“Where is the young lady?” Queen Anna asked, leaning forward in the chair, her eyes regaining some of their old spark. “I’d like some time to get to know her myself.”
He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. No use dragging out the inevitable. She’d find out sooner or later.
“She’s going home today,” he confessed. “I sent her away.”
“You did what?” Her spine stiffened and she fixed him with a glare that made him want to melt into the floor. “Viktor Romanov, tell me you did no such thing.”
“I had to,” he sputtered. He could feel his ears turning red. “You saw what happened at the ceremony. What happened to my father and so many others of our kind. I won’t put her in harm’s way again. Life as a vampire is too risky.”
Her lips disappeared into a thin line as she studied him. “Have you spoken to the young woman about your fears?”
He ducked his head, avoiding her eyes. “No...”
“I’m surprised at you, grandson,” she said stiffly, drawing his gaze back to hers. “This was not a decision for you to make alone. You do not get to choose her future for her.”
“But I...”
She cut him off with the wave of her hand. “Does she love you?”
He snapped his mouth shut and with a grim smile, nodded his head.
“And do you love her?”
Closing his eyes against the rush of emotions, he nodded again. He loved her more than he ever thought it possible for an undead heart to love another being.
“Then that is all that matters.” She leaned forward, taking his chin in her hand like she used to do when he was a boy. “Viky, life is filled with risk and loss. For humans and supernatural creatures alike. If you go through life avoiding intimacy with another being, you might as well be dead already. Life isn’t worth cutting yourself off from the pain. It’s about finding the moments of true happiness in between the loss. That’s what makes our lives so precious.”
He swallowed hard, the wheels in his head turning a million miles an hour. Never had he thought he’d get such a lecture from his grandmother. He’d always considered her to be so stiff and noble, a perfect example of what vampire royalty ought to be. But the words coming out of her mouth resembled the words of his brother and the conversation they’d had only last night.
Had he made a huge mistake in pushing Cate away? By telling himself that he was protecting her, was he excusing himself from the risk of any more pain? The pit in his stomach told him his Babushka was all too right. He’d behaved like a cad of the worst variety.
“Go to her, Viky,” his grandmother said, patting his hand once more. “Tell her how you feel. Don’t leave anything out this time.”
He jumped to his feet and kissed her on the cheek. There was no time to lose. He had to find Cate before she got on that plane. Skidding down the hall, he ran as fast as his vampire power would allow, startling a handful of staff beginning their morning rounds. His breathless apology went unanswered as he sped up the stairs and down the royal hall. It wasn’t until he got to Cate’s door did he slow down to a speed more human-like.
“Cate?” He pounded softly on her door, although he wished for nothing more than to break it down. He could easily shatter it into a million splinters if he didn’t get control of himself. “Cate? Are you there?”
There was no answer. Tired of waiting, he tried the door handle. Unlocked. Rushing in, he did a double take around the room. Empty. It was as if she’d never been there at all.
A small blue box lay on the dresser. He walked over to it and snapped it open to see his mother’s pearl necklace, placed lovingly back into its velvety bed. The sight of it broke him. He sat down on the bed, staring at the jewelry as if it were a goodbye letter written specially for him.
“Are you looking for Cate?” Stasia came wandering through the door, her hair pulled back in a low ponytail and a giant mug of coffee in her hand. She wore flannel pajamas and a white camisole. “If so, she left last night.”
“Last night?” His face went white and he stared wide-eyed at her. “Where’d she go? Her flight doesn’t leave for another hou
r.”
“Her friend Miranda was with her. I think they were going to crash at her place,” she said with a shrug and a disapproving smirk. “You know, you really messed that one up, Vik. I’m saying this as your best friend — she was the one.”
“I know.” He combed his hands through his hair and scowled. “I messed up, big time. But I need to talk to her before she leaves. Tell her how I feel and that I’m sorry.”
“Really?” A smile cracked her cheeks. “Prince Viktor apologize? I never thought I’d see the day.”
He sent her a withering glare and set the necklace on the nightstand. “Come along if you must, then. But I’m headed to the airport.”
“Oh, goody,” Stasia squealed, bouncing from foot to foot. She threw back her head and downed the cup of steaming Joe before wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. “I do love a romantic ending.”
Viktor wasn’t so sure this would be the ending she was hoping for, but he liked her optimism. He needed all the good-will he could afford. Something told him that it was going to take a bit more than groveling to win Cate back.