85

Alexandar followed the questions, seeming unbothered but attentive. He didn’t seem to know how much he would share.

“My parents are Nikolai, 1498 years old, and Rayna, 1420 years old. I had an older sister, Isolde, who passed away. If she were alive, she’d be 980 years old.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” His gaze kept admiring me, his expression unreadable. “I’m the oldest now, at 723. Dimitar is 515, and Kassandra is 218. Do we seem too old for you?”

“No, you haven’t even reached 2000 years yet.”

He smiled. I continued:

“And do you have children?”

“I have two. I’m a widower. Dimitar is married but hasn’t had heirs yet. And Kassandra will soon honor us with one, along with Balthazar.”

That hit me hard emotionally, but I kept up my façade, struggling to appear indifferent.

Alexandar, fully focused, was about to change the subject, asking the questions this time. I sensed it, but we were interrupted by Balthazar. I felt him before I saw him, freezing in place. My heart raced when he stepped out of the palace, looking directly at me.

It was a struggle not to scream or punch him, not to collapse and let that internal pain tear me apart.

I didn’t breathe, my extremities numb, emotions in turmoil. Then, he stopped in front of me, focused entirely on me.

Ignoring the other vampire.

“I was looking for you, Lio.”

“For what?”

“To talk.”

Alexandar observed intently, watching both of us.

I almost let my anger out, saying I was already talking and didn’t want anything to do with him. But I needed to hear it, to know if he was as treacherous as he seemed.

“Of course! Alexandar, it was a pleasure meeting you.”

“The pleasure was all mine. I’ll be around when you return.”

“I hope so.” I even smiled.

Balthazar seemed a bit pissed off, his aura heavy, alerting me to that, his eyes burning with red fire in the center.

He pointed to the side, and we walked toward the bridges while the other vampire kept us in his sights.

We walked in silence, my heart pounding in my chest, struggling in vain for control. Until we were far enough, after the maze of bridges in the forest.

“Lio…”

He grabbed my arm, and I jerked it away, stepping back furiously.

“No touching. Just tell me why you didn’t warn me they were coming.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Oh, really?” I huffed, my wolf irritated, wanting to release claws and fangs.

“They came unexpectedly.”

“But you still had time to satisfy the bride’s longing?”

“Lio…”

He took a step forward, and I recoiled, holding my hand out in front of me. He stopped, his eyes burning, tense, but not as enraged as I was.

“You don’t need to answer, Balthazar. It’s none of my business. After all, what do you want to talk to me about?”

He stood still, rigid, not taking his eyes off mine. His expression was one of irritation, but there was so much more, simmering between us.

“I’m not sleeping with Kassandra.”

“I didn’t ask for an explanation!” I feigned indifference, clenching my fists so he wouldn’t see my trembling fingers. “By the way, I don’t care if her bags are in your room or…”

“Damn it, Lio, I already told you! I’m not sleeping with her!” He grabbed both my arms and pulled me to him. I put my hands on his chest to push him away, but his frustration matched mine. “They came unexpectedly, they’re suspicious, and…”

“Of us? Did you explain that it was just sex, that we lost our minds because I was in heat?”

“It wasn’t just sex.”

Those words froze me. My heart stopped, then raced. Everything in me fell into a crazy vortex of extreme emotions and false hopes.

I didn’t want to believe him, to be deceived. But his silver gaze, turning red, wasn’t cold or false. The way he held me, the way he smelled me, couldn’t be faked. It was there.

My legs wobbled. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to be weak, to believe. Balthazar pulled me closer, our bodies searching for each other, our lips just inches apart. He murmured:

“You’re the one I want with me.”

“You seduced me on purpose.”

“I’m the one being seduced here. Can’t you see?”

I saw him, all for me. Causing destruction in my being, leaving me more disoriented than I’d ever been. Even my eyes burned, warning me of the danger of giving in.

“Let go, Balthazar.”

“No.”

The anger returned, along with the hurt. I went straight to the point:

“Why not? Are you going to tell everyone you want to be with me? Is that it? Or do these words just serve to calm me down?”

“You don’t see what’s happening? I have obligations, responsibilities. Everyone knows you shouldn’t be here, and that my father might make a proposal for a new species between pure and supreme. It’s against the laws.”

“Your laws!”

“We’ll be judged.”

“On what grounds? I’m not pregnant!”

“Lio…”

“Let go of me!”

I growled and opened my claws, letting my fangs out, fighting. He let go of me, angry, his eyes completely red.

“Damn it, I don’t want to fight!”

“Then stay away from me! You know exactly what you’re going to do, Balthazar. Deny everything, continue with your engagement, move on. If you think this matters to me, you’re mistaken! I decide my life and don’t wait for anyone. I won’t be your mistress under the gaze of your fiancée and her family.”

“I didn’t ask for that. I want you to understand my side, give me some time to…”

“Time for what?” I pulled my claws and fangs back, fighting to calm down, and looked at him with contempt. “It’s over. Go live your life, your traditions, and leave me alone. Don’t touch me.”

He became angrier, his gaze pulsing, dark veins appearing and dancing on his face. I thought he’d turn into a monster with a huge jaw and sharp teeth, like when he fought the Infantry. He was on the verge of losing control, and so was I.

Because one thing was certain: I wouldn’t be the other woman. I would never accept that. I even fooled myself, refusing to face the future. But it was there, shoved in my face.

Balthazar breathed, the veins shrinking, his eyes still burning. Never taking his eyes off mine. He asked softly:

“What are you going to do?”

“What I want. Just like you.”

“Stay. Don’t leave.”

The request was loaded with restrained emotions. I took a few steps away from him without faltering.

Maybe he thought I’d calm down when his fiancée left. That he’d seduce me again. But I had my own plans.

“Convince the clans of your family’s innocence. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about the proposal. But forget I exist. What we had, sex or not, ends here and now. Live your life. I’ll live mine.”

I turned and walked away. I heard a strange sound escape from him and felt his fury when he took a few steps forward. But then he stopped.

That was it.

Between me and his duty as a vampire, I would lose.

Balthazar would lose too.