Vampires of Eden (Alexander #2)

36. Alexander

CHAPTER 36

Alexander

M y father has three loves in his life.

The first is music. The symphony orchestra and the Royal Opera House occupy the majority of his attention. Left to his own devices and given true freedom, Ansv?d Kendrick would spend all of his waking hours consuming classical and operatic music, traveling the world to see performances in historical theaters. Rubbing elbows with industry elites. Scouting new talent.

He cannot spend all of his time this way, because he had the misfortune of being born as the sole heir to the illustrious Kendrick Clan of Eden. A devastating burden he has quietly shouldered his entire life, but is visible to anyone who pays close enough attention.

His second love, arguably, is me. I’m okay with this—that my father has a life, passions and interests outside of being my parent. It feels healthy? I also appreciate his support and general thoughtfulness of me. A kindness that he himself did not receive as part of his upbringing.

The third love is Eve, or Evie, as he affectionately calls her. Eve is his long-term maidservant whom, given other circumstances, would likely be his mate. Eve is purebred and also hails from the northern mountains, but her family lacked social position and power. In the days of Ansv?d’s youth, only the most elite of the elite had other purebreds as servants. It was the ultimate status symbol for their time.

My mother and father get along well enough, but anyone with eyes can see that they are ill matched. Ansv?d is mostly introverted, careful to react and calm in his temperament. Victoria, my mother, is a firecracker, but keeps her cards close to her chest. She often projects one thing, but is thinking something else entirely. Genetically, my impressive poker face is courtesy of her.

Loveless arrangements and weak bonds are common in Eden. It took my parents a year to form a mated bond. That’s the average, I think. If a couple doesn’t completely hate each other, anyway.

“This vineyard sounds impressive,” Father observes, setting his napkin on the table and having finished his lunch. “I have not visited any of the outer villages in years. It sounds as if you and Leoni have a lot on your hands.”

“We do, but gradually, we’re receiving more local support,” Daniel assures him. Briefly, he glances at me from across the table before refocusing on my father. Danny never lets his gaze settle on me for more than a few seconds before he diverts his attention elsewhere. Like I’m a ghost that only he can see and he’s desperately trying to ignore me.

“It’ll take time to rebuild the vineyard to where it’s thriving and profitable again,” Danny goes on, “but we believe in what we’re doing and the good it can contribute to the community.”

“They invited me to spend some time on the vineyard last week for a potential partnership,” I interject, folding my arms over my chest. “I’ve gone to the weekend markets with them several times too, and the wine is popular. I’m thinking this could be a great long-term investment.”

“An investment for you and Eden as a whole, I imagine,” Father says. “Investing within the businesses and goods of the outer villages could help to address the other crucial issues we face. The concerns we broached in the last board meeting, specifically.”

“I think so too,” I confirm. “It’s a good place to start.”

“Well done,” Father says. “I trust in your judgement fully, as always. So, is this how the two of you reconnected?”

Daniel visibly tenses and lifts his tea cup to his mouth. I stare at him but address my father. “Yes, it is.”

“You must forgive me for exploiting this serendipitous opportunity, Daniel, but your being here could not have come at a better time.”

Daniel blinks, confused as he lowers his cup. “In… what way, your highness?”

Father leans forward on his elbows and with his hands clasped, zeroed in on Daniel.

“Let me start at the beginning. Within my possession is a very old piece of music. We believe that it was written by an Eden native who has long passed—Elmhurst Thorn. First-generation in nature. An extremely talented musician of his time. However, due to the restrictions of our culture, his career and exceptional talents were never encouraged as they should have been.

“The piece is sensational and complex. A piano concerto that is reminiscent of a deeply emotional journey. A life shrouded in darkness, but slowly cast into prolific light. The dead stillness of winter converging and morphing into the warmth and exuberance of spring. For two years I have tried to commission a quality pianist to maintain residency within Eden for a season to showcase this piece. I was finally in close talks with an artist, but the deal fell through yesterday. All of the other elements are in place except for my pianist.”

Father sits back and takes a breath. He steals a glance at me before addressing Daniel once more. “Perhaps you can sense the reasoning behind why I find your presence here fortuitous?”

Daniel shakes his head. “Your grace, I-I haven’t played the piano in nearly three years. If I’m understanding your intention correctly—and, please forgive my presumption if I’m wrong—I am not an appropriate choice for this role.”

Undeterred, my father tilts his head. “Why haven’t you played in three years? Has the vineyard kept you so preoccupied?”

