I knew there’d been attraction, curiosity, and lust. But love?
Love was something else.
Initially, I’d blamed his confliction on tasting me, but he’d claimed it was more than the blood amplifying his feelings.
As my mind spiraled, I realized how little I knew about the experience of living as a vampire.
If I go through with this—the binding ceremony—it would be the firststep to being turned.
A stack of gift boxes toppled from a side table and I refocused my gaze back to my reflection in the ornate, oversized mirror.
It was three days until Solstice and the royal seamstress was fitting me for the upcoming events. Multiple feasts and balls and finally, the main event—the Offering. Each garment was completely unique, custom-made for my body, and would complement a similar outfit for Rhazien.
I guess when you have a never-ending life of nights, you’re also gifted time to hone your talents, perfect your craft, and produce copious amounts of drawings.
And my dress for the Solstice Offering was nothing short of stunning, like the designer had plucked stars from the night sky and sewn them into the fabric.
The sleeves did little for support, but offered a visual cascade from one shoulder to my bare collarbone before diving into a dramatic, symmetrical plunge nearly to my navel. It hugged the lines of my body perfectly and the dark fabric created an illusion of a midnight puddle at my feet.
“Perfection.” Gorvin applauded from behind me.
I blushed and avoided his gaze.
“Oh come, Lady Reyva. Don’t be bashful. You deserveeverycompliment in this gown. And this isn’t even the finished ensemble. Everyone, justeveryone,is going to fawn over you. I hope you’re ready for that.” He made a few notes as he showered me with compliments.
The steward I’d met just a month prior was void of emotions.All business, that Gorvin,Rhazien had said. Yet, with each passing day, Gorvin’s excitement compounded.
My heart cracked as he spoke with the lingering attendants about my hair and accessories to accompany the gown. To Gorvin, it was more than just Solstice. It was a long-awaited event—Rhazien declaring a prospect, becoming bound, ascending to King of Immortals—and Gorvin would rise with him. With…us.
“What do you think, Lady Reyva? How does it make youfeel?” He leaned in eagerly, parchment and quill ready to note any alterations.
I turned away from him, back to the mirror. The woman in the reflection was dressed like royalty. Her role was to be the key to Rhazien’s ascension, which could save countless lives. Although we still needed Lorana’s stone to wake the Original.
Even if we didn’t locate and retrieve it in the coming days, Winter Solstice would still be a momentous event. For the first time, a rulingregent would become shadowbound to a prospect. The responsibilities placed on a ruler didn’t care whether or not I was ready for it, trained for it, had other plans or dreams for my life.
I swallowed thickly, wondering about the ruler I might grow to be in ten, fifty, two hundred years.
“It’s absolutely stunning. I never could have dreamt of a dress this grand. You are truly a master artist.” The seamstress was still fettering away at the hem of the dress but looked up with a mouthful of pins and nodded in thanks.
“No changes, then?” Gorvin prompted. His brows raised as if to encourage me to speak up.
“I wouldn’t dare change a thing.” I ran my hands down the sides of the gown.
The seamstress beamed up at me like she’d never received a compliment before. Her smile fell as she looked at Gorvin, no doubt a past source of emotionless critique.
A knock at the door made us all turn.
“That will be the accessories,” Gorvin stood. “Enter!”
My breath hitched as it wasn’t the expected accessories, but Rhazien, who entered the room. His gaze landed on me like a fly falling willingly into a spider's web. He struggled to focus on one detail of the gown. My exposed neck and collar, the curve-hugging bodice.
Gorvin dropped into his signature sweeping bow. “Your Majesty. We weren’t expecting you.”
“Apologies for the intrusion.” Rhazien swallowed, his eyes dragging over every detail from my feet, up, up, up, until he finally met my eyes.
I was conflicted. Flattered and disgusted. I wanted him to miss me, but I wanted nothing to do with him. My emotions wrestled over their contradictions as I stood, breathless, staring back at the vampire who wanted to offer his shadow to me.
“Ravishing, isn’t she?” Gorvin swiveled from his regent to me.
