20. Montana

I’d returned to the ballroom, keeping my distance from the surrounding vampires while Nightmare thrummed furiously against my leg. The other humans were caught in conversation with many of the Elite, but I avoided every eye that came my way.

Erik had given me the option I needed to save Dad, but it still left me with two serious problems. The mark. And Callie.

Miles would tell Erik if I betrayed him, so I had to tell him first. Frustratingly, Erik was currently surrounded by vampires. Every time he seemed to break away and I shifted toward him, someone else would snare his attention.

Anxiety seized me. I needed to discuss this now in private before I was forced to choose a prince in front of the whole crowd.

Music started up and the guests parted to make a dance floor at the centre of the room. Clarice pulled Hank into a slow dance as the soft strumming of a string instrument trilled through the air. Fabian approached Paige, offering her his arm, and she quickly joined him in a dance. Miles and Erik started searching the crowd and I knew there was only one person they were looking for. Me.

This was my chance.

I made a path for Erik, but Miles approached faster, gripping my wrist, and pulling me onto the dance floor.

Shit.

I watched as Erik stood at the edge of the crowd, looking like he was about to walk out here and take me from Miles’s arms, and I hoped he would do just that.

Miles pulled me against him, and I rested one hand on the shoulder of his dark green jacket, having no choice but to comply.

He tugged me along, his bright eyes darkening. “All set for today?”

I couldn’t risk him talking to Erik before I did, so I smiled and nodded. “Of course.”

“I’ll move you into an apartment that overlooks the Brooklyn bridge. You can have anything you want Montana; you just have to name it.”

“And in return you want children?” I said through gritted teeth, ice washing through my veins.

He cleared his throat as he led me faster around the dance floor. “Yeah...but it’s the only thing I’ll ask of you, I promise. And it’ll be through insemination.”

I shook my head in anger. “I don’t want to.”

“I know,” Miles said in a low tone, moving his mouth to my ear. “I don’t want this either, but it’s the only way. And the children are worth it, I promise you’ll love them.”

“The only way for what?” I whispered, ignoring his final comment. I wouldn’t be having children with him. Ever.

His sparkling blue eyes dimmed further. “Not here, Montana. I’ll tell you after the ceremony.”

I was about to push him for answers when Erik snared my waist, cutting into the dance. Miles bowed his head to him, not seeming bothered by the act as he backed up into the crowd and re-joined Warren.

Erik guided me in the moves, his eyes pinned somewhere over my head as we danced a simple dance that was easy to follow. I tried not to falter but didn’t really care what the crowd thought of my dancing abilities. There was only one thing that mattered now.

“So?” Erik muttered. “Have you made your choice?”

“You told me to pick your brother,” I said in a whisper, unsure how much I should say while we had witnesses, but Fabian looked engrossed in a conversation with Paige. Between the music and the chatter in the room, I doubted we could be overheard.

“Yes, and now I’m telling you otherwise, rebel. Keep up.” His mouth lifted in a smirk, but I was in no mood for his games.

I gathered my courage, wishing we could have had a more private place for me to reveal the truth. But I’d run out of time.

“I want to make new terms as part of this deal,” I said in a low voice. “You listed plenty of demands from me, so I get to make more from you.”

Erik’s jaw ticked. “State your demands then.”

“Callie goes free with Dad. When they arrive, you’ll take them both out of the city.”

Erik pressed his tongue into his cheek as he avoided my eye. “We’ll talk about it after the ceremony. Besides, don’t you want her here? She will be company for you.”

“She’ll be a prisoner, Erik,” I spat. And I can’t risk her getting caught up in this.

My eyes strayed to the children who were beginning to dance and integrate with the crowd. That was what they’d ask of Callie too. And offering myself up to Erik wasn’t going to change that unless I could force him to agree to her freedom.

Erik followed my gaze, tugging me closer by the waist. “You will not be a prisoner if you choose me, rebel. Once this is over, we will leave the city together. You can have as much freedom as you wish.”

“Just so long as I remain as your obedient little wife?” I hissed.

“I don’t recall mentioning obedience,” he muttered. “Simply that you cannot run.”

The song was coming to an end, and I started to fear what would happen if I didn’t tell Erik the truth about the mark right now, but without assurances about my sister’s safety, I couldn’t move on. “Erik, promise me you’ll set Callie free, no matter what happens.”

“What’s going on?” Erik stopped dancing, holding me firmly by the waist. “What aren’t you saying?”

“Just promise me,” I begged.

He skated his thumb across my cheek, his voice lowering. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

I reached for my right arm, my fingers brushing the place the mark was hidden. “Erik, I-”

“Master, a word please!” General Wolfe burst through the crowd; his silver hair dishevelled as he marched toward us straight across the dance floor. He awkwardly clutched his back as he moved, his expression stretched with discomfort as if something ailed him.

“Wolfe, what are you doing here?” Erik demanded, releasing me as he took in the fiendish general.

Nightmare flared with hunger as if it longed to drive itself into the heart of the beast before us, and I had a mind to give it what it wanted. My heart beat harder as I searched the space beyond Wolfe, suddenly terrified I might see Callie and Dad there. But there was no sign of them.

