Page 32 of Tempted By the Vampire Prince

“Well, I was just dragged into a magickally sealed room by a man with a serpent and moon medallion. They want me to join them to cast some spell. If I hadn’t thought quickly enough, I’d be locked in their cellar with whoever else they had locked up.”

“That’s… impossible.”

It had to be. Otherwise, it meant those skirmishes in the West were the first rumblings of war. A war I swore to prevent with my life.

I had signed the Blood Treaty with more than a signature. The twelve of us died that night to stand as immortal guardians of this peace because we had each seen the bottom of what people would do when they choose war. The abject cruelty. Demonic plagues that claimed entire families. My family. My mother and father and little sister.

She had no idea how long it had taken me to stop seeing the bodies when I closed my eyes.

“Impossible?” she said. “You don’t know when your own son runs away from your castle. Do you really believe this is impossible?”

I didn’t know what to say.

“Listen,” she said, softening a little. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but I am telling you the truth when I say there’s a dark society in your city hell-bent on restarting the war. If you don’t believe me, go to The Drowned Goose and see it for yourself. A Dark Witch named Lou is running the whole operation.”

My brows rose. “Lou Demarque?”

“I don’t know his full name.”

If it was the same witch, then yes, Monsieur Demarque was a Dark Witch, but he was a businessman. From what I knew, he’d arrived in Valemer the way everyone did, by sea. He was ruthless, and I didn’t put it past him to extort an out-of-town witch. He had a reputation for serving gold more than Damien.

But one part of Cora’s warning rose above everything else. The Devouring had not just invited her inside. A secret society did not expose itself to just any witch unless it intended to recruit, use, or silence her.

“Did he threaten you?”

“I can take care of myself.”

The words came like a reflex, and I didn’t doubt she was capable. I’d felt the power coming off her in the harbor. I saw the water rising to hold her up. But…

“I asked if they threatened you. Not if you could take care of yourself.”

“This isn’t about me,” she said dismissively. “I’m leaving. I don’t want to see Adrien hurt. With the way he runs away…”

The way she openly cared for my boy despite hardly knowing him touched something inside my heart. If she was willing to put herself in danger to ensure Adrien was safe, it was hard to dismiss her warning.

I had watched my harbor through a telescope instead of walking its docks. I had signed orders instead of asking questions. While I charted stars, lost chess games, and worried about who might care for my son, I let the port's smooth operation convince me Valemer was safe. Ships arrived. Taxes were collected. The streets remained quiet. I had mistaken order for peace.

“I should’ve known,” I admitted, shaking my head. “I should’ve been able to sense it.”

Her white raven hopped onto her shoulder. “Then why didn’t you?”

I considered her for a moment. “I left the capital eight years ago. After the death of Lady Emmaline, my late wife, with a newborn baby to care for and the grief of her loss heavy on my heart.” I paused, trying to collect my emotions before they came spilling out. “And I fear I have been lost ever since. It isn’t an excuse, but it is the only explanation I can provide.”

She stared back at me, her chest rising and falling, before she slapped me across the face. Hard enough that it surely left a mark. She lifted her hand, ready to hit me again. I prepared for the inevitable, almost wanting it, but at the very last second, she lowered her hand.

“Of all the selfish things I’ve ever heard!” she exclaimed. “How dare you put your head in the sand and allow this to happen? Your grief is going to kill your people!”

I’d needed to hear this said out loud, but no one had dared to say it. No one had wanted to force me to face what I hadn’t been able to face. Except her.

Severin and Chandler had both assured me that their searches uncovered nothing. Either the men entrusted with protecting my duchy had failed to see what was happening, or someone had ensured the truth never reached them. Neither possibility absolved me.

Valemer belonged to me.

Whatever had taken root here had done so because I had locked myself away.

“Why did you come to me with this?” I asked. “When it would’ve been easier to leave?”

She set her jaw, as if the answer to my question should be obvious. “Because someone had to do it. You can’t protect your people from what you don’t know.”