Forever Touched (Touch of Vampire #5)

CHAPTER 30

30

ADALYN

It was just like in my dreams.

Everywhere I looked, jewels sparkled and skirts swished. Stringed music softly played, allowing the roomful of guests to chat and mingle. Each face was hidden by a mask of varying color, concealing their identity. Several couples twirled about the room, their movements unnaturally graceful as they danced.

The ballroom itself was massive, made entirely of gold. Even the ceiling was elaborately sculpted in burnished golden hues. Chandeliers, columns, and candelabras made the space appear to have been fashioned from a fairy tale. Human maids flitted about the guests along the edges of the dance floor, holding trays of golden goblets. Since every guest here but me was a vampire, I knew the goblets were no doubt filled with blood. I watched more than one vampire reach for a drink, even as they hungrily eyed the maids—vampires that I recognized .

It didn’t matter that they wore masks. The intimate moments I’d spent with them were etched into my brain. I would know them anywhere.

As I stood at the top of the grand staircase overlooking the room below, stuck between Mistress and her two daughters, an intricate grandfather clock tucked in the far corner caught my eye.

“Tick-tock, Adalyn,” Mistress murmured for my ears alone, noting where my attention had gone. “One hour until midnight. ”

My throat closed.

Before I could start panicking, though, I finally spotted him. He was off to the side, speaking to the king and a few males I didn’t recognize. As my gaze landed on him, he abruptly stopped speaking to search the room. To search for me .

My heart beat wildly in my chest.

Cruel nails bit into my arm as Mistress leaned close to hiss in my ear, “Fulfill your promises, Adalyn. Do this one final job for me, and you will be free.”

Free.

Free.

Free.

The word had never felt so empty.

She released me when Everett’s gaze swung our way, climbing the stairs to rest on me. The moment our eyes met, the room and everyone in it disappeared. For a moment, a wondrous moment I never wanted to end, it was simply him and me. A vampire prince and the witch fated to be his mate.

I quickly took him in from head to toe, noticing the way his black three-piece suit fit him to perfection. As usual, his short black hair was neatly in place, his chiseled jaw and chin closely shaven. A black mask hid the rest of his features, but I already had them memorized. Already knew how devastatingly handsome he was. How perfect .

Everything about him was perfect. Perfect for me .

I started to tremble again, feeling lightheaded.

I couldn’t do this, couldn’t do this, couldn’t do this.

He checked me over as well, his appreciation at what he found obvious. I could feel it. Feel him . Even though my heart raced and my head pounded, his emotions came through loud and clear. They flooded the bond, filling me with relief and happiness .

He was happy. Happy to see me.

My eyes started to burn.

Before I could do something terrible, like cry in front of a room full of bloodthirsty predators, he headed my way. The crowd parted at his approach, naturally deferring to his superiority and power. Without a word, he commanded their attention. Their respect . Even the Venturi under my control stepped aside, their eyes following him as he strode with purpose across the room.

The desperate need to run shivered through me, both to him and away. I was torn. Shredded into a million pieces. Frozen .

Faces from around the room started to turn our way, tracking his progress. I suddenly wanted to shout. Wanted to scream at Everett to run. To take his family and flee before the vipers in his house could strike. I glanced at the clock again.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Time bore down on me, reminding me of the job I was destined to do. Less than an hour to go. Less than an hour until I betrayed the man who’d tried to save me. The man who’d somehow burrowed his way into my heart.

A heart made of twisted lies. Of wicked deceit.

“You’re my bright shining star, Ada darling. Whatever happens after tonight, don’t let anyone dull that light. Shine brightly for all to see.”

My father’s words chose that moment to cruelly taunt me. To remind me of how dark I’d allowed myself to become. I didn’t know how to shine anymore. The only thing the crowd would see tonight was a fallen blood whore named Star.

As Everett started to ascend the stairs toward me, that’s exactly what they saw. I could tell that several of my clients had spotted me. Spotted and recognized me. There was no hiding who I was to them. If my silver mask and hair didn’t give me away, then the blood bond we shared surely would.

They could sense me the same way I could sense them. It was a whisper. A mere impression of thought. A delicate web that linked us together, one they didn’t realize they were caught in.

