Vampires of Eden (Alexander #2)

45. Alexander

CHAPTER 45

Alexander

I t amazes me that the more I give of myself, the more Daniel settles and unwinds.

I’m in awe as I sit here, watching him. He’s standing in the bathroom with the door open, so the view from the bed is perfect as he brushes and smooths his raven-black hair into a low ponytail. Wrestling with the breakage as best he can. He’s wearing a soft, forest-green t-shirt and briefs, and he’s humming.

Humming . The air of contentedness suddenly radiating from him is palpable despite his earlier distress. Regardless of the fire, the article and my crazy mother.

All these years I’ve been ashamed of my feelings for him. Suppressing and ignoring them.

Suddenly, it’s… good for him. Exactly what he needs. And me, too.

“Are you ready?” he asks, walking back toward the bed with a thoughtful expression.

“Sure.” I don’t want to talk to my father, but I trust Danny and value his perspective. When has he ever led me wrong?

He steps over to the nightstand. “Should we call from my phone or yours?”

I shrug. “I don’t think it matters, honestly. ”

Daniel smirks. “Great, dear. Thank you for the invaluable insight.”

I know he’s officially on the mend when he’s back to being snarky. “My father is not going to say anything that I want to hear. The device that his voice is coming out of makes no difference.”

“Alright, fair enough.” He deliberates for a second more, then picks my phone up and turns it back on. He crawls onto the bed and sits at my side with his legs folded, facing me. He smells like coconuts because of his hair oil, but also autumn and blackberries and wood-fire.

It’s all very soothing and seductive and I still cannot believe that I get to touch this man. That I’m bonded with him. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined him climaxing just from my feeding. The way his blood and body sing to my nature is bewildering. He moans and whines, uninhibited in the throes of ecstasy and it is fucking delicious.

My phone rings on speaker and Daniel’s white-lilac eyes flicker up to mine as we wait. On the third ring, the line picks up.

“Michin, vied aust saiid n?n? Aust kleinz?”

Daniel hesitates, looking at me with his lips parted in a slight panic.

I sigh and respond in English. “I’m with Danny. You’re on speaker and I’m fine.”

“Hello, Lord Kendrick,” Danny says, leaning slightly into the phone in his palm. “Is everything okay?”

“Daniel, hello—no, everything is not okay. Are you well? I heard news of the fire at the álvarez cottage yesterday. Please tell me that you and Lady Leoni are unharmed?”

“We’re both fine,” Daniel assures him. “I had some minor injuries, but I’m healing quickly. We’re safe.”

Father breathes an audible sigh of relief over the line. “I am very pleased to hear this. I have been distraught since the moment I heard. Strongly, I feel that this is not a coincidence—that someone with selfish and sinister intentions has made a desperate move. A terrible mistake that they will soon regret.”

Daniel locks eyes with me in a weighted moment before he says, “Yes, we think this was intentional, too. Leoni saw someone driving away from the vineyard as she approached. She’s looking into it.”

“Rest assured, I have also initiated a rigorous investigation. We will bring justice to the arrogant monster behind this reprehensible act. That being said, I have requested an emergency meeting with the Royal Governing Board. I would like the two of you to attend—and Alexander, I would like you to submit and present the proposal.”

Frowning, I fold my arms. Now is not a good time for this. He wants me to come there so that, what? The board can chastise and berate the two of us in an official forum? Someone just tried to kill Danny. There’s no way in hell I’m bringing him into the epicenter of Central Eden politics.

“Alexander?” Daniel prods gently.

“Why?” I ask. “I’m supposed to deliver the proposal in two weeks. Let’s wait until then, when things die down.”

“I believe that time is of the essence,” Father counters. “We should act now. You and I have finalized the proposal. It is ready, so there’s no need for further delay. I also feel strongly that it is prudent to formally announce your bonded relationship. To quell the rumors and scrutiny with an assertive declaration.”

Shaking my head, I look away from the phone. I don’t like this plan. Why should we jump on a stage and explain ourselves because someone else crudely stuck their nose into our business? Why should I further risk exposing Danny to harm?

Sensing that I’m done with this conversation, Danny breaks the stiff silence. “Um, Lord Kendrick?—”

“Please, Daniel, you may call me Ansv?d, if it suits you?”

“Ansv?d… could we please discuss this together and get back to you? Thank you for being concerned for our safety and well-being. ”

“Of course. You are my family now, Daniel. It is natural that I should do everything within my power to support you both. I will eagerly await your response. I’d like to hold the meeting tomorrow, if possible.”

