Commanded by night, p.6
Commanded by Night, page 6
I don’t know what it is about Veronica that makes my world feel so right. Call it fate or love; I don’t care either way. But I can’t lie to myself anymore. She’s on my mind even in the middle of another arranged marriage meeting, one I see Father is intent on getting a proposal out of.
My father’s attempting to sell me off to the highest bidder. However, sell is the wrong word to use in this context, as I’m an alpha.
In reality, the curvaceous little doe-eyed omega seated beside me with her Double D tits and waves of curly, dirty blonde hair is supposed to be sold to me.
To birth an heir, so I can take over the throne, finally living up to my full potential.
And Father did put in some effort to find me a wife for once. She’s just my type. Formerly, anyway. The type of flirty omega Father hates. So I admit, he has done the work to convince me this time to get hitched.
I can feel her foot nudging mines under the table, lovely lavender eyes darting to one of the private rooms and back. I like that she’s not coy about her desires, but I don’t give a damn about them.
I want Veronica. I need her now! And I don’t want to go through the motions of pretending to be interested in another bride.
So I keep my mouth screwed shut from the main course all the way to dessert. By the time Chantel, Max, and Kamari are about to retire for the night, I snap out of my daze, realizing I’ve zoned out to the point I missed our guests leaving the dining hall.
Father doesn’t have to say a word. Everyone, including me, sits back down. I had drifted to the door, floating back to my seat anxiously.
Emeryk comes to wipe Father’s mouth, as no drop of blood that touches his lips is to touch the ground. Some ancient law that doesn’t make sense to me. But nothing makes sense about Kindred royal customs. And I’ve been one for well over one hundred years now, with more than enough time to decipher them.
“I take it Princess Sophia wasn’t to your liking,” Father states as my siblings fall silent, heads bowed. Even Chantel puts down the drink she’s been sipping nervously.
“You said not a word when you usually can’t help but run your mouth during our gatherings,” he adds with a glare.
I blink, confused, “Huh?” spilling from my lips before I can hold myself back.
He growls, yes, growls at me, gold eyes flashing blood red.
I throw my face to the ground like a scolded child. He doesn’t need to say a word for me to know I pissed him off, the air oppressive from the weight of his allure. Even an alpha like me can barely stand it, my stomach twisting into knots.
“How many more offers will you reject? At this pace, we’ll run out of nobility by this time next year. I never pegged you to be such a picky little biteling when you spread your bite and your…”
He catches himself, trying not to cross some invisible threshold into impropriety. But I catch his drift anyway. Father thinks I’m a slut, so why should I care who I marry in the first place when I can sleep with whoever I want afterward? No one expects fidelity between non-fated mates, especially from an alpha anyway.
Damn, Father can be such an asshole. Maybe I get it from him.
We sit in an uneasy silence after that, and it’s times like this that the empty throne next to Father makes me feel so hollow. Mother was the glue keeping all our eccentricities in check. And now we’re one neurotic, toxic mess unable to say how we really feel. All of us. Especially Father, who used to dote on us like we were the most precious things in the whole wide world.
And that only rekindles my desire to see Veronica now. I can’t let something so good in my life, someone who makes me feel so whole, slip away just because I’m too afraid to act.
So I bolt up and try to leave, but Father reaches out, gripping my wrist, refusing to let me go.
“Where are you sneaking off to now?” Father glowers, shaking out his long black dreadlocks as Emeryk buzzes about, trying to appear busy even though he’s snooping and will come to console us after the fight.
Typically, though, I intend to be missing in a few minutes before midnight is lost.
“It’s not over?” I ask, casting nervous glances at my smartphone.
It’s close to midnight, and if I flake on Veronica, she’ll never take me seriously again.
“Have you forgotten? Tonight we must complete the Initiation. This will be Maximus’ first Holy Year among our ranks, so he must be as strong as possible before the Black Moon rises in five years.”
Brother nods softly, and I slap my head in frustration.