“I—No, it hasn’t. I…” Daniel inhales sharply as he glances off. “I haven’t had access to a grand piano, for starters, and?—”

“This is not a problem,” Father interjects. “I’m happy to grant you access to the rehearsal rooms of the Royal Opera House—whenever your schedule allows. Or the piano here in the ballroom, if it pleases you? I’ve been waiting for years to showcase this music, Daniel. I am a patient vampire. Something tells me that you might be the missing piece to this equation. I’d much rather highlight a local talent than hire someone from abroad. Does this not embody the spirit of uplifting Eden from within?”

My eyes flicker back and forth between Daniel and Father. He had relaxed over the course of our lunch, but now, Daniel is obviously uncomfortable with this proposition. I know he’s been avoiding the piano because of Josefina. Selfishly, I want him to do this.

In Daniel’s rigid silence, my father goes on. “At least review the music? Come to the Royal Opera House this week when you are free. I’ll give you my assistant’s info so you can set up an appointment. If the music speaks to you, we’ll schedule a customary audition later on with the other board members.

“Please, take some time to consider. This is the second occasion upon which you’ve immediately refused an opportunity that I have offered. Grant me the courtesy of, oh, let’s say a week’s worth of contemplation?”

Father smiles, lifting his eyebrows and briefly glancing over at me. “Convey your decision via Alexander by next Sunday. That way, if you decline, you’ll never need to set your eyes upon this bullying old vampire again. Agreed?”

Daniel peeks up at me, then back down to his empty plate. He nods. “Yes, your highness. I’ll… I’ll consider it. ”

Father surprises me when he clasps my shoulder, grinning ear to ear. “Excellent. I’ll look forward to your reply.”

A brisk wind flutters my hair as I stand outside the front double doors of the estate. The sun is bright and the warmth of it feels good on my face. Birdsong fills the air like an invisible, chaotic but perfect symphony reverberating from the surrounding trees.

With lunch finished and my father tucked away in his study, Daniel has insisted that he return to the vineyard. We’re waiting together on the steps for the driver to bring his van around to the front. Raphael is behind us. The silence is palpable and I can tell Daniel is processing my father’s offer. Hard. Like cement churning in a mixer.

“Thank you for staying,” I say quietly as the van comes around the corner. “See? My father isn’t so bad?”

Daniel stares at the red brick intensely. It feels as if he’s a million miles away. I want to reach out and take his hand or embrace him. For us to reconnect somehow. To prove that last night and this morning weren’t a figment of my perverted imagination.

He snatched his hand from mine earlier, and I notice how he keeps a polite distance between us in front of the estate staff. He barely looked at me in front of my father.

How can we possibly do this?

“His offer is too generous,” Daniel says thoughtfully, still staring at the ground. “I shouldn’t accept it.”

“You can think about it until next Sunday. Tell me then.”

He nods as the van is parked in front of us. Daniel glances up at me and there’s hesitation in his pale eyes.

“I… I will. We’ll talk later?”

“Sure.”

We’re frozen in stasis. He swallows, takes a breath, then moves down the steps with his duffle bag in hand. “Okay… see you later.”

I don’t respond because I feel… shocked? Affronted ?

What the fuck?

“ Danny .”

He flips around, startled. The length of his plait whips over his shoulder from the abrupt movement.

My heart is stuffed in my chest as I walk down the steps. “That’s it ? After everything—last night and this morning—you just leave? No hug or kiss or anything? Not even a handshake? What the hell?” He said he wanted me. That he loved me. But only in private? When no one else is around to see us? He told me secret sex wasn’t what he wanted. Was that a lie?

Wide-eyed, Daniel looks back at the chauffeur, who immediately turns his back and walks toward the opposite side of the van. Whistling. Out of sight. Daniel’s gaze shifts and lands on Raphael.

“You should answer him,” he says from behind me. I can hear the casual shrug in his voice.

Daniel closes the distance to stand in front of me and places his duffle bag on the ground. In a fluid motion, he stands, wraps his arms around my shoulders and leans into my mouth.

He kisses me, cautiously. Testing, at first. Like a silent question. How deeply do you want this to go? I part my lips in response and close my eyes, then playfully nip his bottom lip as I wrap my arms around his waist and meld his narrow frame into my body.

Daniel tilts his head in understanding and exhales as he licks into me. His arms snake more tightly around my shoulders and I feel him lift to his toes so that he can have even better access to my mouth.

The kiss is languid but passionate. Resolute as the afternoon sunlight warms and surrounds us like a halo. My eyes ignite from the taste and feel of him and my nature dances in my belly. I don’t let it flare out, but it stirs and twists up my spine, invigorated and pleased.

Daniel pulls up first. His nose brushes mine as he whispers. “I’m so sorry. Old habits die hard?”

