“Watch your mouth when you talk to my wife.” Vlad’s tattooed fist pressed down on the table so hard that Belladonna feared the inked skull would shatter the wood. She longed to reach out and place her palm on her husband’s hand to calm him, but the looks on her parents and Gabriel’s faces warned her not to move.
“You can be angry all you like with me, but you keep my wife’s name out of your mouth. Do you understand?” Vlad continued. “I won’t tolerate her being slandered in my house.”
“Why, Dad?” Gabriel leaned back disrespectfully and shoved chicken into his mouth. “Why do you get so mad when I talk about her? She’s just a witch. Rowena’s daughter, no less. She was engaged to me first, and do you know she used to beg me to sleep with her, but I couldn’t degrade myself by sticking my—ufff.” He grunted as Vlad grabbed him by the chest, hoisted him out of the chair, and pinned him against the wall.
“I told you to watch your mouth,” he roared.
“Vlad!” Belladonna jumped up, distraught that dinner had been ruined because of her relationships. She understood Gabriel was hurt, but there was something off about his temper. She’d been ready to run away with him, willing to anger the angel of death to escape with him, but he’d rejectedher. He’d made it clear he never truly cared, so she didn’t understand why he was trying to ruin her marriage.
“I warned you,” Vlad ignored her shouts. “You don’t talk about my wife like that. You are my son, and I love you, but I’ve killed vampires for less.”
“What, you going to kill your own kid over some witch?” Gabriel asked.
“No!” Belladonna shouted. “No, he’s not killing anyone. Vlad, please let him go. Please, can we just eat?” She started to cry, and anger boiled over in her chest. She didn’t want to cry. Not over Gabriel. He’d had his chance to fight for her, and he’d thrown it out the window. He hadn’t even tried, yet Vlad had proved time and again that he would kill for her, that he would welcome his enemy into his home for her. Gabriel wasn’t her mate. He couldn’t be. Not when her soul was screaming Vlad was.
“Can we eat in peace?” Vlad asked his son. “Belladonna put a lot of effort into this meal, and she’s far more gracious than I am. She wants to enjoy dinner with her parents, so can you sit down and shut up? Can you act like an adult and discuss your grievances with me instead of insulting the woman who didn’t have a choice?”
“Why do you care so much about her?” Gabriel asked, staring at Belladonna with malice. “What’s so special about that witch that has you acting insane? You aren’t the man I knew.”
“Gabriel,” Vlad growled.
“You can’t really think she’s…” Gabriel laughed with disgust. “What the hell happened to my father?”
Vlad’s expression darkened, and for a terrifying moment, Belladonna feared he would rip his son’s head from his body, but then he surprised everyone by pulling the vampire into his arms.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he hugged his son. “I’m so sorry for what I did. When you’ve lived as long as I have, you forget sometimes what it means to have emotions. My reign is dominated by violence, so in my need to make her my wife, I didn’t think. I love you, Gabriel. I have since the day you were born, and I will until I die. So, forgive your father. Put me out of my misery and stop talking about my wife with disrespect.”
The room fell silent, and Belladonna’s heart broke as she watched the scene. This violent vampire that was her husband was evolving before her eyes, and while he’d royally screwed up their wedding and his relationship with his son, she couldn’t help but care for him.
“Come on, Gabriel. Forgive your father,” Vlad pushed.
“Whatever, you can have her.” Gabriel half hugged his dad, and Belladonna gave a small sigh of relief. It was a start.
“It doesn’t matter,” he continued, and her relief died in her chest. “It’s all the same in the end.”
The rest of the meal passed with excruciating discomfort, and when her parents finally stood to leave, Belladonna felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
“I love you, Mom.” She hugged her mother tight, counting down the seconds until she could curl up in bed. This wasn’t how she’d expected the evening to go. When she woke up that morning, she’d pictured a nice if not slightly awkward meal where the two houses made real steps toward peace. With how delicious Vlad looked in that all-black suit, she’d fantasized about him taking her to bed for the first time after their successful dinner party. It was partially why she’d shoved him against the table earlier and fallen to her knees. Her actions were to help him relax, but most of her motivation came from her unquenchable thirst for her husband. Shewas beginning to understand why he’d barged into that church and pushed his signet ring onto her finger. She didn’t belong to Gabriel. She never had, and she never would.
But now? Now she longed to curl into a ball and pretend the world didn’t exist.
“Say the word, and we’ll get you out of this house,” Rowena whispered in her daughter’s ear. “I don’t care what it takes. If you need me, I will rescue you.”
“That would break the treaty,” Belladonna said.
“I don’t care. You are my daughter. You always have and always will come first.”
“I appreciate it, Mom, but I’m fine.”
“Fine isn’t good enough,” Magnus said. “I’m worried you aren’t safe in this house.”
“Actually, I might be the safest I’ve ever been here.” Belladonna glanced over her shoulder at her husband, who was talking to his son again. She hoped they could work it out and forgive one another because, while she would always be pissed about how Vlad married her, she’d come to terms with the realization that she didn’t regret it. Marrying him had been the right choice. She sensed it in her bones, in her suddenly volatile magic.
“Don’t worry about me.” She embraced her father. “I… I think I’m in lo… I’m okay,” she stumbled on her words, unsure how to confess her true feelings after that disaster.
“Well, the offer still stands,” Rowena said. “One word, and I’ll come for you.”
“This is why I have the best mother ever.” She hugged her mom again. “Vlad’s personal laptop is basically mine now, hence all the ridiculous credit card charges, so I’ll video chat you soon. Maybe we can try another less disastrous dinner party.”
