Blood Oath (19 page)

Ylenia
sighed. “He had a deep affection for her. He loved her as much as he could, but
Valdemeer’s heart will always be bound to Madra.”

“My
mother was okay with that?” She sniffed indignantly. “No wonder she left him.”

“Katrine
loved your father deeply, and she accepted he was only doing his duty to
provide an heir by marrying her. He treated her well, if a bit distantly. After
the death of Julian, they became closer, and things were easier for her.”
Ylenia scowled. “For a time.”

“Who’s
Julian?”

Ylenia
looked surprised. “Your mother never told you?”

Anca
shook her head.

“He
was your brother. If he hadn’t died in infancy, the Protectorate of Corsova
would have gone to him.”

She
was so shocked she couldn’t breathe for a moment. She’d had a brother, and her
mother never thought to mention it? She found it impossible to mourn for the
sibling she had never known, but had no trouble summoning bitter resentment. If
fate hadn’t been so cruel, he would be the one thrust into this position. “How
did he die?”

Ylenia
paled, and she seemed to find the tea in her cup engrossing. “It was your
mother who first suspected. Little hints that became threats, her behavior, and
her violent fits when your mother and father conceived you led Katrine to the
deduction.”

“What
deduction?” she asked with dread.

“Your
baby brother was poisoned by one who wanted the throne.” She shook her head.
“Such malice in one so young…”

“Who?”
She knew the answer even as she asked the question.

“Nikia.
She admitted to it after Katrine fled to protect you. She told Valdemeer she
wouldn’t rest until she had killed you too, and the ‘baby maker’, as she called
Katrine.” Ylenia shivered, though the room was warm. “I’ve never seen such
hatred and determination in anyone, especially not a child.”

Anca’s
stomach heaved, threatening to reject the sip of tea. The realization of how
close she had come to death yesterday bore down on her with an almost physical
weight. A new appreciation of what her mother had sacrificed to save her filled
her, followed by blistering anger directed at Valdemeer. “Why didn’t my father
do something?”

“What
could he do? She is his daughter, and his guilt over how he feels about her has
always crippled him when dealing with Nikia.”

Ylenia’s
voice fell to a whisper. “He hated her as a child. He hates her now, knowing
what she’s done. Yet, he loves her too, because she is his child. Bringing you
home would have meant the death of another of his children. It would have been
impossible to keep you safe all the time if she was around. Sending her away
assured nothing, and the only other solution was to kill her.”

Anca’s
drew in her breath sharply at the stark pronouncement.

“That
wasn’t a solution either. Can you imagine ordering a death sentence for a
six-year-old? Even if his subjects could get past the barbarity of such an act,
Valdemeer wouldn’t have been able to live with himself.” Tears sparkled in her
eyes. “Your parents both gave up a great deal to protect you.”

A void
inside Anca, left from years of not having two parents, slowly filled, despite
her efforts to stay the rush of warmth sweeping through her. Tears burned
behind her eyes, and she took shallow breaths. Along with the love came a sense
of responsibility. She owed them both for everything they had done.

She
tried to resist that thought, knowing if she accepted her role as Valdemeer’s
heir that her life would change irrevocably. She didn’t want to spend the rest
of it—especially three hundred years’ worth—looking over her shoulder,
wondering when Nikia would plot against her again. Nor could she stand the
thought of sentencing anyone to death, especially not a family member, when
they had been in such short supply all her life.

She
sighed heavily and bowed her head.

“You
have much to think about, dear.” Ylenia returned her cup to the tray. “I’ll
leave you now.”

“Wait.”
Anca lifted her head. “What happens during this Blood Oath?”

“When
the phase of the moon is right and the stars are in alignment, you will gather
in the tower, where an orb draws in the rays of the moon, absorbing power. The
pendant draws power from the orb, fueling the transition of power from the old
ruler to the new.

“Each
of you will put blood into the goblet, and then you and Demi will drink. You
will swear to protect our people and honor your duties. Demi will swear to
assist and support you. I will witness the ritual and ensure it goes as
planned.” She pointed to Anca’s pendant. “The pendant is an integral part of
the ceremony, as it holds the power of our people.”

