My Life as a Chosen One for the Vampire Prince

s the ballroom and

just finished running his fingers through it. And he wore a s

Bastien of House Allard did was care

ories. And tonight, I was supposed to be impressing him to win the job as his

ing close to him, but I had no other cho

the lace choker Mama bid me to wear. The vein in my neck throbbe

't stop a queasy feeling from churning in my stomach. I

I'd tried for years to overcome with no success. Now, I had no idea how I w

of the offerings before he made a

end to my mission

ed it in my direction. The cool air chilled

t you." I glanced up to find Prince Bastien's cold gaze cutting through

es of a

t. He was painfully, hauntingly beautiful, and like all predators, he intended to lull me

e, the more time seemed to slow. The people around me fading. Dulling. Blurring into the background. The chamber music and conversation fell to

usting

o close, I swore it was whispered in my ear. I look

attention snapped back to the vampire. It c

prying eyes. Over there." The prince pointed to my left, and my gaz

. I struggled to find words and managed to reply, "Is this for m-my intervi

rtner. I'd made a sacred vow to my coven, and even though I had no concept of what I was getting myself into, the

was any hope of avenging Gran and the countless others who'd died at the hands of d

d back to life. The music. The chatter. My sister was beside

her teeth. She fluttered the fan faster, blowing the fine

erally daring them to do it," I bit

hall. I swallowed hard. If he could speak to me from across the room and distort the noises of the ball, then surely, he could hear everything. It's a good thing to know for someone who wishes

look on his cherubic face was playful, but I was wary. I didn't want to follow him. I was scared of

ed into my path, hands on her hips. She looked so different without her white h

eird? You can't start fre

mething that would give us away. I opened the fan and h

ened, but he spoke inside my hea

ide your head?

t be for some kind of interview." Her bow-shaped lip

d wait for me, okay

can. Just be confident." I offered h

little sister was

and destroy them. She'd take over our coven when Mama stepped aside. I wanted to protect her from the dark wi

pretend that I was entranced with him. Like all these other soft humans fawning for the right to be his pincushion. Straightening my spine and

g out into the cool night air. The wind kissed the exposed skin on my cheeks and arms, and I resisted the urge to wrap myself in a hug as I walked to the stone railing that overlooked Chatea

o bloodthirsty vampires. On the weeklong voyage to the capital, I devoured every scroll Mama had packed on the vampires but didn't learn much. Rumors are more

everything. Steeling my nerves and fighting against every reflex in my body screaming at me to run, I turned around, coming face to face with Bas

rtsey. When I lifted my chin, I found

did make me uneasy. Everything from his devastating beauty to his stillness to the fac

ayed silent. After a long momen

the unnerving suspicion that he knew exactly why I was

the only t

id, finding my

ily can destroy them. His gaze dipped to my neck, and I wondered if he c

ane. Had I said something wrong? I silently prayed to the moon goddess for help because I couldn't mess this up. He

moment in my presence or under my watch? How will you follow me into battle?" I opened my m

stake. Bastien smirked, like the arrogan

you is uneasy, my

ly, allowing a thick shaft of moonlight to illuminate his chest. My gaze snagged on a pulsing red light coming from a stone he w

move as I lifted my hand to the pulsing light. But before I co

are you

lace," I st

t's pu

d seen. The glow of the stone beating like a heart. What did that mean? The vampire tuck

ng th

ck at me, his eyes

against the ground as if to accentuate his point. My t

I couldn't lose this job. I had to convince him I was a worthy partner. I tried to re

ce with me again," he said,

rned against my lips, and a whole new kind of terror took hold of my heart. I'd promised my family I'd get this job or die trying. The lace choker around my throat tightened as the conditions of the vo

wn my neck and landed in a splatter beside my han

lo

as ready to