86

POV Balthazar

I isolated myself in a suite at the back of the palace to have some peace.

With my phone, laptop, and a few scattered documents, I tried to focus on work. But I was too disturbed to be cold and functional.

I didn’t recognize myself, thinking about Lio and the argument we had, the fact that I confessed to her that it wasn’t just sex and that I was seduced. It was all a mess inside me, taking away my peace and shaking my certainty.

I should have been focused on fulfilling my obligations and clearing the suspicions of the other clans when they arrived. The whole situation was worrying. If I was careful and intelligent, I would convince them that no crime was committed and that we never intended to break the rules.

The problem was that I never imagined I would feel so emotionally involved and furious. The vampire I had always been seemed to have gotten lost somewhere before that. Before Lio entered my life.

If it weren’t for her, everything would be fine, according to plan. Now, I no longer knew anything. Only that she left me shaken, lost, unable to stand being away from her.

Things only got worse when my father sent me a message via telepathy.

The Draganovs insisted on a formal dinner that night to be properly introduced to Lio. We knew well that they wanted to investigate us, observe, gather more evidence for the upcoming meeting with the whole cave. Antares was showing his concern, but he couldn’t refuse.

I was really irritated. They had come to create chaos, provoke problems. Uninvited, acting behind our backs by calling the meeting and still forcing us into difficult situations within our own clan. The worst part was being tied up, unable to expel them. After all, we had rules to follow and we were about to be interrogated in front of everyone.

I thought about skipping the dinner, but it was impossible to avoid. The tension and stress were guaranteed with the two troublesome brothers present, Lio and Kassandra in the same room. I even wished the wolf wouldn’t come, but I doubted she would hide. Like me, she wasn’t a coward.

I had a servant bring me some clothes. My place was by my fiancée’s side, but I didn’t force anything. I did what I wanted, avoiding her on purpose.

I was tense when I entered the dining room, my eyes automatically searching for Lio. She wasn’t there. The others were.

My father at one head of the table, my mother at the other. Alexandar, Dimitar, and Kassandra to his left, side by side. To the right, Calíope and Caliban. All very elegant, with golden goblets in front of them. Maybe an appetizer of blood before the servants brought more.

“Good evening,” I said, my voice sharp, with no warmth. I settled beside my father.

The greetings went around the table. It was Kassandra who lingered, smiling softly at me:

“Did you have a good day, Balthazar? I looked for you this afternoon, but couldn’t find you.”

“I was working.”

She nodded, beautiful and ethereal, in the light colors she liked to wear, which made her look like an ice princess. I felt a little guilty for ignoring her, when she had always been submissive and calm with me.

A servant quietly approached and poured blood into half my goblet. As I had imagined, most would be served later.

Probably when Lio was about to eat.

I took a sip, and my father informed them:

“Some servants are ready to provide us with food, waiting in the room next door. That way, the blood arrives fresh and still warm, as it’s taken.”

“You’re extremely hospitable and polite,” Alexandar said in a polite tone, but his crooked smile carried a hint of cynicism that was characteristic of him. “Of course, if you were in our house in the Balkans, we would also make sure to be hospitable. But in a different way.”

“Perhaps you would invite us to hunt for our own food,” I suggested, in the same tone.

“Much more exciting, wouldn’t it be? You must remember the last time you were there, Balthazar. The party.” His smile widened. “Confess you had fun!”

“It was interesting,” I explained to my mother, Caliban, and Calíope, who had never been to their clan: “They made some servants run through the woods, simulating a hunt.”

“It wasn’t a simulation. Some got really scared, thinking we would kill them.”

“We’re civilized these days, Alex,” Dimitar added, somewhat indifferent, finishing his blood and leaving the empty goblet on the table.

“Not by choice.” I was blunt. “You’d prefer prisoners over servants.”

“I’m ashamed to admit you’re right, dear brother-in-law.” Even without his bear cloak, he still looked brutal. “If it weren’t for the clans imposing rules for our servile feeding, we’d still be going to the cities to capture our prey. Or tying them up nearby until we got hungry.”

