That explanation wasn’t sufficient.
Her nails drew blood from her palms. “Do you wish to die, YourHighness?”
The question was cool and detached as it left her lips.
He jolted upright and covered his stomach as if she’d threatened to gut him. Ironic, considering that disembowelment would likely be a cleaner, less painful death than what he would likely receive from the feral First.
“No, I don’t.” He shook his head.
And yet, here they were, on a mission that said otherwise.
“Then why are you doing this? Why not let the king and queen deal with the escapee?”
Why complicate Vivienne’s life so thoroughly? She was over a century old and strong for a vampire of her age, but a First…
Gods above.
Vampiric strength only increased with time.
She shuddered, thinking about the power coursing through the ancient vampire’s veins. The old queen had been powerful, but a First?
The depth of strength was unfathomable.
Several minutes passed before the prince’s gaze sharpened. “Have you ever met the High Lady of Life?”
What did she have to do with this?
“Not until the ball last night.”
The beautiful Earth Elf had been on stage, giving the welcome speech. Her red hair had flowed around her, her emerald eyes had glowed, and green markings had covered her entire body.
“Well, I have.” Marius stiffened, his jaw clenching. “I’ve met them all. The High Ladies of Life and Death. Their mates and families. The Nightwings and the Carinoc dragons. I’ve heard countless stories from the king’s spymaster, Phyrra, from Luna, and even from Sebastian. I’ve had tutors hailing from each of the Four Kingdoms. I’ve read about every country on this continent and even the fae across the sea, but I’ve never experienced anything.”
He balled his fists. “I’m just as trapped as the High Lady was in her tower. I need tolive, and this is how I’ll do it. I will prove to Luna once and for all that I’m capable, and then she’ll have no choice but to let me be free.”
His chest was heaving by the time he finished.
Vivienne drew in a deep breath, letting the prince’s words sink in as the carriage bumbled along.
Freedom.
Damn, why did his reasoning have to be so compelling?
Silence stretched between them as she let his words sink in before she sighed and shook her head. This was a bad idea on a multitude of levels, but apparently, she was a glutton for punishment because she didn’t stand up and bang on the carriage wall, demanding they head straight for Castle Sanguis.
The problem was that she understood where the prince was coming from. She might never have been held captive before, but she’d been bound from the moment of her birth.
Growing up, Vivienne had always been told that a woman’s place was in the home. Her duty as a female was to get married at a young age, bear children, and keep the house running so her husband could work. She’d never wanted that life, even as a mortal. And then, she’d been Made.
Becoming a vampire had freed her of the binds of childbearing since vampires were incapable of becoming pregnant. The first time Vivienne realized that, she had cried for days in utter relief. She could live free of the social bonds she’d been raised to believe were her future.
How could she deny the prince his freedom?
Leaning back, she unfurled her palms. The crescent cuts on her hands healed almost instantly, and she exhaled. “Alright, Prince. I assume that since a First has escaped, we’re headed to Hoarfrost Hollow.”
The burial grounds were almost mythical among vampires, and a shiver ran through her as she spoke the words.
His eyes sparked, and his shoulders loosened as he realized she wouldn’t continue fighting him on this. “Correct.”