The Vampire's Bride

Chapter 17

Iris stood as she had for the past week. The sunrise made her golden locks glow, with the cool dawn air refreshing her skin.

Dawn was growing later and later. Soon, winter would be upon them.

Iris held her face in her hands and breathed out. Her heart began to beat faster.

Water had filled her mouth and nose before she could realize what was happening. Xavier's hands were clenched around her throat, holding her under the steaming water. Iris fought, feeling her power swelling repeatedly, and then faltering.

She let out a choked gasp as he pulled her from the water. A cry escaped her lips as Xavier bashed her head against the tub, leaving her sagging and barely consious in the water. Smoke was slowly filling the room as he glared at her. He wiped the blood away that was pouring from his nose.

"I've waited seventeen damn years to kill you," Xavier rasped out, letting out a harsh cough. "But now, I'm two damn late. Your mother is taking back her throne, and all that's left is for me to take your life before she does."

"What...?" Iris whispered out. She began to sink underneath the water, whimpering softly from the pain of her head.

"At least... this way we both meet the ends we were supposed to," he told her. "You're just a child, and now you change the fate of the world. Your death will bring a better future."

Just before she slid completely under the water, Iris watched as Xavier collapsed to the ground, his body twitching once before it never moved again.

She shook her head to clear the memory, clutching at her own throat. If Jason had been a second later, she would not be standing here.

They'd found Alex dead in his chamber only a day after the attack. The official report from the guards stated that Xavier had murdered him before moving on to Iris, but she doubted it. She knew Xavier hadn't murdered him.

With his warning about Adelaide wanting to kill her, warning about her mother taking back the throne, he wouldn't have killed Alex. It just wasn't Xavier's style.

Iris had mourned her father all the same, quietly attending the burial with Jason at her side.

It had been a chaotic night for the castle. The king and princess had been assassinated, they said. Iris knew that the part about Akaylaa wasn't true; the girl had left with her lover long before that night with a letter to prove it. Jason would be crowned king in a matter of days, if not hours.

"Milady?"

Iris glanced back over her shoulder to see Madeline waiting paitiently.

"The coronation is today. His highness-"

Just then, Jason stepped into the room, closing the heavy wooden door behind him. Madeline quickly bowed and stepped away from them, hustling into the dressing room. Iris watched as her soon to be king approached her.

"You don't need to be there if you don't want to," Jason told her softly. "It's only been a week since... since everything happened. I understand if you can't come."

Iris silently closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his. She felt Jason cup her face in his hands gently. When they parted, her hands rested on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him, silently resting his chin in her soft hair. Iris breathed out quietly and swallowed.

"I'll go," she said quietly. "I will be there to support you, always."

Jason pressed a kiss to her forehead before nuzzling her cheek. He smiled at her, but his eyes were drowned in worry. Iris closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his.