Oh, shit! How did I forget about something that important? I’ve been so laser-focused on wooing Veronica that I forgot about the only day Father will not accept me flaking. Matchmaking, a Holy Year dinner, and a once-in-a-lifetime Initiation ceremony? A triple fucking whammy. Just my rotten luck!
Kamari shoots me a “told you so look,” while Max and Chantel look away. I clench my hands, digging into my fragile skin, knowing I can’t show my frustration at the dinner table no matter what.
Barred fangs and sharpened claws are clear signs of aggression and will be met with brutal force, even by my father.
What’s the point of being born an alpha if I can’t even go against my sire?
He’s well aware I wouldn’t be the first young upstart alpha who decided to take over a coven before it was handed over to them.
But I have no delusions of killing my father to claim Veronica. I have no right to her heart when I can’t even defend her during times of peace. I feel so worthless as her alpha when Veronica is always so brave, even against other alphas who attempt to belittle her.
Fighting battles for her honor in secret will never compare to fighting for her in the open. And I can’t even fight my family for her hand in marriage, so what hope do I have of fighting the world?
Glancing at my phone again, I nod and say, “Yes, Father. I’ll stay for Max’s Initiation. But then I must go.”
But we both know I’m not going anywhere as I sit back down.
I’m pathetic, bowing my head, refusing to meet my father’s face as he makes arrangements for my wedding at the height of the Holy Year in five years, setting a date for Kamari’s wedding at the same time as she retreats into herself, eyes glassy and hollow, defeated as well.
We twins tend to mirror each other’s emotions, and even now, we’re both like scared little girls. Only I’ve never had the room to be anything but strong.
Neither of us wants to be matched to a royal handpicked by Father and the other Elders. And it makes sense that Kamari doesn’t speak out as an omega. But what about me?
What am I afraid of? Losing my status or losing my lover? I know she’s my fate, but I can’t bring myself to say the words that will cast me out of my coven forever.
I’m all talk. When I’m in front of Veronica, I feel invincible. But in front of Father, I’m reduced to worse than a scolded child, a spineless double-crossing bitch in his presence.
The Holy Year is in five years, and there’s still time to break free. In my head, anyway. But half a decade in human years can change their lives forever. Five years for us goes by in the blink of an eye, but the same won’t be true for Veronica.
If we’re separated for that long, I’m afraid that Veronica will get it into her pretty little head that she can move on. And maybe she can since she’s a beta, not feeling this cosmic pull to claim and be claimed like I do when I’m by her side.
Setting his napkin on the table, Father chirps, “If you were more like Adaiba, Adaeze, your life would be much better. Even Adanna has taken to improving herself. Max? His record is spotless. And what do you have to show as their alpha sister? Tabloid after tabloid. Scandal after scandal. It brings shame on our name.”
Ouch! I didn’t want to tune back into his ranting, while we wait for the full moon’s zenith, only to get chewed out…
Kamari doesn’t meet my eyes, but she’s biting back a small smile. Max frowns, and Chantel just drinks her stress away.
Not that I can blame any of them for not coming to my defense, especially my twin sister.
She’s always been the more capable of us, more educated, more fit for the stuffy lifestyle of vampire royal society. Hell, even better suited to take over Quantum, Inc., our main business, before Maximus turned and took over.
Once he completes the Initiation, consuming all of our blood, he will be no different than a born Alistar. Kamari never stood a chance. And Chantel? Forget it. She couldn’t run the receptionist desk, always worse than us as a beta.
But that’s to be expected, and it’s accepted that Chantel won’t amount to much. It’s Kamari who has defied what people assume it means to be an omega at every turn. Just like my mate, Veronica.
Yet, Kamari’s fate was sealed at birth, never to lead and always to serve, just because she’s an omega.
It must make her so bitter. But as whiny as it may sound, being an alpha feels like the same trap with the illusion of better options most days.
