Lucie watched as the Count’s face fell. He lowered his head and almost shrank himself down. “Forgive me, my prince. I won’t misspeak again.”
“That’s not good enough. I need more than you not speaking. I will need your blood oath of loyalty to the family. You’ll give it to my father or you will leave.” Derrick wasn’t going to play around with the chance of betrayal, and a blood oath would prevent him from ever betraying the family. This was the price the Count would pay for his words. He wasn’t forgiving when it came to Lucie.
“Of course, my lord. I’ll give it to him immediately,” Count Basil said, slinking away toward the king.
Not into making friends?Lucie tilted her head up at Derrick, who lovingly rubbed his hand over her side.
I’m their leader. They don’t follow me for my friendship. They follow me for my wisdom and protection. I will guide them into the future, and I can’t have anyone around that I don’t trust. Anyone who would dare speak to you like that … calling you a pup … he’s lucky I didn’t shred him.Derrick looked around as people started lining up, seeking an audience. This was going to be a long evening. And after the moment he’d shared with Lucie, lustful thoughts were plaguing his mind. The desire she had for him was overpowering. Knowing she wanted him so much at that moment showed how much they were meant for each other.
It was true that drinking the blood of your mate bound you together. But the more you desired your mate, the deeper the connection was. Derrick purposely put some vervain in his system to help weaken the effects. He was going to give some to Lucie, but Abe had warned him against it, since she’d just finished her heat. It made sense to him. But she’d had to endure the full surge of desire, and through her, he’d felt it too.
He loved her so much. Her eyes twinkled up at him and he felt her love flow into him. She was feeling the exact same way. And now, finally, everyone knew she was his. No more hiding. No more her having to pretend to belong to another. She was HIS and he was hers.
CHAPTER 54
Derrick led Lucie through the crowd and onto the dance floor. He spun her as the band started playing and pulled her back into him, gazing at her in adoration. Other couples soon joined them.
Lucie noticed Justice, Aedan, and Ryan had escorted women out to dance as well. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves and looked at ease. She looked back into the eyes of her mate. Everything was just … perfect. So perfect that she almost forgot about the witch causing problems. And she maybe could have, had Jasper been there too.
“He’s fine, Lucie. I’m sure of it.” Derrick smiled, pulling her close to him. “Jasper is really strong, and these voidless aren’t that formidable.” He leaned in and brushed his lips over her forehead.
“That’s what has me worried. There’s more to all this. The witch didn’t plan all of this to just keep launching wave afterwave of weak armies, right? I know she made some weird potion, but there has to be more to it.”
“Or the armies were supposed to lure you guys out, and because of us, it hasn’t happened. I don’t think the witch was anticipating the vampires taking the lead in this.” Derrick could feel her restlessness over the situation.
“And Wicker?” Lucie sighed. She could see Derrick wasn’t sure about him either.
“He has his own agenda in all this. But he can’t be our problem. There isn’t anything we can do about him. That is someone your uncle will have to worry about. All we can do is focus on what we can take care of. And we’re doing just that. Once we find this witch, our part in this mess will be done.”
He held her tightly against him as they swayed to the slow music. The tips of his fingers traced over her back. “No, Lucie,” he said, quietly but firmly.
She frowned and sighed, looking away to avoid his piercing gaze.
“Lucie.” Derrick’s tone was quiet and low, with the hint of a threat. He was reading her thoughts loud and clear, and on this issue, he would not budge.
“We don’t even know how that potion would affect me. I’m not like the others.” She snapped her gaze back at him when she felt the soft vibrations from his chuckle.
“I would never be okay with it. Even more because of the unknowns.” Derrick watched her frown but could feel she hadn’t given up on the idea.
“Lucie, your parents forbade you and Aedan to fight. And they’re right. I also can’t allow you to fight, Lucie. You’re the future here. Even more so now. With our exchange, we could never be with anyone else. That’s the purpose of it. I don’t want anyone but you, and I can never be forced to be with anothernow. But this is a real problem for the vampires if something happens to one of us.”
“Well, if that’s the case, then you shouldn’t be going to fight either. And I can see that’s exactly what you’re planning to do. You’re planning to leave me again already.” Lucie felt a bit agitated. She just wanted to stay by his side.
“You know I don’t want to leave you, Lucie. Now more than ever, you know it. But I need to see this end.”
“Keep Jasper with you then.” Lucie locked her gaze with his. “I have Aedan, Justice, Ryan, Abe, and Myra here with me. I’m safe. So if Jasper is so skilled, he should be at your side.” She could feel how he didn’t like the idea. “As you can tell, this is one point I won’t be budging on. I’ll die on this bridge, Derrick.”
Soft rumbles reverberated from his chest. “Yes, my little mate, I can see that. Okay … but let’s not think about that right now, okay? Let’s think about how we can escape so I can do what I really want right now.” His gaze swept over her greedily, like a predator. His fingers trailed over her intimately as his mind began making promises to her.
“My lord,” a muscular man said, tapping on Derrick’s shoulder. “May I?” he asked, looking at Lucie.
Derrick inwardly growled but forced a smile over his face, stepping aside to allow him to dance with Lucie. It was customary to dance with other partners at such an event, especially so they could get to know their royalty. And soon, Derrick had a line of ladies wanting to dance with him. He gently took one of the lady’s hands and began to dance with her. He glanced at Lucie longingly as he watched her being led around the dance floor and away from him.
Lucie smiled happily as Ryan was the next to cut in. She was getting tossed from stranger to stranger and finally ended up in the arms of someone she was familiar with.
“Ready to dance with your fake fiancé?” Ryan chuckled and guided her expertly across the floor.
“So now that you’re free, are you beating the ladies off with a stick?” Lucie giggled and watched him flash her a wide white smile.
