Vampires of Eden (Alexander #2)

31. Alexander

CHAPTER 31

Alexander

S itting in this room with Oliver, he might as well have a gun drawn and aimed at my chest. He doesn’t, of course. He’s on the couch across from me, quietly gathering his thoughts as the silver-white light of the overcast sky bleaches the room.

I’m waiting for him to pull the trigger. To tell me more about how I’ve hurt him in some fundamental way by helping him leave Eden without disclosing how I did it.

“When we were engaged,” he finally begins, and I mechanically inhale and hold my breath, “we… were cruel to each other in some ways, I think. You said and did things that hurt me, and I know that I hurt you as well. But I…”

He pauses and looks up, meeting my eyes. “I misread you. Looking back, in a very short amount of time, you started to comprehend the hostile nature of my life and the dynamics of my family, and you pivoted. You changed, Alexander, and truly understood the situation and what it required of you. What I needed from you. As help. As a good partner.”

Oliver waits as if he expects me to say something. My heart is in my throat and I’ve forgotten to breathe as I blink. “I… It so unds like you might be complimenting me,” I manage, “but that feels like a stretch?—”

“I am complimenting you,” he says, grinning. “That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Sitting up straighter, I lift a hand to massage the back of my neck. “I have whiplash. A minute ago, you told me I helped you the wrong way and that you weren’t a ‘damsel in distress.’”

“I didn’t want to say it like that. What I meant was, in our interactions, you’ve always had the upper hand. The power, the choice and the wealth. I’ve had none of those things. But with your dowry and helping me? This time, I want… I’d like for us to share that burden. Let me be part of this decision, as your equal and friend. Let me help you in return.”

He takes hold of the messenger bag and digs inside. A moment later, he pulls out an envelope and raises his hand toward me in offering. “This is the first installment of paying you back?—”

“Ah, no way! You’re out on your own, disconnected from your family and trying to build a life outside of Eden,” I reason, taken aback. “You don’t need to worry about paying me?—”

“Alexander.”

His stern tone makes me pause. We both still. Me with my palms against the chair’s arm rests and him with his hand extended, holding the envelope.

“This is my sincere wish,” he says, unwavering. “It’ll take me some time… well, a long time to pay you back in full, but still. Will you respect my decision?” The question is delicately posed between us, and there’s an undeniable but quiet plea behind his blue irises.

The bewilderment in my head swirls, but I nod. I lift my hand and accept the money. “I will, of course. If this is what you want, then… thank you, for this.”

Something in the set of his shoulders eases. “It means a lot to me for you to accept this—and future payments, which I’ll mail regularly. You need your dowry to remain autonomous, don’t you? ”

“Yes.”

“Right. So, let me repay your kindness. And thank you, for… for showing me kindness in a sincere and selfless way when I needed it most.”

I frown and glance over my shoulder, because there’s no way he’s talking to me. Is Aries standing behind me? Where did that come from?

Oliver must read my confusion because he chuckles. “Yes, I’m talking to you.”

“You couldn’t possibly be.”

He shakes his head. “I’ve wrestled over whether or not I should tell you this, because I don’t know if it’ll help, but… remember when you came to the safe house and fed me just after I’d escaped from the castle?”

I scoff. “How could I forget?”

“Right.” Oliver lowers his gaze to his hands in his lap. “After you fed me, that night, I dreamt about you. The details weren’t clear, but the feeling behind it was vivid. Intense. It told me that you were genuine as a companion, and that your conviction would be powerful. And honest.

“I think… when you came to the safe house—and the way you stood up to Lord Blakeley on my behalf—you were already showing me those things. Accepting my truth, helping me survive. Caring enough about me to let me go.”

The dark inky tension in my chest melts. I relax back in the chair, just a little. “Huh. So I’m not a complete fuck up after all, is what you’re saying? In a nutshell?”

Oliver smiles. “Not a ‘fuck-up.’ Thank you for helping to give me this life, and for respecting my decisions.”

It’s as if the air in the room has been cleansed. More breathable. A dark miasma dispelled. Or maybe my lungs are less constricted? I’m not sure. The relief of it is rosy and good.

