Page 26 of Sold to the Dark Vampire Prince

“He won’t talk to me. I need you to check in with him.”

Alex sighed. “He’s always been temperamental. Up one minute, down the next. He’ll talk when he’s ready.”

“And I’m telling you, something’s wrong this time. He’s been… extra distant. Avoiding my texts. I’m worried.”

“If he won’t talk to you, I highly doubt I’ll have any luck.”

“Well, you certainly won’t if you don’t even try.” His sister frowned. “Dante gets like this every winter. Maybe he’s not getting enough sun. I should check his vitamin D levels.”

“He’s twenty-five and an ICU nurse. He doesn’t need you to run labs for him like he’s five.”

“Maybe not, but a conversation with his older brother might help,” she snapped back.

“You’re right.” Alex rubbed his temples. “I’ll make the time to talk to him.”

“Thank you.” Sera looked away. “Have you heard from Isabella?”

“You should try messaging her.”

“I do, every day. She still won’t return my calls.” His sister shouldered her bag. “Be careful when you feed from Dani. She faints at the sight of blood.”

The suites on the upper floors of the estate had been remodeled with an eye for discretion and elegance. Alex got off the elevator at the top floor and made his way down the hallway. Soft recessed lighting gave the warm gold walls a honeyed glow. He hesitated outside the door to his room, tapping the keycard against the handle.

Pocketing it, he knocked softly.

Silence followed. He would have bet anything Dani was creeping closer to the door. Or possibly looking for something in the room to stake him with.

“It’s Zander.” He shoved both hands in his pockets, doing his best to appear non-threatening.

A beat passed, one where he definitely heard the pad of footsteps on the other side of the threshold. The scent of her blood, faint, but there, whispered through the ventilation system.

The raw ache at the back of his throat roared back with a vengeance. Alex swallowed as his hands started to shake, his fangs descending.

It had been three years since he’d last fed from anyone. Had he naively believed that time had earned him mastery over the monstrous side of his mind, the part of him that wanted to hunt and feed? Now, he wasn’t so sure if just that faint trace of her blood was enough to flip the switch, make him feel so wholly vampire in the things he suddenly craved to do to her.

Balling his hands into fists, he leaned against the wall, trying to force his head to clear. That was Daniela on the other side of that door. Daniela, who was terrified and alone. Daniela, who needed the friend she trusted, not a savage monster who thirsted for her like every single other man in the room she’d just escaped.

Even if he would be forced to drink from her whether he wanted to or not.

After a beat, the door opened. Dani peered out cautiously at him. She wore a black hoodie that he recognized as Sera’s over a white camisole and yoga pants that hugged her legs in a way he really shouldn’t be thinking about.

When he took a cautious step forward, she glared at the wall next to his head, hugging herself like she feared she’d never stop her arms from shaking.

“I thought I’m not allowed to call you that anymore, Your Highness.”

Turning on her heel, she stalked back into the room.

Wordlessly, Alex followed.

She was furious at him, and rightfully so. He’d lied to her. Correction, Zander had lied to her. She was also no doubt angry and frightened to find herself alone with him now that she knew who he really was, and even more terrified of the idea of actually feeding not only a vampire, but a prince.

He had to focus on the first part, the part of her no matter how small that once saw him not as Prince Alexander, but Zander, whose hockey team had no shot at ever winning the sector cup.

The friend who’d betrayed her, but who perhaps could earn her trust again with time.

Closing the door, he looked around the room. A grand four-poster bed stood in the middle of the space, covered by a rich burgundy duvet and matching pillows. His coat was draped across an armchair in the corner. A selection of wine, juices and fruit were set out at the bar area by the window where he could see the snow falling softly out in the courtyard. The glass atrium ceiling overhead was rumored to have been spelled by one of the fae to prevent snow buildup and to allow guests to watch winter storms.

Alex tried to decide where Sera would have advised he stand in order to make himself look less threatening to a frightened female who was shooting him nervous looks, even if she was trying to be subtle about it.