“You’re not a secret. You don’t need to act like that—ever. Please don’t. ”

“How do they know about us? Did you tell them? Can they smell me?”

“It’s a long story,” I repeat, then jut my chin forward to kiss him once more. “If we can’t get this thing right between us, it’ll never work, you know? If the inside isn’t solid, the outside factors will eat us alive.”

“I know—I’m sorry. When do I get to hear this eminent story?”

“Soon. Shoot me a message when you’re back at the vineyard so I know you arrived safely?”

He nods, hugging me tightly and running the fingers of one hand into the back of my hair. He’s always destroying my hair. “When will you come to me again? When will I see you?”

“Hm… now that Father’s back early, I’m not sure. Inevitably, he’ll find things for me to do?—”

“I’ll make space in his schedule. Don’t worry.”

Danny lifts from the hug and I turn my head to the side to see Raphael smiling confidently. He offers a thumbs up in reassurance.

Daniel nods again. “Alright… okay. Is today going to knock me back down to ‘mean’ status? Because I… honestly I was just terrified that?—”

Since I’m on a roll now, I take his mouth again and squeeze him, letting my palm trace up his spine. Daniel makes a soft little sound of pleasure, sighing and further demolishing my hair with his hand as he kisses me back, hard.

“Alright, gentlemen, that’s enough,” Raphael chides from behind. “You’re putting on a show—don’t make me go get the hose.”

Reluctantly, I set Daniel free from my embrace. But as he picks up his bag, I hold his hand and walk him to the driver’s side of the van.

“Soon?” he says, turning to me as the valet holds the door open for him.

“Very soon. ”

He leans, touching our lips once more, then again before finally climbing into the van. I walk back to the steps to stand beside Raphael. We both watch until Daniel’s van disappears around a bend and into the trees.

“Fickle creature you’ve chosen,” Raphael observes in the quiet.

That’s fair. My fickle raven king. “He has his reasons.”

“He’s come here at the drop of a hat to see about you, twice. But then he acts like he wants nothing to do with you. Should I be worried Lexie? I felt good about this in the beginning. Now, I’m concerned.”

I inhale a deep breath of early spring air, then blow it out. “We’ll be alright.”

“I hope so. Anyway, your father wants to speak with you. But you know that, right?”

“Mm.” I turn and head back into the house and toward my father’s office. When I reach my destination, I knock and am called inside.

Stepping through the doors, I’m met with radiant sunlight shining through the windows. A soft baroque melody floats on the air—Jean Baptiste Lully? Maybe. I’m not sure. Eve is on the couch with a book propped up near her face and my father is behind his desk. The surface is neatly arranged with his treasured odds and ends.

He’s holding some papers but he looks up at me, deadpan and speaking in his northern tongue. “Your mother is going to have a nuclear meltdown about this. I hope you’re emotionally and mentally prepared.”

Stressed, I walk over and take one of the tufted armchairs positioned across from his stately desk. “ Yaud, k?m sanvack an. ” I plop down and rub my palms against my face.

Yeah, I know.

“Why is your hair suddenly in such a chaotic state?”

“Ah, sorry.” I lift both hands to smooth and quell it back.

“He was painfully tense during lunch,” Father goes on, setting his papers aside. “Why was his manner so… cross? He barely made eye contact with you. Is he ashamed? Is he ill?”

I drop my palms. “He’s had some very difficult experiences in life since we last met him. He’s coping as best he can. And yes, he’s ill.”

“You’ve fed from him,” he declares. “You’ve marked him and he carries your scent. But he has not fed from you.”

“He hasn’t.”

“Will you offer yourself?”

Another heavy sigh. “I don’t know.” I didn’t mark him on purpose. This happens naturally when any vampire feeds deeply and repetitively, but much more so if the blood potency is imbalanced. Like pouring whisky into a glass of soda.

I love Daniel. I’ve loved him for a long time, I’m realizing. Day by day, I’m increasingly aware of the depths of my feelings for him and it exposes me. In my bedroom earlier, it was as if he’d pushed me to the edge. If Raphael hadn’t knocked, I would have fallen over into an abyss. A void of what exactly, I don’t know.

I’d give him anything he wanted that was within my power, but I also worry about… everything. If he feeds from me, his weakened nature will latch onto me. Is he ready for that? What’s happening inside of his head? Learning whatever irrefutable truth lies within his mind... Once I know, we can’t go back.

He says that he loves me, too. But then, his actions are contrary. He snatches away from me and avoids my gaze. He’s hot and cold.

If there’s resentment toward me somewhere within his mind and he feeds from me? I’ll know it. He can’t hide that.

“Be certain, Alexander,” Father cautions. “If you give yourself to him, the road ahead will not be an easy one—not in the beginning, anyway. It is your choice… a far superior choice over Lord Cherrington, frankly.” He rolls his eyes.

