Now that I’d gained control over my bloodlust, I glared at the guy who’d bumped into me and walked away.
“Sorry,” he muttered under his breath. Once he thought I was out of his hearing, he told his friend, “What’d I ever do to him?”
I didn’t pay attention to the friend’s answer. I just walked faster, toward the music, feeling more confident now that I knew the humans were drinking tonight.
The alcohol in their systems would make it much less likely that I would lose control.
Finally, I approached a square—I guessed it was the main square in the village, because it was packed with people celebrating and dancing.
In the center was the saddest Christmas tree I’d ever seen. The tree itself was average, but the decorations were pathetic. What looked like twisted bed sheets were wound around it, and instead of ornaments there was kitchenware. Actual kitchenware that people ate with—forks, spoons, knives, and the like.
I looked around in bewilderment. All of this partying for this sad little Christmas tree?
But as I took in the happy faces, I realized how condescending I was being. The humans here didn’t have access to traditional Christmas decorations. The fact that they had come together, taken their everyday objects, and made use of them where they could was… well, I daresay it was magical.
A few people looked my way, and I pulled my hood farther over my head, trying to shrink into the wall. I imagined I looked quite silly—at over six feet tall, with the physique of an Olympian swimmer, I’d never been one to hide in the shadows.
But I couldn’t afford having anyone recognize me. I doubted they would—I hadn’t yet been introduced as a prince of the Vale since I technically hadn’t proven control over my bloodlust, and they certainly would never think that a vampire would come to their Christmas Eve celebration—but it was better to be safe than sorry.
I was looking around, watching everyone chat and laugh and dance, when I saw her.
She was dancing with her friends, but the first thing I noticed was her hair. The color wasn’t anything special—brunette, like many others in the crowd—but she wore it in an intricate half braided style. When she smiled, she looked like a princess. Her cheeks were flushed and radiant—I assumed from dancing—and her eyes were warm and kind as she chatted with a small blonde girl next to her.
I wanted her to look at me like that. With such pure happiness and kindness.
I wanted to know her.
And so, I pushed through the crowd, unaware of anything but the beautiful girl before me. I wasn’t even aware of the smell of their blood.
Finally I neared her group, and I stood there watching them, unsure what to say.
Why was I so speechless? In my human life, I’d approached so many beautiful women at bars that I’d lost count. I had this down to an art.
But that was my human self.
Now I was a vampire.
That was what had made me pause. Because this girl—whoever she was—looked so kind and innocent. I wanted her, yes. But did I want to taint her with who I was? I could already smell her blood above everyone else’s—sweet, delicious, and untainted by alcohol. Why didn’t she drink when all the other humans reveled in such a luxury?
The question only made me want to know her more—to discover the answer.
But if I did… and if I was alone with her… who knew what I would do? I could already envision myself sinking my fangs into her neck—enjoying the rush as her blood poured down my throat and filled my body.
I forced the thought from my mind. I couldn’t let myself think like that. I’d gained control over my bloodlust in the past week—I’d proven it many times.
But what if I lost control again?
What if this innocent girl died because of me?
“Hello?” someone spoke to me—the short blonde standing next to the girl—jarring me from my thoughts. “Do you want something?”
The four of them in the circle stopped dancing and looked at me. My eyes went straight to the brunette’s. She, too, watched me with curiosity. But her eyes were no longer open and sweet. They were guarded and full of questions. Her posture had stiffened, and she stood strong, as if ready to defend herself.
Still, she was beautiful. Regal. Fascinating.
And in just that moment—as if the universe were acting in my favor—a slow song started to play.
“Would you like to dance?” I asked, my gaze locked on hers.
Her friends all looked at her, and the blonde girl even smirked.
I was barely able to breathe as I waited for her response. How had this one girl—this human—bewitched me so quickly?
“Annika?” the blonde said, squeezing the brunette’s arm. “Aren’t you going to say yes?”
“Annika,” I repeated, her name rolling easily off my tongue. “One dance. That’s all I ask.”
I held out a hand, and her friends backed away, leaving only the two of us standing there.
The girl—Annika—still looked at me with suspicion, and I had a feeling that gaining her trust was going to be a challenge. But it was a challenge I wanted to take. After all, I was strong. I could resist the call of her blood.
So I made a promise to myself—a promise that I would never hurt her. And I knew, deep in my soul, that it was a promise I would keep.
“Fine,” she finally said, her gaze not leaving mine. “On one condition.”
“And what’s that?” I was taken aback that she hadn’t accepted instantly—in my human life, most girls I’d approached were always interested—but I didn’t let my surprise show.
“You tell me your name.”
“Ja—,” I started, but then I realized I couldn’t say my real name. The humans in the village might not know what I looked like, but they’d certainly heard the name of the latest addition to the vampire royal family. “Jake,” I said, catching myself before I’d finished saying my name.
“Okay, Jake.” She nodded and placed her hand in mine, her eyes glinting with challenge. “Let’s dance.”
Annika
I didn’t know what had prompted me to say yes to this man.
At first I’d assumed he wanted what most guys wanted at a celebration like this—to see how far they could get with me. But those guys—the “players,” as my friends and I had called them back home—almost always tended to be drunk. And despite the hood creating shadows over his face, I knew that Jake wasn’t drunk. Because his eyes—such a unique shade of gray that they could almost be described as silver—were focused and clear.
He looked somewhat familiar, but I would never forget eyes like those, especially the contrast they had with his dark hair. And he was watching me so intensely that it felt like he was gazing straight into my soul.
When I said yes, I was as surprised as anyone. But I’d already said it, so there was no taking it back.
He reached his hand out to take mine, and his skin was so cold that I nearly flinched.
“What?” He stepped closer, placing his other arm around my back and pulling me toward him.
“Nothing,” I said. “It’s just—your hand is so cold.”
Something crossed over his eyes—panic, perhaps? But then they were cool and confident again. “Maybe you’re just warm,” he said with a smirk.
“Maybe.” I rolled my eyes, because if that was some kind of pick up line, it was pretty lame.
We swayed in time to the music, and I found myself at a loss for words. It had been so long since I’d attended a party like this. I supposed I was out of practice.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you around before,” he finally broke the silence. “Have you lived here your whole life?”
“No,” I said sadly, holding onto him tighter. “I was brought here a little less than a year ago.”
“So it’s your first Christmas in the Vale,” he realized.
I nodded in response, not trusting my voice to stay steady if I spoke.
“It’s mine too,” he said.
“When were you taken?” I asked, glad to have found this common ground between the two of us.
“A little less than a year ago,” he said. “Just like you.”