Book 4: Broken Contract

Michael

I’m not sure what I expected getting married to feel like. In my mind, it had always been a business arrangement with little fanfare and no emotions attached. Now, that’s not the case. I’m a husband. I have a wife who I love, who wasn’t chosen for me based on whatever political alliance was most desirable at the time.

Tonight, once I can sneak her away from the high-ranking vampires who’re currently showering us with praise and congratulations, I’ll go to bed with my wife, my mate, and wake up the next morning to what feels like a gift from the Goddess Herself… a life of happiness, of love, all the things I let fade into the background when I put my duty as my father’s heir to the forefront.

I watch my wife walk from group to group with my mom by her side, nodding and smiling at the vampire’s Mom is introducing her to, but I’ve been hanging back, nursing a flute of sparkling blood and watching the crowd–one group in particular.

The g