I smile, relieved to finally hear him admit this aloud. “Do you remember when we were in the car on the way home from the álvarez estate?” I ask. “After we saw Daniel play that evening? ”

My father leans back in his chair, grinning as he folds his arms across his chest. “Of course. When you candidly asked me, ‘Why can’t I choose a vampire like Daniel?’ How could I forget such a poignant moment?”

“I’ll always remember your response. You said, ‘Maybe someday, you can.’ It was so different from what Mother or any other vampire in Central was saying—about ranked vampires, about status and purebred superiority. It almost felt like an open invitation. To remake the world in whatever way I wished to see it.”

Father huffs from his chest. “I’m not sure that my intention was as grandiose as that. But I have always wished to offer you the sovereignty to think, live and choose of your own free will, because I was not allowed to do so. As you are well aware.”

“I know.”

“I promised myself that I would not burden my own child in that same manner… much to Victoria’s displeasure. Sometimes, I wonder, might we have been happier in our mated arrangement if I had ruled over you with an iron fist? If I had acquiesced to the brusque show of ‘masculinity’ and dominance that she preferred? Somehow, I doubt it. I much prefer this, Alexander. Your ease in confiding in me. Your trust in these delicate situations.”

If my father had raised me strictly, the result would have been two dysfunctional relationships within his nest instead of just one. I’m sure of it.

“Despite his palpable discomposure today,” Father goes on, “I quite remember his sense of will and eloquent dignity. He still exudes a quiet grace that pairs well with your bright vitality. Together, the two of you are like… kings positioned on opposite sides of a chessboard. One cast in shadow, the other in light. One pensive and sharp, the other gallant and zealous. The perfect balance for reshaping and governing a new world. I support your choice, Alexander, for whatever it is worth.”

My heart swells in my chest as I blink.

Wow.

“ Gravvis, Pap?n. ” I turn to Eve. She’s silent and reading her book on the couch, but I know for a fact that she’s absorbed every word of our conversation. Any decision Father makes is filtered through her. First and foremost. “ Gravvis, Evie. ”

She flickers her blue eyes up from her book and smiles. The sunlight makes her white blonde hair shine like platinum. “ Doivetska, michin. ”

You’re welcome, sweetheart.

I wonder how I would have turned out had I been the product of these two. More bookish and quietly intense? Definitely introverted. Winter-sun-and-ice blonde instead of summer and golden honey.

We’ll never know.

“Have you begun drafting the requested proposal?” Father asks.

“Sort of… Actually, Daniel and Leoni gave me some great ideas to start with. I just need to formalize the details.”

“Shall we draft the formal proposal together this week? Before your mother returns and all hell breaks loose. Let’s give Daniel space to consider my offer. How does this sound?”

A flash of heat registers underneath my clothes and in my groin from the briefest thought of Daniel and me last night and this morning. The intensity of our actions and his words. But then, the uncertainty of his behavior when we were no longer behind closed doors.

We’ve had this electric frisson and tension flowing between us for almost two months, and yesterday it all just… detonated.

Space would be good for us. To breathe and think.

“Agreed. Thanks, Father. Ah—Oliver came yesterday.”

“Did he?”

“Yes. He intends to pay me back,” I explain. “He gave me a check and will send regular installments. That should help legitimize my standing on the board, yes?”

Father huffs as if he’s amused. “Your rightful place on the Governing Board has never once been challenged, but yes, it is good that Oliver will pay you back. He should do so. ”

I tilt my head, confused. “Isn’t that why Mother is pushing me to form an arrangement with Lord Cherrington? So that I can be properly mated when I take my seat?” If not, then what the hell has all this terror with that gross bastard been for?

Father sighs heavily and glances away. “Victoria cares more about appearances and status quo than anything else. For her, the dissolution of your arrangement, coupled with your being autonomous despite being of bonding age simply looks untoward. Thus, she wishes to remedy this as quickly as possible. It seems that any wealthy and… marginally respected vampire will do.”

I sit back hard against the tufted chair with my mouth agape. “I thought I was in danger of losing my seat.”

“There is no circumstance in which I would ever let that happen. Further, as far as I have discerned, unanimously, everyone wants you in this position on the board. We all recognize that Eden is in peril as a society. It needs someone bright and young to infuse new life into its veins. Perhaps, multiple someones.”

I shake my head at my mother. Disgusted.

Are perceptions and other vampires’ opinions so important? That I should be subjected to an arrogant predator—potentially for the rest of my life? Have we lost our fucking minds?

Does my happiness, safety and well-being not matter to her at all?