Playfully, I raise the envelope with two fingers. “Is this Aries’s money? Because I’m not keen on taking his fucking?—”

“It’s not, you jerk,” Oliver spits, scrunching his nose. “I knew you were going to ask me that. I knew it. You can’t help yourself, can you?”

Smirking, I fold and tuck the envelope into the pocket lining the inside of my jacket. “Maybe I can’t. I’m gray, remember? Gotta stay morally gray.”

“Whatever,” he says, still smiling as he flickers his eyes over me in appraisal. “You are not gray. Where are you headed tonight? This suit is… well, frankly, the color is beautiful. You look great. You’re always smartly dressed, though.”

“Thanks. A banquet, you know.” I wave a hand. “Just a drop in the bottomless bucket of Eden banquets.”

Oliver chuckles. “Say that three times fast.”

“How long are you hanging around town?”

“Just a week. You won’t believe this, but I’m staying with Thomas.”

My eyes do indeed widen at this news. Oliver’s older, paler and waif-like brother exists as a kind of ghost hovering along the outer edges of Eden’s aristocracy. Rarely attending events or showing his face. He’s mated with Lord Cameron Ashford—a wealthy and established purebred who also keeps a low profile. As a couple, they’re pretty mysterious. I don’t know much about either of them. “Really? And he’s… alright?”

“Yeah, he’s alright,” Oliver says. “Really alright. I’m relieved.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Casually, I glance up toward the clock on the mantle beside us. Oliver catches the subtle shift in my attention and stands.

“I’m sorry—I know you have places to be and I barged in here. Thank you for talking this through with me.”

I stand as well and straighten my jacket. “Maybe we both needed this. Thanks for coming to see me. Are your travels going well? And the photography?” We walk toward the door together and Oliver’s tenor pitches higher from his excitement.

“Everything is excellent. I managed some incredible shots in Thailand and Hong Kong—like someone better than me took them. But Sylvie is a great mentor. I’m so glad you set me up with her. We’re heading to Japan next and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The sheer joy in his voice and overall being is infectious. A stark contrast to his temperament when we were existing together in our forced bonding arrangement.

That thing Raphael told me to lay down? Somehow, it feels as if it’s finally resting. “I’d love to see your photos,” I tell him. “When are you going to open another social media account?”

At the doors to the sitting room, he pauses. “I don’t know, but… if you’re really interested, I’ll text you once I have a website of my portfolio set up? I’m going to start working on it soon. Social media gives me anxiety so a website is better.”

Oliver once asked me if we could be friends. The hurt of our break-up was raw and throbbing at that time, like a gash I was desperately trying to nurture and stop from bleeding out.

Back then, the answer felt like hell no.

In this moment, though?

“Yeah,” I say, pulling the door open for him to step through. “Text me the link when you have everything finalized. I promise I’ll respond.”

He chuckles. “Great, I will… You seem contented, somehow. Calmer.”

“Do I?”

Oliver nods, looking me over once more. “Yeah, much more so than before I left. It’s nice. I’m glad.”

“His Royal Highness, Prince Alexander Ethan Kendrick!”

The herald’s voice echoes across the moodily lit hall. Vampires pause, turning their attention toward the arched double doors and black carpet as I step inside.

Tonight’s banquet is being held in an old modified medieval church comprised of gray stone walls, towering stained-glass windows and a high, echoing ceiling. Above us, crystal orbs of light in varying sizes glow warmly in seductive jewel-tones. The space is dim, but the hanging fixtures cast rich hues of light and color across every surface and attendee. Violet, emerald, magenta and cerulean. Like being on the inside of a kaleidoscope made of stone and glass.

“Your highness.” A uniformed waiter carrying a gleaming silver tray filled with champagne flutes bows his dark head and dips the platter in offering. Not wanting to be impolite, I take hold of a stem.

“Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure,” he winks a heather-gray eye, smiles, then walks away.

Scanning the room from my elevated position atop the stairs, I flare my senses out to find Nadya, Sebastian and unfortunately, Ashwin. The three of them are huddled in the opposite corner, so I make my way across the room.

