“I’m certain that is the case.” She laced her hands behind her back. “But seeing as how I would prefer to keep my head attached to my shoulders, I’m going to stay here if you don’t mind.”
Marius did mind. Very much, in fact.
After walking the silver planes yesterday, he’d arranged for a carriage to pick him up on the other side of the forest. It would only remain there until dawn, though.
He’d Seen several escape routes, but only those with the carriage had him making it to freedom. If he missed this, he wasn’t sure when the next opportunity to prove himself capable would come up.
Marius needed this to work because he wasn’t sure he could return to Castle Sanguis. Life in the castle was so stifling, and he was desperate for adventure.
He quickly developed a new plan. He’d walk in circles if he had tountil his new bodyguard got bored and left. Once she was gone, he’d run to make it to the carriage on time.
This plan was better than nothing.
Abandoning his argument and hoping she would get the hint sooner rather than later, Marius turned and strode through the woods once again.
An hour later,Marius’s new bodyguard was still by his side.
Had he angered the gods in a past life? Was that why he was now stuck with a silent, red-haired shadow?
He didn’t get it. None of his other guards ever followed him so closely. Most of them were content to hang back, their presence enough of a deterrent to stop anyone from approaching him.
Not this vampire, though. She seemed infuriatingly insistent upon doing her job. If he took one step, she did the same. If he leaped over a log, she followed. She was like glue, stuck to his side.
Honestly, it was ridiculous.
With every step he took and every minute that passed, frustration bubbled up inside him.
Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore. He didn’t even know this vampire’s name, and she was stalking him.
Balling his fists, Marius spun around. His nostrils flared and red-tinged his vision.
“Youneedto leave,” he growled.
The vampire stared at him, her black eyes infuriatingly calm.
“Oh?” She blinked, canting her head. “Why is that?”
Becauseheneeded to leave.
“I don’t need a bodyguard,”he huffed.
Marius had been arguing with the queen about this for years. He was a grown man, for the gods’ sake. By the time she was his age, Luna had already gotten married, been Made into a vampire, and ruled by her husband’s side for a few years.
The vampire didn’t move. “Unfortunately, you’ll have to take that up with the king. I’m duty-bound to stay with you, and I can’t go back on my word.”
Of course, Marius would get stuck with the one vampire who apparently still believed in duty and honor.
His nails dug into his palms as he fought the urge to pull his hair from its roots. “What if I release you from your duty?”
“Only the king can do that,” was her calm response.
Sebastian wouldn’t do that. Not unless Luna asked him to, and she wouldn’t because she didn’t think Marius would be safe in this dangerous land. Hence, his conundrum.
“Please. Leave,” he ground out through clenched teeth.
“Why?”
“I’d like to be alone.” He spoke the truth. It was rare for him to be left on his own, even for short periods of time.
