The footmen removed the bowls of soup and set down the next course, sliced roast pork and herbed potatoes.
“Yes, Captain.” She took her fork and knife in hand, focusing on her plate. “Forgive me, but my reports of the Bloodguard have extolled your men as nothing more than mercenaries. That is obviously not so. You’ve saved me from the hands of the queen and King Dominik for the Black Lily. But, the Black Lily is the human resistance against the crown. I don’t understand why you would involve yourself in such a venture.”
“The resistance is not composed of only humans anymore.” He held her gaze, hands in his lap. “Since you’ve been…asleep, others have joined their cause. The Duke of Winter Hill for one.”
“And us,” chimed in Dmitri.
Mikhail gave a nod of assent, a knowing glance passing between the brothers that made Mina think there was more they weren’t saying.
“I understand you men wanting to help the prince and the duke,” chimed in Lady Galena, her brow pinching together. “But why would you risk your lives for a human revolution?”
Aleksei tensed. But Mikhail seemed calm as ever. Rather than address Lady Galena, he kept his focus on Mina—dark and serious focus.
“We saved you, Your Highness, because it was the right thing to do.” His steady voice, rife with power and command, riveted her to his every word. “Because injustice, wielded by the hand of the monarch who proclaims to be protector of her people, is not only a crime, it is a sin. Because tyranny over a weaker people is the worst kind of corruption. Because murder inflicted upon innocents when the ruler of the land maliciously and intentionally spread the foul disease sanguine furorem for her own pleasure—” he paused, his voice vibrating with such fury it zinged along Mina’s skin “—is the greatest depravity of all.” He inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled, steadying the tenor of his voice. “And because we, the Bloodguard, though deadly mercenaries, fight for something greater than money or spoils of war.”
Silence permeated the room. Mina sensed emotions beyond rage from the other men at the table—admiration and high esteem for the man fuming across from her. For their captain. She couldn’t blame them. She yearned to know more of his strength and power, to feel it in his hands on her body. “Brother, you have a gift for spoiling the mood of a party faster than anyone I know.” Dmitri raised a hand to the footman behind him. “More wine, please. I’m afraid I’ll need it.”
Gregoravich bellowed out a throaty laugh. Mikhail broke his fixed stare from her, arching a brow at Dmitri before returning to his plate without comment.
His warrior’s hands, rough and lined with masculine veins, were now the center of her attention as he cut into his meat. When he brought a bite to his lips, he froze at the sight of her intent gaze, before bringing the fork to his mouth, a fresh scowl marring his brow.
“That’s our fearless leader,” said Aleksei. “Ever thinking of the cause.”
“Hear, hear,” said Gavril, the first words Mina had heard him speak at all. He raised his glass in salute, “Captain.” Then he knocked back the remainder of his wine.
Mikhail gave him an approving nod.
“More for Gavril,” ordered Dmitri. “I say we deserve a celebration. Irena, do you dance?”
“Of course, I dance. What kind of lady do you think I am?”
“Marvelous. It’s been too long since I’ve had the pleasure of a dance partner as lovely as you.”
“Dmitri,” growled Aleksei, “are you flirting with my sister?”
“Of course, I am.”
“Then stop. Immediately.”
Dmitri whispered something low to Irena, which made her giggle. Before Aleksei launched his knife through the air down the table, Mina said, “I do have another question.”
“Oh, no,” said Aleksei. “Your Highness, please tell me this one is harmless.”
“It is,” she assured him. “How on Earth do you all have perfectly tailored suits at the ready here at Wentworth? I am sure I saw none of you carrying packs that would fit formal evening attire.”
“Good planning,” answered Aleksei, flashing his charming smile. “My tailor in nearby Crowley is the finest in the southern provinces. When I knew we’d be resting our midway point here, I sent ahead to have suits waiting for us upon our stop from Briar Rose.” He forked his last piece of roast pork and leaned back in his chair.
Mina shook her head. “You were so sure you’d make it away from Briar Rose…unscathed?” She was careful not to use graphic language that might upset Lady Galena, but the mistress of the house was preoccupied, prattling on to Gregoravich about the fineries of fermenting southern wine.
Aleksei didn’t answer. Mikhail did. “There was no doubt.”
Mina found her gaze locked to his once more. The footmen entered with trays of lemon tarts, and the captain finally let her go. After dessert, they retired to the parlor for an after-dinner glass of blood.
Aleksei offered her his arm, and she gladly rose to take it, enjoying the view of Captain Mikhail strolling ahead of them. Entranced by the broad set of his shoulders, his shining black hair under the candlelight, the graceful way he moved like a patient predator who knew he’d catch his prey eventually, Mina exhaled a heavy breath.
“Are you all right, Your Highness?” Aleksei whispered down to her.
“Never better.”
A lie. She’d tasted the virile man stalking ahead of them and heading straight for the liquor decanter, but it wasn’t nearly enough. This afternoon, one taste of his sensuality sparked a flickering flame into a burning inferno. She wanted more than his blood. She wanted the captain as a lover. Her first lover. She’d never even entertained the idea of a lover outside marriage before he awoke her from the long dark. As if it was designed in the stars that he should be the man to awaken her, that he should ignite her primal urges, calling her vampire to the forefront to meet his as an equal.
The captain knocked back a tumbler of amber liquor. Mina smiled, for she sensed his internal struggle after their earlier encounter. A man of duty and honor simply didn’t topple his moral code to seduce royal virgins. It seemed she had her work cut out for her. Time to put the sweet princess to sleep for good and let the passionate woman take the lead.
…
While the others gathered around the piano—Aleksei charming them with his deep baritone voice, singing a lullaby about home and hearth—Mikhail filled his glass and took it out to the balcony. His blood was up after dinner.
Who was he fooling? His blood had been up since this afternoon, when he’d allowed the princess to sink her fangs into his throat and drive him to the brink of madness with lust. Staring up at the near-full moon, he tossed back a large swallow, thankful for the liquid burn and numbing effect of good strong whisky and the biting winter air.
“Do you mind a little company?”
Her dulcet voice stiffened every part of him. How a creature so soft could make him hard as adamant, he had no idea.