Ariana POV
"I'm going to spoil you, because I saved you from being a sacrifice. If you have a problem with that, I can always tip off my family."
Her heart sank. "That's not fair."
Handsome as sin, with silver-white hair like moonbeams and golden eyes, Prince Dimitri smirked and caressed her face. "I'm an undead creature, sweetheart. I've seen more history than you humans remember. You think I play by the rules? I assure you, I don't. So, accept the d*mn iPhone."
"I could look up the latest biotech news," she whispered.
He grinned. "Excellent choice, Ariana. My toy. And since I'm hundreds of years older, I want you to call me 'Daddy.' After all, your own family in Trenholm would sacrifice you to save their own skin. Say it. Say, 'Yes, Daddy."
Ariana's eyes lowered so he wouldn't glimpse the tears.
"Yes, Daddy," she whispered.
How did she get here?
Yesterday, she was Ariana Wilkins, college freshman from a working-class background studying biotechnology. Today, she was a princess and a vampire prince's toy.
How did she get here?
* * * * *
TWO MONTHS AGO
Ariana stooped to pick up her fallen books, even though she was late to class. She could take the extra two seconds to squat like a lady. Her late mother Rosalie's coaching rang in her ears: "Act like royalty, even though we no longer are."
A pale, lean hand picked up the book and handed it to her. Ariana looked up ... and up.
The tall, pale stranger in front of her smiled blindingly, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses. "Biotechnology Ethics. Interesting subject."
Blushing, Ariana stood and faced the stranger, whose black cashmere coat matched his glasses. He wouldn't be out of place in Milan or New York, but he definitely stuck out at Incline College, a small liberal arts college to which she'd won a scholarship. The vibe was urban. The kind of vibe where there were pep rallies and football games and lectures and the classic college experience. So what was Mr. Tall, Pale, and Handsome doing there?
"It keeps me on my toes. Especially now," she said, brushing her pale blonde hair out of her eyes. "Are you ... are you interested in the subject? Bioethics?"
He smirked. "I have a passing interest."
"Are you a student, then?"
"Here? No. I was in college a hundred years ago."
She burst out laughing, because he didn't look a day over twenty-five. "I would have said fifty, but I'm terrible about ages."
He smiled and extended a hand. "Miss Wilkins, I'm Prince Dimitri of the kingdom of Merak. I've come to find you ... Princess Ariana of Trenholm."
Prince?
How did he know who she was?
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
Her mother had drilled into her head that she must never reveal who she was. That they fled their kingdom because the royal family was corrupt. But then, her mother died of cancer.
Dimitri lowered his voice. "I know who you are, and if you want to live, you'll come with me. Pack your things, and I'll take you somewhere safe."
This all felt too creepy.
"I'm late for class. So, if the joke is over, I've got to go."
She marched off, not looking back at the prankster dude.
How could he expect her to believe that? She looked for a hidden camera, but everyone had a camera. It might be one of those prank shows where the hosts have to perform on camera and create the most outrageous situations. She could just imagine the announcer: "His task is to convince this gullible college student that he's a foreign prince."
Except he knew who she was.
Her instincts warned her about footsteps behind her. The path to the Life Sciences Building was largely clear, because most people probably made it to class ahead of her. D*mn her job in the Museum of Natural History. The tour she was giving ran over with people asking questions. Now she'd be late for Professor Lucard's class.
"Miss Wilkins."
Professor Lucard's voce made her spin around. What was he doing here? Shouldn't he be in the classroom?
"Professor, what are you--"
A rag covered her mouth, and she inhaled a sickly-sweet smell. Not chloroform. Some kind of knockout gas ...
She fainted.
The next thing she knew, her eyes fluttered open, and she sat in a darkened room, her mouth dry and her head foggy. Candle flames dotted the darkness like specks of flame.
With golden eyes, Lucard sat in front of her, beside a beautiful, pale young woman, one of the TAs in the class, Mirabel. Smirking, Lucard stared into her eyes. "Welcome to Merak, Princess. You cost us a lot of money and resources, and I had to endure the farce you call your American higher education system, but finally, you're here, ready to fulfill your destiny."
He opened his mouth, and sharp fangs glistened. A whiff of blood clung to him.
Oh God.
Panic set in.
She struggled against the ropes that bound her to a wooden chair. "Professor Lucard ... Oh God ... that spells Dracula backwards. Almost."
Mirabel, elegant with lots of black hair cascading down and her curvy body poured into a red-and-black confection of a gown, smiled smugly. "Such a naive little human. The lost princess. It's almost a pity ... you'd make some vampire a lovely pet. Teacher's pet. But tradition must be upheld, and you cut it close. We found you, of course, thanks to the Internet. You'll make a beautiful sacrifice."
Ariana stared in horror, and dug her nails into her thighs to try and wake herself up. She was nearly naked, except for a red silk teddy.
Lucard added, stroking her thigh, "Every fifty years, a princess of Trenholm is sacrificed to the vampire royal family of Merak. As the oldest, I get to drink your blood. And I think you'll be the most delicious meal I ever had. But, my sweet little virgin, I promise to take your innocence before you die. After all, you were an A student. You deserve a merciful death."
Now, Ariana understood her mother being so fanatical about keeping their heads down, not going to Europe, trying not to draw attention to themselves. Ariana's social media was full of science posts and motivational quotes.
"Playing with your food again, brother?"
Ariana squeezed her eyes shut, hearing Dimitri's voice.
"The privileges of being born first," drawled Lucard, or whatever his name was.
"Well, you're going to scare her to death, and her blood won't taste good. contrary to popular myth."
Vampires were real, and she'd blindly trusted two of them.
"Why my family?" she asked.
Mirabel sounded syrupy sweet. "Please, don't bother yourself about that now. The ritual starts in a few minutes. Make your peace with your God, whatever God you believe in. The merciful part is, no one will really miss you. That messy roommate of yours who lets her boyfriend turn your room into his own personal pigsty? Your father's family doesn't care. They never liked your mother, anyway."
That stung.
"Give me death with dignity," she snarled.
"That's my job," Dimitri added. "Clear out, both of you. I have to prepare her. That's my job as the youngest prince."
"I wish you'd been the host of a TV practical joke reality show," Ariana muttered.
Lucard laughed. "I like her. I'll enjoy draining her ... and taking her virginity."
She listened to their footsteps fading, then tried to break free of the ropes that cut into her flesh. She wasn't going to die here.
"Look at me, pet."
Her eyes flew open and she saw Dimitri scowling at her. His gorgeous face looked fearsome, his fangs glistening, and his eyes glowing golden. He had pointed ears like Spock.
"I can save you," he said with urgency. "I can get you out of here and take you away. I can even give you your education ... but not at Incline College. I can make sure you're safe from my family's barbaric traditions."
"How?"
"Become my pet, my mistress. My sugar baby. Forever."