Chapter 67

ELEANOR

As I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my body, I heard a knock on the door.

“Eleanor, can I come in?” I heard Aric’s voice. I hesitated. He had ~claimed~ me.

I knew vampires claimed humans. He had told me about it. Humans they wanted to keep for sex and blood, humans that they didn’t want to share.

I knew that he didn’t feel that way about me, but I didn’t like him announcing to others that I was his blood bag.

“Sure,” I slurred. Aric pushed the door open. His gaze met mine.

“Eleanor, I had to get him off you,” he said quickly.

He walked toward me, towering over me, his gaze fixed with mine.

“I know,” I muttered. “I just didn’t like hearing it.” He nodded and gave me a small smile. He slipped his fingers against my damp cheek. I relaxed into his touch.

“I’m sorry.” He pressed his lips against my temple. I wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling his solid body against mine. My heart was racing.

“Aric, that prince Alexander, how much power does he have? Over us? Over me when I’m turned? He said I was his subject.”

“He suffers from an inflated ego. He’s royal, the direct descendant and firstborn of his generation. He will be king one day. But he doesn’t have much power now.

He won’t for at least a thousand years. Our family can contest for the crown if we like, so around us, he has to watch his back.”

“Really? You can?”

“Elizabeth was the firstborn. When she married my grandfather Damon, she decided to decline the crown. She never wanted to be queen.

Technically, my uncle Angus is also heir, and Demetrius is after him.

That’s why Alexander likes to show off around us. That’s why he wanted to scare you so much. He thinks that he can scare us into submission.”

“But if Elizabeth refused the crown, how can Demetrius be the heir?”

“She refused it for herself, not her line. That decision will be made when Lucius dies,

William, his son, and Alexander’s father will want to ascend. Uncle Angus and Father could both, if they like, challenge him for it.”

“Challenge him? Does that sound as bad as I think it does?”

“Probably. A fight to the death. It’s archaic, but so are we.” He chuckled.

I gazed up at him, his hand his arms still wrapped around my body. He pressed his lips to my forehead.

“And are Angus and Demetrius inclined to fight?” I asked.

“They weren’t. They grew up with William. They’re cousins. They agreed long ago that they wouldn’t. But things have changed recently. Actions have their consequences.”

“You mean me. I changed things.”

“Yeah,” he said with a warm smile. “For the better, Eleanor.”

“It doesn’t sound that way. It sounds like ever since I arrived, I have done nothing but been a force of disruption, alienating the family from other purebloods, creating bad blood between you and your cousins…”

“I’m still doing that today. Ruining the wedding.”

“Perhaps, but none of that is your fault, Eleanor. You were a child. You have no control over Mother and her crazy whims.

And if you hadn’t come along, where would I be? I love you, Eleanor. And I need you. I’d spend eternity looking for you.”

“Aric, would you fight to the death for the throne?” I whispered.

“Maybe one day, if Angus or Demetrius claims it this time around,” he murmured. “I’d have to fight Jude and Eloise for it.”

“I wouldn’t want Eloise on the throne.”

“Neither would I,” he chuckled. “But that won’t be a problem for another thousand years,” his eyes twinkled. He lifted my chin and pressed his lips against mine gently.

“Eleanor. They’re all arriving. I can hear them downstairs,” he breathed.

“It’s time, isn’t it?”

“Before too many arrive, yeah. Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Yes. I’m sure. I want you, Aric,” I answered simply, gazing up at him. His eyes flashed red for a second.

“Extreme pain, no children, bloodthirst. You’re sure?”

“I am, Aric. I’m sure.”

“Okay then,” he nodded, his eyes sparkling bright to crimson. I nodded back.

“So, how do we do this?” I breathed, suddenly feeling awkward and nervous. Even I could hear the voices downstairs, mingling.

He leaned toward me. “Come here,” he spoke softly, his eyes bright red.

I took his hand, and he guided me out of the ensuite into my old room. The balcony doors were still open, the room filled with cool summer air.

His fingers tugged at the knot in my towel and let it drop to the ground, reminding me of the first time he saw me naked. I shivered slightly.

Aric’s crimson eyes roamed over my body. He walked around me slowly, his fingers caressing my skin. When he came back around to face me, his expression was unreadable.

“I love you, Eleanor,” he said. I nodded.

“I love you too, Aric.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Eleanor. But this is going to hurt.” His brows drew together.

“I understand.”

