The King's Bite

Chapter 4

“Do you want to repeat that question? Perhaps in a different tone this time,” Vladislav said.

Oh, he phrased it as a question, but they both knew it was anything but. Niklaus reflexively flinched. He did not want to remember all the times his brother had pounded the knowledge of who was in charge into his skull.

“Pardon me,” was Niklaus's much less volatile response. “But you must see where I'm coming from. What you've done is unthinkable.”

“Did you or did you not want a way out of this engagement?” asked the unimpressed King.

“I did, but –”

“Were you or were you not amenable to breaking your engagement?”

“Now, wait a minute there –”

“Did you or did you not place the amulet in my hand of your own free will?”

Niklaus saw where this was going, but he could not help but argue. “I wouldn’t have done it if I knew what your real intentions were and you know it. That is why you kept the full picture hidden from me is it not?”

The King rose from his chair languidly. He picked up the iron poker and tousled the fire as if he had no care in the world. Niklaus watched him irritably as he then walked to the drink cabinet to pour himself something strong before once more settling back down in his seat. He took a long, slow sip before he deigned to speak once more.

“The why is irrelevant, dear brother. The point is that you did it. She is no longer your concern. You should be happy. I did you a favour.”

“You did yourself a favour,” hissed the incensed Niklaus. “You were willing to let me marry a total stranger and that all changed as soon as you saw her for some reason. It doesn't even matter that we've bonded or that we have an understanding. You saw and you took, because Vladislav always gets whatever the hell he wants.” The bitterness he rarely allowed to show crept into his voice.

“That's exactly right. The quicker you get it through that thick skull of yours, the better,” the King replied uncaringly with another sip from his glass.

“What am I supposed to do?” pleaded Niklaus. I promised both Allegra and her family that I would protect her. I gave her my word. She trusts me. I can't break that trust.”

Vladislav's eyes flashed a deep red and the glass in his hands shattered. The vampire in question paid it no mind, but his brother could not help but gape. The act itself was child’s play for them, but he had never seen the older vampire react in such a way to mere words. What was wrong with him?

“I already told you that she is no concern of yours any longer. If you bring it up again, we’re going to have a big problem,” Vladislav said gravely. “And don't worry about her family. If they’re anything like King Emir then they will surely rejoice at the news because it is a step up from future Princess to future Queen.”

Niklaus did not want to admit it, but he knew it was true. Most of Allegra’s family were self serving social climbers. This news would delight them. However, he knew one person that would be horrified when she heard the news and she was really the only one that mattered in this equation. As if sensing the trajectory of his thoughts, Vlad spoke up one last time.

“Now that we have that settled, shall we go join the future Queen of Nefolktu in the dining room?”

Knowing he had no choice in the matter, Niklaus solemnly followed his brother out of the room. Even though he could not see the other man’s face, he knew it had to be bursting with smug self-satisfaction.

***

Allegra stepped into the lavish dining room in the heels of a silent maid. She made sure to grace the other woman with a smile and pretended not to notice the look of shock she got in return. It was unsurprising. Most of the nobility she had grown up with treated them as if they were invisible and she could only see it being worse where vampires were involved. They already treated humans as if they were at the bottom of the barrel. Those who worked for them had to put up with a lot.

She walked into the dining room and was a bit put out to see that both the King and Niklaus were already there and seated. What she would not do for some time alone to gather her wits about her. A flawless smile made its way to her face when they both rose to welcome her, and the while she cursed her family name. The King himself pulled her chair out for her, which she thought a bit odd. After all, was it not supposed to be Niklaus’s duty? Said vampire watched her accept the gesture from his brother with a scowl on his face. Odd. She just have disturbed a very heated, private discussion. Allegra wondered if it had been about her, then coughed away a little laugh. Of course it was.

“I trust you’re finding the castle to your liking,” said King Vladislav once they were all seated.

“What little I've seen of it has been wonderful, Your Majesty,” she said demurely. Allegra was determined to make him forget their less than perfect first meeting.

“Well, all in good time. You will be spending a lot of time here, after all. And please, call me Vladislav. These titles become somewhat exhausting when they're being used on members of the same household.”

Allegra was unsure how to proceed with this conversation. While he was not being friendly exactly, he was making an effort and being polite. It was a complete 180 from the man she had met only half an hour earlier.

“Oh, I don't know about that,” she said, deciding to ignore the invitation to such informality. “Nik already told me that we would be moving to Aledar House after the wedding. I suppose trying the knot is as good a reason as any to move out of your family home, even if it did take almost 500 years,” she said jokingly.

Vladislav gave her a brittle smile that was much more in line with the man she had first met. “There's been a change in plans,” he said with a lazy, dismissive wave of his hand. “This is your new home.”

