I muttered under my breath.
Levi glanced over. “What?”
“Nothing,” I said. “I just hate the Vampyre rag magazines and the feeling is mutual.”
He nodded curtly and said nothing more.
We stood outside of the massive door to the Grand Ballroom and waited for our entrance.
“Feeling wanky,” I said, bouncing on my toes and making sure my black Prada cocktail dress was pristine and my crown was securely on my head. The seventy-five or so Vamps who lived at the compound liked me—or at least respected me. However, I was sure there would be many in attendance who did not.
“Why wanky?” Levi inquired, giving me a side glance. “You’re wearing a damn crown. Doesn’t that just say it all?”
“Up yours,” I snapped. “It’s for good luck. I’m about to enter a room where most of the inhabitants want me dead.”
“Call me crazy,” Levi shot back, “but as far as I can tell, you already are.”
“Not helping,” I hissed.
“Not trying,” he replied. “How am I doing with that?”
“Fantastic,” I shot back with a grin, happy his rudeness was back.
“Enough, unless you want everyone to hear you. We’re dealing with Vampyre hearing,” Ethan reminded both of us. “We’ll be announced when we enter. After the applause, we will go directly to the throne. Our guests will be presented to us.”
“Over the top much?” Levi muttered.
I actually agreed, but I was on Ethan’s side here. Not my dicky brother’s.
“Umm… do we knock?” I asked.
“No,” Ethan said, winking at me. “We wait.”
We hadn’t hosted a formal royal gathering yet. The members of Ethan’s family who I knew, I adored. They were easy and loving—and deadly, but that was a given in our world. This new twist was going to give me hives. I was a very un-princess-y Princess. Hell, several years ago I was a human art teacher to senior citizens. Royalty wasn’t my thing. However, Ethan was my thing, and I would die for him. Lots of baggage came with the deal, but it was a small price to pay for unconditional love… and insanely amazing sex.
Plus, having my asshat of a brother narrating my insecurities wasn’t helping.
Maybe I shouldn’t have worn the crown. It was a bit much. It felt as if I was playing a role that didn’t quite fit.
Maybe I could hide it in a potted plant…
The doors swung open and hundreds of pairs of eyes turned expectantly.
Crap. Too late.
My stomach clenched, but I plastered a smile on my face and held my obnoxiously jeweled head high. I was more powerful than anyone in the room. They knew it and I knew it. However, I still felt like the outsider at the cool kids’ party.
“Holy shit,” Levi muttered with a laugh. “This is apparently the place to be.”
“Or not,” I said, discreetly elbowing him. “You’re one Demon amongst about four hundred undead. Not good odds for you.”
“Not worried,” he replied easily. “My little sister will protect me.”
My stomach danced with happy butterflies at his words. I glanced over at him to see if he was serious. I wasn’t sure. Levi had his bored game face on. However, he was correct. I would incinerate anyone who messed with him. I was already unpopular. I may as well cement my reputation by defending a Demon.
“The Prince and Princess have arrived,” a kiss-ass, uppity Vamp who I didn’t recognize announced. “I present to you Ethan, Vampyre Prince of the North American Dominion, and Astrid, Vampyre Princess of the North American Dominion.”
“Astrid is also the Chosen One,” Ethan reminded the bloodthirsty assemblage.
All bowed their heads in reverence. Levi snickered. I flipped him off while the Vamps’ eyes were lowered. Ethan shot both of us a look.
“And your guest?” the Vamp inquired, raising his head and staring with barely disguised disgust at Levi.
If the dead man lived here, he would be finding a new residence and job very soon. No one was going to make my brother feel less than.
“Wrangler,” Levi said before Ethan or I could get a word out. “Lord Wrangler Tough Skins.”
Ethan’s eyes grew wide for a millisecond. I bit down on my lip so I wouldn’t laugh. Levi kept beating me at my own game. Truth be told, he was kicking my undead ass. Second truth… I wasn’t bothered one little bit.
The Vampyre who announced us looked terribly confused and glanced at Ethan for confirmation.
“You heard the man,” Ethan said in an icy tone, which made the Vampyre pale. “Announce him.”
“Yes, yes, of course, my Liege,” the pompous asshat stuttered. “Accompanying the Prince and