I’m stopped multiple times on my journey to accept and offer greetings. I take a raincheck on four invitations to dance and nod politely in acknowledgement more times than I can count before I finally make it to my destination.

“Where the hell have you been?” Sebastian scrutinizes me with his red-brown eyes. His nose is upturned in displeasure.

“I’m not that late,” I say, rolling my shoulders, careful not to spill my champagne. I don’t want to mention Oliver’s visit. Especially not in front of Ashwin, who briefly scowls at me before turning her attention back toward the dance floor.

“I meant generally speaking,” Sebastian retorts. “You haven’t shown up to anything within the past week! What are you being so secretive about? It’s time to fess up already.”

I blink, taken aback by his immediate call out. Casually, I bring my glass to my lips. “I’m honored that you’ve noticed my absence.”

“Of course we noticed,” Ashwin says coldly while looking out over the crowd. “The air was suddenly much more breathable without Golden Boy around to soak up everyone’s attention. ”

“What I think we’re all trying and failing to say,” Nadya smiles, gently touching her shoulder to mine, “is that we’ve missed you. Is everything alright?”

After taking a long sip, I nod. Unexpectedly, I remember Danny’s last message about drinking only when I’m with him. I stifle a grin. I can handle champagne—at least one glass, anyway.

Shit. I meant to text him back before I left the house.

“Everything is good,” I assure her. “I’m working on a proposal for the Royal Board’s next quarterly meeting, among other projects. I’ve been busy.” I shrug. This feels generally true.

How would they react to my situation with Danny if I disclosed it? Ashwin hates everything that I do, indiscriminately. But I like to think of Nadya and Sebastian as open-minded and progressive vampires. That they might accept Daniel and my feelings for him.

“What ‘other projects’ Aleksey?” Sebastian pushes. “This is what I’m talking about. Secretive . We’ve been friends our whole lives and you’ve never been like this—vanishing for days on end and not talking to us. It’s super weird.”

“I’ll bet he’s still sitting at home and pouting over being dumped by Oliver,” Ashwin chides. “Pathetic. Move on already.”

Good God. With friends like these who needs enemies? I have not missed this hostile atmosphere. At all.

Wanting to shake off the tension, I finish the rest of my champagne in one long sip. I’ve barely pulled the glass from my lips when the waiter with gray eyes is suddenly in front of me again, smiling warmly and bowing as he presents a replenished tray of champagne flutes.

“Would you like another, your highness?”

“No, he doesn’t want another,” Sebastian barks, making the servant stiffen in surprise. “Is he the only one that you see standing here? Why are you hovering around us like a thirsty mosquito? Direct your attention elsewhere. Be gone.”

The servant glances at me, hesitates, then bows deeply. “My apologies, your grace.” He stalks off and across the room, disappearing into the crowd of vampires bathed in colorful lights.

“Bas—what the hell is your problem?” I ask, completely shocked by his unusual behavior. “Have you been spending too much time with Ashwin? Is she rubbing off on you?”

“Ha-ha,” Ashwin snarks.

“Could be?” Sebastian counters. “It’s not like you’re around anymore. You don’t show up to events. You don’t call to hang out at all. Nadya’s been busy shadowing and training with her mother. I guess this is what happens when I’m left alone with a feral animal.”

“ Hey .”

“Fine,” I say, ignoring Ashwin’s gripe. “But take that up with me. Don’t be a dick to the innocent first-gen serving us drinks. Misdirected anger much?”

“Fuck him.” Sebastian flicks his free hand in dismissal and the rings on his fingers glint in the spectral light. “He was gawking like you were a blood lollipop that he wanted to suck. He’s obviously forgotten his place and needed a reminder. Weirdo.”

I open my mouth, then close it.

Forgotten his place? Is he fucking serious?

“Gods have mercy.” Nadya blows out a breath and turns to Sebastian. “You’re in a nasty mood. Are we going to fight all night? Is that the objective?”

“I just feel as if I’m being left behind,” Sebastian says, pouting. “I hate it.”

