Valric
Without a word, Elora let the prince wrap a hand around her wrist and began to lead her out of the ballroom. His grip on her was tight and imposing and she lifted her skirt in an attempt to keep up with his fast strides.
He led her across the room but just as they were about to walk past the double doors that led perhaps into the mansion, a voice from the side caused them to pause.
“Friend, the party has only begun.”
The owner of the voice soon walked to stand before them. He wore a rich red frock coat adorned with gold buttons. Beneath the coat was a black waistcoat. His hair was a dark shade of black and his eyes….they were a lot darker than she’d ever seen. A thicker-than-blood shade. He half-smiled as he glanced from Rafael to her and then down to their locked hands.
She shifted uncomfortably, her forehead beginning to sweat at the man's presence.
Elora didn’t need a seer or a priestess to whisper who the man was. Just a glance and she knew it was him. The man her husband had warned her about.
“Minister Valric,” Rafael acknowledged. “Congratulations on another year.”
The prime minister’s mouth twitched. He gave a lopsided grin and then replied. “Your presence is such a great pleasure, Prince Rafael.” He spread his hands, gesturing over to the numerous guests in the room. “It is important to celebrate a good day as a birthday. One never knows when it might be the last.”
“Absolutely.”
“You should celebrate yours too. Who knows…” he shrugged. “It might be the last. Death is an unpredictable event. The second princess is proof.”
“Is it? Considering that you’re having a birthday celebration right after the death of your wife… one would think you’re rather happier.”
Something flashed in the eyes of the man but it disappeared barely a second after. He let out a chuckle. “The dead are dead. My wife had always wanted me to celebrate my birthdays,” he said in a low tone. “This is rather honoring her.” Afterward, he trailed his eyes over to Elora. His eyes flashed with something. Amusement or perhaps interest.
“Lady Elora.”
She wasn’t even surprised that he knew her name so well. She felt Rafael’s hands on hers tighten.
“How delectable,” Valric continued. “I see why the prince is quite infatuated with you as I heard. I would be too if I had such beautiful fresh blood be…”
Rafael pulled her behind him possessively before he could complete his words, obstructing his view of her. “I believe that you have a thousand other guests to welcome. My wife and I would not love to be the cause of your neglect of the other guests.”
The man hummed for a few seconds. “You are correct. I think I just saw Zireya walk into the ballroom. My daughter has been excited to be at my party. You should stop by and talk. After all, she’s going to be your concubine soon.”
Elora recalled she hadn’t seen the girl at the second princess’s funeral. After all, she was her stepmother. Slowly, she began to trace the hall with her eyes and when her eyes finally fell on a certain pair of eyes watching them, she gasped.
In a certain corner of the ballroom, Zireya watched them converse with her father, her eyes glaring daggers at the pair of hands that were interlocked, anger boiling through her. “She saw us just now, didn’t she?” She asked the servant beside her.
“My lady, I think she did.”
“That filthy dunce,” she cursed. Drowning the glass of blood in her hand, she passed it over to the servant. “How dare she? Even after all the warnings from everyone, she is still in Elyria. I think she is looking down on us vampires and doubting our strength!” Her chest heaved up and down in anger. The princess of Yvlies had been warned several times. The queen mother had even proposed a deal to her. Yet she’d refused to listen. Surely, she doubted that they would hurt her.
“Yes, my lady. The princess of Yvlies sure has some nerve to refuse Her Grace’s proposal. She is looking down on our abilities.”
“Or perhaps she thinks the prince would save her. He doesn’t even love her.” She sharply turned to her servant. With her teeth grinding together, she whispered. “She is not as pretty as I am. She is not as smart as I am. She is so thin, she looks so undesirable, and I… I have all the right curves. The princess is dumb and stupid compared to me. I am everything a man would want. A powerful man like Rafael. I am so much better than that weak human trash. Tell me that I’m correct.”
Her hands were beginning to tremble and her claws pressed into her palm. Her anger was something she couldn’t control. She’s never been this angry before. It was all the princess’s fault.
“Didn’t you hear me?” She whisper yelled, although her voice was loud enough for a few vampires to hear.
“My…my lady. You….you’re right,” her servant mumbled. She began to push backward as recognition dawned on her face. She knew that her Lady was uncontrollable while angry.
But before she could take more than a step backward, a sudden slap sent her crashing against the floor.
Gasps and murmurs filled the hall and everyone paused to glance at the commotion.
But Zireya couldn't care less. “You speak as though I’m wrong. How dare you stutter? Are you trying to say that I’m wrong? Is she better than me? I’ll send you to an early grave.”
She was about to pounce on her servant when a hand suddenly grabbed her arms and pulled her backward. She turned to find her father’s angry gaze.
“Continue partying, friends. Forgive my daughter’s act,” he spoke to the guests before dragging his daughter to a corner out of the guests’ eyes.
He let go of her and landed a slap on her cheeks, although not enough to send her to the floor.
Zireya gasped in shock and placed a hand on her hurt cheek, disbelief written all over her face. Her father had never laid his hands on her for years. Again, it was all because of the Princess Of Yvlies.
“How dare you?” He glowered. “What on heaven’s sake was that about?”
A tear fell off her cheek.
“Speak.”
“It was all because I was jealous that thwart is here with Rafael. He should be mine.”
The man let out a sigh and massaged the spot between his eyes. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to his daughter. “Do you really want him that bad?”
She nodded almost immediately. “Yes, papa. I not only want him. I want her gone, dead or alive. I want her out of my way.” Her tone was laced with desperation.
“Fine,” he agreed. “I will help you only on one agreement.”