I see you , the bond softly breathed, caressing the air between us. The time has come. Wait for the right moment. Just wait . . .

Almost without thought, the magic trickled from me and into them. Awakening our bonds. Flaring them to life.

I’d been doing it for so long that it came instinctively. The magic was strongest when we were touching, when my blood was fresh in their veins, but I’d formed a strong enough connection with them to wield my control from a distance.

Their minds were wide open right now, ripe for the taking. I could make them do just about anything. I’d learned the hard way that I couldn’t bend their minds to my will while they were in a frenzy. Influencing them took finesse and patience. But once I was in control, I could sway even their most stubborn thoughts. I’d spent years encouraging them to drink my blood, knowing that the more they fed, the less I had to endure their touch. Once they started to feed, I simply made them believe they were having sex with me.

To them, I was the blood whore who made all their dark, twisted fantasies come true. In reality, I was the witch who planted lies deep inside their minds.

The royals only care about each other.

They would rather listen to outsiders than their most loyal subjects.

The king is weak.

The princes are cruel and have rejected their own kind, including their own brother.

They see the Venturi as useless figureheads .

Feltore are nothing to them, and they kill them without cause.

The royals must be stopped.

Must be stopped.

Must be stopped.

The lies went on and on, painting the royal family as heartless monsters. Feeding my client’s doubts and insecurities. Even the strongest of them eventually broke, allowing me to pollute their minds with thoughts they didn’t actually believe. Truthfully, most of them were deeply loyal to the royal family, which was the most twisted thing of all.

I’d ruined them as they had ruined me. I’d done it gladly , tainting their minds while they had tainted my body. They’d deserved it for treating me like a lowly blood whore. Like I was nothing more than an object for their pleasure.

I’d justified my actions, condemning them when I had been the one to lure them in.

If anyone was a heartless monster here, it was me.

But it was too late. There was no undoing the damage I’d done. If I didn’t finish what I’d started, the pactum would kill me. Even worse, Mistress would kill Pepper.

I was tied up in knots tighter than ever, and I didn’t know how to escape. I couldn’t escape. Mistress had made certain of that.

She was the first to speak as Everett paused a few steps below us. “Your Highness,” she demurred, curtsying deeply. “It is such an honor to be invited to your beautiful home. We can’t thank you enough.”

Georgina and Octavia curtsied as well, the latter stumbling a bit. She wasn’t even blood drunk, but the youngest Faircroft had all the grace of a giraffe. Which was quite the feat considering how naturally graceful vampires were.

“Madame Faircroft. Ladies. Thank you for coming tonight,” Everett acknowledged, yet his tone was formal. Clipped. Anger trickled through our bond, but he kept the emotion firmly in check.

When his gaze rested on me again, I started to curtsy. Before I could finish, he stretched up his hand and said, “Dance with me?”

I froze, my eyes flying wide. The entire room froze, every masked face turning toward us in shock. Not everyone here knew who I was, but it was clear that I wasn’t one of them. And if I accepted Everett’s request, they would know all too soon what I was.

A witch .

The very thing that had cast them into darkness a century ago. The thing they had hunted and killed. That Everett had killed.

I could only imagine what they were thinking. Could only imagine how horrified they would be if they knew what I was capable of.

Whispers swept through the crowd as I hesitated. Every eye was on me now. Waiting. Waiting for me to perform .

Years of training kicked in. I straightened and placed my hand in his.

Everett’s fingers tightened around mine, and I desperately sought comfort from their warmth. Their strength . He could feel me trembling now, but there was no hiding it. Without a word, he guided me down the stairs and onto the dance floor. The crowd parted for him as easily as before, but they were staring at me now. They audibly inhaled when I passed by, gasping when they realized what I was.

Everett ignored them all, his strides strong and steady. When he reached the center of the room, he turned and reeled me in. I swallowed a gasp as his hand on my lower back pulled me flush against him.

Spirits save me, he wasn’t even trying to keep his distance. Not even a little .

He splayed his fingers wide over my bare skin and breathed in my ear, “You look mouthwatering in that dress, but I can’t wait to take it off you later.”

My cheeks flushed scarlet.

