There was a torturous moment of silence when she sucked in her cheeks and tucked a rogue curl behind her ear. With a twist of her lips, she glanced at him again and sighed. “I’ve definitely thought about it.”
He wanted so badly to ask her how she felt about the prospect. If she could see herself becoming a vampire. Had she asked him right there for him to change her, he would’ve complied. He couldn’t stand the idea of her slipping out of his fingers — now or at the end of her mortal lifetime. Still, he didn’t press her. She needed time to think it over.
Her nose wrinkled and she squinted up at him, confusion in her eyes. “If changing someone is such a big deal, then why do you have a law that any mortals who discover you have to be changed? I wouldn’t want to split my soul just because someone broke the law.”
His brow furrowed. He had no idea what she was talking about. “That’s not true. Where did you hear that?”
A flush worked its way up her neck. She gritted her teeth and scanned the crowd. “I’m going to kill Miranda...”
Viktor laughed and pulled her in closer until her soft body pressed up against his side. “I take it that’s one of the reasons you didn’t come clean in the beginning.”
“It could be.” Her lips twisted into a wry frown.
“Don’t be too hard on Miranda.” He laughed again, feeling slightly guilty about laughing at her panic. “She’s new here. She doesn’t know the laws. If a mortal discovers our existence and we deem him or her unsafe, we have charms that can wipe memories. Much like the ring on your finger. No one need die.”
“What about the King and Queen?” she asked, worry crossing her face. “Wouldn’t they be upset about a mortal hiding right under their noses?”
He thought about it for a moment. His grandparents certainly didn’t like being deceived. It was a family trait. If they found out about Cate, they’d probably never trust her again. Which didn’t bode well for a future partner. They were best kept in the dark. He’d figure out a way to break it to them later.
“It’s best not to find out,” he replied. “And they won’t. As long as you keep this ring on and we keep it quiet.”
Bright red spots appeared on her cheeks. Worry entered her eyes and tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“Don’t worry, my dear.” He placed a finger under her chin and directed her gaze up to his. “I will keep you safe.”
He meant it with all of his soul.
Chapter Twenty-One
CATE FELT THE ROOM melt away as Viktor gazed into her eyes. The night couldn’t be more perfect and he couldn’t be more striking in his well-tailored suit. She was Cinderella at the ball — a very strange ball filled with strange creatures — but still a ball. And all she wanted was for the prince to notice her. Well, he had. And his attention was all hers. She couldn’t stop her heart from beating wildly in her chest.
She’d never seen Jezebel look so shocked. Her jaw had fallen to the floor when she saw the two of them together. Cate could only hope that what Miranda had said was true — her bark was worse than her bite. Cate’s life hung in the balance tonight. Not only was she putting herself out there for the love of a certain vampire with smoldering eyes, but she was trusting Jezebel to keep her mouth shut. Her anxious nerves, paired with the thrill of Prince Viktor’s touch, made her all sorts of jumpy.
At least they’d cleared up the part about the vampire law. So, she wouldn’t be forced to become one with the undead. That was a relief. Sort of.
The only thing she had to do now was avoid the wrath of the vampire King and Queen. Easier said than done. Not even Viktor with his fiery touch and bedroom eyes could save her from that punishment.
“Cate, I have something to confess,” Viktor said in a low voice. He stared at her mouth, making her shiver with want.
Breaking off from the crowd, a cameraman spotted them and began to close in. Viktor hissed and grabbed her hand, pulling her in the opposite direction. She followed him until they found a quiet, dark spot, hidden from the camera’s eyes. Viktor dropped her hand and raked his hands through his hair, piercing her with a look that made her insides turn to jelly.
“Your confession?” she asked, breathlessly.
“Right...” he sighed and broke his gaze away to scan the crowd. His amber eyes shown dark with emotion and his jaw clenched.
Cate would’ve guessed he was nervous, but that couldn’t be true. A seven hundred year old vampire prince didn’t get nervous. But he was trembling like a bowl of jello.
“At the beginning of this,” he continued. “I had no intention of picking anyone for tonight’s ceremony. I was going to reject all the suitors and go on with life.”
It wasn’t news to her. After all, this had all been orchestrated by his grandmother and Stasia. His lack of enthusiasm for the plan had been apparent the very first time they met.
“But, something’s changed.” His voice broke.
Something inside of her knew what he was trying to say. She reached for his hand and wove her fingers between his for support. He looked down at their intertwined hands and raised them to his lips. Goosebumps trailed down her back as he softly kissed her fingertips and then placed a sensual kiss on the palm of her hand. Fire erupted in her stomach, threatening to consume her. She wanted to drag him out of here, away from the crowds, and have him repeat the gesture everywhere on her body.
“I’m falling in love with you, Cate,” he whispered, his heavy gaze back on her face. “I want to be with you.”
They were the words she’d been waiting to hear. The very thing that made the risk of tonight worth it. Her heart burst with happiness as she rose to her tip toes and brushed her lips against his.