
Even from where she stood, Talia could clearly make out the fang marks on the skin of those nearest to her. Not all the marks were on the neck. Some bore puncture wounds on their breasts, legs and wrists as they moved amongst the crowd. Like a courtesans from a time long forgotten.
Her eyes catching Ghosts for a moment as the wolf nodded. These people were the food.
She swallowed hard, feeling her body tense up as Draven pulled her towards him.
“You didn’t like the dress?” His voice was low, intimate in her ear.
“It was beautiful, just a little too revealing,”
“I was looking forward to seeing you in it” taking her chin in his hand, he brushed her lips with his as music filled the room. “Next time ... wear it,”
Blinking a little at the command in his voice, she didn’t have a chance to reply as he led her to the waiting chair.
“Sit, we cannot join the dance with you wearing that.”
His tone soft with mild rebuke, Draven lounged back in his chair. His eyes watching the crowd as the music started to swell through the room. The dance floor filling with graceful movements as many of the vampires started to dance.
A glittering performance that seemed to hold his complete attention.
She sat down on the hard seat and immediately felt Ghost’s presence the wolf stepped up behind her chair. Her eyes flickering over the crowd.
Following the complicated steps of the dance, Talia was again glad she hadn’t worn the dress. She could barely pull off a waltz, let alone the complicated steps that they all seemed to glide through effortlessly.
But as two women stepped out of the crowd and approached the throne, she felt Draven’s attention sharpen.
The first woman was perhaps the most elegant person Talia had ever seen. Her long black hair was left to spill down her back in perfect natural waves. Her porcelain skin accentuated by only the lightest touch of makeup. Eyes were a deep blue that seemed to sparkle in the low light of the room.
Her dress was a simple, straight, formal number that hugged her bodice and hips in all the right ways. Long legs teasing a high thigh slit with every step.
Beside her walked a much younger, nervous girl.
Dressed in a simple black formal gown. Her strawberry blonde hair piled up in curls with a few loose strands around her face. Her skin freckled and pale white against the red of her lipstick.
“Morticia,” he said in a deep, sultry voice. His eyes were locked on the graceful woman as she gracefully lowered herself into a shallow curtsy. Her companion fumbled her way through an awkward version of the same gesture.
“My King.” Her voice held a European accent Talia couldn’t place at all. “Why have you summoned me?”
“You question my authority?” His voice still held a lazy, seductive tone as his hand traced over Talias.
