Page 34 of Come for Me
It isn’t until we make it up the stairs do I eat my words when I spot a gallery spanning the hall of oil paintings displaying previous rulers and other royal family members.
Studying the faces of royals, I’m drawn to the portrait of a young female with dimensions of chocolate-brown, dark-walnut, and champagne-blonde highlights cascading in curls, resting perfectly at her shoulders. Though the portrait doesn’t move, her curls dance around her features, framing her heart-shaped face with sparkling brown orbs. Other portraits pose the same intimidating, somber stare as they ponder off into the distance. If the intention is for this to scream power and confidence, it only screams self-importance and constipation. This glowing portrait is the only one smiling out of the generational monarchs dawning this hall, and her naturality alone holds the most power.
The use of bright colors matches the woman’s magnetic energy. She’s clearly someone who lights up a room with her welcome. The gilded frame complements its regality. Whoever she is, her work was recently polished and cared for with love and admiration.She must be loved to merit such care.
Turning my attention to Sam, I notice a royal crest mounted above ornate double doors behind him. Sam motions to the sitting room behind him meeting the wing’s entrance. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases line the walls, couches and chairs circling the middle of the room.
I’m drawn to the massive stained glass window illuminating colorful light throughout. Cushions line the seating beneath the window, providing the perfect reading nook to gaze out at the mountains and forest peeking into the view. Admiring the craftsmanship and watching as the light dances across the floor, I take in the view of the kingdom, my eyes exploring the lands I’m meant to call home. As I’m captivated by the view, Sam’s voice drifts into murmurs. I think he said something about my stuff being here, but I’m not sure.
I move to the window. The view becomes more breathtaking when I discover my mate in the grassy field, standing with his back toward me. Rubbing the pendant on my necklace, I search for safety in my ability to admire Dax secretly. I may be mad at him—and still am, as far as he knows—but at least I can admire his moody ass from afar.
Seconds later, a man looking to be in his mid-to-late-forties with salt-and-pepper hair and a petite blonde with red lips approach him. Their bloodred eyes paired with the lack of rise and fall of their chest tells me they’re vampires.
That breathtaking view is poisoned when the woman flashes a loving smile, placing her cold hand on my mate’s chest. My wolf surfaces to get a closer look, violet eyes glowing and adding another color to the window.
She whispers something in his ear, and I glimpse her white fangs when she smiles inches from his neck. Their body language indicates they’re intimate.
I muster up the most pleasant tone possible, not wanting to appear jealous in front of Dax’s beta.
“Sam? Who’s she?”
I’m unsure if I’m successful in my delivery, unable to tear my eyes away from the bloodsucker with her dead hands all over my mate.
Sam stops directing staff, who are carrying my belongings around the room, to peek over my shoulder. “Olivia. She’s a piece of work.”
So, that’s Olivia . . .
“They seem pretty . . .friendlywith each other.”
I have no confidence I can bite back the jealousy coating my tongue. Especially after watching her slide her hand down his chest to intertwine her fingers in his.
Olivia’s happy to see him, but I can’t glimpse his face to see if he’s just as thrilled by her presence. She kisses his cheek, and he doesn’t move. And that’s enough to make my blood boil.
Sam walks away without commentary, sounding off alarms in my brain. Over the years, you learn that not responding is a response.
“Sam,” I say, not diverting my eyes, “if I’m to be queen, I should know everyone who lives here.”
Nothing.Goddess, it’s like pulling teeth.
“Sam, you know something. Start talking.”
“She’s Dax’s fiancée,” Sam says.
Chapter Ten
Dax
Today, we were supposed to announce to all the newly mated wolves we are engaged. While wolves don’t follow the normal tradition of engagement, Olivia and I were to be wed through our arrangement by the royal council.
Olivia doesn’t know that won’t be happening.
I would’ve told Olivia I had found my mate had I remembered, but it was hard to think of anything but Alaina. Our so-called arrangement became null and void the minute Alaina came into the picture.
Even the council couldn’t support a marriage of myself to the heir to the vampire throne over a true mate—no matter what peace it was meant to bring. There’s nothing stronger than a bond made by the Moon Goddess Herself, regardless of the species.
Olivia arrived with Ash, the former vampire king, now Olivia’s advisor, preparing her to take the throne.
Ash has never been one to say much. I only know his pyrokinesis once made him a formidable foe until he lost his mate. Mates among vampires are rare. Most choose to engage in eternal bonds, making someone into a vampire.
