Page 27 of When Night Falls
"You will come with me." I lower my voice to project safety, and I hold her still, focusing on her eyes and seeing my reflection in her glass-like stare. "You won't give me any more problems about where we're going, and you will obey me for the rest of the night, understand?" I watch her slowly nod out of obedience, so I let go of her and let go of the breath that I was holding.
"I'm sorry," she apologizes to me willingly and I sigh.
"I didn't want to do that," I admit as I reach for the tear that has since stained her cheek and wipe any proof of it having existed.
I really didn't want to invade her like that, it breaks the attempt at trust in the slightest. Especially because when she does accept her fate, all the times I’ve controlled her thoughts will come flooding back to her. So it's best I keep the compulsion to a minimum.
She allows me the gesture without any expression before she walks toward the front door and reaches down for her bag by theentry table. "Then why did you?" she asks, a lot calmer than she's been all night and I know it's because I compelled her to behave, in short.
"Because I want you. In fact, Ineedyou, Lucynda. And I can't let you ruin this for me." My admission rolls off my tongue like a provoked avalanche, and I see the way she flinches.
She's slightly afraid of me now, probably because she's partially under my control and she recognizes that she's been intruded upon. I hate myself for it, but not so much as to know that I did what I had to do. Even if for selfish reasons.
We make it outside, and down to the end of Mainstreet without her causing any problems or raising hell. The last thing I need to do is compel a group of people to unsee or unhear what she might say or do. But at this hour of the night, or should I say morning, the only people wandering the streets are my Nocturnes. A few of them glance our way and nod their head in respect. They are all, by now, aware of who I'm walking with and what she will mean to the future of the Society.
Before themasquerade, I had informed everyone that it was the initiation for my new bride. The shock on my prior fiancé's face was priceless, and I bathed her in anger. But I didn't give her rage much attention otherwise.
We hold parties—most always masquerades when we decide to invite humans for entertainment—but not often do we get to celebrate a binding engagement.VinculumMasquerades are specific to those binding ananima vinculummarriage as opposed to only marrying for contractual purposes. So they were all made very aware of who she was when she'd showed up for her own engagement party.
Lucynda doesn't notice the extra attention as her brain is most likely drowning in the control I spelled onto her. As we cross the street to start heading down Hollow Echo Drive toward Hollows Trace, Lucynda finally breaks her silence to ask me a question.
"Rivian?" Her soft timbre reaches up to my ears in a feathered whisper that almost makes my heart skip a beat, hearing her say my name like that lights a new flame inside of me.
"Yes," I answer her as we walk side by side down the dark road.
"What are you, and what do you want with me?" Her question isn't disobedient, she's not breaking my compulsion and I can see the sincerity in the curiosity that floods her eyes when she searches for an answer.
I decide it's time to rip off the proverbial band aid while she's still calm because I know by morning, all hell might break loose.
I stop us in our tracks for a brief moment and I gently turn her body to face me. I take a hand to her face and caress her cheek with my palm as I hold her eye contact steady on mine. The feeling of having her so close to me, her skin on my own, ignites something in me I haven't felt ever, and I know that this is the real deal. But for right now, I can't tell her that. So, I give it to her straight.
"I, Lucynda, am a vampire. The Dark Prince. And you are going to be my queen."
11
the road to what lurks
Lucynda
Something ticks in the echoes of my brain urging me not to freak out; to not react the way that my body feels necessary.
His hand is on my lower back as we continue to walk down the street. I don't try to wiggle out of his hold because, without rationale, I like the way his hand feels on my body. I've never had anyone touch me in such an urbane and careful way.
I know that he has my mind in some kind of trance right now, but I feel secure in the way he touches me. I also know he's possibly the most dangerous man I've come in contact with, given his spiel of superficial jargon, but that is also why I feel so protected. I sense that no one would stand a chance against this tall, dark and murderous handsome man just with the knowledge of the power that exudes from him.
I only ran from the party because I was afraid I was doing all of that to myself—the intimacy and the influence that seemed to have plagued my mind with intrusive thoughts was too muchfor me to handle. And though I quickly learned that there wassomethingcontributing to the mysteries happening around me, I still didn't fear the man in question more so than I was just pissed off and, even still, confused.
Besides, I've dealt with monsters before, I'm pretty sure nothing will compare tothat.
So, without another word, he guides me down the dark curves of Echo Hollow Drive. I don’t ask any more questions and he doesn’t give me any other reason to believe that I’m in danger. But that doesn't mean that the questions aren't there, floating around in my hollowed brain.
He can read my mind?
A vampire prince?
My engagement?
Despite my better judgment being clouded, I can’t help but think about the moment we shared at the bookstore. He is the same man who’s been leaving me secret notes and roses and watching me from the shadows. I still don’t understand why I became his chosen victim, but that night when he found his way into my store, he had fascinated me.Trulyfascinated me.