“I got the first flight back – I lost my phone and none of the lessers I encountered along the way had the clearance to be able to contact you. It’s very important I speak with you.” Wolfe bowed low, and I noticed many of the vampires behind him were beginning to mutter.

“Where’s my family?” I demanded, the heat in my blood rising.

Wolfe’s eyes snapped to me, his upper lip curling back. He looked ready to berate me but managed to return his gaze to Erik.

“This is the second time you’ve interrupted the ritual, General,” Erik snarled at him. “You had better have a good explanation.”

Wolfe nodded, bowing his head again. “Please, let’s speak in private, your highness.”

Erik muttered an apology to me before taking Wolfe’s arm and pushing him roughly through the crowd. I watched as they slipped behind a curtain, heading into a concealed passage beyond it.

Nightmare urged me to follow, but before I could, Fabian caught my arm and forced me to dance.

“Good evening, Montana,” he said lightly. “You’re looking beautiful tonight.”

Rage spewed through me at being captured by this monster when so much was at stake. But I couldn’t let my fury be known to him.

“Are you well?” he asked. “I heard about what happened last night. You must have been terrified. There are more and more rebels in the city these days, it’s quite dangerous for humans beyond the castle grounds.” There was an edge to his tone that made my blood chill.

I tried to compose my face into something that resembled calm. “Thank you. Yes, I’m fine. It was lucky Erik was standing in front of me at the time or I don’t think I would have survived.”

“Absolutely,” he said with a nod, his eyes bright with concern. He was a damn good liar, which made him a formidable kind of enemy.

“So, have you decided who you’ll pick tonight?” Fabian asked with a slanted smile.

“Um...” I chewed on my lip, unsure what to say. What I really needed to do was talk to Erik about this mark, but I wasn’t sure how much time I had left to do so. “I don’t know.”

“You’re cutting it quite close.” Fabian arched a brow. “Surely there’s someone more appealing to you?”

I shrugged, glancing over at Paige who was now dancing with Miles. I hoped she’d heed my warning and pick him over Fabian.

The song finally changed to a merry tune and the rest of the vampires joined in with the dancing, filling up the surrounding space. I took the moment to break free of Fabian and dart into the crowd.

With my eyes set on the curtain Erik and Wolfe had disappeared behind, I started walking at a fierce pace.

Where’s my family, you twisted piece of shit?

I reached the curtain and slowed to a walk as eyes turned my way. Feigning interest in the beautiful surroundings, I inched along, listening hard to try and pick up their voices.

“-the slayer is alive, it’s true.” Wolfe’s voice.

“How is that possible?” Erik snarled. “He is supposed to be dead. And even if he somehow survived, no mortal can live a thousand years.”

“I don’t know how, but he lives, sire.”

Nightmare reached out to me, hissing a warning to move away, but I needed to hear what Wolfe had to say about my family.

“You let him escape?” Erik barked at him, and a heavy thump followed.

When Wolfe spoke, he did so with a murmur of pain. “I tried my hardest, sire. But he was powerful and had already killed many of the Elite. My back still isn’t fully healed from the slayer blade he drove into me.”

“Do you think I give a shit about your injuries? What’s the point in having a general who cannot kill a slayer? What use are you to me?” Erik snarled followed by another thump.

My gut knotted. Will Erik want me dead too when he finds out what I am?

My breathing quickened as I listened, pressing myself to the wall. A flare of pain shot through my shoulder, and I released a gasp before I could suppress it.

Silence fell beyond the curtain.

I turned to run, but an arm shot out and dragged me behind it into the concealed passage.

Erik’s eyes flared as they narrowed on me. “Spying, rebel?”

I gathered my wits, figuring I had every right to know what Wolfe had to say.

“You can hardly be surprised.” My eyes adjusted to the darker space, and I spotted Wolfe against one wall with a trickle of bright red blood flowing down his brow.

The general’s eyes narrowed on me, venom pouring through his gaze.

“She’s one of them,” he spat. “Look at her arm. She’s the same as her sister. I saw the Ford girl with a slayer’s blade. She may have been weak, but there was fight in her like no normal human.”

Fear made my heart pound as Erik’s gaze locked with mine, seeming to hunt for the answer in my eyes. Nightmare hummed so loud, I feared it would give itself away, and I stepped back, ready to grab hold of the blade and fight for my life if I had to.

“Wait-” I started in alarm, but Erik snatched my right arm, ripping up my sleeve.

Time stuttered to a halt as his eyes fell on the mark. A noose seemed to tighten around my throat. I had no words, no explanation. I’d wanted to do this on my own terms, but Wolfe had taken that from me.

“Rebel,” Erik growled in a deadly voice that dared me not to test him. “Are you a slayer?”

“I don’t know – maybe.” I glanced at Wolfe over Erik’s shoulder, my heart beating at a frighteningly fast pace.

“But if Callie’s one, then I must be too. She’s my twin.” I gazed up at him, praying the repercussions of this weren’t going to be brutal. But I had no choice now.

