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Prologue - Sebastian
OCTOBER 1432
Candlelight danced over the room, mingling with the laughter of my family. The wind was howling outside the castle walls, but inside our banquet hall there was nothing but warmth.
My heart was full as I looked around the table at all the smiling faces. We were gathered for my youngest sibling’s birthday. Amelie was turning three, clapping her chubby hands together at the attention my mother was lavishing on her.
Being vampires, birthdays were not something we tended to celebrate. Contrary to the rumours circulating among the villagers, vampires were born, not made. Conceiving was difficult though—nature’s way of ensuring the human population was not overrun by the supernatural one.
Amelie was an unexpected miracle. My parents had already borne three children: myself, Geralt, and Magnus. The three of us had all been birthed within two decades, and Amelie’s arrival three hundred years later had been a surprise, to say the least.
So yes, we were celebrating her birthday. There was little we would not do for her. Her birth had heralded a new beginning for our family. We had always been close, but there was something about Amelie that knitted us all together. She was the sunshine that we wanted to protect.
Our world could be a cruel one, but our clan was strong. Our presence kept the neighbouring supernaturals in line. We lived a quiet life on the outskirts of a popular human town. It allowed us to feed as needed, but we were careful never to hurt anyone. We wanted to co-exist with the humans.
The proof of that sat to my right, his warm hand clasped in my cool one. Laurent, the son of a washerwoman, had taken a wrong turn in the woods about a year ago. Losing his footing, he had skidded down a hill, knocking his head in the process.
Fortunately, I had been out for a ride at the time, and my supernatural hearing had alerted me to Laurent’s plight. I had thanked god every day since that I had been the one to find him. Our land bordered that of the Cameron Clan, and unlike us, they had little respect for human life. Their leader, Jeremiah, was barbaric. He harboured the belief that supernatural beings were the superior race. That we should rule the humans, treating them no better than slaves.
Needless to say, our relationship with the Camerons was turbulent, but thanks to our strength and numbers, they tended to keep to their land. There might have only been five of us, not counting Amelie, but we were more powerful than their entire clan put together.
If one of them had discovered Laurent, that day would have been his final one on earth. I could not bear to think of it now. The thought of anything happening to him was painful.
I had taken one look at Laurent’s beautiful face and fallen instantly. I had never given away my heart before, but it had handed itself to this quiet human before I had even realised what was happening.
The past twelve months had been the happiest of my immortal life so far. Laurent completed me in ways I had not realised I was missing.
My family were all shooting me covert looks whenever Laurent’s attention was elsewhere. Papa winked. Maman smiled. And my brothers? They smirked.
All of them knew about the box in the pocket of my breeches. The question I was going to ask Laurent later tonight.
No, we could not marry in the traditional sense. As vampires though, we could choose a mate. A person to offer our immortality to.
I could not wait to start living the rest of my eternity with Laurent by my side.
“It is a shame Tobias was unable to join us.” Papa’s deep voice rumbled as he reached for his wine laced with Adamanthea. Adamanthea was one of the few substances that could intoxicate us. Only served on special occasions, all of my family bar Amelie were drinking some. Even Laurent was drinking, but naturally, he had ordinary wine.
I, however, was not drinking anything. I wanted a clear mind when Laurent agreed to be my mate. I did not want to forget a second of it.
Not wanting Laurent to become suspicious, I had taken the glass my father poured out and even pretended to sip from it. My subterfuge made me feel giddy. Everything about this night would be perfect for my love. I was certain of it.
“It is a shame,” I responded. Tobias was my cousin on my father’s side and, aside from my brothers, the being I was closest to. Both his parents had been tragically killed by a group of mages a century before. “Unfortunately his ship was delayed leaving port. He hopes to join us in a few weeks though.”
Amelie began to squeal as Maman presented her with yet another gift. Some might have said we spoiled Amelie, but how could we not? We were addicted to the way her face lit up. The way she clapped her hands and kicked her feet in excitement.
Laurent fidgeted in his seat beside me and I frowned. Leaning closer, I dropped my voice to a whisper. “My love? Is something wrong?”
Laurent’s golden hair fell over his forehead as he ducked his head. “I have a headache. May we get some air?”
I frowned. You could not miss the shrieking wind beyond the walls. “Outside? I do not think that is wise.”
“Please,” Laurent whispered. His hand was trembling in mine. My instincts were rattled. This was the issue with being with a human. Their needs were so much more complex than ours. “Let us walk outside.”
I was not one to deny him anything. Besides, a proposal under the moonlight would be a romantic story. “Of course, my love.”
My family all looked up as we pushed back our chairs. Maman frowned slightly. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” I responded with a reassuring smile. “We are going to take a turn about the gardens.”
