Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The Road to Fun
Hardin's POV
I stared out the window, completely bored. My traveling companions were even more boring than a funeral. Betty seemed lost in her own thoughts—or maybe she was thinking about how boring the one driving was too.
I lifted my eyes to the rearview mirror and caught his frown. He was focused on the road, and I couldn't understand how the hell even this boring road managed to keep him frowning.
— Amos... are you trying to bore me to death? I asked.
I caught his eyes on me in the mirror. The same cold stare. The same answer...
Nothing.
I threw myself back against the seat and let out a deep sigh.
— Betty... I complained.
She glanced back over her shoulder.
— Stop whining so much. We've only been gone from the valley for an hour, and all I've heard is your constant complaining. That's enough, puppy. My ears hurt. Be a good boy and sit quietly back there. We'll be in New York in a few hours, then we'll leave for Vegas.
I looked at her for a moment before closing my eyes. I could feel their irritation—especially his. He felt like a mountain of nerves, and honestly, I had no idea what irritated him so much. Being around me should've been a pleasure. Everyone back in the valley loved having me around. Only he found me just as annoying as I found him.
— Amos... how old are you? I asked without even realizing I'd been wondering about that for quite a while.
— One thousand one hundred years old, Betty answered.
I raised an eyebrow at her.
— Oh... now I understand why you always seem so uptight. Imagine having that stick shoved up your ass for a thousand years. I teased him before continuing. — But seriously... how old were you when you died?
— Twenty-six, Betty answered again.
I could immediately feel Amos's irritation directed at her.
— Twenty-six? Seriously? Man... you should start using some face cream. Your face is going to age early if you keep wearing that frown between your eyebrows all the time.
I heard Betty chuckle softly and turned my attention toward her.
— And how old are you, miss?
She smiled over her shoulder.
— I died when I was twenty-two... seven hundred years ago. My father is the head of the Vegas family.
— Now that sounds interesting. I can't wait to meet him. I'm sure he's a lot more fun than the one driving this car.
— Someone has to look after children, Amos finally said.
I turned my eyes toward him.
— A child? That's what you think I am? Please, Amos. I'm pretty sure you heard those girls in the forest the other day. Do you really think a child could make girls sound like that?
— Nothing impressive. And of course it boosted your ego. You're the King's son. No one wants to bruise that enormous and fragile ego of yours.
I glared at him.
I let out a low growl before dropping back into my seat while Betty burst into laughter.
I crossed my arms over my chest and kept glaring at him.
His presence annoyed me.
The way he talked annoyed me.
Everything about him annoyed me.
This was going to be an incredibly boring trip.
And I had absolutely no intention of speaking to him ever again.
#
I felt someone shove me, and I opened my eyes abruptly.
Amos was nudging me with one hand, gesturing toward the building in front of us.
I lifted my gaze through the windshield and saw the castle Grandpa Ivan had told me about. It was filled entirely with vampires...
And somehow, that sounded amazing.
I figured maybe vampires were far more entertaining than the wolves from my parents' pack.
Well... not Amos.
But the others surely had to be.
I climbed out of the car and headed toward the enormous entrance, taking in everything around me.
We stepped inside, and I found myself in a massive entrance hall with an impressive staircase rising before us.
I could both see and feel countless eyes fixed on me, so I looked right back at them.
— Hi! I greeted them, raising my hand with a grin. — I'm Hardin.
— Your Highness...
I noticed a slim blond boy hurrying toward me, moving so smoothly he almost looked like he was floating.
My eyes drifted down to his feet.
— Man... you look like you're levitating.
He raised an eyebrow.
— May I help you with your luggage?
I turned toward Amos.
— No. He can handle that. But you... you can show me around.
I grabbed the boy by the arm and pulled him along with me.
He looked slightly panicked and glanced back toward Amos.
I did the same and caught the irritation on Amos's face.
A satisfied grin spread across my lips.
Now that was proper revenge for what he'd said in the car.
— How many of you are here? I asked the boy.
— What's your name?
— There are only about forty of us here, the staff. My name is Alan.
I stopped in my tracks and frowned.
Grandpa Ivan had told me there were hundreds of vampires here partying every night.
What the hell?
Had I seriously picked the worst possible time to visit?
— Grandpa Ivan and Grandpa Nazir told me there were hundreds of vampires like you here. Where is everyone?
— His Majesty Nazir ordered that only the staff remain in the castle, he replied.
I rolled my eyes.
— You know what, Alan? Just take me to my room. This place is already becoming boring.
I muttered irritably.
I couldn't believe Grandpa Nazir had done this to me when he knew perfectly well I wanted to see how vampires actually had fun.
Alan turned around, and I followed him down a long hallway, my eyes wandering over the walls covered with paintings.
He opened a door and stepped aside, inviting me in.
The room was spacious enough.
I motioned for him to leave.
I wasn't in the mood for pointless conversations anymore.
My luggage was already there.
