My mind won’t stop spinning through what just happened between me and the handsome Vampire King. Okay, technically I shouldn’t even be categorizing him that way in my mind, considering I’ve already learned they prefer to be called Krovenian, but I can’t help it. I’ll never say the word ‘vampire’ to anyone’s face or even call them that anymore between myself and another human. But it’s true I’ll probably slip often in my thoughts because he has no idea that if I were to look up Vampire King in the dictionary, his face would pop up and not because he’s the literal king of his species.
Krovenians are stronger and faster than humans with heightened senses. They’ve always been the “don’t mess with us” species on the planet. The rest of us are simply lucky that they are known to be mainly peaceful and level-headed and remain committed to stay out of human affairs. All the European wars, including way back to the Romans, have happened around them, with all the great powers leaving them alone, because they knew the consequences. The Vampires famously killed both Genghis Khan and Hitler when each decided to attack Krovenia.
Nikolai’s face was inches from mine, his deadly fangs extended. That rough, desperate confession before he snarled at me to leave. Ugh, I wanted so badly to press my lips against his and kiss him senseless, running my tongue over those fangs. What did he mean? Why did he say that? Why did he look at me like he wanted to devour me whole?
I turn down another unfamiliar corridor, not really paying attention to where I’m going. My thoughts are a tangled mess.
There’s still the Derek situation. I haven’t told Nikolai about my brother, or about why I was really going through his desk. What if he had Derek arrested? My brother is spiraling, yes, but he’s not a criminal. He’s just heartbroken, lost and listening to the wrong people on the internet. I need more time to talk him down, to get him to take therapy seriously and move on to restart his life. I can’t do that if Derek is rotting in some Krovenian prison because I confessed everything to a king who already thinks I’m a spy.
But honestly? The spying feels less important now. The more pressing issue is that I’m falling hard for my employer, The King of Krovenia. A man so far above my station it would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic. I can’t help myself, I’ve had a crush on him for about a decade now.
It was a low-level crush on a Krovenian celebrity that seemed so distant as to be fictional, but the moment I’m here, seeing him in person and in his quarters, listening to his voice…
I press my back against a cold stone wall and close my eyes. I can admit it to myself now, here in this empty corridor where no one can see my burning face. I’m falling for this complicated, infuriating vampire. The one who criticizes my dusting technique and calls humans stupid and looks at my throat like I’m a four-course meal.
But what could I ever really have with him?
At most, a quick affair. That’s all a human commoner could expect from an actual Vampire King, no matter how much I might want something real and lasting. He’s royalty. I’m nobody. Affairs with the help are probably a time-honored tradition around here, just like they are in the human world. Marriage between two people who are not only different species but also different socio-economic levels sounds impossible.
Marriage? Is that where my head is going?
That’s silly. It’s an impossibility.
Maybe that’s why he acts so angry around me, because he’s trying to stop himself from having an affair with the staff. That actually makes sense. He has ethical standards to uphold and sleeping with the new American maid would be a no-no.
And I haven’t exactly been helping matters, have I? Arguing with him. Calling him an asshole. Asking if he was staring at my breasts. Swaying my hips as I walked away.
I bite at my lower lip and twirl my hair.
I’ve been playing with fire.
And judging by that look in his eyes before he told me to leave, and the tent in his crotch, I was about to get burned.
I push off the wall and keep walking, turning another corner. This part of the castle is unfamiliar, grander than the servants’areas, with tapestries on the walls and ornate sconces that flicker with actual candlelight.
Then I recognize that I’m near the King’s private council chamber. I’ve cleaned this room before. Muffled voices can be heard on the other side of the thick door to the main entrance of the room. I immediately recognize Nikolai. He’s in a meeting. And I can’t help but want to see and hear him again for a moment, because I’ve got it bad.
There’s a servants’ entrance here, a narrow door behind a tapestry that staff uses to deliver refreshments without interrupting meetings.
Just a quick look, I tell myself.
Although this is exactly the kind of snooping that got me in trouble in the first place. Haven’t I learned my lesson? But then I hear someone say, “The Blood Calling has finally found you, brother. This is wonderful news.”
Blood Calling? Hold on. Isn’t that the term Krovenians use for their mating? This is another reason why it would never work between us considering my blunt teeth and lack of need to ever ingest blood. But I have to know more, so I inch closer to the peephole. Through the narrow opening, I see part of a grand fireplace crackling with flames, the edges of leather chairs and movement.
There are other male voices I assume must be his brothers and cousin. Mrs. Vesek mentioned Viktor, Sebastian, and Maxim. They don’t live in the castle, each has their own estate and household, but they come here often for their roles in the government of their country.
Through the gap, I can see another figure quietly watching Nikolai with an unreadable expression. That must be Viktor. The middle brother. The widower.
“The timing couldn’t be better,” one of them continues, I think it’s Sebastian. “The Council will be thrilled. A BloodCalling with Princess Serina? They’ll finally stop pressuring you about the wedding date.”
My stomach drops.
Nikolai is engaged. To a princess.
Dammit. Of course he is. Of course. What did I think, that an impossibly handsome king would remain single forever, waiting around for some random American maid to stumble into his life? There’s obviously a beautiful, appropriate, royal Krovenian waiting for him. For all I know, he might’ve been engaged to her for years.
I’m such a fool. I thought he was being honorable, trying to not have an affair with me only because of our power imbalance, but instead he’s got a freaking fiancé. And now I feel yucky for flirting with him.