Celestia gave him a look of contempt, the same as my father. Caliban smiled, seeming to enjoy the idea of having prisoners and acting like an animal. It was Calíope who wanted to know more:

“Do you say this to provoke, or do you really think this way?”

“Don’t you find hunting more exciting?” Dimitar observed her, admiring her in a beautiful black dress.

“I confess I’m lazy. I think it’s excellent not to wear myself out or stress every time I’m thirsty. It’s much easier to go over there, in the next wing, and serve myself from a neck or savor a goblet with friends.”

“As I said, the Severus are much more refined than the Draganovs.” Alexandar raised his goblet, as if in a toast. “Anyway, today we hold back our instincts. At least for the most part. And the spontaneous servitude showed us how easy it will be to dominate all the other humans when the time comes.”

“Don’t talk about that out loud,” my father ordered via telepathy, his voice entering each mind at the table.

“For the little wolf not to hear, if she shows up here suddenly? She doesn’t know about our plans to dominate the world in the near future?”

Alexandar asked, also via telepathy.

“She knows nothing. As we agreed, everything is written in Seraphnur, and only the pure have access to what we plan.”

Antares’ words didn’t end the topic. But it would have been too much to ask for my brother to stay quiet:

“She’s been asking about Kalygor.”

This alerted the Draganovs. Dimitar immediately asked:

“Who told her about him?”

Everyone exchanged glances. Finally, Caliban fell silent, averting his gaze. It was certainly him, but he was too cowardly to admit it.

“Looks like we discovered why the supreme is here. Investigating you? How did she know about the mentor of our plans?” Alexandar’s voice had a hint of irritation. “This seems serious to me. Any other species could interfere with us.”

“As we said, there’s nothing to worry about. Lioara is just a friend, visiting. She can’t read our language, and doesn’t know anything important. She’ll be leaving soon.”

My father finished, not assuaging the suspicions.

Then, I smelled her scent invading my senses. Pleasant, sweet, more pungent than the usual. Since her heat, or the fact that she lost her virginity, her scent had gotten even better.

I observed the others, all seeming not to notice her approaching. I could even follow her footsteps, coming in rhythmic and soft sounds, from afar. Down the stairs, through the hallway. The scent stronger now.

“I hope the wolf really isn’t a problem.”

Alexandar continued, everyone entertained in the telepathic conversation. I kept quiet, keeping my feelings and thoughts to myself.

I was disturbed no longer by the subject at hand, but because I would soon see her. And I would have to pretend it didn’t affect me.

The footsteps grew louder. Only when she got closer to the hallway did the telepathy stop, and then they felt her. Their eyes went to the entrance.

I waited for her to appear, but never could have anticipated what I saw before me. And it took me completely by surprise.

Lio wasn’t wearing her usual jeans and simple shirts. She walked in proudly, with her hair loose, falling long and fiery over her shoulders, her soft, freckled skin standing out against the red lipstick on her lips, which were even fuller in that shade.

Frozen, I felt my heart stop when I looked down at the long dress she was wearing, with thin straps and a round neckline, a blood-red color marking her breasts, waist, and opening seductively to her feet. There were a pair of black sneakers there, contrasting with the rest and still reminding me that it was her.

Sexy, feminine, beautiful. Her light blue eyes met mine, emotions wrapped in challenge, shining there.

Various sensations attacked me as my heart started beating again, in a wild rhythm.

She had never dressed like this for me.

Her natural scent was mixed with something artificial, which dulled it a little when she got closer. It was perfume. Sensual and sweet.

Her nipples were hard against the fabric, indicating she felt cold.

I wanted to rise and take her away from there, bring her to a place where only I could see her, rub her skin under water to only have her scent, kiss those ruby lips and leave her nipples the same color, from being sucked so much.

“Good evening.”

Dimitar and Alexandar stood up at once, not taking their eyes off her.

It was a struggle to hold myself back. And remember that my fiancée was also in the room, and my responsibilities.

It was going to be a hell of a night.