Chapter 82 Why Choose?
❀ Maeve ❀
Eyes shining like backlit embers, the vampire stared down at me. Head tilted, he studied my face as a hot blush crawled up my neck.
I tightened my fist.
Don’t fall for it.
I was beginning to realize something. I was letting Nikolai get away with so much. Too much.
Ignoring the attraction sizzling between us, I hissed, “Where is Tammy?”
“You only had to ask, and I’d take you myself,” he said.
“Well, I’m here now. So where is she?”
He leisurely glanced around, his lip curling on one side.
“Why assume she’d be here? There are perks to being queen, you know. They extend especially to your friends.”
“What does that mean?” Even knowing exactly what he meant, the appeal of a crown burned in my mind.
Queen.
I’d own a castle. A home. Security unmatched and a nest egg of resources.
I’d be free.
“By that glint in your eyes, you know what I mean.” He grinned, holding out his hand. “Come.”
Like a puppet with its strings in his hand, I floated toward him. Head tilted back, I locked gazes as he pressed me closer with his arms. His hold was right. Strong. Intoxicating.
Then the ground fell away, and that familiar sensation of tracing enveloped me.
We were still in the Thirst Hall, the corridor identical to the one we’d left. Except this one was slightly larger and smelled less putrid.
Even the floor was less worn down, the walls bearing fainter bloodstains.
We’d traced right before one of the thick metal doors.
Nikolai pressed a hand to the sharp doorknob and turned it.
I held my breath.
Tammy.
She raised her head, brown hair longer, the cleanest I’d ever seen it. She wore a simple cream dress, legs folded underneath her as she read a book.
Tammy. Reading a book.
My mind reeled.
“Princess!” she squealed, setting the book aside as she lunged for me.
My arms began to open unconsciously, but right before Tammy reached me, Nikolai swung his hand out. He caught her by the throat.
I gasped. “What are you doing?!”
To my surprise, Tammy didn’t struggle. Her reaction was a balmy smile, showing two gleaming, needle-sharp fangs.
“Really? You think I’d try that with her?”
Try what?
Nikolai turned to me. “I advise maintaining a safe distance, milaya. This one is still far behind in her training.”
Tammy’s brows drew together with hurt. “I really wasn’t going to attack her! I’m better now!” She said the last part to me.
Oh. Now I understood. Tammy was turned, healthy and strong in her own mind, but still battling bloodlust.
I laughed, pressing a hand to my chest.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Tammy. I was so worried. I didn’t want you to be alone, fighting this on your own.”
“It’s fine. It wasn’t bad at all. My wardens never miss a mealtime. The only downside is I’m not allowed to have it from the source.” She sounded peeved.
“And you probably never will if you continue this way. You must learn to rein in your urges to be fit for society.” Nikolai chided.
“Fine. Fine. Can you let me down now?”
Nikolai glanced at me.
“It’s alright,” I told him with a smile. “It’s not like I can’t defend myself.”
Immediately his grip loosened. She shot to me, hugging me tightly.
“I was worried too. When I woke up, I was confused and didn’t know what happened to you. No one would tell me anything, until Mister Nikolai started visiting. He helped me a lot.” She released me, only to turn and tell him, “Thank you so much, sir.”
My precious, precious vampire looked uncomfortable with Tammy’s genuine appreciation. I warmed inside.
Not only had he saved her, he’d gone back to monitor her, easing the process—
“What are you doing?” I asked.
Tammy froze.
Her face was nuzzling my neck.
Like the feral, mischievous waif she was, she stole a hard flick of her tongue over my pulse point, then jumped back.
She smiled, embarrassed, her face flushed.
“I’m s-sorry… you just smell so good.”
I snorted. “Do I now? Anyway, I think you’re doing good. I’m sure you’ll be released in no time.”
Even as I spoke, her gaze kept returning to my neck. Already, she was coming back in for another hug—
“Okay, that’s it,” Nikolai growled.
He wrapped his arms around me again to trace us back—
“Wait! When can I leave this prison? I’m sick of it. Please, Princess… put in a word for me.” She looked so desperate it was almost comical.
“When you can spend a day beside a human without lunging for their throat,” Nikolai told her.
I smiled, waving goodbye. The last thing I saw was her falling into her small feathered bed with a resigned expression.
My feet hit the ground in his chambers, but Nikolai’s arms didn’t loosen.
I kept my gaze locked on his chest, trying to remember all the reasons why I was mad at him.
But his scent stood firmly in the way, his caressing fingers scattering my thoughts.