A crooked smile tugged at my lips.
Looks like Amos had moved fast.
I walked back out into the corridor and glanced around the enormous hallway.
Closing my eyes, I tried to catch his scent.
He was surprisingly close.
I headed toward the door next to mine and, without bothering to knock, pushed it open and walked in.
Then I stopped.
Amos wore nothing but a bath towel wrapped around his waist.
Water dripped from his long hair, tracing slow paths over his toned body.
My eyes followed those droplets as they slid over his skin...
Then they widened as I realized what the hell I was doing.
— Your Highness... he said irritably.
— I think I spent twenty years teaching you manners for absolutely nothing.
— Sorry... no... your hair is long? I asked, walking closer to him and studying him more carefully.
— Why do you always keep it tied back? It looks good like this. It makes you look more... more...
— While you're searching for the right word, would you mind leaving my room? he interrupted.
I frowned at him.
— Where's Betty? I asked instead, looking around his bedroom.
My eyes landed on a portrait hanging on the wall.
— Okay... who's that ugly guy?
— My father.
I bit my lip.
Damn...
— Oh... right... maybe the painter just didn't do him justice, I tried to recover from what I'd just blurted out.
— Hardin... what do you want?
I turned back toward him.
My eyes immediately drifted once more to his bare torso.
He looked like a completely different person with his hair down.
More...
More attractive?
— I'm bored, I admitted.
He rolled his eyes.
— I get the feeling your parents were bored when they made you.
— What do you want, Hardin? What do you want to do? he asked, sounding completely exasperated.
— I want to go out. I want a club. I want....
I never finished.
Something moved so fast I barely caught it before it leaped straight into Amos's arms.
— Amos!
A husky voice echoed through the room.
I watched as the man wrapped around him leaned in toward Amos's lips.
I remained frozen, staring at them with a frown.
— Asher, Amos said quickly, pushing away the man who was demanding his attention.
He looked toward me before gesturing to the man beside him.
The stranger slowly looked me up and down.
— Who's the mutt? he asked.
Heat rushed through me instantly.
— Asher... Amos warned.
— He is...
— His Highness Hardin, I cut in coldly, lifting my chin as I looked down at him.
The man's eyes widened immediately.
He bowed slightly.
— Forgive me, Your Highness.
That only irritated me even more.
— Who the hell are you? I asked, turning back to Amos.
— Are you two together?
I didn't know why...
But I hated the fact that he'd kissed Amos.
And I hadn't even known Amos liked men.
Damn it...
I simply didn't like it.
— Hardin, please... go to your room, Amos said calmly. — We'll go wherever you want tonight, but right now I need to talk to... my boyfriend.
The words only made me angrier.
Who the hell did he think he was, throwing me out of his room because of that guy?
I stormed out, slamming the door behind me before walking into my own bedroom.
— Damn it, Amos... I'm going to make your life miserable, I muttered through clenched teeth.
...
Much later that night, the three of us were sitting in the VIP section of an underground club.
Betty was already on the dance floor with a few vampires.
I could smell the blood in their glasses, and it was enough to make my stomach turn.
— Hey, handsome...
I heard a woman's voice and looked up.
A blonde who was wearing far less than she wasn't smiled seductively at me.
— Want to dance?
I got to my feet, but Amos's hand caught my wrist.
I rolled my eyes and turned toward him, raising an eyebrow.
— Your Highness... be careful, he said, a hint of concern in his voice.
I smiled at him sarcastically.
Leaning closer, I grinned with satisfaction when I saw the irritation flash across his face because of our sudden closeness.
— Oh... my dear Amos... if you only knew how to enjoy yourself a little, I'm sure you'd be much more... much more...
I pretended to think for a moment.
— Hmm... no. You'd still be boring.
I stood up and walked away with the blonde.
We reached the dance floor and started moving to the music together.
Somehow, though...
I could still feel his eyes on me.
That man was like a stone pillar—rigid and completely without charm.
I pushed the thought aside.
He could stare all he wanted.
I intended to enjoy the gorgeous body now rubbing itself against mine.
— Your Highness... would you like to try a drug? the blonde asked.
I raised an eyebrow.
— Nothing works on me, I answered quietly.
— Oh... I promise you, this one will.
She winked at me.
— Open your mouth.
I did exactly as she asked.
She placed a tiny white pill on my tongue.
She began dancing even closer to me, and little by little, I started feeling lighter...
More euphoric.
I liked it.
That pleasant numbness.
The dizzy euphoria.
The way she pressed herself against me.
Tonight was definitely becoming interesting.
I cupped her face and kissed her.
Everything around me began to spin.
We kept dancing, our bodies brushing together.
I opened my eyes...
Only to collide with Amos's.
He was watching me with a strange expression.
For some reason, my body grew even hotter.
Then the warmth turned into anger.
That guy...
Asher...
He reached up, turned Amos's face toward him...
...and kissed him.
