Passion of the Vampire King (Blood Fire Saga Book 5) by Bella Klaus (best motivational books txt) 📗

offered Valentine what I hoped was a perky smile. It wasn’t like I would have attended any of my classmates’ ceremonies, even if they had sent me an invitation. “After they took photos of us in our gowns, Aunt Arianna and I went home together and had a special dinner we ordered from the Hatch. Then I got to enjoy a few weeks off before starting as an intern with Sargon Property Holdings.”

The corners of Valentine’s eyes tightened. The expression wasn’t quite a wince, but it suggested that his own beneficium ceremony had been a grand affair with lots of family, friends, and well-wishers. He had been brought up as a prince, in the pinnacle of vampire society, and grew up knowing he was destined for something great.

He exhaled a long breath. “I’m sorry—”

“I’m not,” I said, meaning every word. “London was my fresh start. If I was the kind of person who liked having lots of people around me, I would have gone to more Meetups or made more of an effort to socialize. I had Istabelle, who was wonderful, and once I found Beatrice, I was completely content.”

He inclined his head, seeming to understand. It wasn’t like Valentine was a huge socializer himself. He performed his duties, attended functions for work, but preferred to spend quality time with a single person, just like me.

“Then, allow me the honor of guiding your initiation,” he said with a smile.

Elation rushed through my heart, making me feel like I might float into the void like a helium balloon. The reasons for my happiness were two-fold. First, accessing my power would help me restore Valentine and save Kain from being forced to become the king. Second, I would officially become a shifter.

No matter how many times Valentine or Istabelle or Aunt Arianna had assured me that not having magic didn’t affect the quality of a person’s character, I still felt something was lacking. This insecurity was why memories of the taunting I suffered at the Academy still hurt and why I had felt so alarmed when we’d bumped into Karsten at Gourmande.

Valentine ran a hand down my bare arm, sending ripples of pleasure across my skin. “Are you ready?”

I met his eyes, swallowing hard at the intensity of his gaze. This had to be the kind of thing a person did surrounded by all their friends and family and neighbors. Witches and wizards didn’t go through this kind of rite of passage, but at a time like this, it would have been fitting to have Aunt Arianna to watch over me. Or Aurora.

But Aurora was dead with her soul confined to Hell, and I still didn’t know if Aunt Arianna had remained in Ireland or continued to Atlantis. My heart sank. Now that Beatrice knew about the Supernatural World, I would have wanted her to attend this ceremony. And Istabelle.

Tears stung the backs of my eyes, and I lowered my gaze to his chest. This was supposed to be a happy moment.

“Innamorata?” Valentine held me by the shoulder, breaking me out of my musings. “Are you having second thoughts about the rite?”

“No.” I raised my eyes, meeting his worried gaze. “I can’t help thinking that it’s something I would have wanted to do with everyone I love, and not in a place like this.”

“Ah,” he said, seeming to understand. “We can always put a beneficium rite in our wedding.”

“Won’t that be unusual?” I pictured myself standing next to a Valentine clad in form-fitting golden breeches and a tight waistcoat, with me standing next to him in a white gown, trying not to drool.

He shook his head and smiled. “Royal weddings are exceptionally long, since you’ll also be crowned my queen consort. An extra hour won’t make much of a difference, and I want my people to see the extent of your power.”

Warmth filled my chest, and I wrapped my arms around Valentine’s neck. His words were enough to soften the impact of Prince Draconius’s awful comments and the humiliation of being rejected on the palace steps. Everyone who had ever mocked me or considered me an inferior would have to choke on their harsh words.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

Valentine patted me on the back, pressing a kiss on my temple. “The sooner we complete this, the sooner you can regain your powers.”

“You’re right.” I drew back, my insides brimming with excitement. “What do I have to do?”

“In the actual ceremony, an elder of your species will guide you through this rite. Considering your rank in our society, the only person appropriate to conduct it will be the Shifter King.”

I nodded. “Do you do this for vampires?”

“Some.” He placed his hands on my shoulders and guided me to sit.

I lowered myself onto the floor, crossed my legs, and waited for the rite of passage to begin.

“For vampires, the rite is about connecting to the core of their power, which we replenish with small quantities of blood,” Valentine said, the deep timbre of his voice filling me with inspiration. “If the young person hasn't gotten their fangs, the rite’s magic will encourage them to descend.”

Valentine lowered himself onto the floor behind me and sat with his chest pressed against my back and his long legs settled on the outside of mine. The warmth of his body engulfed me, encasing me with a sense of being protected that I hadn’t felt since the penthouse.

“How does the rite work for shifters?” I asked.

“At this stage, the shifter would have performed multiple exercises to transform body parts into their animal,” Valentine said, his voice lulling me into a deep state of relaxation. “The rite merely helps their mind connect to the animal’s soul.”

I reclined against his broad chest, savoring our closeness, and inhaling his sandalwood and musk scent. “Have you performed this with a shifter in your past?”

Valentine’s chuckle reverberated across my back. “Curious?”

“That depends,” I said. “Was it a former lover?”

“Yes.” He pressed a kiss on the shell of my ear. “I can assure you that this