Chapter 12

I should have realized it after years of studying her. Aggressive, fond of fights, acting on impulse. Strong and determined, decisive. It was her way or no way at all.

I relied too much on my seductive power. While it made her captive to me, it also made her obsessed. Very different from our vampire women, who never let themselves be driven by feelings.

"I would have left her satisfied. She just needed to agree to marry my brother," I said softly, almost to myself.

"They place too much importance on sex and feelings. That’s why they’ve always been inferior to us." Antares stopped as we reached the library door. He analyzed me. "Would you make the sacrifice of lying with her for the greater good?"

"It wouldn’t be a sacrifice. Until she attacked me." Anger threatened to return, as it was an affront. "I’d rather keep that lunatic far away. She would only cause us trouble here."

"That seems to be the case. She would complicate things. But I won’t give up. There must be a solution. What if you speak to her privately, show her the advantages of—"

"No."

I never defied my father. But the matter was serious. He knew I didn’t tolerate insolence. If I had reacted when Lio attacked me, it would have turned into a massacre in that office. We did everything to avoid wars.

"I’ll think of something."

I went to my quarters, her image returning to my mind. Submissive, yielding, desirous. Furious, aggressive, with my blood in her mouth.

She awakened my worst side, stripped me of my control. And she hurt me. All things that were almost impossible to happen.

I preferred Lioara Constantini far away.

***

POV Lio

"You wanted him to die?"

Zara asked as we left the icy waters of the waterfall, gathering our clothes. It was a secluded, distant place, so we didn’t mind swimming naked.

Two days had passed, and my anger still simmered at the surface. Swimming in the freezing water wasn’t enough to contain it. The question alone made it flare up.

"I didn’t think much at the time. But yes. If he had been slower to react, I would’ve split his neck open!"

I yanked my underwear on with force, pulling it up carelessly. I did the same with my pants and shirt, shoving my wet hair out of my face. Zara dressed more calmly, watching me.

"They say they only die if they’re decapitated, have their hearts pierced with a stake, or are burned. You’d have to bite his head off. That’d be kind of hard."

"Why?" I turned to her. I had no doubt I’d kill him if I tried.

"Uncle Riuk wouldn’t allow it. Didn’t he hold you back? Your mother was there too, along with his father and brother. Not to mention Balthazar himself. Didn’t he react, didn’t he fight you?"

His furious image flashed in my mind—slipping from my grasp with elegance and speed without attacking me. I shrugged.

"He wanted to. His eyes turned completely red, even the whites. Not like us, where only the irises change color. I think he was really pissed!"

I ended up laughing, proud of having gotten my revenge and walked away unscathed. I couldn’t deny it when my parents said I acted without thinking.

"Lio, you could’ve gotten seriously hurt! We don’t know what vampires are capable of! What if it had turned into a bloody battle and your parents got hurt too?"

The smile faded from my lips as I moved, stomping my bare feet on the ground to shake off the leaves.

"I bet the only ones who’d get hurt would’ve been the vampires. My dad is way stronger."

"But we don’t know their powers for sure. My dad was furious, and I’m afraid this could lead to an even bigger mess."

It was true, and I felt a pang of worry. Not for myself, but for the tragedy that could’ve happened. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to my parents.

"I don’t even want to know. I hope they disappear forever!"

Zara sat on a rock, pulling a brush from her bag and untangling her long, light brown hair. She watched me out of the corner of her eye, curiosity apparent. Zara wanted to know more than I was willing to tell.

"You still haven’t explained why you acted like that. But I have a hunch. You were into Balthazar, not his brother." I started shaking my head, but Zara pressed on. "You know you can’t hide anything from me, so don’t even try to deny it! We barely had time to talk after the Alliance Feast, and you’ve been all mysterious and weird!"

I huffed, sitting down to put on my sneakers, avoiding her gaze. My face burned with shame at my stupidity for falling so hard, so fast, for a fake, manipulative vampire.

"I’ve never seen you like this, Lio."

"Like what?"

Zara flashed a wolfish smile, as if she’d uncovered my secret.

"In love."

"I’ve only met that bastard twice!" I finally met her green eyes. "And the second time, I almost killed him!"

"Passion, as I said."

My heart raced, but I tried to ignore it.

"Whatever it is, it’s over!"

"And if he comes back?"

"I’ll really tear his arm off."

"Or he’ll try to arrange a marriage for his brother with another supreme’s daughter since you refused. There’s Salomé, Cristal, Safira, Freya..."

"Zara, for God’s sake, they’re kids!"

"There’s me, a year older than you." I froze, tense, until she laughed. "You should’ve seen your face! Of course, I’d never agree to such craziness, nor would the girls, our parents, or Uncle Fenrir! Having a kid with a vampire? What a ridiculous idea!"

"You really scared me with that talk!" I finished tying my sneakers without standing. "What did you think of them? You saw them at the feast."

She didn’t answer immediately. She put the brush back in her bag, looking odd. Serious, which wasn’t like her.

"Zara?"

"They caught everyone’s attention. They’re attractive. But I stayed far away; I didn’t want to get close."

I remembered what my sister Salomé had said about the vampires hypnotizing us. Had my cousin fallen for that spell too?

"Salomé said the vampire with Balthazar came after you at the Alliance Feast. What did he want?" I asked.

Her eyes widened slightly, surprised. She was hiding something.

"Your sister saw that? What do you mean? I only saw him from very far away."

"Yes."

"I felt like I was being followed and watched, Lio. It was weird; I even felt a bit scared. But I looked around and didn’t see anything suspicious."

"Bizarre..."

"Very."

Zara stood, adjusting the bag across her chest. I got up too, thinking she wouldn’t say anything else. But she asked, curious:

"What’s his name? My dad said he was a friend of the brothers, but I didn’t want to ask much."

"Thorn. He’s a vampire from North America, visiting the Severus family. At least, that’s the story they told. I don’t know anything else."

I thought of the tall, handsome man with blond hair and beard, piercing eyes. I stepped closer to her.

"Are you interested?"

"Of course not! I’m just worried since Salomé said the vampire was after me. How could that happen if I didn’t even talk to him? I barely saw him!"

Apparently, those bastards loved to seduce and entangle. I feared Thorn was scheming with the others and wanted something with Zara. Wasn’t it enough they’d used me? Would they try to use my cousin too? Since I’d rejected Caliban, maybe they’d target her.

"Balthazar is already engaged." The confession slipped out, maybe to reassure myself he wouldn’t mess with my friend and cousin.

"But you wish he weren’t." She finally smiled, teasing.

"Oh, shut up! Let’s drop this subject! I swear I’ll never say his name again! He’s dead and buried. Let him go back to his damn coffin!"

We laughed and walked through the forest, talking about other things. My life wouldn’t revolve around those bloodsuckers.

But no matter how hard I tried to erase the vampire from my mind, my anger wouldn’t let me.

Who was his fiancée? Was she as beautiful as he was? Did they live together, share the same coffin? Did they touch each other?

Did they love each other?

Damn it.

It was none of my business.

I’d forget him, one way or another.