“I know there’s a lot on your mind,” he began, voice raspy. “I’m sorry I stayed away. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
I traced his chest, feeling all the dips and swells. Questions warred in my mind. Angles and decisions flashing like fast-forwarded scenes with consequences.
“I can’t believe I’m… a vampire.” I murmured.
His response was to hold me tighter, his breaths shallowing.
“I can’t believe I’m… a queen. A vampire queen,” I breathed.
“Not at all surprising,” he said.
I looked up with a questioning expression.
He lifted my chin with a finger. “You’ve acted as such the entire time, storming kingdoms with ferocious intensity. The title just needed to catch up.”
“I-I can’t—”
“You can,” he grated, eyes glowing. “You were robbed from the cradle, forced to live like a mortal when you carry the blood of gods in your veins. Don’t tell me you won’t snatch your birthright with both arms?”
His hold tightened. He shuddered against me.
“But Drusilla,” I whispered. “She’s ruled this long. She won’t back down so easily.”
“She already has.” His smile was coy. Heady.
“I don’t understand.”
“You’d be dead by now if she hadn’t,” he insisted. “But she would never harm a hair on your head. She loved her sister. Feels guilty for not protecting her.”
My mind went back to that first vision, to Drusilla’s face when she saw the wickedness take hold of her sister, Lyssa.
She’d been relieved. Happy for Lyssa. She’d thought she was doing the right thing.
When Nikolai’s lips began to dip, I pulled back. I only got as far as his arm allowed.
“I can’t afford to believe that. In fact, I-I’m not sure I want that,” I stuttered. “Besides, I’m part wolf. Do you think Drusilla would really let a wolf sit on that throne? Would the people?”
His eyes narrowed. “This is about the Lycan, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I told him honestly. “You need to take me back. He’s my mate, and a wolf doesn’t do well separated from his mate.”
No response. His jaw clenched, eyes burning.
“He’d be so worried!” I insisted. “We both know why he hasn’t razed this castle to the ground to get to me, and he has no idea I’m safe. Imagine what could be going through his mind—”
“I told him you’re my bride,” Nikolai gritted. “So for his sake, he’d better believe it and not try to get between a vampire and his bride.”
I felt like tearing my hair out.
Why wouldn’t he listen to me? Why wouldn’t he hear me?
“Listen to me,” I snapped.
He actually jerked to attention, head tilted.
“I love Bastian.” He started to growl.
“And I love you,” I added.
“I’m sick of trying to choose!” I yelled. “I want you both, and you can’t just hoard me to yourself. I need to see my Lycan prince. He’d be going crazy without me!”
Nikolai stepped back, stabbing elegant fingers through his hair.
“You expect me to share you?” he barked. “Know this. I will never let this stand.”
Veins stood out in relief on his forehead, his arms. My heart thumped with desire.
“And what would you do about it?” I demanded, sliding closer to him. I wrapped my arms around his waist, head tilted to stare up at his handsome face. “A certain someone just told me there are perks to being queen.”
His lips parted, face flushing in disbelief.
“I command you to forfeit this vendetta you have against my wolf, Nikolai,” I purred, rubbing my chest against his. “I command you to take me to my wolf.”
His hand shot to my nape, crudely fisting my hair. He nuzzled my neck, nipping and kissing me roughly.
I puddled in his arms just as he rasped against my lips, “Oh, but you’re yet to be coronated. For now, you wear no crown.”
I gasped, skin sizzling, lust mounting.
Our lips met, tongues delving. I whimpered, chasing more of his knee-bending kiss even as he threatened the other love of my life.
“Mayhaps I’ll just kill your wolf before you take the throne,” he groaned into my mouth, grinding his hardness to my front. “Then you can command me all you want, empress.”
I moaned, arching aching nipples for attention.
Fabric ripped. His hand was under my shirt—
Air rushed at us, a presence registering behind me.
Nikolai reacted.
He spun me behind him, sword already pointing at the intruder before I could even blink.
I peeked from behind him.
Lilith.
The tip of Nikolai’s sword rested just beneath her chin.
Her face was blank as stone, but her gaze burned with hate and jealousy.
“The Regent summons the wolf,” she said evenly.
“Noted,” Nikolai returned.
Without a glance at me, Lilith disappeared.
I stepped out from behind him, sighing as I arranged my shirt.
“I bet she’s summoning me to my death right now. Are you sure you can’t let me say goodbye to my mate before the sentencing, at least?”
With a halfhearted glare, he grabbed me in his arms again, pressing his lips to mine as he traced us—