Chapter 1

Audrina

“What the FUCK?” I screamed. “Gabriel-help me! She’s a

vampire! She’s a fucking VAMPIRE!”

Those were my last words before Leonora launched herself at me, fangs bared.

She landed before me in a crouch, eyes blazing. “You didn’t know what we were?”

My entire body violently trembled. She was so close to me. Those fangs… “W-We?”

“Insipid human!” Leonora threw her head back and laughed. Her white-blond hair tumbled over the shoulders of her red gown, her fangs sparkled in the light. She was gorgeous but positively feral. “What have I been jealous of? The king tells you nothing, not even what he is.”

I swallowed hard. “I knew what he was-“

“Liar!” She hissed again and I almost peed myself. “You cannot hide from me. I can smell your deception, human.”

“Y-You should let me go.” I had to reason with her. “He won’t hurt you if you let me go.”

“Ha! My king will thank me for coming back to him, for returning to his bed-which has been too cold without his Leonora.” Her blue eyes flashed, challenging me.

“You’re broken up. You’re m-married to someone else now.” I took a tiny step backward. “Isn’t your husband looking for you?”

She bared her fangs. “I don’t care if he is. I’m reuniting with the king. It’s time I took my rightful place as his queen.”

I needed to keep her talking without enraging her. Every passing second was a chance for Gabriel to rescue me. “I

thought you left him. He was alone for a long time after, wasn’t he?”

“Yes, I was young and stupid when I chose Ivan. But my king mourned me because no one could take my place. He’s been alone forever.” A frown clouded her beautiful face. “Until now.”

She crouched lower, all the better to launch herself at me.

Fuck. “He’s not serious about me,”

I babbled. “This is only our first date. And as you said, he didn’t even tell me he was a v-vampire.”

“That’s because he was trying to trick you into his bed to be his eternal-love slave while earning points from his subjects for his conquest.” Still crouched, she rolled her eyes. “You are nothing but a pawn.”

“Is that-is that true?”

Leonora hissed. “It is the truth that Gabriel cares more about his kingdom than anything, even his neglected bed. But you’ve bored me enough-you’re out of time. How dare you try to take my king. Stupid virgin. It’s so annoying how the men turn into puddles around you!”

She tossed her hair again, a sly smile spreading over her face. “But I shall cheat them all; Leonora shall be the one to drain the virgin.”

She moved so fast that she was a blur. Before I could comprehend what had happened, she was standing right in front of me. She wrenched my head to the side, baring my neck.

“Ow! Please, don’t hurt me!” All I could think of was my sister. If I died, she would have no one.

Leonora inhaled deeply. “It won’t hurt…much.”

Icy fear needled my spine as I felt her cool breath against my skin. She dragged her fangs along my neck, stopping to inhale again. “Mmm, delicious. I suppose I can understand what he sees in you. Pardon, what he saw in you. For it shall be no more.”

She reared her head back, fangs bared and glittering.

Oh my god! I said a silent prayer that my sister would be okay.

“Audrina!”

Gabriel and two of his brothers burst into the room. Leonora cursed and tried to bite me, but Gabriel threw himself at her. As he leaped through the air, he snarled.

Then his fangs sprang out.

He landed on top of Leonora, knocking all three of us to the ground. I scooted away, my back against the wall.

“I WILL DRIVE A STAKE THROUGH YOUR HEART!” Gabriel roared. He clamped his hands around Leonora’s neck and choked her. She fought him, trying to wrench free, her eyeballs bugging out in her head. But she was no match for the king. He sat on top of her, pinning her to the ground, showing no mercy.

“Someone hand me a stake!” he bellowed.

“Gabriel, no!” Iulian was right behind him. “You can’t kill her the week before my wedding she’s Bianca’s cousin, for Christ’s sake!”

Stefan reached my side and carefully wrapped his arms around me, dragging me away. “Are you okay?”

“Y-Yes.” But tears sprang to my eyes. “I think she was about to bite me. With her fangs. Because she’s a v-vampire.”

“Yes, yes, but you’re all right now.” Stefan patted my hair.

“Stefan, get your freaking hands off of her!” Gabriel roared, his hands still clamped around Leonora’s throat.

Stefan calmly raised his hands.

“Brother, please. I am not attempting to hit on Ms. Hawthorne at the moment. But if you keep acting like an ass, I might change my mind—”

“Enough!” Gabriel turned back to Leonora, who had turned purplish. I will have your heart at stake, Leonora. You are a traitor. How dare you touch my Audrina. When I think what could have happened…” He squeezed her throat

tighter, and her eyes bulged.

“Brother, let her go,” Iulian said firmly. “We will send her to

supernatural prison. After the wedding, you may make a voodoo doll out of her for all I care. But we cannot have such a controversy right before my nuptials. The blame is clear-Leonora is the villain. But we must follow the rules of retribution. Your rules.”

The muscle in Gabriel’s jaw bulged as he slowly released his grip. Leonora spluttered and choked as she curled into the fetal position.

He leaned over her. “You are not fit to lick her boots. I shall see you humiliated in front of the entire court.”

“You…” She clutched her neck and wheezed. “I want you back…”

“You always were a fucking idiot.” He rose and turned to me. “My Audrina… Are you all right?”

I opened my mouth and then closed it.

And then I promptly burst into tears.

***

I woke up sometime later in the white bedroom next to Gabriel’s. It was quiet, dark. But of course, it was dark-we were underground, in the Dalcas’ lair.

Their vampire lair.

I sat up and wiped my face, then turned the light on. The chandelier came to life above me, sprinkling cheerful brightness into the room. But it was only for show, just like everything else.

He was a vampire. Gabriel was a vampire.

They’d taken Leonora away in shackles. And then Gabriel had carried me to my bedroom, positioning me carefully on the big, white bed.

“Audrina, I am so sorry. I didn’t want you to find out this way.”

I’d stopped crying long enough to tell him to get out, and then, completely overwhelmed, I’d cried myself to sleep.

I put my face in my hands. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t get the image of Leonora out of my mind. Her long, white hair, her eyes filled with hate, her glittering fangs. Her words rang inside my head. You didn’t know what we were?

Gabriel had told me he was the King of the Underworld. But I’d never guessed he was a vampire. No, Audrina, you thought he might be Batman…

When we’d first arrived in Charleston, he’d given me another chance to leave. But I hadn’t taken it-I’d taken a ride down the elevator instead. Because I was curious. Because I was excited, and let’s face it because he was so hot.

Not for the first time, I felt like a fucking idiot. 

I’d worn the gown he’d chosen for me. I’d asked his permission to kiss him in the elevator. I’d been giddy with desire. Having him touch me, feeling his attraction… Our bodies mingled together in the dark corner, his big palm against my sex, and then his mouth, oh my God… It had been the most exhilarating night of my life.

The worst part? It wasn’t just because of the sexiness. It wasn’t just because of the gorgeous gown, or the excitement of attending my first party. It was because of him.

This morning, head in my hands, body still vibrating with fear and disbelief, all I could think of was him.

What was the other thing that the terrible Leonora had said? He was trying to trick you into his bed to be his eternal-love slave. You are nothing but a pawn.

He’d meant something to me, but it had been a mirage—a trick.

And now I had to find a way to get out of the vampire king’s lair.


Chosen