Ch 1- Let’s drink to a new beginning

Maya 

The hot afternoon sun streamed in through the draperies as I stared at my room floor. “What are you planning to do now?” Valerie asked in a hushed whisper, as she clutched my arm fearfully. Valerie wasn’t just my personal servant, she was my best friend and ally. She was the head chef's daughter, but when her mother died, my father took her in and appointed her as my private maid and companion. She was supposed to keep me out of trouble, but she constantly failed miserably at that task. 

“I’m going to sneak in there and find out what’s going on,” I muttered.

“Maya, you will get caught! And your father will punish you if he sees you. Please reconsider.” She pleaded, as her fingers tightened around my arm, but I shook her off impatiently.

“I won’t get caught and I have made up my mind.” I smoothed down my pleated skirt. If there was one thing I was very skillful at, it was being invisible, especially when it came to my father and my eldest brother. I touched my lips and left my room, starting to creep along the wall. I could hear male voices coming from the grand hall. 

It was strange that father had taken a guest into the grand hall, instead of his study or the smaller patio. Whoever the guest was, must be a noble and very influential person. I pressed my back against the wall just outside the hall and took a sharp breath. 

This was the riskiest part, sneaking into the door to the heavy curtains that hung across the windows on the back wall. If anyone was watching the door, then they would certainly notice the movement. I eased my head around the door frame. 

My father sat at the head table, one arm leaning on the surface. My brother sat to his right, facing the doorway, but their gazes were fixed on the guest, who had his back to the door. The only thing I could ascertain about his appearance was that he was very tall and broad-shouldered, and his sandy blonde hair was styled in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. 

I made a quick dash from the door to the velvety curtains. There was enough space for me to slide my slender body behind the drapery without pulling the fabric. I slid along the wall, no doubt coating the back of my skirt with dust, spider webs, and crusted remains of dead insects. It was obvious that the servants had not been doing their duties diligently. 

I moved from one drape to another until I was close enough to hear their conversations clearly. And also, to see the mysterious and influential guest. 

He had a handsome face that was neither young nor old. His nose was pointed, his mouth firm and steely. His skin was deathly pale which made his molten golden eyes more striking. He wore a long red coat and an old-fashioned black shirt with a high, laced collar and high leather boots polished to a black shine. 

Immediately an icy sensation crawled over my skin. I was certain I had never seen that man before but at the same time he seemed strangely familiar. Like I had seen him in my dreams or maybe my mind is playing tricks on me. 

I moved my eyes to my brother who was tapping his fingers on the oak table, a clear indication that he was anxious. “But Maya is still young,” he objected. “She just turned twenty-one a few months ago.” 

My blood ran cold. They were discussing me but why on earth would my father, and my brother be discussing me with the strange deathly pale guest?

“Twenty-one is old enough for marriage.” The golden-eyed man said calmly. 

“Yes! You are right,” my father shot my brother a warning glare. “She is of a marriageable age, Lord Draken. A union between a werewolf and a vampire would certainly strengthen the bond between the two kingdoms.” 

My ears started to prick up. Marriage? Between werewolf and vampire? I felt a wave of dizziness sweep over me and I leaned harder on the wall to steady myself. 

Surely I must have misunderstood their discussion. My father and brother could not possibly be trading me off. No! It can’t be.

“I’m glad we could come to an agreement,” Lord Draken said. He had a smooth voice that was pleasant to listen to. Almost mesmerizing. Too bad his words were making me sick to my stomach.

My father clapped his hands and squealed like an excited teenager, “It’s settled then. We will deliver Maya to your fortress on the next pearl moon. Sedgwick! Bring the vino.” 

Sedgwick, my father's favorite servant, hurried in with a pot of wine and filled three golden chalices with red fermented grape wine. He then quickly backed away, like he was scared to turn his back to them. He didn't normally behave that way with Father, so I could only assume that he knew what Draken was, and he was terrified of him. He passed just a few feet from my hiding spot. I held my breath but Sedgwick never glanced my way. 

When he had gotten a safe distance away from the table, he turned and hurried back to his station by the small hallway that connected the grand hall to the patio. 

“It’s concluded!” Lord Draken lifted his goblet, but I noticed he never brought it to his lips. “I’ll have my men deliver the bridal inheritance as soon as I return. I look forward to a long and happy future as your partner, Alpha Russell.”

“Let’s drink to a new beginning,” My father lifted his goblet, and drank, gulping down the strong wine till the chalice was empty. He set it back down on the table with a bang. “We’ve always had a peaceful relationship, Lord Draken.”

“Yes,” the man agreed affably, setting down his untouched goblet of wine. “But now we will be more than peaceful neighbours. We will be a family.” A cold smile curved his handsome red cherry lips. “I am now your daughter’s spouse.” 

My brother choked on his wine and dribbled some down his chin. I reached behind me and clawed at the wall, desperate to hold on to something, anything as the room started to spin. I knew my father didn’t like me, but I had no idea he would do something so cruel as to marry me off, no, sell me off to a vampire lord.

Just how much did Draken promise him as a bride settlement?