Adam walks up to the Empress. “I will serve.”
I dab my eyes. “I didn’t think I’d cry,” I whisper to Nero. My face paint is probably smudged. My shoes are murder. Thank Spirit the ceremony’s almost over.
“I did.”
“The Empire is threatened from both internal and external forces,” Astrid continues solemnly. “To safeguard it, I call on two men who have demonstrated that they’re more than capable of meeting the challenge.” A smile curves her lips. “Nero Calorio. Always first to charge into a fight, always ready to put your body in the line of fire. I call on you to lead the Imperial Army. Will you serve?”
Nero’s obvious shock is delicious. I grin widely as he walks up to the platform and bows to Astrid. Saber looks like he’s going to burst with pride. Me too, Saber. Me too.
“Zeke Ulrich, I call on you to lead the Empire’s internal security forces. Will you serve?”
Zeke strides forward. “I will serve, Empress,” he says steadily.
There are a few more appointments. I pay attention—I won’t put it past Kaleb to quiz me about it tomorrow—but I’m also ready for the coronation to end. One of these days, I’m going to convince Thalia that I don’t care if my boobs look glorious, breathing is more important. I’ve tried cajoling. I’ve tried pleading. I’m going to have to learn to start barking out orders. I’m sure Ragnar and Saber will give me lessons. Both men are particularly good at it.
Silence falls over the crowd. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that my Ruling Council has a vacancy,” Astrid says. “The real value of the Council doesn’t lie in their ability to agree with me. I trust that every single person I’ve picked will stand up to me when it’s necessary and will tell me when I’m wrong. I trust that every person I’ve chosen will make the Shayde Empire a better place.” Her smile broadens. “To fill the last seat, I call on Raven Unnuk. Sister, will you serve the Empire?”
My head snaps up. “You’re joking.”
Diana buries her face in her hands. Saber and Ragnar laugh out loud. Astrid shakes her head, a grin covering her face. “Not even a little.”
I stare in shock. A spot on the Ruling Council. A chance to make a difference. An opportunity to have a sternly worded conversation with Lula Kenner about raising blood taxes on unsuspecting, hard-working miners. The chance of a lifetime.
I move as if I’m underwater. People whisper and murmur. This time, it’s not just Zeke’s eyes that track the protesters. Every single vampire in my bô takes notes.
The knife slices into my flesh, and the pain pierces my daze. I watch my blood fall into the fire. I walk toward the Empress and bow to her, the way that Kaleb taught me. “I will serve.”
The coronation is over. Fireworks set the night sky ablaze. I kick off my shoes and give Saber and Ragnar an accusing glare. “You knew she was going to do that, didn’t you?”
Ragnar looks like he’s trying not to laugh. “I think it’s probably wisest if I refuse to answer that question.”
I jab Saber’s chest with my finger. “You knew too.” A realization slides into place. “That’s what the lessons with Kaleb have been about? It wasn’t about me being part of your bô, was it? I thought you wanted me to fit into Starra society, but it wasn’t that. The balls, the classes—they were training for the Ruling Council.”
Saber gives me a sly grin. “You should have figured it out,” he says. Infuriating man. “Since when do I give a damn about Starra society?”
I turn to Ragnar. “Fine,” he says, holding up his hands and laughing at me. “But you had only yourself to blame. The instant you snapped at Astrid in my apartment, your fate was sealed. If you didn’t want to sit on the Council, you shouldn’t have pointed out that she could never put herself in the shoes of normal people and relate to their concerns. You’re right. She can’t.” His smile is smug, and I can’t decide if I want to slap him or kiss him. Probably both. “But you can.”
Zeke walks up to us, holding two glasses of slenti in his hands. He gives me one. “Forget the council,” he advises with a wink. “You have more important things to worry about.”
“Like what?”
Then I see Nero approaching me, a dark-haired woman at his side. She’s got his green eyes. My stomach clenches. Ten to one, that’s Anais Calorio.
Zeke’s lips curl into a grin. “Like meeting Nero’s mother. Ready, Raven?”
Spirit, I’m barefoot. I look around frantically for my shoes. Nero adores his mother. What if she hates me? What if she wanted Nero to be with a vampire, not a human?
I step forward. Anais Calorio beams at me, her expression radiating warmth and happiness. My vampires smile at me encouragingly, and my nerves fade. They’ve got me. They wouldn’t let me fail.
“Hello,” I say to Nero’s mother as she envelops me in a hug. “I’m Raven Unnuk.”
This is my new life. I’m ready. Bring it on.
Thank you for reading The Vampires’ Blood Mate! I hope you enjoyed Raven’s story.
My current writing project is the Rebel Force series (MF, dragons in space.) After that, I’m going to write my Karven series. Karven is a series of romances about space pirates. I’ve been sitting on this idea forever, and it’s finally time to make it real.
The next story set in the Empire of Shayde will be Marya’s, but my schedule is packed for 2020, so I doubt Marya’s story will be written before the end of the year. Watch for it in 2021!
That’s a long time away, and in the meanwhile, if you want to keep up to date with what I’m writing, please do sign up to my newsletter!
About Lili Zander
Lili Zander is the sci-fi romance loving alter-ego of Tara Crescent. She lives in Toronto. She enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy, and thinks a great romance makes every book better.
www.lilizander.com
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Email her at lili@lilizander.com
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Books by Lili Zander
Blood Prophecy (A Dragon Shifter Reverse Harem Romance)
Dragon’s Thief
Dragon’s Curse
Dragon’s Hope
Dragon’s Ruin
Dragon’s Treasure
or
Dragon’s Fire (the omnibus edition, containing all the Blood Prophecy episodes) and a bonus story, Dragon’s Ghost.
DRAGONS IN EXILE
Draekon Mate - Viola’s story
Draekon Fire - Harper’s story
Draekon Heart - Ryanna’s story
Draekon Abduction - Olivia’s story
Draekon Destiny - Felicity’s story
Daughter of Draekons - Harper’s birth story
Draekon Fever - Sofia’s story
Draekon Rogue - Bryce’s story
Draekon Holiday - A holiday story
REBEL FORCE
Draekon Warrior - Alice & Kadir
Draekon Conquerer - Lani & Ruhan
Suzie and the Alien