The Wolf's Bride

Chapter 17

Nox. A fitting name for a vampire. He was a child of the night after all. Besides small Jonathan that I had seen once, years ago, I had never had the pleasure of conversing with a vampire, and in these circumstances, I doubted there would be much pleasure at all.

Elia was still talking, no doubt about him, but her words eluded me. I could think of her, not yet, not when I had something so much more important to worry about. How exactly did this so-called Nox appear in the picture? How did my father come to give him my sister's hand when he refused so many others before him? Clearly, Shadow Spider Silk meant he was somebody. He had enough fortune to afford to gift it to my sister. And if the dress came already sown, as it most likely was, since to tailor it took more than the staff we had, he had a semblance of taste too, not to mention, my sister's exact measurements. He knew more than I liked him to. Wether through my father's own knowledge, or through means if his own. I would find out. I had to.

With a sweet smile I brought my hand between us, baring the back of my hand for him. His eyebrows lifted slightly, a phantom of a smile snaking up his lips as he regarded the height my hand was. Low. Very low, especially when it was meant for someone taller than me. My sister, observed that too, her eyes widening in a warning to me. I was being disrespectful. I couldn't tell if she was smart to want me on my best behavior, or plainly stupid for not seeing the challenge that burned in Nox's eyes. The danger he certainly posed. Maybe she knew it too, but that meant she was a better actress than I could ever be, to hide it so well, to seem so genuine.

My face didn't show the amusement I was causing myself, I couldn't allow that. Elia, as much a gossiper as she was, couldn't fake her feelings, not so well. Never so seamlessly. Especially with that pointed look she was obviously giving me.

Nox, to his credit, didn't back down from the challenge. I didn't have enough knowledge about vampires to know for sure if they could smell fear like werewolves did, or if they could read minds. So this was as fine a moment as I would get to impose myself, to make myself undefeatable in his eyes, or, at the very least, to make it know I wasn't as stupid as my dear father believed.

His violet eyes seemed to sparkle as his gloved hand found my palm, held it like a promise. Then down he went, on both knees, in front of me. The world halted. There was no movement around, no exchange of gossip, no drawn breath, as far as I could tell. His body moved smoothly as his head bowed down, a smirk of triumph as he refused to break eye contact. My breath caught in my throat when his cold, soft lips grazed the back of my hand, like a lover's whisper, a vow for more.

He lingered a second too long, just enough to have me fight the urge to retract my hand. Then he stood again, and the world went on.

"Delighted to meet you, Nox." I said sweetly.

He returned my smile in kind, nothing genuine about it.

"The pleasure is all mine." It must've been, since there was none on my part.

Elia's arm found his again as she whispered something in his ear, flustered. His grin widened, his canines visible. Don't mind her, she's not feeling well right now. I heard her whisper. Judging by the side glance her betrothed gave me, he didn't believe that.

All of a sudden, I felt a hand snake around my waist, causing a small shiver to run down my spine, my heartbeat spiking into alarm.

"Apologies for the long wait, there were no fruits left in the kitchen beyond pomegranate so I peeled you one."

I let out a sigh, and rested my head on his chest. It was just Alekin. Why was I so surprised? Of course it would be him. No other would dare approach me like that, and the only danger in sight was at a safe distance of three steps, right in front of me. Still. Alekin's presence shouldn't have been a shock. I should've been able to hear him, or, at least, feel him around before he touched me, before he even entered the room, yet only now the scent of roasted almonds invaded my nostrils. Was I too distracted? Or was it something he could do? If he could hide himself like that, it was something I wanted to learn how to do, but I knew it wasn't.