“I believe your exact words were, ‘I’d rather cut off my left testicle than be forced to endure the carriage ride again.” I smiled weakly. “Which is why you’ve insisted that my last hundred Sanguination Balls be held at the capital.”
Natalia gave me a look from over the top of her wine glass. I added a smile that likely came off as a sneer. I was already weary of the political maneuverings of the capital, and I hadn’t even left Roselyn. But I knew he hadn’t come to talk about old times.
While Natalia and Marius exchanged pleasantries, I cast a look at Claire, who was still dancing with Tansy. I’d beentrying so hard to protect her from my nervousness, but by the way she immediately stopped dancing to cut a path toward me, I knew I wasn’t doing a very good job.
Claire dipped into a graceful curtsy as she approached. “Your Grace. Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Poppet!” Marius exclaimed. “There you are!”
Of all the names he could have for my wife. The urge to rip his arm from his body and beat him bloody became all-consuming. I had to fight the change with everything inside me. “You know she is Lady Claire now.”
Marius’s smile lingered on her for a moment too long. “I do. And what a lovely lady she makes.” He plucked a goblet of wine from the tray, swirling the dark liquid. “Let’s retire to your study, brother. We have much to discuss.”
And so the time had finally come to hear my sentence for breaking the law and taking Claire as my sanguine partner. I bowed to my wife. “If you’ll excuse us, my dear.”
Marius shook his head. “No, no, no! She comes too. The more the merrier, after all.”
I took a slow breath, my jaw tightening. I wanted to argue with him, but it was useless. This was what he wanted. And so long as he didn’t hurt my wife or say anything inappropriate, I would have to endure it. I offered Claire my hand, and she accepted it.
She was trying to pierce through the wall I’d erected around our connection to read my emotions, but I wouldn’t let her in. If she knew how worried I was, it wouldn’t be good for her.
Chapter 49
Le Trône
BASTIEN
Ifell back on the pleasantries Marius expected. After all, I was still one of the twelve vampire princes, and I was obligated to uphold a code of honor. With one hand behind my back, I escorted my wife and my brother to my private study. Well, I suppose it was Tyson’s study now.
Two attendants opened the double doors, bowing low as we passed through. This room had always been a place of quiet, a space where I could think clearly. But now, the air was tense.
Marius made his way to the oversized armchair near the fireplace and settled into it, crossing one leg over the other, his goblet resting on his knee. He was dressed in a tailored black tailcoat and blood-red brocade waistcoat. The cuffs of his white shirt were fastened with onyx studs, and a signet ring with the Allard crest sat on his finger.
He pointed to the empty chairs across from him. A command disguised as an invitation. Reluctantly, I guided Claire to a chair and took the seat beside her. Once we were all comfortable, Marius let out a long sigh. “It’s so good to see you two.”
I knew I was meant to be agreeable if I hoped to earn his favor, but I was a man of war.I had only a small tolerance for pretty words and pretenses. “Your Grace, I think we all know why you asked for this meeting.”
Marius chuckled. “I have missed your humor, brother. It’s as dry as the wine Yves always brings back from Château du Mer.” His gaze slid past me to Claire. “Speaking of wine. Poppet—hand me that bottle over there. My glass has run dry.”
Claire made to move, but I held out my hand, stopping her. I tried to keep the anger out of my voice as I gave him one last warning. “Donotcall her that again.”
The humor drained from Marius’s face. “Careful, Bastien. You’re on thin ice as it is.”
My rage was too close to the surface for caution. “If you think for one second that I’ll let you come intomycastle and speak tomywife?—”
“Yourwife? Isthatwhat she is? Because last I checked, she was yoursanguine partner. The fact that she was your mate must’ve slipped your mind.”
I clenched my jaw. “Yes. I broke the law. I took my mate as my sanguine partner. The Council of Elders believed doing so would drive a vampire mad, and yet somehow I have managed to keep my wits about me.”
Marius didn’t like that answer. Not at all. “But you weren’t content to keep her on as just a sanguine partner. You married her. Sealing your bond. Behind my back. Without my permission.”
“You’re right. I failed to ask your permission. I was a little busy running your army.”
“See, this is exactly the problem,” Marius asserted. “You think you’re above every law our people created for us.”
We were both out of our chairs now. All pretense of civility gone. I shoved him hard enough to send him slamming into the back wall. The force of it cracked the stone behind him, and several pictures fell off the walls.
His eyes widened, just for a second, before narrowing into slits. “You don’t want to fight me, Bastien. I’ve always been stronger than you.”
