CHAPTER 17

Vita

"DO YOU WANT TO BE?"

The High Consul's words rang in Vita's ears as she awoke, remembering the heated dinner last night. The soft blue light of dawn filtered in through the window as she lay in bed, pondering the question.

Though she was attracted to him—no way to deny that—he was no better than Amulius with his suggestiveness and advances. He enjoyed playing with her as a cat toys with a mouse, and in the end the predator always kills its prey, does it not? Even if he didn't want to actually kill her, she was his toy, something to amuse him, a bored little child with his plaything.

Still, something about him gripped her, like nothing she'd ever experienced before. Those piercing eyes and the sly grin, the strange mix of emotions she could see flashing over his face. No, Renatus was much more complicated than her former employer, and Vita vowed to get to the bottom of it.

But first, she had a higher priority.

"Can you get a message to my friend? I want him to know I'm… alright," Vita asked as she ate her breakfast of bread and honey in the dining hall.

She had her old servant uniform on, a sand-colored tunic with a scarlet palla covering her shoulders.

Aurora quirked a brow. "Why don't you just tell him yourself? You heard what Renatus said. You're not a prisoner here."

Yes, Vita had heard what he'd said, but she hadn't realized he was serious. The freedom to come and go? Did she have the liberty to leave for good if she wished?

"And the High Consul won't be upset? He reacted… quite poorly when he found us together before."

She let out a sarcastic laugh. "Oh, dear, Renatus just wants you to be good. He expects his pets to act with decorum while out in public."

Be good. Act with decorum . Like she was a child.

"I'm going to Shadowholde," Vita said with authority. "Today."

She tried to eat a few more bites of bread, but the pull to see Verian was too strong. Without another word, she stood, nodding at Aurora and heading for the front of the palace. No one stopped her as she exited, a servant pushing open the heavy door as she headed towards Shadowholde.

Twenty minutes later, she was walking up to the city gate, the one that Verian normally patrolled, and yes, there he was in his glimmering armor and sage tunic. His eyes widened when he noticed her, and Vita ran to him, decorum be damned .

He held his arms out, and she practically jumped into them, circling her own around his neck.

"Vita…" he whispered in her ear, pulling her close.

For some reason, tears burned her eyes, and she tried to keep them at bay.

When he pulled away, he kept his hands on her shoulders, studying her like he'd done outside the tavern, as if assessing for damage.

"Are you alright, sweet girl? Everyone is saying you're working for the High Consul now? I've been so worried—"

Vita shushed him, placing a palm to his cheek before she could stop herself. Verian froze for a moment, but sighed into the touch.

"I'm fine, really. Better than I was with Amulius, I think."

She glanced around and the only other in the vicinity was a guard she didn't recognize, though he was out of earshot. She took both of Verian's hands in hers now, and she realized just how much she'd missed him, even though it had only been a short time.

Two days that had changed everything.

His large hands perfectly enclosed hers, brows furrowed with concern. She cleared her throat, deciding there was no sense in hiding anything from her friend. She could trust him with this secret.

"The High Consul is… well, he's a vampire."

Verian's eyes narrowed with doubt, as if she were spouting nonsense. "A… vampire?"

Vita nodded before continuing, trying to make him understand. "He hasn't hurt me, has been… mostly polite. And I'm not working for him, I'm just his guest."

"A vampire? The High Consul is a vampire ? I didn't even think they were real."

The summer sun beat down on them, glinting off his shining armor as a warm breeze ruffled his curls.

"I know. Believe me, I was… shocked. But it's true. They're real. I'm certain of it. And the High Consul…" Vita trailed off.

"He didn't bite you, did he?" Verian asked, eyes roving all over her as if looking for puncture wounds .

She felt the familiar warmth of desire at the thought of Renatus biting her, desperately trying to push that image away while she stood in front of her friend.

"No, he hasn't. I… well, I saw him bite someone else. People who wanted to be bitten."

"What do you mean?" Verian furrowed his brows and a warmth rose to Vita's cheeks at the thought of explaining it to him.

"He, uh, he made me come to his room two nights ago," she started, and he squeezed her hands as if anticipating the ending, though he said nothing. "He didn't hurt me, or force me to do anything. Well, not really. Nothing I truly didn't want, even if I was a bit surprised at first…"

She realized she was rambling, Verian's eyes getting wider and wider as she blathered on. "Ver, he had two of his thralls sent to him, a man and a woman. I recognized one of them from Aonalia. He, uh, had sex with them right in front of me, and then bit them. He's got these fangs that extend. I guess when he's ready to feed."

He sucked in a deep breath, an unreadable expression flashing across his face. "Did he hurt them?"

"Oh no, no. Well, maybe, but they enjoyed it, that was certain."

"And did you enjoy it?"

Vita's eyes went wide to match Verian's, as if both were surprised by the question that had come out of his mouth. But no, she saw no ill intent behind the words, just curiosity . Heat flushed her cheeks at how easily he could see right through her, like her head was transparent, exposing all of her thoughts and desires.

"I was frightened, but… yes, I was also interested. I don't know, Ver, there's something about him. Watching people do that was…" she trailed off, unable to explain the tumult of feelings that observing the act had stirred up.

He just nodded, and relief flooded her body. "Sweet girl, I just want you to be safe. You're certain he won't bite you?"

"I've been assured that won't happen."

Vita left out the unless she wanted it part .

They stood there for a long moment, hands clutched together, observing each other without words. Though she hadn't expected judgement from her friend, she appreciated his reassurance. He was still concerned, clear by the furrowed brows, but he hadn't dismissed her feelings, which meant the world to her.

Finally, Verian broke the silence. "So… you're his guest? For how long?"

"The High Consul said I'm free to come and go as I please… so I don't think I'm a prisoner. I really have nowhere else to go, though."

Before she could say anything else, he pulled her in for another hug, her chest pressed flush to his. He was silent for a few moments and she enjoyed the firm embrace, the way his arms squeezed her as if he never wanted to let her go.

Then, a whisper in her ear. "I will get you out of there, I promise."

Vita slid her palms up his breastplate, making some space between them. "I… don't want to leave. At least, not yet. I have no reason to believe he intends to harm me, and I'm safer at the palace than I was with the Praetor."

His jaw clenched, and she knew it was more than just concern for her safety. It was as if he could read her mind, could sense the feelings she was having about Renatus, his sweet face marred by a deep frown. Again, she had the overwhelming sense that he wanted to kiss her.

"Corvinus!" the other guard barked as a carriage came trundling up to the gate, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.

A deep sigh from Verian. "I must go."

Vita's mouth was a tight line as she nodded. "I know."

"Please, come back to see me soon."

He brushed a tendril of black hair behind her ear, cupping her face as her heart fluttered. Vita imagined his lips pressed against hers, but he just released her, making his way over to the other guard with a curt nod.

She sighed, giving him a final wave before starting her return journey.

Back to the palace.

Back to the vampire.