I draw back so dramatically, it’s like someone suddenly tossed a bunch of garbage in my face. I mouth, Tomorrow?

Daniel catches my reaction but goes on unperturbed. “Thank you, Ansv?d, we’ll contact you again shortly.” He hangs up and sets the phone down between us. He lifts a palm to his forehead and holds it there, sighing.

“You know I don’t like this,” I say.

“Yes, you’ve made that clear.”

“We think Lord Cherrington set the house on fire, right? Are we in agreement on that? Or at least one of his spindly minions.”

“Yes, again, it seems as if we’re all on the same page.”

I point to the phone. “Then why the fuck would I bring you to a Governing Board meeting with all this going on? Right into the lion’s den where that bastard is a sitting member!”

“Rabbit, will you please calm down? Breathe for me, okay?”

Sitting back against the headboard, I intentionally take a deep breath. But I stop mid-way and bolt upright. “And what about my mother? He didn’t even say anything about her insane behavior?—”

“Alexander, sweetheart, breathe .”

This time, I follow-through and rest my head back. I close my eyes, concentrating on the expansion and deflation of my lungs as air moves in and out. Soon, Daniel’s still healing voice adds to the experience, flowing over me like a calming river.

“Your father is right,” he begins. “We should take control of the narrative, and if the proposal is ready, you should present it. Vampires desperately need these changes. And we… you and I have been hiding for long enough.”

I open my eyes. “We weren’t hiding.”

He smiles. “We were and still are. We’ve been existing in our own little world, and I do think it’s time that we faced the music, so to speak. Other vampires will be encouraged from us being out in the open, too. It’ll give them hope that change is coming. That it’s possible.”

“But why is it our responsibility to be the ‘mascots of change’ for other vampires? Why do we have to save the day? Why can’t it be me and you in our own world—where you’re safe and not exposed to insane bullshit?”

Maybe we were hiding? Initially, I wanted to tell everyone about him. Now that other vampires know about our relationship and are being assholes, I wish we could go back to that veiled place. At least I didn’t need to worry about his well-being then.

Daniel reaches and threads his fingers between mine. “Because you’re the future King of Eden.”

I huff. “That’s an empty figurehead title. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“You’re wrong. Vampires respect and are excited about you. I will go anywhere with you, Alexander, but if we leave Eden, I think… that’ll be the final nail in the coffin. This aristocracy will rot.”

Looking down at our hands, I squeeze his palm, amazed at the cool certainty of his words. “Since when do you have so much resolve about this? You didn’t want anything to do with this part of my life.”

He shrugs. “That was before. Now, I’m part of you—your essence lives inside of me and is giving me so much power and love. Whatever it is, I know we can handle it. We will… despite my occasional insecurities.” Danny lifts our hands and kisses my knuckles. The gesture makes my face and neck blush.

“I believe in what you’re saying,” I tell him, “but if this meeting happens with the Royal Order, I don’t… I don’t trust how they’ll treat you.”

I feel myself pleading with him. Knowing everything he went through with Josefina, I don’t want him to go through that again with me. Where I can, I’d like to be thoughtful of him and control the situation .

“I understand,” he says. “But we have to do this. Together, yes?”

Nervously, I scratch my head with my free hand. If he feels strongly about this meeting, then he has to come with me. I’m not leaving him behind again.

“Yes,” I say, sighing heavily. “We’ll do it together.”

The air inside of Central City Hall is dry and cold despite the warm, springtime temperatures outside, as if the stone walls refuse to relinquish winter. Daniel, Raphael and me walk toward the council room where board meetings are held. The echoing tap of our shoes hitting the marble floor is the only sound as we move.

It’s strangely silent today. Empty aside from the purebred auras radiating just beyond the double doors ahead.

Raphael came to Amber’s cottage first thing this morning and brought a suit for me, some dress shoes and stapled copies of the proposal in a folder for today’s meeting.

Apparently, my mother and father have been fighting a lot. Raphael says that ever since I left the house, they’ve been having muffled shouting matches behind closed doors.

This news is wild to me, because I’ve never seen nor heard my parents fight. Not once. If there’s a disagreement, my mother asserts her perspective—loudly and forcefully. As if no other opinion could ever possibly be as valuable or correct as hers. Father almost always concedes to whatever she wants. The end.

As we approach the double doors, I slow, because… I sense her now. My mother. Inside. She never attends board meetings.