“Twin?” Erik breathed, his grey eyes melting like solder. “You’re twins?”

I nodded, unsure why that was important, but his intense expression told me it was.

“Fuck.” Erik scraped a hand through his hair, his brows knitting sharply together. “Why didn’t you mention this before?!”

“Why does it matter?” I asked, confounded at his fury.

Felicia’s voice rang out from the ballroom.

“The choosing is about to begin! Courtiers, please make your way to the stage immediately!”

Erik gazed at me, but he didn’t seem to see me at all, his eyes glazed in thought and tension lining his posture.

“Go,” he barked, pushing me toward the curtain and sending my heart into a riot.

“No.” I fixed my glare on Wolfe. “Where’s Callie? Where’s my dad?”

Wolfe’s lips twitched, but he said nothing, looking to Erik for direction.

“You will go now,” Erik said threateningly. “Make your choice. And for your sake, you’d best make the right one.”

I backed up, my mouth dry as I returned to the ballroom, and the crowd nudged me in the direction of the other humans at the top of the steps.

My heart crushed with every stair I climbed, because I didn’t know where my family was or when I would see them again. Had Wolfe brought them to the castle? Would they be waiting for me the second I got back there?

I moved to Paige’s side, and she gave me a frown as she noticed my rattled expression. As the cameras were pointed our way, my rage and fear was reflected back at me on the large screen opposite us, ferocity blazing in my eyes.

Nightmare hummed furiously, sending a tremor through my body that felt like a warning. But I didn’t know how to heed it. I was on the precipice of my own hell, and the only way to protect my family was to dive headfirst into it. But if Erik kept his word, at least the wretched path that lay before me was mine and mine alone. Though he still hadn’t made any promises when it came to Callie, I would insist she was freed before I ever married him.

My gut dropped at the thought, dread washing over me as an image brightened the inside of my mind. Me walking up an aisle dressed in white, just as my father had described his marriage to Mom. But instead of walking into wedded bliss, I would be a shackled prisoner chained to a beast.

Felicia drifted closer with a bright grin as the crowd gathered and gave us their full attention. An electric tension pulsed through the room as the vampires fell quiet.

Fabian, Miles, and Clarice stood at the bottom of the stairs, gazing up at us with anxious look,s and Erik pushed through the crowd, his expression chaotic as he joined the royal line-up. His gaze swung my way, a command in them that told me to choose him and no other. It was my choice, yet it was really no choice at all.

Hank moved to stand beside me and Luke stood beyond him, seeming agitated.

“Hank, make your selection,” Felicia asked, and a spotlight fell on him. The rest of the room darkened, and a hushed silence fell.

Hank visibly swallowed, gazing down at the vampires. “I choose to join Clarice’s harem.”

A tumult of applause broke out, and Hank moved down the steps, taking hold of Clarice’s waist and placing a kiss on her cheek. She smiled brightly, then turned her attention to us once more, seeming keen for the ceremony to continue, though a tension in her shoulders told me perhaps she wasn’t as excited as she was pretending to be about all of this.

“Luke, it’s your turn,” Felicia said, and the spotlight fell over him.

Luke shifted from foot to foot and a bead of sweat sailed down his brow as he gazed from Clarice to the camera crew. “I want to go to Realm A.”

A jolt went through me, unsure if I’d heard correctly.

“Clarice told me I had a choice,” Luke went on, looking to the princess.

She smiled, not seeming too bothered by his choice. “I did. And if that’s what you want, you can have it. Your family will be moved there too.”

Luke’s shoulders sagged as he jogged down the stairs and Clarice embraced him to a smattering of applause. A moment later, a couple of guards strode to his side, escorting him away.

My throat constricted as I shared a confused look with Paige. This had been the offer Clarice had given the men? How was it fair that they were allowed a way out and we weren’t?

“Paige.” Felicia gestured for her to make a choice, and my heart galloped into top gear.

She gazed across the three brothers, knotting her fingers together. “I choose...” She took a breath, glancing at me before saying, “I choose Prince Miles.”

I reached for her, and she squeezed my hand before darting down the steps. Miles seized her in his arms, placing a brief kiss on her cheek, and horror washed over me at what he was going to demand of her. She may have escaped Fabian’s clutches, but she would still have to provide Miles with a child.

The crowd applauded, crying out to them, and my gaze turned to Fabian who was fighting hard to not look pissed off. For once, the mask he wore had slipped and anger shone in his brown eyes. A second later, he turned to me expectantly, jaw pulsing.

Felicia turned back to the stage, and the spotlight fell over me, the heat of it like the full rays of the sun. My answer was obvious yet would place me in a snare I would never escape. It would declare me a bride to a vampire, the bored prince who had made a plaything out of me from the moment we’d met.

“I choose Prince Erik,” I announced, my voice ringing around the room, praying this choice would cast a shield of protection over my loved ones. Nightmare screamed in protest, but the blade couldn’t save me now.

Erik smiled the darkest of smiles as I bound myself to him with those words, and Miles’s mouth fell open in shock.

It was done. My choice was made. And my soul had been served to Erik Belvedere.