The King's Bite

Chapter 2

Nefolktu was hauntingly beautiful. Allegra had only been in The Capital for an hour, but it had already made an impression and put her in a daze. Niklaus was by her side, of course, but even his presence could not distract her from the dark and gloomy beauty before her. She was fairly sure all the people they passed by were also vampires. Most were adorned in black cloaks, clearly avoiding the sun despite the fact that the notoriously snowy city never saw any sunlight.

“Not that I don't appreciate you taking me shopping,” she said as she raised her arms to indicate the heavy bags she carried. “But I'm pretty sure we've achieved whatever goal you set out to. Perhaps we should leave. Maybe finally go to the palace?”

Allegra had only been in Nefolktu for a couple of hours. She had taken a private jet with Niklaus to arrive to the mysterious nation, but the flight was long and she’d spent the entire journey feeling too anxious to take a nap. Now she could barely keep herself on her feet and yet the man at her side seemed totally oblivious. He gave another one of his explanations for the umpteenth time, but his words went in one ear and out of the other.

“ – to see and if we go to the palace now, believe me you won't be allowed to step foot –”

“I don't care,” Allegra interrupted as her brain finally caught up with her surroundings. Niklaus was not even being subtle in his execution of delaying tactics. Something must have been happening at the palace that she was not supposed to see. It was the only explanation she could think of. “I need to sleep. Right now. You either take me home, or I'll grab a taxi that will take me to a hotel. Your choice.”

Niklaus let loose one of his little infuriating smirks. “Oh, are you? So you’re just going to traipse around the vampire capital in search of accommodation? You'll be served as brunch in minutes!”

His obnoxiously mocking laugh died down when Allegra pulled down her cost to expose her wrist. There, in plain view, was a tattoo of glittering gold with his family's emblem staring right back at him. It was one of the only perks of her station that she actually appreciated. The Archakis bestowed it upon all the human beings they held in their favour and it was a direct warning to all vampires not to feed on those who wore it. The shine on it could not be faked as it was imbued with fae magic, which vampires were especially sensitive to. She tugged her sleeve back into place and continued as if he had not said anything.

“Shall we go now?” Allegra asked, a trifle smugly.

“I can't take you to a hotel, Allegra. My people probably know who you are by now. We are very traditional, and it would reflect badly on my family if word for out that I stuck my betrothed in a hotel of all places,” he tried to reason.

“We’re supposed to be a team,” she spat as she stormed out of the latest shop and into the street where their car waited for them. She slid into the backseat of the waiting Range Rover and waited for him to do the same before she continued. “Yet you continually keep me in the dark. I'm not an i***t. I know you're hiding something, but I can assure you that right now I don't have the energy to care all that much. I just need a nap.”

Niklaus glared at the back of the driver’s head briefly before turning his eyes back to her. “Is this really the best place to discuss this?” he implored.

“Oh, who gives a damn?” Allegra sighed exhaustedly. “He's a vampire! Even if we had a divider in here, he’d still probably be able to hear us.”

“Fine,” spat Niklaus. He turned back to the driver to tell him their next destination – the palace. She did not even have a chance to feel triumphant because he was immediately on her case. “Don't say I didn't warn you, Allegra.”

For her part, the duchess paid him no heed as she settled in for what looked to be a long drive. At some point she fell asleep. One moment they were cruising down a sparsely populated highway, and the next here door was being pulled open and Niklaus was gently shaking her away. He at least had the decency to look guilty for dragging her around town when he saw her rubbing insistently at her tired eyes.

“They should be here to carry everything inside in a little bit. Do you need a moment?” he asked softly, staring intently at her drooping eyes.

Allegra was about to deny his offer until she remembered the reason she was here. She was supposed to be playing a role. She could not afford to let anyone see her as anything less than perfect. A quick glance to the front showed the driver had already vacated, so she took the chance to pull out a mirror from her handbag and refresh her make-up as Niklaus looked on patently. She finished just in time to see the huge double doors of the palace’s entryway swing open to reveal a couple of maids and footmen. They made their way directly to the car. Niklaus took her arm in a gentle hold to pull her inside and she felt a genuine pang of regret that she had not been able to see the view of the impressive stately home from afar.

“Welcome to Kalitsk Castle!” Niklaus said excitedly. The fondness he felt for this place was clearly reflected in his eyes as the previous tension disappeared completely upon stepping foot in his home.

