Conclave (Vampire Conclave: Book 3), page 23
“He hasn’t bonded with her yet, so he shouldn’t be affected by her death. As long as we kill Sophie first, only the companion she’s currently bonded to will die, and you saw Thomas. He would prefer death to remaining with her.”
“After we rescue Constance’s baby,” I say with a great deal of hesitation, “do you plan to hunt them down and kill them yourself?”
“Would it bother you if I did?”
“Only because I would worry about your safety.”
“There’s no need to worry,” he assures me. “I have too much to live for.”
I know he’s talking about me, but it doesn’t make me worry any less. Janus and Sophie are psychopaths. They don’t play by the normal rules of decency like Julian. Yet if he’s hunting them down to kill them, I doubt he’ll be following any rules either. Would killing the pair of deranged vampires change who Julian is in any way? God, I hope not, but I feel as though I need to support what he feels compelled to do. I’m sure he not only wants to seek revenge for Constance, but also for Mira, who is now doomed to go into a coma-like state, one that she may never be revived from.
“What should we do about Constance’s baby?” I ask. “Once the girl is grown, should we tell her about Mira and give her a choice to revive your sister?”
“I don’t know,” Julian says, sounding at a loss for an answer. “I think that’s something we’ll need to talk with Mira about.”
“What do you think she’ll want us to do?”
“It’s hard to say,” Julian replies with a heavy sigh. “Mira’s always been a bit selfish and self-centered, but if she loved anyone in this world, it was Constance. She may care enough about the baby to let her live out a normal life on Alfheim.”
“But the girl will always feel Mira’s pull,” I say, remembering how I felt before I bonded with Julian. I knew something was missing from my life. I just didn’t know what at the time.
“Yes, but she can live with that. Plus, being in Alfheim might help matters.”
“Or make them worse,” I say, remembering how distraught I felt when Alden and Nadia first took me to the alfar home world. Being separated from Julian by such a great distance was practically unbearable, though I was fully bonded with him by that point. It may not be as bad for Constance’s daughter.
“I think we’ll just have to wait and see. First, we need to find the baby. That’s the most important thing right now.”
Both Julian and I remain silent for the rest of the car ride to Moonstone Manor. I’m sure he’s thinking about the repercussions of Constance’s death on his sister, and I begin to get nervous about the party on Alfheim. My hope is that Jhann will handle most of it and all I’ll have to do is stand there and look pretty. Sure, that’s not exactly what a progressive woman of the modern age should yearn for, but after the day I’ve had, it’s what I pray happens. I just can’t take anything else bad happening today. I just can’t.
Once we reach the mansion, I spy Helen standing on the front steps with Viktor cradled in her arms.
When I get out of the car, Viktor leaps from Helen’s hold and races down the steps to me. After I pick him up, he nuzzles his little warm nose against mine as if he knows I’ve had a very bad day.
“Nadia called ahead to let me know what happened at the battle,” Helen says as she walks down the steps to join us. “I never thought I would feel so much pity for Mira.”
“It was horrible,” I tell her as flashes of Constance’s mutilated corpse play through my mind. “I pray I never have to witness something like that again.”
“If I have anything to say about it, you never will,” Julian promises me.
“Meow,” Viktor says, as if to tell me that he’ll do whatever he has to as well.
Nadia, Alea, and Kieran pull up in their Range Rover behind Julian’s car.
“Did Nadia happen to tell you what happened to her?” I ask Helen before the trio exit their vehicle.
“No,” she says, looking puzzled. “Is she all right?”
“I’ll tell you about it later,” I say, not wanting to discuss it while Nadia is around. I’m not even sure if she wants anyone here at the mansion to know about Damien biting her, but I fear everyone will have to find out eventually.
“We should probably head to Alfheim now,” Nadia tells me as she joins us. “The start of the party is only an hour away and you still need to get ready.”