Instead of responding, Allegra swung her neck around sharply to give Niklaus an inquisitive glare. At the sight of him steadfastly avoiding her accusatory eyes by looking down onto his empty place mat, a twinge of worry made itself into her stomach. Something had recently occurred, she could tell. It involved her and she wanted to know exactly what it was.

“That's certainly news to me,” she grumbled with discontent. “Is there anything else I should know that's being kept from me?”

“As a matter of fact there is,” Vladislav said with a wicked smirk at Nik's sharp inhale.

“Well?” she prompted, doing her best not to show how irritated she was starting to feel. “What is it?”

“I apologise, my dear.” He sounded anything but sorry. “It's just not appropriate conversation for the dining table. Let us enjoy our lunch. All answers will shortly after.”

At that exact moment, the doors swung open to permit the servants carrying their food entry. The meal did look good, but how did either of them expect her to eat with the anxiety inducing conversation that had just taken place? To make matters worse, Niklaus had not said a word to her since she set foot in the dining room. He kept avoiding her gaze, so he was obviously feeling guilty about something. Allegra could not imagine what it was. She already knew the engagement was still taking place because of Vladislav’s announcement that they would remain in the castle. As far as she was concerned that was the worst news possible. How could it get any worse?

Allegra silently acquiesced and finally began to eat. Admittedly, she was more interested in watching the two brothers eat because the thought of a vampire consuming human food was mindboggling. She managed to keep herself from studying them. They would surely catch her and that was one area of embarrassment she was not willing to explore. Lunch was a silent affair. Only the sound if scraping forks and knives against porcelain plates disturbed their otherwise solemn surroundings.

She made the mistake of hurriedly glancing around the table and clashed eyes with Vladislav. Unlike anyone else who had been caught in the act of watching someone, the King refused to avert his gaze and instead settled into the new experience of looking into her eyes. Allegra had no idea why it went on for so long. It could have been anything from shock to defiance. All she knew was that she had to give herself a mental shake to tear her gaze away from his ever-watchful one. Hopefully Niklaus had not seen that peculiar exchange. The last thing she needed at this stage in her life was an interrogation by her partner in crime.

When the plates were cleared away Vladislav led them out of the dining room and into what she assumed was the drawing room he had called his brother into earlier. It did not escape her notice that Nik was trailing behind them at a snail’s pace. He was obviously reluctant to engage in whatever it was that was about to happen. Allegra felt her anxiety return tenfold as she sat at one of the seats around a warm, comfy fireplace. The clinking of glass was the only warning she had before murky brown liquid was placed in front of her. She glanced at the watch on her wrist pointedly, ignoring the King’s chuckle of amusement.

“Believe me when I say you’re going to need this for the conversation we’re about to have. Take it.”

She did, vowing not to take a sip at any point and sat up straighter when both vampires joined her. Unwilling to be the first to break the silence, Allegra let it carry on until someone else spoke up... but no one did. Instead, Vladislav reached under his shirt and pulled out a golden medallion. She looked at it, waiting for the other shoe to drop and completely missed Nik’s flinch.

“What is that?” Allegra asked, curiosity taking a hold of her. She could have sworn she had seen something like it before, but she could not put her finger on where.

“Doesn't it look familiar?” Vladislav asked – nay – mocked. “Take a closer look. It will come to you.”

She was seated in between them so it was an easy task for him to lean over and extend the gleaming treasure piece so it was in easy reach. Allegra took it in one hand and immediately dropped it when it began to shine brightly. The image on it was a bat and the emblem tattooed on her wrist shined right along with the golden relic. Then it hit her. She knew where she had seen that bat before.

“It's stamped on the inside of my engagement ring,” whispered Allegra, too confused for words. “What's going on here, Nik?”

For the first time in what felt like hours, her fiancé lifted his head to look directly at her with morose eyes. “I'm sorry, Allegra. I didn't know.”

“Know what?” She turned away from him and back towards the King, knowing that she would not be getting any answers from Niklaus. “What is he talking about? What is that thing? Why did it make my tattoo glow when I touched it?”

“This, my dear,” said Vladislav matter-of-factly, “is the result of ancient fae magic. The contract between our families requires your intended to wear this until the night the marriage is consummated. It glowed because it was made with you in mind.”

Allegra blinked rapidly, at a loss for words.

Niklaus looked absolutely wretched as he reached out to comfort her. “Allegra, I –”

She cut him off with a hand firmly shoved in his face to keep him away. Then, to combat the shock, Allegra reached for the glass of brown liquor waiting for her and poured the entirety of its contents right down her throat.