She slapped him. “I just told you I slept with another man and that I enjoyed it and this is your response? I hate you!”
He tried to hug her but she stepped away.
“I’m lost. My father is gone. Everything I knew is a lie. What am I to do now?”
“You’re strong. You’re brave. You will lead your people and take your place as Queen of Barmoth.”
“I can’t. I just can’t!”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“Did you sleep with the witch?” She wanted to faint. Her entire body hurt. Imagining Eldrich with someone else made her want to vomit. Yet, she had no right to feel the way she did. Curse my soul!
“Yes.”
“She got what she always wanted from you.” The witch who cursed Eldrich, turning him into a frog for not lying with her had won after all.
“She doesn’t matter,” he said.
“How do we fix this?” She loved him. And she was not ready to give him up. In her soul, she knew he was kind and that he loved her.
“Can you forgive me?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
Forgive him for not telling her he was the prince of the Barmoth vampires. Forgive him for not telling her he had arranged for her mother to offer herself to his kind in return for Lela’s safety. Forgive him for not telling her he knew who she was the day he pulled her out of the well. No, she did not know whether or not she could forgive him.
But, there was one thing she knew without a single doubt. She loved him. Yet, she did not regret her sexual encounters with Xavier. Just two and a half months ago she was a princess living in a castle with nothing more to do but wander the forest aimlessly as if she were seeking something more, something adventurous, as if she were seeking love, yes love. And here she was, completely in love with a vampire. And here she was, a woman having had sexual experiences, having suffered loss, having suffered betrayal. She was alive, and free, and ready to take on whatever lie ahead for her. She’d hold her head up high and walk with no regrets.
If Eldrich truly loved her, he’d have to accept her as she was, a woman whose blindfolds had been removed, a woman who longer suppressed her desires, a woman who had made mistakes and would make many more. In return, she would accept him, despite his past, despite the secrets he kept from her, despite everything, she would love him, truly love him.
“Do you still love me?” he asked, his eyes bloodshot.
“With all my heart,” she said.
“I will never keep anything from you again,” he said, taking her hand.
She embraced him. “I love you, I can’t deny it.”
“Lela,” he whispered. “I’m yours, only yours.”
“And I’m yours,” she said. “What now? Where do we go from here?”
“Wherever you want, I’ll follow you to the end of all the kingdoms.”
He kissed her. Oh how she had missed his touch. Her very soul cried out with happiness. Godfather Death had returned her to the place her heart craved.
“Will you follow me upstairs?” she asked, leading him to the staircase.
“Only if that is what you desire.”
“I missed you. I tried to replace you.”
“Did you succeed?” he asked, once they were standing at the top of the stairs.
“I made myself believe I had.”
“And now?” he asked.
She pushed the door open to her bedroom. “I can never replace you.” She sat on the edge of the bed.
“I have to tell you something,” he said.
“Can it wait?” she asked. She wanted to fall asleep in his arms.
“Your mother’s spirit visited me last night. She had a message for me…for us.”
Lela inhaled and then released a long breath. “What did she say?”
“The God of the Sea has returned the golden ball to land.”
Blood rushed from Lela’s heart. Holding her chest, she said, “How long do I have before it finds me, before vampires come for me?”
“Not long.”
Pacing the room, she said, “Where should I go? Blessed Gods, I need to formulize a plan.”
Wicked golden ball was intent on finding her. And once it found her, vampires would come for her…drain her, believing that her blood could make them human again. Sweet Gods, she was in trouble!
“You need to get some rest,” Eldrich said.
“What? How can I rest?” Oh, but she was exhausted.
“If we’re to fight my kind, you’re going to need your strength. Do as I say and get some sleep. I will wake you in two hours.”
“I’m scared,” she said.
“As am I.”
“Are we together?” she asked.
“Forever,” he said.
“Two hours of sleep and then what?” she asked.
“Then we’ll walk together. We’ll fight together.”
She nodded. “I love you.”
“And I love you. Now sleep,” he said, shutting the door behind him.
She was the queen of Barmoth now and he was the prince of the Barmoth vampires. Their lives together would not be easy. The path ahead would present many obstacles, ones that would prove difficult to overcome. But she would listen to her heart, now more than ever. And her heart wanted Eldrich.
Sleep and then the battle begins.