“Okay,” I say, not putting up an argument. Nadia has enough to worry about. Something as frivolous as getting me to the party on time shouldn’t be one of them.
“I’m going to go see a healer when we get there,” she informs me, not directly saying why she’s going to one, but I don’t need for her to spell it out for me. I just hope an alfar healer can help her impending werewolf condition. If they can’t cure her, maybe they’ll know of a way to lessen the effects and give her something resembling a normal life.
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” I encourage her.
Nadia nods, looking uncertain about her fate, but she doesn’t say anything else.
Before we go down to the breach, Julian and I warn Helen that one of the other vampires may show up at the mansion with Constance’s baby. Nadia orders Alea and Kieran to stay behind and to cross over into Alfheim to inform us if the baby is brought to the manor. Since I’m royalty, I’m the only one the other Valengard protecting the breach will allow to carry a human child into Alfheim.
I take Viktor with me because I really need a friend I can tell all my worries to. Plus, I did promise him earlier that I would allow him to go to the party. After we walk through the breach, Julian and I go up to our rooms in the castle to get ready while Nadia seeks the counsel of a healer. I pray alfar magic has a cure for the werewolf bite, but from what Julian told me, it sounds like they would need magic that can slice out the werewolf DNA from her own. I believe in miracles, but even one that does that seems like a long shot to me.
Once I reach my room, the maid who always helps me get ready, Cia, is there to help me prepare for the engagement party. She’s all smiles when I see her, and I can sense her excitement about my impending marriage to Jhann Nysas. She practically blushes as she tells me how lucky I am and asks if I’ve met Jhann’s son, Morgan, yet.
“No, I haven’t,” I admit. Actually, I had forgotten Jhann has a son until this moment. “Have you met him?”
“Oh, not formally, Your Highness,” she says as she brushes out my hair for me. “I’ve only seen him when he visits the queen with his father, but I can tell you that he’s as cute as a button. He’s the spitting image of his mother.”
“How old is he again?” I ask. “I know someone told me once, but I’ve already forgotten.”
“He’s five years old, Your Highness. It was such a tragedy when his mother died. I wonder if he’ll even have any memories of her when he gets older.”
“It’s doubtful,” I say. “Children rarely remember things from such a young age.”
“It’s a shame. Meredith was a wonderful person. Everyone liked her. At least he’ll have you to take care of him now. All children should grow up with a mother who loves them.”
I don’t make a reply because I have no intentions of ever being anyone’s mother, much less Morgan Nysas’s.
The dress Shael selected for me seems a little daring, but I’ll have to trust her judgment that it’s an appropriate gown to wear to such a function. It’s made out of a lavender chiffon material with a plunging neckline that reaches down just shy of my waist. The long skirt has a rather high slit on the side that isn’t noticeable until I walk.
“You look gorgeous, Princess Sarah,” Cia practically croons as she gazes at me in wonder.
When I look at myself in the full-length mirror in my bedroom, I have to admit that I do look nice. Cia styled my hair up into an intricate bun and kept my makeup minimal, just the way I like it. Shael chose a small diamond tiara for me to wear to the party that wraps around the base of the bun and complements the crystal belt sewn around the waistline of the dress.
For one of the first times since I became aware of my royal status among the alfar, I actually do feel like I belong in the role of princess. Finished with her task of making me look picture perfect, Cia informs me that Queen Shael will come to my room when it’s time for me to join the party. I’m thankful for the alone time and ask Viktor to change forms so that he and I can talk about what happened today at Mira’s. He must sense I’m in distress because he voluntarily wraps a white sheet around himself like a toga while I recount the day to him.
“That’s simply awful, Sarah,” he says sympathetically as he sits on the side of my bed while I pace nervously in front of him. “I’ve heard horror stories about Janus and Sophie, but I never imagined even they could do something so vile.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it, Viktor,” I say, walking over to the bed and sitting down beside him. “Constance didn’t deserve to die that way. A stray dog on the side of the road doesn’t deserve a death like that.”
