Claire must deceive a vampire prince while resisting her desire for him.
Season 1 of Fated Series
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Nothing in my life has ever been easy. Including the mission my family has sent me on.
My sister and I have traveled to the vampire stronghold to...
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Voir (verb) to see
I spotted him across the ballroom and couldn't look away.
His golden hair was carelessly pushed to one side like he'd just finished running his fingers through it. And he wore a smirk that looked like he'd just awoken from a very good dream.
But I didn't think anything Prince Bastien of House Allard did was careless, and he certainly didn't dream.
He was a vampire. Just like all of the princes who ruled the Conquered Territories. And tonight, I was supposed to be impressing him to win the job as his next sanguine partner—the person he'd exclusively feed from for the next year.
I was repulsed by the mere idea of getting close to him, but I had no other choice. This was my fate. And if I failed...
Suppressing a shudder, I touched the side of my neck, just above the lace choker Mama bid me to wear. The vein in my neck throbbed. Keenly aware of all the reasons I had to be afraid of a vampire.
Blackness crowded the edges of my vision, and I couldn't stop a queasy feeling from churning in my stomach. I stared at the floorboards, trying to slow my breathing.
Just thinking about the word blood made me lightheaded, which was something I'd tried for years to overcome with no success. Now, I had no idea how I was going to convince a vampire prince that I was the one he was searching for.
What if he wanted to take a sample of the offerings before he made a decision, and I swooned at his feet?
That would put an end to my mission pretty damn quick.
My sister snapped open a paper fan and waved it in my direction. The cool air chilled my skin but did nothing to quell my nerves.
"Don't look," Seraphina muttered, "but you-know-who is staring right at you."
I glanced up to find Prince Bastien's cold gaze cutting through the pack of hopefuls crowded around him, his soft blue eyes fixed on me.
