My vampire king issensitive?
Who knew…
The street opens out into a beautiful open area in the heart of the old town. It slopes away from us as I gaze around at the snow-covered cobbles.
“Up there is the Christian church which was once a mosque,” Dominik says, using his cane to point at a white stone building with a verdigris dome. “But we are going this way.”
He sets off down the shallow steps, and I follow, enjoying being outside with the frost nipping at my skin and the winter sunlight glinting off the snow and the colorful buildings surrounding the square.
A group of school children pass us, chattering excitedly in Hungarian.
“What are they saying?” I ask Dominik.
“They are looking forward to school,” he says.
I get it entirely, but only because school was my refuge from my uncle.
“That’s nice,” I reply.
“This way,” Dominik says, turning left down a street I happen to notice is calledKiraly Ucta.
“I only wanted a walk out, not a route march,” I grumble under my breath, but my vampire is already ahead of me, opening the door to a small cafe and ushering me inside.
Out of the cold, I instantly appreciate his choice. The place is warm, homely, not really what I’d expect from a vampire. I sort of imagine Dominik hanging around in high-end wine bars, haunting the spirit section and sipping from something which resembles red wine…but isn’t.
“Sit and wait here,” he says.
“Why, where are you…”
Before I can even ask the question, he has left, the bells on the door jangling at his departure. I take a seat at the table and again, before I’ve asked for anything, a cup of hot tea is placed in front of me, along with a piece of dobos torta, a delicious cake with multiple layers of soft thin sponge and creamy chocolate filling.
I’m digging in when Dominik comes back into the cafe with a small bag in his hand. He sits in front of me and places it on the table, pushing it across with just one finger.
“For you,” he says.
I stare at the bag and take another bite of cake. It looks like it might contain jewelry.
“What is it?”
“Something I wish you to wear.”
“We didn’t discuss this.”
“No, we did not. But you accepted my offer, and it comes with this.” He gives the bag another poke for good measure.
I pull it closer, undo the fancy ribbon it’s tied with, and peer in.
There is a small box inside. I look up at Dominik, and he looks unusually discomfited for a vampire. I pick it out and open it. He makes a slight whining noise.
Inside has to be the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
“What is this?” I look at him.
“What does it look like?”
“It looks like a big fuck off engagement ring.”
“It is a consort ring,” Dominik says. “I am giving it to you.”
