I found him assessing us. And it wasn’t just him. Everyone was noting our every move. Being watched like this wasn’t new to me. First, as the new wife of the Lord of Merchants, then the infertile pariah at court, then the suspected sorceress and whore, and finally, a calculated murderer. No, staring crowds weren’t new.
“As I said, Your Majesty…” I turned to face him as we reached the steps of the carriage, “…eventful.”
The royal transport mirrored the style of the cloak Rhazien gifted me. Rich walnut trim framed the tufted, deep purple fabric with black velvet roses embroidered onto the plush seats.
My heart thundered and my mind buzzed, alert with worry about what may happen within the confines of this dark box. Dommik said I belonged to Rhazien and I didn’t know what exactly that meant or entailed. I steadied my features into that of a calm, confident lady of high-breeding as Rhazien settled himself across from me.
Gorvin floated to the doorway. “Everything will be as you asked upon your arrival, Your Majesty.”
“Very good. Thank you, Gorvin.” The regent poured a dark liquid into a crystal goblet as his glabrous steward shut us in the carriage.
A stifling silence hung between us. Four oil lamps cast long shadows from each corner of the carriage beneath their limited, golden hues.
Rhazien took a large sip of the crimson liquid, sizing me up from over the rim of the chalice.
“It’s hard to put into words how excited I am to finally meet you, Lady Reyva.” His velvet voice wrapped itself around me.
I smiled only because it was required of me. I was stuck on the concept of belonging to this stranger.
“I’m flattered, Your Majesty.” I smoothed the fabric of my dress and laid my hands in my lap. The driver cracked their whip and set the carriage into motion.
“Can I offer you a drink?” He tipped his head to another empty crystal goblet secured on a small shelf.
“I don’t…drink…blood.”
He chuckled. “Of course not, this decanter is wine. Specifically chosen for you.”
I raised a brow. “Are all of your human guests recipients of such favorable treatment?”
His lips curled. No fangs in sight, yet. “Absolutely not.”
“Well, lucky me.”
“Yes. Indeed. Lucky you.” His warm gaze raked over me from my ankles delicately crossed on the carriage floor to my hidden form under his gifted cloak and finally, to my eyes. He blinked away whatever thought occupied his mind. “We’ve done a bit of reconnaissance on you. You prefer wine from Bromport, do you not?”
I did, in fact, prefer the rich tannins of the Bromport wineries and salivated at the thought of the expensive libation. I feigned disinterest, like I was offered my preferred wine every day. Playing coy, I slowly said, “Oh, well, in that case.”
Pleased at my acceptance, he poured a generous amount into the chalice. As he set to task, I stole a moment to really look at him. His face was sunkissed, like someone who had worked outdoors in their human life. His thick build made me wonder if he had been a laborer, maybe a blacksmith, before he was turned.
His brows were thick and his nose was prominent. He had the kind of face you could imagine at all ages. As a younger man, as a village elder. But here he was, frozen in time. His features worked in harmony to create the warm, disarming smile given to me over the newly filled glass.
“What should we toast to?”
“Whatever Your Majesty deems fit,” I quipped. I could feel my mother nodding her approval in the afterlife.
“To a successful courtship.”
Courtship.
Dommik never said anything about a courtship. I fought to keep my shoulders from sinking along with my stomach.
Our glasses clinked and I paused, just as I had when Dommik visited me in the keep, taking in the scent of the wine before bringing the cup fully to my lips.
“Poison may be a common tactic for humans, but isn’t exactly necessary for vampires, Lady Reyva.” Rhazien studied me and I wondered, with his heightened senses, what he could see that would remain unseen to my human eyes. He took another deep drink from his chalice and I mimicked the behavior in response.
The smoky notes of the full-bodied wine lingered on my tongue as my next question left it. “You said the word ‘courtship’ just moments ago.” We both sat straight and still. The gentle rocking of the carriage swirled the cabernet.
He exhaled slowly. “Didn’t Commander Thorne inform you of your role here?”