“And Nadia was infected by Damien?” he asks in utter disbelief.
“Yes. Do you think alfar magic can cure her?”
Viktor shakes his head, and I can see the doubt in his eyes even before he says, “I don’t think so.”
I let out a troubled sigh because I know there’s nothing I can do to help my friend. Apparently all I can do is be there for her when she needs me.
“Don’t blame yourself,” Viktor tells me, knowing exactly where my guilt has taken my thoughts. “Nadia knew what she was signing up for when she entered Valengard Academy. There are always risks in any mission, and you were definitely a high-risk assignment.”
“Another post probably wouldn’t have ruined her life though,” I point out, refusing to let myself off the hook that easily. “I’ve doomed her to a dual life and possibly dual loyalties.”
“Nadia won’t follow Damien,” Viktor says confidently. “If there’s one thing I know about her, it’s that she’s loyal to your family no matter what form she might end up taking.”
“No matter what form?” I ask, thinking his phrasing odd. “What do you mean by that?”
“Well, she’s the first alfar I’ve ever heard of being bitten by a werewolf. It will be interesting to see what form she changes into during the full moon.”
“Now I’m even more worried,” I say, feeling the knot inside my stomach tighten. “And what if she can’t help how she reacts to the pull of the pack, Viktor? What are we going to do then?”
“She won’t let that affect her, and she would never let herself betray House Moonshade. I have no doubt about that fact.”
Never let herself betray House Moonshade? Viktor’s words instantly set off an alarm inside me.
“If she can’t control her urges,” I say, “do you think there is a chance that she will kill herself to stay loyal to us?”
“As I said,” Viktor says gravely, “she will never let herself betray your family.”
“Great,” I say despondently. “Well, that doesn’t make me feel any better, Viktor. Not one bit.”
“Her life is her own to do with as she pleases,” Viktor points out. “Sometimes loyalty to those you care about is more important than what you want for yourself. I hope it doesn’t come to that point for her, but it’s impossible to know what lies ahead for any of us in the future. All we can do is keep true to ourselves and our beliefs.”
I know Viktor is right, but that doesn’t help me any.
“Sarah?” I hear Julian call out to me from the living room of my suite.
Viktor changes back into his cat form, and I pick him up before I leave the bedroom to join Julian. As always, I feel my heart flutter slightly when I catch my first glimpse of him. He’s dressed in a black suit with a long jacket, which seems to be the style of men’s formal wear in Alfheim. An appreciative smile graces his face when he looks at me.
“You seem to get more beautiful every time I see you,” he flatters me.
“Or maybe you simply fall deeper in love with me every time you see me,” I suggest as I set Viktor on one of the couches in the room.
“I don’t think it’s possible for me to love you any more than I do,” he states. “All I am or ever will be is already yours.”
“If the two of you fall any deeper in love,” Nadia grumbles as she comes out of her own bedroom, “I’m not sure I’ll be able to stand being around either one of you.”
Nadia’s dress seems to be one chosen to help cover up her werewolf bite. It’s a dark blue satin dress that’s cut more like a suit jacket up top with intricate bead work stitched into the edges of the collar and along the cuffs of the long sleeves. The skirt is full and apparently has pockets in it, since one of Nadia’s hands is stuffed into the right one as she walks out of her bedroom.
“I didn’t even know you were in your room,” I say. “Was the healer able to tend to your wound?”
“Partially,” she says. “Apparently I’ll always have a scar where he bit me. So I guess bikinis won’t be an option anymore.”
“I’m sorry, Nadia,” I say. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this mess.”
“No one dragged me,” she replies, tilting her head slightly as if she’s confused by my sense of guilt. “I volunteered. Remember? You shouldn’t feel as if any of this is your fault. I’m a big girl, Sarah. I make my own decisions, and I live with the consequences of my choices.”
I understand what she’s saying, but it doesn’t lessen the guilt I feel.
