Dinner With a Vampire (The Dark Heroine #1)(86)
Author: Abigail Gibbs

Kaspar chuckled hollowly. ‘I understand that perfectly. You gave me that lecture earlier. But this is about more than that, isn’t it?’

‘Far more,’ the King answered. ‘I have many reasons, one of them being that you need to take responsibility and learn that your actions have consequences.’

‘I know that,’ Kaspar snapped. ‘I know it far too well.’

A small crowd was beginning to gather on the steps, watching the scene with interest.

‘No, you do not. If you did, you would acknowledge that you must stay away from her.’

The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. ‘Her has a name.’

His eyes snapped to me, as though he was noticing I was there for the first time. His eyes settled on the locket and I snatched the pendant back in my hand, unsure of his reaction. The chain tugged against my neck, so taut it threatened to snap. The locket itself was still cold in my hand, despite having rested against my warm skin for quite a few minutes. His eyes widened in recognition and I tensed, ready to move, but instead of hissing or snarling as I expected, he spoke with a calm tenderness I didn’t know he was capable of.

‘Miss Lee, may I have the pleasure of the next dance?’

‘No,’ said Kaspar.

I glared at him, knowing he was creating even more of a scene in front of the growing number of onlookers.

‘I don’t have any choice,’ I mouthed back, dipping into a curtsey for the King. With a grimace, he stepped aside. The King was already halfway up the steps and I trailed behind, trying to ignore the stares of the crowd.

The King swept straight into the centre of the room as I passed through the shadow of the double doors. Immediately, the music ceased to play and those who were dancing came to a halt. The crowd sprawled out to form a ring.

So just us dancing then. Great.

The orchestra looked towards the King, who called out a simple dance that I knew from Sky’s dance lessons; even better, it was one that did not involve being in hold. My tense shoulders lowered, only to tighten again when my eyes flickered towards Kaspar, who had worked his way towards the front. He looked concerned.

The ring closed around us, sealing me into its centre. The violins struck up; the babble died, and I curtsied, long and low, whilst opposite, the King remained upright.

The music began; I took a few steps forward, as did the King until we met in the middle, coming within inches of each other.

‘Miss Lee.’

‘Your Majesty.’

We backed away and circled one another, returning to our original positions before coming together again.

‘Do you intend to dance in silence, Miss Lee?’ He took my left hand in his right and again we circled, the distance between us quite apparent.

‘Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I don’t make a habit of making conversation with someone who abhors me.’

He took up my other hand, taking a step back as I also took one back until he brought us together again.

‘But, Miss Lee, what makes you so adamant in your belief that I abhor you?’ We broke, circling once more, weaving between one another and the imaginary couples surrounding us.

I almost laughed at his question, but thought better of it. I swept around, waiting until we were close to speak again. ‘Because you won’t let me near your son.’

Again he took both my hands in his, let go, and then circled me. ‘I have my reasons for that. It is by no means because I loathe you. You simply assume that to be fact, when in truth, it is not.’

I frowned, becoming lost. ‘But I slept with the heir to the throne. Your heir.’

We both took a step towards the other and a step away whilst he chuckled. ‘Do not flatter yourself, Miss Lee. My son has slept with many girls – many human girls. Your scenario is no different. But by ignoring my explicit order that neither of you should touch, you worsened your situation. As you have done yet again this night. It’s a basic instruction, Miss Lee; follow it and I will cause you no harm.’

He brushed past, sweeping in a long circle around me, his eyes constantly burning into my back. ‘It is for your own good.’

He returned to his original position and I skimmed past him, taking my turn to circle around.

‘Care to explain that?’

His grey eyes, duller than a London morning followed me around, burning holes in my skin despite the fact they lacked lustre. They lacked life.

‘That is quite a gift my son bestowed upon you.’

My hand followed his eyes and found the locket, realizing he was not going to offer an explanation, but change the subject instead.

‘Yes, it is.’ I let it rest back on my skin, cool as ever as we continued to dance.

‘It belonged to my late wife.’

‘I know.’

Repetitive as ever, he grasped my hands, rather too tightly as we turned on the spot.

‘You do, do you? So you are familiar with how Kaspar acquired it?’

She gave it to him the week before he died.

‘Because she knew she was going to her—’

He broke off. His firm grip on my hands was tightening even more, like someone who was fighting the urge to break down.

‘I’m sorry,’ I whispered, giving his hand a light squeeze back, unsure of what else to do.

‘You wouldn’t understand,’ he snapped, his face recovering; he almost threw my hands from his grip and broke away, circling me like I was prey. I didn’t take my eyes off him, feeling a moist trail run down my cheek as a few tears escaped.

When he returned to my side and took my hands I answered. ‘My brother died. I understand.’

His head snapped up to look at me and his eyes fell through to black again. ‘No, you don’t. You cannot even grasp understanding. You have no idea what it is like to have to hold back tears so as not to waste them as you do!’

We both froze and I yanked my hand from his grasp – a struggle, because his grip was unbelievably tight. His hand left white marks behind, each gloved finger leaving an imprint on my skin.

‘What?’ I whispered, hastily wiping the tears away and increasing the distance between us.

‘You take those tears for granted child. So liberally you let them fall, but look around. Look at my Kingdom. Here there are men and women who can shed so few tears. You should treasure your own, Miss Lee, before it is too late.’

I narrowed my eyes, ignoring Kaspar whose mouth was slightly agape, watching as both of us abandoned the dance.

‘It will never be too late. I will never join your sick Kingdom!’ I spat, the words out before I had time to think about what I was saying. The crowd shifted uncomfortably and I could see Kaspar cringing at its forefront.