Filed to story: Two Vampire Brides (Vera & Lucien) Book PDF Free
“No,” Father agreed, lowering himself into his chair. “But we can use this opportunity to accelerate our plans.”
I frowned. “What plans?”
“Your ascension.”
Two words, and suddenly I couldn’t breathe. The room seemed to tilt around me, the floor unsteady beneath my feet.
“My what?” I managed, my voice barely a whisper.
“It’s time, Vera.” Father’s voice was gentle but firm. “Time for you to take the throne.”
I shook my head, a bubble of hysterical laughter rising in my throat. “You can’t be serious. After everything that just happened? Someone tried to kill me yesterday!”
“Exactly.” Father’s fist came down on the desk, making me jump. “They tried to kill you because they fear what you represent. The longer we wait, the more time they have to plot against you.”
“Or the more time I have to prepare,” I countered. “I’m not ready, Father.”
“Were you ready to become the Blood Princess? Were you ready when your power turned golden? Were you ready when the ancient blood marked you as chosen?” His questions hit like physical blows. “Some things don’t wait for readiness, daughter.”
I stood up, pacing the length of the room, my thoughts racing. “The Conclave leaders will never accept this. Not after yesterday’s chaos.”
“They’ll accept it or face the consequences,” Father said, his voice hardening. “The vampire throne isn’t given by popular vote. It’s passed by blood and divine right. Your blood. Your right. The vote is merely a formality.”
I stopped pacing, turning to face him.
I reluctantly sank back into the seat, crossing my arms over my chest.
“The assassination attempt wasn’t random,” Father said, his voice low and serious. “It was the first move in what would have become a civil war if they’d succeeded.”
I frowned. “You think they wanted to replace me? With whom?”
“Whoever they could control.” Father’s expression was grim. “The Blood Princess is a symbol, Vera. A powerful one. With you dead and no clear successor, the kingdom would fracture. Coven would turn against coven. Blood would flood the valleys.”
“And you think making me queen will prevent that?” I couldn’t keep the skepticism from my voice.
“I think the surest way to stop someone from killing the heir is to make her queen.” He leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Once you’re crowned, any attack against you becomes treason against the crown itself. The punishment is final death. No exceptions.”
I considered this, worrying my bottom lip between my teeth. “And what about the Conclave leaders? Half of them probably backed Alrik’s plot.”
“Which is why they’re currently locked in their quarters, surrounded by guards loyal only to you.” A faint smile curved Father’s lips. “They’ll swear fealty to you or they’ll forfeit their territories. Their choice.”
“That’s… extreme.”
“That’s politics.” Father’s tone left no room for argument. “Sometimes ruling requires a firm hand.”
A heavy silence fell between us as I processed everything he’d said. Me, queen. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying. I’d always known this day would come, but I’d imagined it years in the future, when I felt ready. Not now, not like this.
“There’s just one problem,” Father said, interrupting my thoughts.
I raised an eyebrow. “Just one?”
He ignored my sarcasm. “According to ancient law, the vampire sovereign must be bonded before taking the throne.”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard him. “What?”
“You need a mate, Vera.” Father’s voice was matter-of-fact. “Without one, you cannot become Queen of Shadowhold.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. A mate. The one thing I’d sworn never to take again after Lucien shattered our bond. The one vulnerability I couldn’t afford.
“So that’s it?” I asked, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. “I need to find someone to bond with or forfeit the throne? What century is this?”
“I don’t make the laws, Vera. I only enforce them.” Father stood, coming around the desk to place a hand on my shoulder. “Find someone worthy of you. Someone who sees you, not just the crown, not just the Blood Princess.”
I shrugged off his touch, anger rising in me like a tide. “And if I can’t? Or won’t?”
“Then Shadowhold falls.” His voice was heavy with certainty. “And everything our family has built for generations crumbles with it.”
The weight of his words pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. A mate or the throne. My freedom or my kingdom. An impossible choice.
“How long do I have?” The question came out small, defeated.
“The coronation is in three days,” he announced.
Three days. Three days to find someone willing to bind their life to mine, to share the burden of ruling a kingdom on the brink of civil war. Three days to choose between my independence and my destiny.
I looked up at my father, seeing the weight of centuries in his ancient eyes.
“Three days,” I repeated, my voice steadier than I felt.
“Three days,” he confirmed.
And with that, my fate was sealed.
VERA’S POV
Caelen’s eyes couldn’t meet mine. He stood framed in the doorway of my chambers, shoulders slumped, the proud royal advisor reduced to a shadow of himself.
“I’m sorry, Vera.” His voice cracked on that single word. “Please forgive me.”
I wanted to be furious with him yet all I felt was a strange, hollow calmness. Somewhere deep inside, I’d always known there was more to his appearance in my life than chance.
“Well,” I said, surprising myself with a small laugh, “you’ve had plenty of opportunities.” I gestured around the empty room. “Including right now.”
His head snapped up, eyes finally meeting mine. “That’s not funny.”
“Isn’t it, though?” I moved to the window, watching the coven running drills in the courtyard below. My coven now. “If you truly wanted me dead, I would have been gone long ago.”
Caelen crossed the room, each step measured as if approaching a wild animal. “The King dismissed me,” he said abruptly.
That got my attention. I turned from the window, studying his face.
“Dismissed you from what, exactly?” I asked. “Since we’ve established you weren’t really my advisor.”
“From court. From service. From everything.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “I’m officially persona non grata.”
Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words. Outside, I could hear the rhythmic clash of steel on steel, the occasional hiss of exertion. Life continuing as if my world hadn’t just tilted on its axis.
“I never meant for any of this to happen,” Caelen finally said. “I was supposed to infiltrate, gain your trust, and eliminate the threat you posed. Simple.”
“Yet here we are.” I gestured between us. “Nothing simple about it.”
“No,” he agreed. “Nothing simple at all.”
“So what now?” I asked. “The unemployed assassin and his failed target having a heart-to-heart?”
“I’m trying to apologize, Vera.” Frustration edged his voice. “Though I’m starting to wonder why I bothered.”
“Because your conscience needed clearing?” I shot back. “Or because you need somewhere to go now that you’ve lost your royal cushion?”
His face hardened. “I deserve that.”
“You deserve worse.” The anger I’d been suppressing finally bubbled to the surface. “You lied to me. To all of us. We welcomed you, trusted you-“
“And I betrayed that trust. I know.” Caelen stepped closer. “But somewhere along the way, the lies became real. My loyalty shifted. That’s why I’m here now, telling you the truth when I could have simply disappeared.”
I searched his face for deception and found only raw honesty. It would be easier if he were still lying.
“How am I supposed to trust anything you say now?” I asked, hating the vulnerability in my voice.
“You’re not,” he answered simply. “I don’t expect trust. I just… needed you to know.”
“Know what? That you’re sorry? That you changed your mind about killing me? That’s supposed to make this better?”
“No, it’s supposed to make it honest.” His voice was steady now. “You deserve honesty, Vera. Even if it’s too late.”
Outside, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Soon the coven would return, and this strange bubble of truth would burst.
“You know,” Caelen said, a hint of his old humor returning, “now that I’m officially unemployed, I don’t suppose that First Lieutenant position is still open?”
The laugh burst from me before I could stop it. “You have some nerve.”
“One of my better qualities,” he agreed with a tentative smile.
“Along with your excellent assassination skills, clearly.”
His smile faded. “Vera-“