Alina
“We’re here!” Kendrick announced just as we entered the driveway.
Erick, the chevalier, got off first and came around to my side to help me out invampire speed.
“What’re you doing? There are people in plain sight!” I grumbled under my breath so that any vampires in the crowd won’t hear us.
“Contrary to what you think, I’m not an idiot.” He gave me a smirk while lacing my hand through his. “They’re all vampires.”
“I thought we’re here for the press conference?” I asked as I watched several vampires, mostly in couples, stroll around the huge garden in front of the four-storiedmansion that was the blood bank.
“Press conferences are for dedicated, responsible people,” he said as if they were the worst possible qualities a person can have. “It’s the after party where all the fun is.”
“And here I thought you were a changed person,” I said deadpan.
“I am,” he countered, “but no one said changed people can’t party!”
“Of course.” I rolled my eyes as Kendrick came to join us after parking the car.
I could hear the sound of waves from a distance. We must’ve been really close to the sea.
“Erick!” A man of Erick’s age jogged towards us. He was dressed up in a blue suit, white shirt, and blue jeans. He had dark-brown hair and blue eyes as well, but not as beautiful as Erick’s. Gosh, I couldn’t believe I was comparing him to other men... err... vampires now. Thank God he couldn’t hear my thoughts anymore! I could tell that the new guy was a vampire by his speed as he literally flew from the entrance to the driveway.
“Jordan!” Erick left my side to meet the man halfway with a hug.
“Long time no see, man! Where have you been? Knee deep in etiquette classes?” Jordan joked as they separated.
“Ha ha. Funny.” Erick made a sour face, but I could tell he liked this guy. Friends, maybe? I’ve never seen him in Erick’s usual crowd.
Jordan’s gaze turned to me after the greetings were over. He raised an eyebrow at Erick, seemingly asking for an introduction.
“Jordan, meet my—”
“Wait, wait! I know!” He moved past Erick and came to stand in front of me before taking my hand in his and placing a kiss on my knuckles. “You must be Princess Alina Deluca, Erick’s fiancée. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
I laughed awkwardly as he raised his head. “Thank you, but I’m pretty sure you got the honoraries wrong. It’s just Alina.”
Jordan frowned and looked towards Erick with a questioning stare while Erick shook his head. Jordan turned back to me. “I’m pretty sure I haven’t. You’re Erick’s fiancée,and you wear his ring. That automatically makes you a princess.”
“Really?” I frowned as Erick returned to my side and Jordan took a step back. “But won’t that title apply after we’re married?”
“Sometimes, but since you’re the royal bride-to-be, the title already—”
“Prince Erick! Look, it’s Prince Erick!”
A shrill feminine cry followed by several ear-splitting screams sounded, and the next thing I knew, we were surrounded by a horde of female vampires in bold but elegant dresses. The shift was slight, but I still noticed Kendrick and Jordan take protective stances in front of me while Erick moved slightly in front of me.
“Prince Erick! My goodness, you look even better in person than in the photos!”
“Will you have a drink with us?”
“Come join us, Your Highness! I’m sure you’ll find us suitable company.”
Eyelashes were battered,and lips were pouted. Some even pulled down their dresses to reveal the sensuous curve of their breasts while I stood behind Erick, teeth gritting and blood boiling. I knew Erick was popular, not just because of his status or wealth but also because amongst vampire kind, he was considered to be one of the most handsome of men. But in all of this, I couldn’t have imagined the jealousy I felt as I saw the women around who were like porcelain dolls because of their vampire beauty.
Then Erick did something that I would never have contemplated, and from what I could read of their facial expressions, neither could the women. “Thank you for gathering here everyone. Please enjoy the drinks, but before you leave,” he said, pulling me forward to his chest and making sure the ring on my finger was visible to all, “meet my fiancée, Alina.”
The buzzing died down immediately, and all the flattering gazes turned murderous. Thankfully, Erick pulled me out in the nick of time. “Well then, it was nice meeting everyone. Please enjoy the party.”
Then he turned to the boys. “Give us a minute alone, Jordan, Kendrick.” Erick excused us and took a hold of my hand, pulling me after him to a different route that led to a small stony road through the greenery around the mansion.
“What’s wrong? Where are you talking me?” I asked as he dragged me deeper into the woods. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore got louder with every step we took.
“Not now. They can hear us.” Erick took us further inside, and it wasn’t long before the woods gave way to a cliff overlooking James Bay.
“Good. With the waves making this much noise, no one will be able to hear us no matter how close they are.” Erick mused before he turned to look at me. I stared back, waiting for him to answer. Instead, he replied with another question. “Alina, how much do you know about your mother’s side of the family?”
Now, that was a weird question. “I know that my grandmother was the principal of West Coast High and my grandfather was an ex-mayor, which was how he came to have connections with your parents, and you already know that my mom worked as a professor in Uni. Why do you ask?”
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
“Well, there has to be something if you’re asking me about this. What is it?”
“Let’s just say I was trying to figure out why you were thought suitable for marrying me.” He was lying. I could tell that much, but I had no idea what he was lying about. Maybe it was from seeing those beautiful women in the courtyard? Was he having doubts about me?
Why did I suddenly feel like I just might collapse? Did he not want to marry me anymore?
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Alina. I’m not planning on nullifying the marriage. I was just curious.”
My eyes widened. “How did you know?”
“Sometimes you’re like an open book. I can read your face better than I can read mine, but the rest of the time, you’re just so closed up.” He turned to look towards the sea, the wind blowing back his hair from his face. “I just want to know what goes on in your mind all the time, so I know I’m not doing anything wrong.”
I balled my hands into fists to stop myself from reaching out to him. Standing at the edge of the cliff with the sun acting as a halo around him, the scenery was beautiful yet heart-breaking. Right now, he looked so impossibly alone, yet just a few moments ago he was surrounded by a huge crowd. If our circumstances had been different and if the past events had never happened, it would’ve been so easy to fall in love with him for Erick might tease mercilessly, even bully people, but when he cared for someone, he gave his all in protecting them.
“Let’s head back now.” Erick turned back from the ocean. “People might get the wrong idea.”
“Yes.” We started back on the path we came from, walking through the little patch of greenery that separated the blood bank from the cliff. I wasn’t paying proper attention to where we were going, so my heels slipped on an elevated tree branch.
“Are you alright?” Erick wrapped an arm around me to steady me. I didn’t even notice we were already out of the woods until now.
“Yes. I just slipped,and I guess I have a headache.” I leaned on to him for the support. I had a rough day at the office, especially with Erick coming in and thrusting that engagement ring onto my finger and then draining my blood. Plus, I hardly slept a wink last night ever since Erick told me he had given me his blood.
“We’ll be out of here soon. Just hold on for the next hour.” I nodded against his shoulder; feeling tired all of a sudden.