“Go ahead,” I dared her, hoping my fear didn’t leak into my words. “Bite me. How do you think your prince would feel if you tasted me before he does?”
The air in the stone room thickened and Estrella’s gaze darkened as she stared at me. Every beat of my heart sounded like roaring thunder to my ears.
After what felt like an eternity, Estrella rolled her eyes once more, making a sound of exasperation.
“Fine.” She curled her lip, wrinkling her nose. “Your blood probably tastes horrible, anyway. You’re so… short.”
“I’m normal-sized!” I exclaimed.
She looked down at me. “You look short to me.” Estrella pursed her evil lips, peering at the slippered toe peeking out from beneath the golden silk of my gown. “Couldn’t they at least have put some heels on you?”
“Estrella,” Nelo growled, crossing his arms over his expansive chest. “Stop playing with the human. You and I both know he won’t be happy with you toying with his bride.”
The blonde seemed to weigh Nelo’s words and sighed. “Alright. I’ll stop.” To me, she said, “I won’t be surprised if Bastian drains you by moonrise tomorrow and gets himself another bride. One who is decidedly less tedious.”
This. Bitch.
Clenching my fists at my side, knowing full well they probably wouldn’t have much of an effect on the vampire in front of me, I readied myself to fight. There was no way I was going to let her get away with calling me names.
Unfortunately—or perhaps, fortunately—Nelo chose that moment to clear his throat. “I’m serious, Estrella. We need to go. Now.”
“I’m coming,” she snapped. Her long fingers grabbed onto my arm once more, and the shadows gathered around her feet.
“Estrella,” Nelo growled in warning. “We’re walking.”
“What!” the blonde yelled. “Are you serious? It’ll take us a minute to shadow there and then we can be done with her.”
Nelo shook his head. “We can’t deliver Bastian’s bride to him if she’s about to throw up. He’ll have our heads for mistreating what’s his.”
“I’m not his,” I interjected.
Both the vampires turned and stared at me, their gazes filled with violence.
My heart thundered in my chest as I exhaled shakily. “I mean, I don’t belong to anyone.”
Estrella glared at me, before shaking her head. The shadows slipped back into her skin, and she half-yanked, half-dragged me out the black door and into a dark hallway. I stumbled along behind her, trying not to fall.
At least there were windows in these passageways, along with more purple lights. Thick glass panes opened into the night, displaying a dark sky, falling snow, and slivers of moonlight. Being out of the small room did nothing to temper the cold. If anything, it was getting even worse.
I shivered, trying to stop my teeth from chattering, as I stumbled along. Nelo’s footsteps came from behind me, and the two vampires boxed me in as we hurried through the castle.
I didn’t know why they even needed two of them. What was I going to do? Run?
As if.
This dress was so restrictive, I could barely walk. There were four petticoats, and the corset that made it nearly impossible to breathe. Not only that, but Ipotha needed this alliance. I couldn’t jeopardize it just because I felt uncomfortable.
This was my duty.
Knowing that I was stuck in this situation didn’t stop me from crying out when Estrella turned a corner sharply and nearly yanked my arm out of the socket. This vampire was, without a doubt, the least pleasant person I had ever met in my entire life.
By the time the hallways widened, becoming less of a study of gray and more regal, filled with dark black and crimson tapestries that matched the rugs lining the stone floors of the castle, my arm ached.
I thought there was a real possibility this female was going to rip me to pieces before I had the chance to officially meet my fiancé. Wouldn’t that just be the icing on top of the horrible cake that was this day?
What an end to my story that would be. The highly educated last daughter of the Human Lord of Ipotha was sent to marry the prince, but a few minutes before her wedding, she was torn to shreds by a bitchy vampire. I probably would have found it hysterical if it wasn’t about to become the story of my life.
Thoughts of my demise occupied my thoughts so thoroughly, I forgot I was freezing. This castle was enormous, and soon, I lost track of where we were.