They say heavy is the head that wears the crown. And as much as it allowed me to keep up this persona of being a bratty vampire princess, living a lavish lifestyle, the weight of knowing I am the only one that can inherit Father’s throne has felt like an unbreakable shackle.
Not unbearable, just inescapable until now, and the only outcome I could ever imagine for myself. But now it feels like I’m drowning under the weight of the responsibilities bearing down on me.
What’s the point of being an alpha if I can’t claim the one woman I love? I can’t think of a good answer, meaning I need to woman up or bow down to my father. Unfortunately, there’s no easy middle ground between pleasing my mate and my family.
“I don’t care,” I begin, voice wobbling as I find my strength, slicing my wrist to fill a goblet of blood for Max because I’m getting the hell out of here. “I don’t care if I bring shame to our illustrious name. I don’t care if no one else understands. I want my mate. I want to be with her. I don’t care if no one in this world understands!”
“Adaeze. Enough!” Father shouts as my siblings gasp, unwilling to bend, looking like he’ll break as he struggles to contain his rage.
His chin clinches, a vein in his neck throbbing as he grits out my real name, malicious pheromones saturating the air. A hush falls over the room as Emeryk’s pheromones flood the vast space, his gentle omega aura trying to calm us down.
But it doesn’t work. Father’s had enough, and he makes it known as he stands, towering over me. And I’m not a short woman.
We’ve butted heads ever since I was little, less so when Mother was alive, but still at each other’s throats in the more playful sense of the word.
Father used to compliment my headstrong personality, saying it was the mark of a true alpha. Until my desires got in the way of his orders.
Like they are doing right now.
But now’s the time to be strong, not only for Veronica’s safety and our future but also for my dignity.
“I will not get married to any omega you bring to me. You already know who my mate is. And even if it isn’t fate, I don’t care,” I declare, shocking myself with my sheer audacity as Father stalks forward, my feet retreating to the front door even as I spit venom boldly.
“You will. End of discussion, biteling,” he hisses back, and I feel his seal burning my chest like a hot iron, bending me to his will in a way his allure never can against me, an alpha.
He turns away sharply to shut me up. But I don’t back down, grabbing his wrist, forcing Father to look at me. He’s going to hear me out right now!
“Woah! This is getting waaaaay too intense. Later, fam. I think I need to sleep off all this nasty energy,” Chantel yelps, getting up and making a beeline for the doors leading to our childhood rooms, never one for confrontation.
I don’t hear what Emeryk, Kamari, or Max have to say. I don’t know if they say anything at all, laser-focused on my father, furious, as our battle of wits teeters on the edge of coming to blows.
But as we cross the line, edging towards an explosive argument with one another, all my willpower to fight Father vanishes in an instant.
My white-hot anger is replaced by an overwhelming urge to protect and save. I abruptly bolt away, shredding my frilly black skirt when I can’t lift my ridiculous dress high enough not to trip.
I ignore my family’s shouts to stop as I vault from an open window without a second thought, not wasting time trying to find the front door, as my wings catch the wind and I soar into the night sky.
My mate is in danger! Veronica, hold on. I’m coming to save you!
Chapter 7
Veronica
Meet me in the maze before midnight, sweetheart. I’ll be waiting for you under the veil of twilight.
Under the harsh fluorescent city lights would have been a more accurate description of our late-night rendezvous’s scenery, but it’s not like I’m caught up on the finer details. Instead, I’m just over the moon that Jasmine put some real thought into winning me back. And I’m starting to feel like a fool for doubting her intentions in the first place.
After zipping through town for about three hours while going on a treasure hunt in all the places we used to frequent together, I finally arrive at an unmarked location near Blue Moon Resort in Luna Cove, a luxury enclave for wealthy shifters. However, they let other Kindred and humans in occasionally, including holidays like tonight.
Stepping out of my car, I’m amazed at the heavenly glow of the bright blue flowers lining the archway of a maze, the secret location all the clues were leading to.