It
didn’t sound too difficult. She frowned, remembering something Ylenia had said.
“You said I was the one destined to take the Blood Oath. What happens if
someone else takes it?”

Ylenia’s
brow furrowed. “I don’t know. If it’s happened before, it wasn’t written down
in our history. I imagine the person would die.”

She
swallowed the lump in her throat. “What if I’m not the right person? What if
your wires are crossed, or you made a mistake with the calculations?”

Ylenia
shook her head. “No, that’s impossible—“

“But
what if?” she pressed.

She
appeared reluctant to answer. “I guess you would die.”

Panic
flooded her, and Anca shoved away from the table. Forget familial obligations
and indulging archaic rituals. No way in Hell was she risking her life for
this. “I won’t do it.”

“Anca—“

“No!”
She spun away from the table and ran from the room, ignoring Ylenia calling her
name. She didn’t look back as she raced through the corridors, somehow finding
the chambers assigned to her. She slammed the door behind her and locked it
before hurrying toward the closet. She pulled out her suitcases and tossed them
on the bed before frantically tearing clothes from the rack. She wouldn’t stay
even one more minute, promise to Demi notwithstanding. She believed in
freewill, not destiny.

Chapter 11

Demi
knocked on her door, but she didn’t answer. He tried calling her name, but Anca
continued to ignore him. Reluctant to invade her privacy, he finally used the
master key to open the door. He didn’t know what to expect when he entered her
bedchamber.

She
sat on the floor with her face buried in the mattress. Her opened cases were on
the bed, with clothes strewn across it and the coverlet in a haphazard array.
She didn’t even look up when he closed the door behind him and walked over to
the bed. “Anca?” She still didn’t look up, even when he settled on the cool
floor beside her. “How are you? Please talk to me.”

She
lifted her head, and looked at him with red rimmed, swollen eyes. Tear tracks
lined her cheeks, and her mouth wobbled. She didn’t speak as she fell into his
arms, burying her face against his chest.

Demi
caressed her tangled hair and murmured soothing words to her. When he realized
he was speaking Corsovan out of habit, he switched to English. “I know you’re
frightened of what’s coming, but I’ll be with you.”

She
lifted her head away from his shirt. “I-it-it’s too mu-much,” she stuttered
amid hiccups. “I can’t do any of this. I don’t want any part of this.”

He
shook his head. “That isn’t true, Anca. I can sense your confusion and doubt,
but I also feel your longing. You know what you are, and you know what you’re
destined to be. It’s all right to be frightened.”

“I’m
going home, Demi.” She bowed her head, refusing to meet his eyes. “I tried, but
I can’t give my father what he wants. I can’t even give you what you want from
me.”

He
nudged up her chin. “All I want is your love. If you decide to turn your back
on your heritage, I’ll still be beside you—if you want me.”

She
sighed. “Of course I do.” Her eyes were haunted. “On some level, I feel like
I’ve always known you. That’s why it was so easy to fall—“ She broke off
abruptly, pursing her lips.

Demi
pulled her more completely into his arms and began rubbing her back in small
circles, trying to ignore the dart of pain from her refusal to speak of her
love for him. “All will be well. You’ll see. Just give it some time—”

She
shook her head. “No. I’m going home. It’s time for me to get back to my real
life and away from all this craziness.”

Demi
sighed. “If you want to go back to New York, that’s where we’ll go. I won’t
pretend that’s the decision I want you to make though. Moreover, I know you
don’t want to hear it, but your place is here. Part of you is tied to the land
now—”

“I
refuse to believe that,” she said stridently. “I belong in New York, with my
mother. I’m not supposed to be a vampire queen. I want my life to be normal. I
want to go back to managing
Dragan’s Whimsy
, get married, and have
children. I don’t want to spend three hundred years looking over my shoulder,
wondering who’s trying to kill me today.” Anca swiped her cheeks impatiently.
“I can’t stay here.”

“Don’t
leave me. I’ve waited so long for you. Please, just stay a while longer. See
the country for yourself before deciding if you can fill your role as the
Protector of Corsova.” He crushed her against him, sensing her withdrawal. “I
don’t want to live without you. I want to be the one who shares your burdens. I’ll
give you a child as soon as the Blood Oath ceremony is over, if that’s what you
want.”

