“You wouldn’t turn away your own blood, Alaric Valerian. I shall arrive when I choose. Tinted window technology has come a long way. Besides, I have something important to show you, and it simply couldn’t wait another day.” She claps her hands. So far she has not even acknowledged my presence. It’s as if she doesn’t even see me. “Perdita, come here.”
Another figure appears in the doorway. A woman steps into the flickering candlelight, and I stifle a gasp as I take her in. Hair like spun silk falls in sensuous curls around her heart-shaped face. A pair of wide, curious eyes in an arresting shade of baby blue fix on Alaric with cold precision, and the corner of her scarlet lips curls back into a smirk. Her crimson fishtail dress hugs her impossibly trim waist and voluptuous curves, and beneath the usually cruel light of the hall, her skin appears lustrous, speckled in silver.
She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
“Hello, Alaric,” the woman purrs.
A strangled noise rises from Alaric’s throat. “Mother, what … what is the meaning of this?”
“Oh Alaric, you do love to tease me so. You’ve must remember Perdita. I’m told the two of you were once close. You must know why she’s here.” Alaric’s mother smiles without a trace of warmth. “Perdita is to be your wife.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ALARIC
Gideon: You should know that the Nevermore Murder Club is sniffing around Danny’s death. One of them was out at our site, snooping through our files. I’ll redouble my efforts, but if those meddling ladies get close to the truth, we’ll have to consider measures.
My wife?
No.
This is all wrong.
All these years, Callista has left me alone at Black Crag. I thought she understood that I want nothing to do with the machinations at the Nightshade Court and I have no desire to wed to suit her political aims …
But the pampered vampire princess gliding towards me with victory burning in her eyes tells me that I’ve been a fool.
Of course, Callista would not give up on me. She has brought Perdita to my castle, betting that I would not refuse her while her chosen bride (and my old friend) is a guest in ourhome. To kick Perdita out of the castle now, after she has made this trip, would invite a feud between our families, between the Nightshade and Midnight Courts. And even with my distance and disinterest in court, I know that is something we can ill-afford in the current climate.
But I willnotmarry this woman, not for blood loyalty or to save the Upyr community from civil war.
Not when my heart belongs to the remarkable human woman standing beside me, her mouth open in shock.
Panic rises in my chest as Perdita sweeps towards me. There has to be some way to salvage this mess?—
A wild, desperate idea comes to me. I don’t have time to ask permission, nor to talk myself out of an act so abhorred in our laws. I wrap my arms around Winnie and pull her close.
“Unfortunately, Mother, you and Princess Chastain have travelled all this way in vain. For you see, I am already engaged to be wed.” I force my lips into a smile. “May I present my bride, Winnie Preston.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
WINNIE
Iguess Alaric’s calling in his favour now.
My head spins from everything that’s happened. I’m struggling to flip from the cold desperation in Alaric’s voice as he started to tell me his secret to the way my body hums when he calls me his “future wife”. But, after he pretended to be my fiancé for Patrick and Claire, surely the least I can do is play along with his game.
Although I doubt his mother will believe us. Why would someone choose to marry me when there are eligible ladies like Perdita around?
I squeeze against Alaric’s body, wrapping my hands around his waist and glaring possessively at Perdita. I barely have to pretend at all. “Hello.”
“Winifred, this is my mother, Lady Callista Valerian, matriarch of the Blood Valerian, and her guest, Perdita Chastain, Princess of the Midnight Court.”
Princess?
I raise an eyebrow to Alaric.Thismust be the family secret he needs to tell me. He’s some kind of royalty and he’s engaged to a princess. He returns my gaze with a tilt of his chin, his mouth fixed in a firm line. It’s as close to flustered as I’ve everseen Alaric look.
Play along, Winnie. You’ll make him explain later.