“I will be here every step of the way,” he added.

“Of course.”

“I’ll keep you safe.”

“I know.”

He moved to the bed, where I noticed a dark blue ball gown. He picked it up gingerly and held it up for me.

“Mother brought this for you,” he said softly. “It’s pretty old-fashioned.”

I shook my head and gently took the gown from his fingers. Together we slipped it over my head, and it fell into place gracefully.

Behind me, Aric tightened the laces, and the sleeves shifted off my shoulders.

“Come with me,” he reached out his hand, and I took it. He guided me out onto the balcony.

Below, I could see the party had started, voices laughing, calling, talking.

Purebloods moved faster than I could follow around the brightly lit lawn. Humans were shuffling among them, offering their throats up to whatever hungry vampire walked by.

Aric turned me around so I was facing him again. His fingers glided down my throat to my shoulder. His crimson gaze met mine. Slowly he lifted his wrist to his mouth and bit down.

He then transferred his wrist to my face. I opened my mouth, never moving my gaze from his, and began to drink his blood.

The taste burst in my mouth—spicy, sweet, sour; I felt it rushing through me, felt it tingling through my body, to the tips of my fingers and my toes. I wanted more.

I grasped his wrist, holding it against my mouth. Aric let out a small growl, and I could feel his body pressing against mine. His feverish gaze met mine.

“Are you ready, Eleanor?” he breathed.

I nodded slowly, and he drew his hand back. I noticed, suddenly, that he was trembling.

“Hold onto me, okay? I will give you more blood. I promise.” His voice was soft, his eyes wide. I nodded.

“It’s okay, Aric. I want this,” I reminded him. He nodded slowly.

He ran his lips against my throat slowly, breathing in heavily. His body shuddered. His arm wrapped around my waist, turning me around so I was facing the river.

His lips pressed against my skin. I felt his fangs piercing through, penetrating my skin.

I gasped in pleasure, my body writhing around his touch.

He held me still, his arm wrapped around my waist, his other hand holding my head back, giving him better access.

I could feel him sucking. I could feel his tongue lapping at the blood. He let out a low groan, his body trembling.

I focused on the feel of his tongue, on the dancing lights below me. My vision began to blur. I squinted at the river. I felt light. My whole body was tingling.

A sudden memory, locked in my mother’s arms, her fangs piercing my skin, my body shaking in terror.

I recognized the same light feeling in my body, the same feeling of utter helplessness.

My body began to shake, my head spun.

“Aric, stop,” I breathed, but I wasn’t sure if I even said it. My voice sounded so far away. Aric’s grip tightened. I only heard him growling, sucking my blood, his iron grip holding me in place.

Darkness began to invade my sight. I felt myself sagging against him, my head lolling back. My throat felt dry. I gasped. My knees buckled, and I felt myself falling. Falling.

Dark patches were playing in my vision. My whole body felt warm, hot even. I wanted to move but I couldn’t.

I felt Aric’s touch, freezing cold against my skin. He was talking. But I couldn’t make out his words. He was pressing his arm to my lips, blood smeared against my face.

Suddenly I was lying on the ground, and my body landed hard against the stone balcony floor. I felt the cold stone, my head pounded. I squinted up.

Aric was moving, jumping away from me. Behind him, I could see someone else floating in the air, descending on top of me—a woman, small, bright red hair, bright red eyes, wearing a bright red gown.

She looked like an angel. She perched above us, squatting on the railing, peering at me. I could see she was talking. I couldn’t make out her words.

Her fingers moved quickly, and I felt his cold skin against mine. When she drew back, I could hear her laughter. She was sucking on her fingers, dripping with blood. My blood.

Her face suddenly came screaming back to me. I knew who she was. Elizabeth. She had been in my nightmares for years. I opened my mouth and screamed.

I tried moving away from her. I searched for Aric. But I couldn’t see him. I couldn’t move.

Elizabeth was shouting. She leaned down and grasped my head, pulling me up to my knees.

I swayed dangerously, squinting up at her, my head spinning. Behind her, I saw a body flying through the air, over the balcony, careening to the floor.

“Eleanor!” My name, Aric, was shouting my name.

My head spun. I searched for him. He was standing behind me. His chest was soaked with blood, his eyes blazing bright crimson. He lunged at me.

I felt myself being lifted from the floor. My body was suddenly in the air. Light, flying.

Then I was moving fast, flying over the balcony, plummeting to the ground.