Stressed, I throw my senses out and scan the room with more detail. Turns out, she’s not the only intruder. “The fuck is going on?” I say, turning to Raphael. He looks at me but stays awkwardly quiet. Very unlike him.

“What’s the matter?” Daniel asks.

“There are vampires here who are not part of the board,” I tell him, then focus on Raphael. “Is this some kind of trap? What aren’t you telling us?”

“No, Alexander. There’s no trap, it’s just—are we ready?”

I frown, feeling unsettled as I glance over at Daniel. He nods and I force myself to relax my shoulders. I take his hand in mine and he clasps our palms. “We’re ready.”

Raphael steps past us and pulls one of the heavy oak doors open.

We step inside and the high, painted domed-ceiling of the room seems to amplify every sound we make. Raphael stays near the door, taking up his position like a security guard outside a vault. Or maybe a warden securing a prison cell.

Warily, I walk forward with Daniel, confused about what’s happening right now. Seated at the center arc-shaped table reserved for board members are my father and Nadya—which mostly makes sense. Nadya told me that she was prepping to take her mother’s place on the board. I haven’t officially traded off with Father yet, so his position is still valid.

What doesn’t make sense is Sebastian seated beside Nadya. He’s dressed more formally and much less flashy than usual, and his expression is somber. An attempt at seriousness that reads more like a sad puppy.

What’s more bizarre, Ashwin is seated in the position beside him at the end of the arc, which is usually where Lord Cherrington sits. I flare my senses out, checking for good measure once more. Lord Cherrington is not in this room, but he’s close by.

In the elevated, general seating era, my mother watches us with an impassive but haughty glare. Her hands are set primly within her lap and her honey-blonde hair is straight and spilling over her shoulders. Lady Bhaduri, Nadya’s mother, sits to her right and Governor Ellis, Sebastian’s mother, is seated to my mother’s left.

The room is uncomfortably reticent as we approach the table. They all stare as if we’re a pair of wild, unpredictable creatures prone to violent episodes. Like we’re the ones in the wrong .

When Danny and me stand before them, my tone is sharp. There’s no use hiding my bitterness with this entire situation. “This is my mate, Daniel Lim—Daniel, you know my father. Beside him is Lady Nadya Bhaduri, Lord Sebastian Ellis, and finally, Lady Ashwin Griffins.” It takes everything inside of me not to make a snide remark about Ashwin’s presence. I deserve a cookie for this level of restraint.

Daniel nods politely as his hand grips mine like a vise. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Daniel,” Nadya says. “Congratulations to you both. We… On behalf of the council, I welcome you. Unfortunately, we have some unpleasant business that needs to be addressed before we can discuss Alexander’s proposal.”

“Unpleasant business?” I ask, frowning.

“Daniel?” My father smiles while bypassing my remark. “Would you please go and sit in the rafters beside Governor Ellis? Alexander, please take your seat beside me, as usual.”

My whole body tenses as my pulse beats in my temples. Board meetings are usually systematic. We have an open hearing where outside constituents and aristocracy members make scheduled presentations. Then, we conduct private deliberation on said presentations, plus any other relevant administrative topics. Like my proposal.

Today, the atmosphere is serious. Grim, even. What the hell is about to happen?

“We’re okay,” Daniel says softly, gripping my hand once more before he lets go and walks toward the stairs leading to the upper benches. I watch him go, like I’m worried he might encounter some disastrous incident on the way to his seat.

He makes it there, safe and sound. Governor Ellis greets him with what appears to be a sincere smile and nod that he politely returns. My gaze flickers over to my mother. She stares straight into the distance, not looking at me, Daniel or anyone. I’m waiting for her to throw Daniel a nasty look and start some shit? —

“Alexander? Father says, breaking the chain of my hostile thoughts. “Please, come sit down so we can begin.”

I roll my shoulders, breathe and walk over to the table. When I’m seated and have set the folder of proposal copies in front of me, Father’s voice resonates through the hall once more.

“Bring him inside.”

The ornate double doors located along the west side of the council room clack loudly, then one pulls open. Lord Cherrington strides through the door with his chin held high—like an important, busy man who’s been kept waiting and the very notion of keeping him waiting is absurd.

“What is all this?” he says, throwing a hand in the air to indicate the room at large. He’s dressed in one of his tweed suits, sharply tailored and styled like something from a tenured professor’s fashion magazine. “How dare you keep me in the hallway of all places! Lord Ansv?d, you are out of line?—”

“Lord Christian Bernard Cherrington,” Nadya cuts him off, asserting her voice so that it echoes off the high ceiling, “you have been accused of harmfully endangering the mate and bonded partner of an esteemed board member. This is a severe and unlawful act, noted in section twenty-three of the Eden Peace Treaty as ‘immediate grounds for dismissal’ from any governing order, as well as the nullification of your title and holdings. What say you to these accusations?”