While he was busy soaking in the atmosphere, however, Allegra's eyes were drawn to something else. Or rather, someone else. It was a woman. Pale, tall – statuesque, really and startlingly beautiful. She practically screamed supernatural and the way she held herself, casually seated in a single chair with her legs crossed as she was, screamed authority. She had never met or even seen a picture of the woman before, but the steel grey eyes and long black hair were a huge clue. This must have been Princess Milena. She would stake her entire trust fund on it. The other woman was sizing her up just as much as she was, but it was impossible to tell what she actually thought of her.

Niklaus belatedly realised his sister was in the entrance hall with them and paled considerably in response, a feat she had not thought possible before. The Princess merely smirked – the first bit of emotion she had shown – and watched silently as the handful of servants came in carrying their luggage and shopping bags. They swiftly passed by the three of them, completely ignoring the tense silence they had happened upon, and made themselves scarce up the steps of the winding staircase.

“Really, Niklaus?” came a chide in a melodically soft voice. “Shopping? It's that what took you so long? Was it absolutely necessary?”

The man slid on a mask of indifference so quickly, her sleep deprived brain failed to catch on. He turned to face the source directly. “I just wanted to show my future wife our beautiful city, Milena. Fun, remember that?”

The Princess got to her feet in a graceful leap. “So it had nothing to do with you stalling for time after our conversation while you were en route, then?” Her tone had turned teasing, but her grey eyes remained resolved as they stared here brother down.

“Don't be ridiculous. You really think too highly of yourself.”

“Or maybe I just don't think much of you, little brother,” she mused before her eyes swung to pin Allegra with her gaze. “How rude of me. I do apologise. Brothers, you know what they're like. You must be Allegra. I'm Milena, your sister in-law.”

Allegra was so glad not to have to put up with their stuffy titles that she decided not to comment on the fact that they were not married yet. “How do you do, Milena. Unfortunately, I have no idea what you're talking about. My only brother is 12 and also happens to be the sweetest thing ever. My sympathies for having to put up with Nik for so long.”

Milena’s eyebrows rose at the familiarity they had with one another. Niklaus leaned down to place a peck on her cheek and Allegra did her best to appear flustered and shy, but one look in the Princess’s direction told her they were not fooling her.

“Well, it's nice to see you two have grown so close,” said Milena before her voice lost its haughtiness to be replaced momentarily with something a little warmer. “I appreciate what an unexpected and difficult situation this is for you, Allegra. We will be spending quite a lot of time together, so feel free to reach out to me when you need assistance.”

Allegra was about to thank her, but was beaten to the punch. “Thank you for the offer, big sister. It's unnecessary, however, because I'm the one who will be looking out for her,” Niklaus sniffed pompously.

“It's not a competition, Niklaus. We will both be assisting her in her transition to Nefolktu. If you knew anything about women, you would know that at some point, she’ll need another woman to offer her assistance.”

His eyes flashed red in challenge for a second, but Allegra pinched his arm harshly before he could open his big mouth again. Niklaus glanced down at her and one look at her tired eyes was enough to concede. “Fine. Whatever. We’ll catch you later. My fiancée is severely her lagged.”

“Ah, the strains of being human.” Milena glanced brusquely at a delicate gold watch on her wrist before looking back at them. “It's just as well. I have some business to take care of in the city.”

She placed a light kiss on each of their cheeks before she turned away from them and left. One second she was there, and the next she was gone. The door opening and closing was the only indication that she had ever been there. Niklaus only shrugged when Allegra looked at him questioningly before he led her up the stairs to finally rest.

***

“So is that why you didn't want to bring me straight here after the airport?” Allegra asked as the slowly strolled through the castle to her designated room. “It seems a little bit extreme. I mean, I was going to have to meet her eventually. It's best we got it out of the way. Although your dynamic is a bit strange. It seemed more like watching political rivals than siblings.”

“Oh, cut me some slack. Besides, she was not the only reason. That's practically what my siblings and I are at this point. Rivals. Everyone wants something different, but only one has the power to make it happen. Neither of them were supposed to be here today, but they both are. I just wanted you to spend a few relaxing hours here before being shoved into the world of vampire machinations.”

Allegra laughed softly. “I'm already in that world. I mean, I’m marrying you, aren't I?”

Niklaus let out a chuckle of his own. A fond moment passed between them until all the words he had just uttered fully registered to her brain. He said they were both here, which meant –

“Well. Isn't this a lovely surprise?”

The voice came from behind. Both Allegra and Niklaus halted midstride and swivelled to face it as one. Just as she had known who Milena was when she first saw her, she knew who this dark figure was. That same dark hair. Those grey Archaki eyes that bored into her very being. It could not have been anyone other than the King himself currently watching her attentively. Vladislav – in the flesh.