Not from embarrassment, but from how reckless he was being. I didn’t respond, wholly unprepared for his behavior. We were less than an hour away from all hell breaking loose, and he was flirting with me.

Before I was ready, the music started up again and we were dancing. Muscle memory saved me from stepping on Everett’s toes as he led us into a waltz, his movements sure and confident.

Surprised, I finally found my voice to say, “I didn’t know you could dance.”

“I’m a one-hundred-eighty-eight-year-old prince. Of course I can dance.”

I didn’t even bat an eye at his age. I was used to being around ancient creatures who looked like gorgeous supermodels in their early twenties.

After a moment more of silent dancing, he murmured, “You’re in pain.”

“Just a slight headache. Nothing I can’t handle.”

His fingers tightened around my trembling ones. “And nervous.”

I forced myself to lightly laugh. “I’ve never been to a fancy ball before.”

“You’re also scared.”

“I’m the only mortal in a room full of vampires. Of course I’m scared.”

“But that isn’t anything new for you.”

I tipped my head back to smirk at him. “Dancing with their crown prince is. ”

His eyes dipped to my mouth. “You’re pretending. You don’t have to pretend with me. Ever.”

My smirk faded, and I looked away, but not fast enough.

“Something’s troubling you. What happened?”

I quickly glanced around to see if anyone had overheard. A couple dancing nearby turned toward us, and I blinked in surprise. Kenna gave me a friendly smile while Loch nodded in silent greeting. Another couple I recognized swept toward us, forming what felt like a protective circle.

As Isla waved and Kade threw me a wink, Everett said through our bond, We won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe .

But you’re not safe! my mind screamed, so loudly that I felt him tense. Only for a second, but long enough that I knew he’d heard it.

We’ve taken precautions, he tried to reassure me. If anyone is planning to attack us tonight, we’re ready. My father’s wives are safely hidden, and the twins have been sent away. Before this night is over, everything will be revealed. No more masks. No more secrets. We’ll get to the bottom of this once and for all. Every debt, pactum, and coup attempt will be addressed publicly. Anyone who refuses to see reason will be put in their place. Forcefully, if need be .

I opened my mouth to warn him, but thrall silenced the words.

He abruptly dipped his head to ghost his lips over my jaw.

Tensing, I whispered, “What are you doing?”

“Staking my claim,” he rumbled back, aligning his mouth with my ear so he could nibble on the lobe and earring. “Showing every sick bastard in this room who’s touched you that they’ll never touch you again. The only male allowed to touch you from this moment on is me.”

I couldn’t help but melt at his words. Couldn’t help but desperately cling to them, wishing with all of my heart that they were true .

But maybe they could be true. Maybe I could stop pretending, if only for a moment. If this was to be my last moment with the man who made me feel things I hadn’t dreamt were possible, then I was going to make each second count.

Besides, what could they do? What could anyone do? It wasn’t midnight yet. This time was mine. Mine and Everett’s. This was our happily ever after, however short it ended up being. And like hell would I let anyone, including Mistress, take that time away from me.

So I did the unthinkable. I grabbed Everett’s face and kissed him full on the mouth. In front of everyone . Staking my claim. Making one last defiant stand.

Screw you. Screw you all! the kiss shouted, echoing across a room that had suddenly gone deathly quiet. Even the music had stopped. I didn’t care. I kissed Everett harder. More urgently. Pouring into it the fear, desperation, and helplessness I felt. The need and desire I had for him. The hopes and dreams that were rapidly slipping through my fingers.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Destiny clawed at me, threatening to tear us apart. I clung to him with all of my might, whimpering when he crushed me against him and returned the kiss with equal force. Time drifted away, our passion eclipsing everything else. Nothing mattered but this . This kiss and my feelings for him. Feelings that flooded our bond, feelings I no longer tried to hide. I wanted him to know how I felt. He deserved to know.

It was the only thing I could freely give him, and no one could stop me.

I gave him everything, holding nothing back. I gave and gave, allowing him to know without a shadow of doubt my feelings for him.

Tears slid down my cheeks, but I didn’t wipe them away. Showing weakness didn’t matter anymore. I was at the end of my rope, and this was all I had left.

This final moment with the man who held my heart.

This perfect moment with the man that I loved .