The silence hanging in the air is piercing like a winter storm. All ice and sharp edges. No one breathes as we stare at Lord Cherrington. No one dares to move.

As if for the first time, Lord Cherrington takes in the vampires sitting at the table. An arrogant smile forms on his lips as he scoffs. “Is this your idea of a fair hearing? Am I to be judged by children playing games in their parents’ seats?”

“What say you to these accusations?” Nadya repeats, unruffled.

“False,” he says, casually flipping his hand as if he were swatting a gnat. “Lies. I have no idea what you’re referring to.” Lord Cherrington’s gaze shifts up toward the rafters and one of his thick gray eyebrows lifts in amusement. “Ah, yes, I heard about the fire at the álvarez Vineyard cottage yesterday. Such a shame that the arsonist missed their intended mark.”

The fury inside of me boils over. Without even thinking I push up from my seat, leap over the table and before the bastard can even lift his arms to protect himself, I’m on him.

Vaguely, I hear my name being shouted in the distance, but everything happens quickly and with a snap, because all I feel, see, taste and smell is rage.

Rage for what he’s put Danny through. Rage for the many times he’s ignored my boundaries and put his goddamned hands on me. Rage for his fucking arrogance and the flippant and dismissive way he carries himself in serious circumstances like this.

A gross, selfish vampire who’s been floating around in the world without any consequences. Thinking he can do and say and get away with anything.

Today, he needs to know there are consequences to his actions. For the greater good of society, he needs his fucking ass kicked.

I leap with my knee raised toward his chest and knock him down onto his back, toppling him hard as I simultaneously land a hefty blow to his jaw. He scrambles, quivering and screaming as he tries to grab hold of me. But then he realizes that I’m much faster and stronger than he is, and trying to push me off leaves him vulnerable. He crosses his arms over his face and I grab at his wrists, scratching at his flesh as I pull one arm away to hit him again.

“Aleksey, stop it!”

“No one has publicly reported that the fire was arson,” I shout in his face. “How would you even know that if you weren’t directly involved, you lying sack of shit!”

Lord Cherrington responds by pressing his icy aura outward in an attempt to control me. The power behind his essence is old and seeps directly through my clothes, like sharp needle points stabbing and pricking my skin.

Ignoring the discomfort, I flare my essence out in defense, razor focused on him alone and the impact is immediate. His eyes bulge as he sucks in a desperate breath. The pressure and heat of my aura is too intense for him to evade. He’s like a bug being torched from reflected sunlight through a magnifying glass.

Multiple pairs of hands land on my back and shoulders, gripping and pulling me away from my target. Two hits aren’t nearly enough for this monster. I’d like to hit him a few more times before I snap his neck and cleanly finish the job, but I know I can’t kill him. I mean, I could, but it would look bad for me as the “future king,” or whatever. Aesthetically speaking.

“I’m alright, I’m alright!” I lift my hands in acquiescence so that Sebastian and Ashwin stop pulling at my suit. Retracting the weight of my aura, I adjust my jacket, then run my fingers through my hair to sweep it back into place. “Minor outburst.”

“ Minor ?” Sebastian covers his mouth to stifle a laugh. Ashwin shakes her head and rolls her eyes as we all return to the table. No one helps the piece of shit off the floor.

“Are you finished?” Nadya asks me pointedly.

I take my seat and clear my throat. “I think so.” Cautiously, I glance over my shoulder to check on Danny. He bites his bottom lip as he stares back at me, grinning.

“Good,” Nadya says. “Call in the witness.”

The side door sweeps open again as Lord Cherrington stands and adjusts his suit in disbelief. Truly appalled. He gingerly touches his nose, which is bleeding, then takes note of the scratches across his neck from when I grabbed his wrist. Also bleeding. I need to wash my hands.

“You’re going to allow this… this barbaric and uncivilized behavior?” he asks, looking to my father with incredulity.

“We are,” he says.

A pale, dark-haired figure slips into the room and it’s Smeed. My eyes narrow as the residual fury percolates within my nature, but as he draws nearer, his expression is nothing like Lord Cherrington’s. He’s nervous. Picking at his fingers and with his eyes cast down. He stops a comfortable distance away from Lord Cherrington, as if he’s afraid.