There’s a sudden knock on the door. Since Julian is closest to it, he opens it to see who is on the other side. My aunt greets Julian before he moves out of the way to let her into the room. Unsurprisingly, Alden walks in after her dressed in a similar suit to Julian’s except that his is off-white in color. Shael is wearing a champagne satin dress with crystals arranged along the full skirt in a starburst pattern.
Smiling, my aunt looks at me and asks, “How was your day?”
It’s the one question I wished she hadn’t asked. Thankfully, Julian takes the lead and tells Shael everything that transpired at Mira’s house. I notice that he doesn’t talk about Nadia’s werewolf bite. I assume he believes that’s her secret to tell.
“I was bitten by a werewolf during the battle,” Nadia tells Shael once Julian has ended his retelling of the events. Obviously she didn’t want to keep it a secret from her queen.
“I see,” Shael says, looking troubled by the news. “How do you feel?”
Nadia shrugs. “I feel fine so far. We washed the wound as quickly as possible, but I’m not sure that helped. I guess we’ll know soon enough whether or not I’ll end up going through the transformation. Right now, I would have to say that the odds are very high that I will.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Nadia,” Shael says, looking more composed about the news than I thought she would. “Please let us know if there’s anything we can do for you.”
Nadia nods but doesn’t give a vocal response.
Shael returns her attention to me.
“Everyone is down in the garden waiting for our arrival,” she says. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. Let’s get this night over with,” I reply. I look over at Viktor but see that he’s fallen asleep. I had promised to take him to the party, but I don’t have the heart to wake him up, so I head toward the door and my aunt.
As I approach Shael, she loops one of her arms around one of mine, indicating that we should walk to the event arm in arm. I’m not sure if she did it so I wouldn’t arrive at the party on my sentinel’s arm or if it’s simply tradition to be escorted by a member of your family to an engagement party. Either way, it doesn’t really matter. I’m fully aware that I need to keep my distance from Julian tonight. Since he’s my sentinel, he’s expected to keep an eye on me and stay close, but as Jhann’s fiancé, I’ll be expected to stay by his side most of the evening. I look forward to getting to know Jhann better, but only as a friend. Since he understands my feelings for Julian and knows that I have no intention of marrying him if I don’t have to, the evening shouldn’t be too awkward for us.
At least, that’s my hope.
When we walk into the garden behind the castle, I’m stunned by the beauty that greets me. There are so many little details that have been strategically arranged I feel somewhat overcome by their combined effect. Twinkling lights seem to dance across the surface of every tree, as if the stars themselves have fallen from the sky to attend the party. Streamers made from leafy green garland with attached white, pink, and peach peonies trail over the domed glass roof of a structure, making it resemble a large gazebo, except for the fact that there are no posts holding the roof in place. In truth, I’m not sure what’s keeping it afloat and simply chalk the miracle of architecture up to some sort of magic. Round, clear glass spheres with lit white candlesticks hover in the sky above the festivities, illuminating the area with a soft warm glow. Directly in front of the gazebo-like structure is a large, square, pink and white marble dance floor where people are already dancing to music being played by a small orchestra situated to the right of it. The individuals attending the event are dressed just as brightly as the flowers in the garden, making the entire setting look like a Van Gogh painting come to life.
“There you are!” Agatha shouts excitedly when she spots me. I watch in amusement as she bustles across the dance floor in a dress that is a little too tight for her around the legs as it swoops down into a slim-skirted silhouette. She practically barrels through the crowd of people toward me and Shael. “You’re right on time, Princess Sarah.”
“In time for what exactly?” I ask her with a great deal of trepidation, not entirely sure if I want to hear her answer or not.
“Jhann’s speech of course,” she says as if I should have already known what she was referring to.
It may have only been four little words, but said together, they send me into a blood-pounding panic.
“Was I supposed to prepare a speech too?” I ask my aunt, because if I was, she really should have warned me.
