Bewildered, he glanced at me and then over my shoulder. Realization dawned in his eyes and I chalked up another point in his column. Well-built and not stupid; all right fine, he could have two points.
Matthias led the way, snaking us around the other couples as I kept one hand on the crook of his arm. I resisted the urge to glance behind me and see if Jerrod took the hint, but when we stopped at the bar, I scanned the room and saw he’d found his way back to his doting master.
Good boy. Now stay.
“What can I get you, Lady Vaughn?” the bartender asked. “I have quite a selection on tap tonight.”
It would no doubt cause a scandal if the baron’s daughter ordered a faux blend, so I ordered the first thing the bartender suggested. I didn’t have to drink it.
The bartender presented me with a crystal glass and then looked to Matthias. He shook his head and held up one hand.
“Do you not want anything?” I asked.
“I’m fine. Would you like to sit?”
“Sure.”
His hand settled on my shoulder and he gestured ahead at a table swimming in champagne linens, fine china and glittering stemware. Blood-red roses plumed from a tall crystal vase in the center of each table. Three chandeliers hung throughout the ballroom, each one showering the tables with soft light that caught on the crystalware, illuminating each table with sparkling beads of color.
Like a true gentleman, Matthias pulled out a chair and waited for me to take it before he sat in the one beside me. His gaze roved through the ballroom and I found myself wondering what he was thinking about. Was he looking for Jupiter? Did he know she was upset? Did he even care?
Studying his profile, I drummed my nails on the table, the sound muffled by the luxe fabric. “So, enlighten me—how did this whole thing work? Was there some kind of application process? Did you have to give a cheek swab? What?”
He tore his gaze from the dance floor and stared at me, his lips turned down at the corners. “What are you talking about?”
“Out there—” I gestured at the dance floor—“you made it seem like you weren’t thrilled at the prospect of tearing into the other … suitors.”
Stars, the word alone was enough to make my stomach turn.
I shoved away the goblet of blood and wrinkled my nose at it.
“So, I’m curious as to how you ended up among them. Did my father have you blackmailed into this whole mess, or something?”
Matthias twisted around in his seat until he was facing me. His knees bumped against mine but he didn’t move away. Instead, he leaned in until our faces were only inches apart. “Trust me, this was not my idesa. When my mother told me about the tournament and that Lord Vaughn had approached her, I—” He broke off and his scowl deepened. “Let’s just say, I’ve never spoken harsher words to my own mother.”
“And yet.” I leaned in even close and whispered, “Here you sit …”
He huffed, the sound a mix between a scoff and a laugh, as he sat back against the chair.
I mirrored his posture and resumed my drumming. Glancing down at my long, fire-engine red nails, I frowned. “Well, don’t worry about hurting my feelings if you want to drop out. I won’t be offended. I’m halfway tempted to tell my father I’ll enter this ridiculous competition myself and win my own freedom.”
He barked out a laugh, his eyebrows lifted. “You think you could take me?” he asked, the hint of amusement in his tone making it almost warm.
I smiled up at him and made a show of sizing him up. “You don’t look so tough.”
He laughed and the lines at his eyes told me it was sincere.
“Your father just announced my participation to the entire Court. So, if you’ll pardon the expression, I think the last nail has already been driven into the coffin.”
I tilted my head and considered him. “Unless I challenge you to a duel at the final battle?”
He hitched one shoulder, his smile matching the half-cocked gesture. “I supposed I’ll have to cross that bridge when I get to it.”
“Do you always use so many analogies? Coffins? Bridges?”
His smile gave way to a rolling chuckle. “Do you always ask so many questions?”
I grinned. “Nicely played.”
“My turn to ask a question,” he said. “If the tournament wasn’t your idea, then where did it come from?”
I ran a finger along the rim of my glass. “The cavernous darkness of my father’s mind, I’d suspect.”
“Aha.” His eyes drifted to one side, cutting to where my father and Jerrod still stood. Apparently, in Jerrod’s sub-standard brain, us looking at him meant he was being beckoned. With a word to my father, he broke off and came striding across the room toward us.
I tensed up. “Great. Here comes Fido.”
Matthias glanced at me. “You want me to get rid of him?”
“Permanently, if you get the chance.”
He smiled but it faded as soon as Jerrod pressed through a group of lingering guests and appeared at our table. “I’ll be taking the second dance with Lady Vaughn,” he told Matthias.
Sure. I mean, why bother with asking me. What an unnecessary step.
“The only thing you’re going to be taking is a cold shower,” I snarled at him.
Jerrod flashed his teeth. “You’ll learn some respect once I win the tournament and make you mine.”
Matthias got to his feet, baring his own fangs. “You will not speak to her that way.”
I sighed. “Now, now, boys. Let’s all put the pearly-whites away. This isn’t the time or the place. You’d be surprised how hard it is to get blood out of linens like these. Why make more work for the staff?”
Jerrod’s mouth went into a thin line and his wide nostrils flared. “Your father mentioned you have a sharp tongue.”
I scoffed. “If it bothers you, you should probably forfeit this whole tournament and save yourself the trouble of having to marry me.”
Jerrod growled, leaning closer to me. “When I win the final duel, you won’t be given a choice in the matter. You’ll do as I say. You weren’t all that fierce when I took you to your chambers this afternoon. I easily overpowered you, so save your tough girl routine.”
A low growl vibrated in the back of my throat. “On second thought, it might be worth buying new linens if it means I get to send you on a one-way trip to the house medic!”
Matthias moved to insert a shoulder between us, his fangs still on full display.
“You little—” Jerrod lunged, fire blazing in his eyes. Matthias jerked a hand up and clenched it around Jerrod’s throat. A chorus of oohs and ahhs surrounded us as the Court pressed in to watch the action.
Jerrod spun out of Matthias’s grip and loosed a wild punch. Effortlessly, Matthias ducked and returned one so fast it was a blur. His punch landed and Jerrod stumbled back half a step.
Seething, I threw myself back into my seat, not so much as flinching.
“Gentleman!” my father’s commanding voice rose above the chaos. The music came to an abrupt stop, the violins screeching unpleasantly. “Let’s save it for the arena.”
Jerrod was the first to respond, perking at his master’s call. A trickle of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away, growled something under his breath, and backed off. Matthias took a step back and jerked at the cuffs of his black tuxedo, straightening it. He waited until Jerrod slipped out the side door before returning to the table, coolly ignoring the pressing crowd.
I raised my brows at him. “That was pretty territorial behavior for someone who claims to not be interested in me.”
Matthias withdrew his fangs and shrugged. “I’m a member of the Court. I would be remiss if I didn’t protect the baron’s daughter from harm.”
“Fair enough.” The music started again and the vampires around us started to drift away, but the ones who remained were fixated on us. All they needed was a bucket of popcorn to share. “You know, if this was a reality show, the producers would be wetting themselves with joy right about now. A slow dance followed by some witty banter and then a pair of brawlers in formalwear? It’s too perfect.”
“I’m glad you’re amused,” Matthias replied, his lips tensed again as he retook his seat.
“Oh, I assure you, I’m not.”