“Ellis Price has worked in Lord Cherrington’s estate for the past five years as his primary manservant,” Nadya declares. “He has written a formal statement confessing his involvement within the álvarez Vineyard fire. Ellis, would you please briefly explain your involvement in yesterday’s event?”

Ellis chances a step forward, but falters when Lord Cherrington whips his head around toward him, practically hissing.

“How dare ?—”

“Hey,” I call out, restrained and with my arms folded. The impact is enough because Lord Cherrington visibly tenses and focuses his attention back on me. “Shut up. Let him speak.”

Ellis straightens and clears his throat. “He… Lord Cherrington told me to set the cottage on fire after the news broke about Prince Alexander and Daniel Lim. I-I went to the cottage, and I didn’t want to do it—I was terrified to do something like that. But… I saw Prince Alexander drive away, and there were no other cars parked at the cottage. I couldn’t sense anyone’s vampiric essence, so I… I did it, thinking no one was home. I’m so, so sorry. I need this job, but I never wanted to hurt anyone.”

“Thank you, Ellis,” Nadya says. “That’s enough. Lord Cherrington, we have two more witnesses from your estate who can confirm overhearing you instructing Ellis to set fire to the álvarez Vineyard. What say you?”

The silence gripping the room is frigid again.

Lord Cherrington smirks. “False. Lies .”

My father sits up straighter from his seat. He addresses Lord Cherrington with eyes like ice. “In accordance with addendum two-c of section twenty-three, we have identified three witnesses who confirm and validate the accusations brought against you. Christian Bernard Cherrington, you are henceforth expelled from the Royal Order. Not you, nor any vampire from your future lineage may hold an honored position within this council. Further, your title of lordship shall no longer be recognized within the Eden aristocracy.”

“You can’t do this to me!” he says, practically spitting the words.

“And yet, we have,” Nadya says. “You are dismissed from the Royal Order. If you wish to appeal our decision, you may do so after one century has passed.” Nadya takes hold of the gavel and smacks it down. The sound is loud and final, like a third hit across Cherrington’s face.

“This aristocracy is rotting ,” Cherrington says, sneering and pointing up toward the rafters. “I’ll have nothing to do with deplorable bonds such as?—”

“Hey,” I call out once more. “Shut up and leave!” Why do evil bastards always need to have the last word or explain themselves? “ Go .”

Cherrington eyes me, but swiftly thinks better of it and turns on his heel, stalking out of the room and not looking back.

When the door shuts behind him, we address Ellis. He expresses his remorse again, looking both me and Danny in the eyes as he apologizes. We assign him several hours of community service, and assure him that we’ll assist him in finding a new, less homicidal position.

After Ellis leaves, the collective release of tension around the room is palpable. Like a worried mother hen, I turn and glance at Daniel. He scrunches his nose at me and mouths the words, “Hello, Rabbit,” which makes me swoon a little.

“Aleksey, we want to throw a party for you and Daniel.” Sebastian holds his palms together like a prayer, fluttering his dark eyelashes. “Nothing too big! Something intimate and nice so we can get to know him better.”

“We were supposed to bring that up at the end ,” Ashwin scolds, sneering. “You said you’d be chill about all this, Bas. You’re not being chill.”

“Right, I know, but things just now were so serious,” Sebastian reasons. “We needed to lighten the mood, like a sandwich with something yummy in the middle?—”

“Why are the two of you here?” I cut in, unable to help myself. I’ve been going with the flow, but their presence is quite weird.

“Mother is going to retire,” Sebastian says excitedly. “I’m in training now, too!”

“With Cherrington out, my family has purchased our seat back,” Ashwin says with her chin lifted.

“Wow,” I say flatly. “The gang’s all here.”

“Let’s move onto the proposal,” Nadya says, refocusing the group. “We’ll talk about the other things later. Alexander, are you ready?”

Slightly taken aback, I nod, stand and distribute the copies of the proposal.

Maybe I was expecting some screaming about me and Daniel? Especially with my mother present. But as I glance up at her, she meets my eyes in a non-hostile expression. I’m surprised that she hasn’t said a single word, or loudly declared that she’ll never accept my bonding and that I’m dead to her. Something dramatic and telenovela-ish.

When everyone at the table has a stapled copy, I set my shoulders back and pitch my voice loudly so that Danny can hear me in the rafters. “We’ll start with section one—which covers the basic laws surrounding land ownership, and who is allowed to hold the rights to physical, domestic and commercial property…”