“What do you mean, ‘Forgotten his place’?” I ask, regaining my bearings after the initial shock of his callous words. “He’s ranked . Outside of Eden, ranked vampires intermingle and couple with purebreds all the time and no one bats an eye. Why are you talking like some archaic aristocratic purebred?”

Sebastian looks down his nose at me and huffs. “We’re not outside of Eden, though, are we, Aleksey? Geography has never been my strength, but I do believe we’re firmly inside of Eden at the moment. And here, that shit doesn’t fly. You know that. Unless… you wanted to have a little meaningless and sexy fun with him behind closed doors. To which, well, who am I to judge?”

“That’s not what I meant?—”

“Good evening, my handsome young prince.” Lord Cherrington materializes before me, smarmy and grinning like a salesman who’s about to offer me a deal on a piece of shit car that I don’t need. Perfect. “It’s a pleasure to see you here this evening. Am I interrupting something?”

“You are,” I say flatly, annoyed.

“Is that so?” he charges on, unaffected. “The fact is, I am simply dying to spend some time with you this evening. May I have this next dance?”

“You may not,” I say. I almost add, “mother fucker,” but I restrain myself. I’ll be damned if I give him any further opportunities to let his hands roam across my body.

What a terrible night this is turning out to be.

“His next dance is promised to me.” Nadya sets her glass down on the table behind her, then confidently reaches for my hand. I take it. Without another word, she guides me past Lord Cherrington, onto the dance floor and through the crowd.

We move, our palms clasped and everything feels overwhelming. Too much color and light. Along the edges, too many shadows. Too much noise—voices chattering, exclaiming and whispering. Music floating through the air. Glasses clinking. Bodies moving.

Too many personalities to juggle and so much talking . Greetings and explanations. Attacks, defenses, jealousy and confusion.

God. How did I handle this before? I haven’t been here fifteen minutes and it’s as if I’ve been swallowed by a beast and am thrashing around in the pit of its chaotic stomach.

When Nadya and I are well into the throes of the crowded dance floor, she turns and lifts her hand. I take it, but ask, “Are you leading, or am I?”

She blinks, smiling sweetly. The rich lighting overhead catches the subtle blue tinge of her large irises. “You can lead. ”

I set my free hand on her waist, then smoothly guide her along to the slow tempo of the music. Oliver taught me this lesson the hard way. Another assumption I always made and got very wrong.

“Thanks for the rescue,” I tell her as we move. “From both Lord Cherrington and Bas.”

“Bas just misses you. We all do. You’ve been very… different, since your engagement with Oliver fell through.”

“I am different. It wasn’t just the failed engagement. A lot of things happened that made me change the way I look at the entire system of arranged bondings. Our society and the vampires around me. I can’t keep blindly playing along, Nadya. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I guide her into a turn and she spins elegantly. When she’s facing me once more, she nods. “I do, believe it or not. I’ve also made some important decisions lately because I’m sick of the silly games we play.”

Something Sebastian said floats to the top of my mind. “Is that why you’re shadowing your mother?” I ask. “Does it have something to do with the Royal Order?”

She lifts her chin. “It sure does. Mother told me about Lord Cherrington’s proposal after the last meeting. She said, quote, ‘It feels as if the Governing Board has lost our grip on Eden’s soul. It’s time to relinquish it to new hands.’ She asked if I’d be willing to step up if she decided to retire early and I said yes. Looks like I’ll be joining you on the board this spring, Goldie.”

“What?” Thrilled, I take hold of her waist, lift and spin her to the melody before setting her back down. She grips my shoulders and laughs in surprise, but when I set her feet to the floor, she punches me in the chest.

“Don’t do that, you maniac!”

“Sorry,” I laugh, rubbing the tender spot where she hit me. “This is amazing news. A relief, to be honest.” Nadya is the most level-headed vampire that I know. Having someone pragmatic and sensitive on the board will create more balance. In addition to myself, she’ll be a second tally mark in the “new ways of thinking” column versus the old.

