THERON'S POV
"What the fuck are you doing here?" I asked.
I had spotted Hildegard, the Count's daughter, and dragged her away from the ball.
"Nice to see you too, Theron," she said, a sly smile never leaving her face.
"I asked, what are you doing here?"
The smile finally dropped.
"Your mother invited me," she said, looking out at the scenery. We were outside.
"Theron," she continued, "it's been ages. Why can't you just let go?"
I gritted my teeth. How could Mother invite her?
She was forbidden from coming to Ravenscar because of what her family had done.
"Leave. Now," I said, turning to walk away.
"Why are you so cold, Theron?"
"I won't say it again. Leave now before my wife sees you."
"Oh, so it's her. Your little human bride is the reason you banned my family from coming home!"
I walked away. She was starting to get on my nerves. I needed to find Evania.
The reason I had dragged Hildegard out and didn't allow Evania to get a proper look at her was because she was the daughter of the vampire who had killed her grandmother.
Count Elswyth.
A rogue vampire.
"Theron! Theron!" she called after me.
"She's the one, isn't she? The vessel."
I stopped in my tracks, scanning the area to make sure no one had heard her.
"Follow me again or say anything concerning my wife, and I'll snap your neck."
I meant every word I said.
I walked back into the ballroom, but Evania wasn't there.
I immediately ordered the guards to throw Hildegard out.
I spotted Lili and walked over to her.
"Your Majesty," she said, bowing. "My lady is in her room. She's been waiting for you."
Shit.
I ran out of the ballroom, not caring who saw me.
"Evania?" I called softly as I opened the door.
She was asleep with her head resting on the table.
I instantly felt guilty.
She had been waiting for me.
I walked over to her and gently tried to carry her to the bed, but as soon as I touched her elbow, she stirred awake.
"You're... here," she said, sitting up.
"Yes, Princess. I'm here now."
I couldn't help but smile. She was too cute.
"Who... who was that woman?" she asked.
The question caught me off guard. I hadn't expected her to ask me so soon.
But I couldn't tell her who Hildegard was.
It would only force her to relive that trauma.
"She's no one important, Princess," I said, reaching out to caress her head.
She pulled away.
"Don't lie to me. She's definitely someone important. You dragged her out the moment you saw her, and I know you two have history!"
Her voice rose slightly.
"Who is she?"
How I wished I could tell her.
But I had to protect my wife.
So I remained silent.
That seemed to provoke her because she stood up so quickly that the chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"Is she your mistress?" she asked.
"No."
"Then who is she? Your secret wife you didn't want me to know about? Heavens... I don't even know why I'm getting so worked up."
She covered her face with both hands.
"Evania..." I called, moving toward her.
She stepped back.
"Leave me alone!"
"I can't. I won't."
She kept retreating until her back met the wall.
I placed both hands on either side of her head, trapping her between my arms.
She covered her face again.
"Look at me, Princess."
She shook her head.
"Please," I begged softly. "Please, Evania..."
Slowly, she lowered her hands.
"She's not my mistress. She's not my secret wife. She's nothing to me."
I gently held her chin, tilting her face up.
"You're my only wife. The only one I want to hold... the only one I want to feel... the only one I want to touch."
"You don't know what you do to me, Princess."
Her breathing became uneven.
The anger in her eyes was gone, and so was the fear she'd had on the first night we met.
"Princess..." I whispered. "Can I kiss you?"
Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn't push me away.
She didn't answer either.
I lowered my face to the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet scent.
She shuddered.
I lifted my head and brought my face closer to hers.
Damn...
She was so beautiful.
I brushed my nose against hers.
"Can I, Princess?"
She still didn't answer.
I wrapped an arm around her waist while my other hand remained beneath her chin, tilting her face toward mine.
Slowly, I leaned in until our lips were only inches apart.
One small move from either of us, and our lips would meet.
Suddenly, she turned her face away and lowered her gaze.
"What's wrong, Princess?"
Was I moving too fast?
Damn it, Theron.
"If she really is nothing to you, then what history do you have with her?"
"Evania..."
I couldn't tell her.
"I can't say."
She nodded.
"I'm going to bed now."
She walked to the bed without another word, climbed in, and turned her back to me.
Damn Hildegard for showing up here.
I sat on the couch, staring at Evania's back.
Her breathing was slow and steady.
Somehow, it calmed me.
After making sure she had fallen asleep, I stepped out onto the balcony.
Why had Mother invited Hildegard?
It didn't make any sense.
I raked a hand through my hair.
And just when I thought I was finally making progress with her...
This happened.
Fuck.
In the distance, I heard the faint screech of a raven.
It flew toward me and landed on the balcony railing.
"Sombre, what brings you here?"
It was my messenger bird.
A small piece of paper was tied to its leg.
I untied it and read the message.
**To the Blood King,**
I have confirmed the information you asked me to verify. The vessel does indeed lie within the Rosewood bloodline. Therefore, Princess Evania Rosewood of Sweetenburg is the vessel of the Golden Pegasus.
I already knew the vessel lay somewhere within the Rosewood bloodline.
What I didn't know was which member of the family it was.
I had suspected it might be Evania.
That was the second reason I married her.
To protect her from those who would stop at nothing to possess the vessel for themselves.
Because being the vessel of the Golden Pegasus meant your life would always be in danger.