She
pulled away with a small whimper, settling onto her knees beside him, though
her upper body still pressed against his. “I don’t want a child right this
minute, Demi. Nor will I be coerced with the promise of one—“

He
shook his head. “I wasn’t. The physical changes of the Blood Oath would cause
you to miscarry. That’s why we must wait until after you make your decision.”
He framed her face with his hands, staring deeply into her eyes. “I would never
try to coerce you, but I will try to convince you to stay. Please, just give me
the rest of the month.”

Her
lips trembled, and she appeared to be weakening. “Well…”

“Please,
Anca.” He put his arm around her waist, bringing her breasts against his chest.
“I need you. We’ve joined. You have no idea how painful it will be for both of
us if we’re parted.”

Her
eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You
accepted me the first time we made love. We’re bonded now, you and I.” His stomach
clenched when he realized she hadn’t knowingly accepted him. “Oh, Anca, I’m so
sorry. I forgot you don’t know our ways. I assumed…” He trailed off, shaking
his head. “Nothing can undo our bonding now. Parting would be agony for both of
us.”

“Damn
you! You thought you could trick me into staying here.” She hit his chest with
her balled up fists. “You’re just like everyone else, with your secret
agendas.”

“Anca.”
He spoke firmly, hoping to cut through her anger so she would really hear him.
“I love you, and I wanted nothing more than to join with you. I had no ulterior
motives, except my own selfish needs. I didn’t think beyond joining with you.
Please believe me.” He could hear the note of pleading in his voice, but he
wasn’t concerned about his pride. It was a small sacrifice if she stayed
because he bared his heart.

She
was quiet for a long moment, and her hands dug into his chest, as she seemed to
get lost in thought. Finally, her body relaxed against his. “I’m sorry. I know
you wouldn’t…” Anca sighed. “I feel it too. I felt it even before we made love,
but now I can’t stop thinking about you. I knew you were near even before you
knocked on my door.”

“I
feel you every minute of the day too,
meu dragostia
.” He buried his face
in her hair, inhaling deeply. His eyes widened when her fingers started toying
with the buttons of his shirt. “Anca?”

“I’ll
stay a week,” she said in a whisper. “That’s all I’ll promise for now.”

“It’s
enough.” He would make it enough, he vowed. Once again, his concentration
faltered when she slipped her hands inside his shirt to stroke his chest. “Do
you want to make love now?”

She
nodded, and her hair brushed against his face. “I need you, Demi. You’re the
only thing in this place that makes any sense…the only thing that seems real…”
She lifted her head and touched her lips against his.

Demi
returned her kiss, allowing her to set the pace. She seemed to be in no hurry
as she thoroughly explored his opened mouth with her probing tongue. He groaned
softly as she tweaked his nipple while nibbling on his lower lip. His cock
sprang completely to life, and he could feel the warmth of her pussy through
the soft cotton of her summer dress. He couldn’t wait to touch her skin and
moved her far enough away to work his hands between them to cup her breasts.
The material of her dress was an intolerable barrier.

Demi
moved his hands to the tie at the back of her neck and fumbled with the knot.
When it loosened, the dress pooled around her waist, displaying a plain white
bra with no straps. Demi broke away from her lips to trail his mouth down her
chin and neck. He scooted to face her, lifting her higher against him, until he
could put his face between her breasts. He brushed aside the pendant, and it
was hot to the touch, responding to the emotions flaring between them.

“Touch
me.” Anca leaned back into his arms, letting him support her upper body, as her
fingers threaded through his hair.

Demi
braced her weight with one arm while his other hand fumbled with the discreet
clasp of the bra, hidden between her breasts. After what seemed like hours of
wrangling with it, the hooks slipped free, and the bra fell away to reveal her
perfect breasts.

He
brought her with him as he leaned his back against the bed, groaning as she
straddled one of his thighs. The warmth of her pussy burned into his leg
through the material separating them. She stretched, and her nipple brushed
against his lips, teasing him. He brought the hard peak into his mouth, unable
to withstand the temptation. As he swirled his tongue around it, he heard her
cry out with pleasure. Her hold on his hair tightened until it was almost
painful, but he didn’t push her away.