“This is why Sebastian is salty,” she explains. “Both of us will be on the Governing Board, but so far, his mother shows no signs of wanting to retire. Also, I don’t want to stress you out, but I’ve heard some things… about you.”

The song ends and we both stand on the floor, watching each other. “About me?” I ask.

She takes my hand again, but pulls me to the opposite side of the room. Away from where Sebastian and Ashwin are standing. When we’re off to the side and tucked away from prying ears, she speaks with her voice lowered.

“My primary maidservant and I talk quite candidly—like you and Raphael. She told me that the community of ranked vampires are paying close attention to you. Something about you spending a lot of time in the countryside and at the village markets with Leoni and her first-gen housemate—Daniel, right?”

Being confronted with this truth and in this particular setting makes me tense. It isn’t necessarily that my spending time with Leoni and Daniel is a secret. More so, I don’t want to have to explain and defend myself to anyone—particularly to my mother.

This evening is the perfect example and justification as to why I needed a change of pace and atmosphere.

“Goldie?” Nadya prompts, blinking and awaiting my response.

I take a breath. “I’ve been helping them out—what difference does that make? I’m not hurting anyone.”

She holds my hand a little tighter. “True, it’s certainly unusual for a purebred prince to ‘help out’ at a socially ostracized vampire’s vineyard, but it’s not a crime. They’re also saying that you walk the village markets with Daniel sometimes and that the two of you look rather… cozy.”

My hand falters in hers but she doesn’t let go. I swallow hard. “Is looking cozy a crime?”

“It isn’t,” she says patiently. “However, considering the way you’ve just gone off on Bas for talking down to a first-gen vampire, and also brought up ‘intermingling’ and ‘coupling’ with them, I wonder if the two of you are more than just looking cozy.”

She doesn’t pose this as a question, but a distinct silence hangs in the colorful and ambient space around us, as if I should provide an answer.

Should I?

We don’t have a formal bonding arrangement, but our relationship isn’t some tawdry, flippant thing centered in sex, either. Within our aristocracy, these are the only two options for me as a purebred prince. There’s no template for anything else. Particularly with a first-gen vampire.

I don’t want to keep our situation a secret, but for now, what’s happening between us is our business. We’ll go at our own pace.

“Why are you asking me about this?” I say, meeting her gaze. “To feed the rumor mill?”

She shakes her head. “No, Goldie. You know better than that. I would never do that to you?—”

“Does Sebastian know about this? And Ashwin? These ‘rumors.’”

Again, Nadya shakes her head. “If they do, we haven’t discussed it. Alexander, we all know that the break-up with Oliver last year was difficult for you. You can talk to us about what’s going on. You don’t have to hide things. We’re your friends.”

I scoff. “Not Ashwin.”

“Well… Ashwin is feral, but she’s not all bad. She’s just jealous. Of everyone and everything. Especially you.”

Instinctively, my gaze flickers up and over Nadya’s head because I sense Sebastian stalking toward us. Soon, I spot him in the crowd with Ashwin trailing behind.

“Don’t tell Bas or Ashwin any of this, please?” I ask. “When I’m ready to talk about it, I will.”

She squeezes my hand in reassurance. “Alright. I’ll be here. We all will. ”

Internally, I roll my eyes. Not Ashwin. “Congratulations on joining the Governing Board. This is major, Nadya. Excellent.”

“Agreed. I mean, someone has to help you with finally putting that arrogant old bitch in his place. I cannot stand him.”

I don’t have to ask if she’s referring to Lord Cherrington. She is.

“Why are the two of you hiding over here?” Sebastian says. “Is this a secret special pre-Governing Board meeting? No outsiders allowed?”

Nadya sighs, drops my hand and smoothly snatches another champagne glass from the tray of a servant passing by. She takes the entire glass down in a single swig. I feel her pain, but if I have another glass of champagne, I’ll be silly. I’d much rather stay sober, focused and then get the hell out of here.

So, I do. I excuse myself, then conduct a circuit around the room to make sure my face is seen by nearly everyone in attendance. Between the forced conversations and dances, it takes another two hours.

As soon as I’m finished, I find Raphael and we head the fuck home.