Each blossom of the strange flower smells like roses. Lunar Tears is what they’re called. They’re hauntingly beautiful natural lights leading the way to my final prize.
I reach out to grab one but yank my hand away, forgetting the blossoms hide dangerous thorns underneath. I suck on my finger, hearing rustling behind me.
At first, I tense, wondering if Kamari is after me again, but then I settle on it being Jasmine. The presence doesn’t feel menacing or oppressive. It feels pure. She’s probably sucking on the blood I left on the stem, as gross as that is.
But hey, I can’t blame her for following her nature. So I press on, amazed by the scenic twists and turns down memory lane.
“Damn, she makes it hard to stay mad at her,” I whisper, clutching my purse closer.
Inside the maze, various trinkets and souvenirs catch my attention as I wander through the maze filled with photos, mementos, and pieces of shitty poetry I left on Jasmine’s pillowcase for months when we first got together.
Years worth of our relationship contained within my heart line the bushes bisected by Atherian roses. And I’m starting to get overwhelmed in the best way possible.
“Even this?” I whisper, clutching the skeleton key to the private room we first made love in, wrapped tight in a long strand of my formerly ankle-length hair.
The last bit is verging on stalkerish, but I get the gist of what she’s getting at. Jasmine’s been holding onto the memory of us, but that’s not enough for her anymore.
And damn it if I don’t feel the same way.
I’ve been accused of being clingy in the past. And I don’t want to end up as just a midnight booty call. Instead, I want something more profound with my pouty princess who convinced me to do something as outlandish as public sex in some abandoned maze.
Because we both know where this is heading, though it’s the thought that counts.
As I round the final corner, I’m blown away by the simple yet endearing scene I find: a water fountain with a picnic blanket, candles, and a meal fit for human consumption with a giant bouquet of blue roses from Earth, matching the Lunar Tears.
I take a seat and breath the flowers in, grinning from ear to ear. When you’re dating someone like Jasmine, simple pleasures hit different. This is the same woman who tried to buy me a luxury car when I scuffed my tire, but couldn’t remember when my birthday was to save her life.
For her to put together a treasure hunt with such attention detail? It’s worth more than gold.
Though, I’m not going to lie and say the pure gold heart-shaped necklace in the middle of the bouquet doesn’t stun me as well. I place it around my neck, feeling a shiver of pleasure race through my body as I sigh.
I feel eyes on my back, drifting down until they land on my butt. A rush of pure satisfaction courses through my veins at the thought of being claimed by her right now in the open. I never thought something as kinky as being fucked in the middle of an open-air maze would turn me on so much.
But the more you know, I guess?
Even though this night is ending in sex rather than a fairy tale kiss, I must admit I feel like the princess right now.
The more I get to know Jasmine, the more I realize secrets about myself. Sometimes not even secrets, but things I always knew deep down inside. Like the fact I always wanted to be in a woman’s arms, alpha, beta, or omega. And that I’ve always wanted to be dominated by my phantom lover’s touch.
Outside of fanfiction and sneak kisses passed off as jokes as a kid, I always denied this part of me in a world that sees it as strange, absurd, and even wrong.
But now that I’m older, this desire inside me that was always lurking just beneath the surface is uncontrollable.
And that her, that mysterious woman I used to conjure up in my mind, takes shape. She already has for a long time. Jasmine is the only one for me. Fate be damned!
“It’s okay—no need for a grand entrance. Just come to me, and cum for me right now. Jasmine…”
I crawl on hands and knees until I’m at the edge of the blanket, confused why she won’t emerge from the darkness and at least kiss me. Frustrated, but still turned on, I part my legs and lie down.
A shadow stirs beside me and then in front of me, and I think it’s her. At least, I hope it’s her as I reach down to unzip my pencil skirt and yank down my panties.
Sometimes I delude myself into thinking working at a heat clinic has forced me into heat. But in the hands of the right lover, I’ve come to learn that every time can feel like fireworks and rainbows, almost as intense as what omegas describe to me everyday.
