The Vampire Princess and the mate curse

Chapter 6

-PIPPA-

"Make a wish, sweetheart," my mom said, her voice warm as I hovered over the cake, knife poised.

She had wanted to add candles, but I vetoed the idea—cake tastes better without spit.

I wasn’t sure what to wish for. I didn’t want something shallow, and a generic answer like world peace was out of the question. So I settled for something simple: finding happiness in love.

"Want a piece?" I asked my dad, even though I already knew the answer. A vampire through and through, he rarely touched human food. Today, he was sipping from his glass—anyone untrained would think it was wine, but we knew better. It was blood.

"Make it a small piece, Pike," he said, using my nickname.

He claimed it was because I loved being in the water. My mom said it was because I wasn’t the easiest person. The twins, however, insisted it was because I smelled like fish, mostly Helios, who used to tease me as a kid, sniffing my neck with a dramatic grimace.

Thankfully, he’d outgrown that habit.

"Hmmm, this is delicious!" my mom moaned after taking a bite. My father raised a brow at her, the side of his lips tilting up. She shot him a glance, clearly saying something through their mind-link.

"Anyway," she said, turning to me, "when are you heading to the club, Pippa?"

"In about an hour," I answered, glancing at my watch. "The twins are picking me up. But don’t worry, Selene’s driving us tonight. She won’t drink."

Selene, the twins’ younger sister, was almost nineteen and the sweetest person in the world. With her black hair and fair skin, she was the complete opposite of her siblings, who thrived on fighting and partying. She preferred quiet nights at home, lost in a book for hours.

"Are you seriously wearing that?" My mom asked, eyeing my oversized sweater like it had personally offended her. "Isn’t it too warm for a closed space?"

She loved fashion but was far too kind to outright criticize me. This was her way of telling me I looked like a hobo.

"No, I’ll wear a dress." Then, turning to my father, I added, "A bright red one. Your soldiers won’t have any trouble spotting me in the crowd."

He had packed the club with his vampires tonight. Even after our conversation at the Silver Moon pack, he wasn’t relaxing his grip on my safety. He was still worried.

"Good," he muttered, taking a bite of cake. He grimaced. He hated it but was clearly enduring it for my birthday. "Sasha and his men will follow your car to the club as well."

"Petru… is this really necessary?" My mom’s tone softened in gentle protest, though she knew it was a losing battle. My father was far too stubborn to back down on matters that were important to him. And nothing mattered more to him than his family.

"Well, it’s not too late for us to tag along," he teased. "We could ditch the soldiers and join the kids at the club. What do you say, little eagle? Want to show off that pretty body on the dance floor tonight?"

"Hell no!" I protested. That would completely ruin my night. "The soldiers stay. Just tell them to keep their distance." I pushed back my chair. "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready."

I made a beeline for my room, slipping into a silk dress with delicate spaghetti straps that paired perfectly with deep red lipstick and black heels.

Tonight, I was turning twenty-one, and I wanted to look my best.

I wanted Helios to finally see me as a woman, not a child.

I was finishing curling my hair when the doorbell rang. As I descended the stairs, Helios was already deep in conversation with my parents.

The moment his eyes landed on me, something in his expression changed. Heat flickered in his gaze, sharp and deliberate, sending goosebumps across my skin. Maybe—just maybe—I had a chance.

Of course, my dad noticed too. Nothing ever escaped the formidable Petru, and he shot Helios a murderous look. Helios must have sensed the incoming storm because he straightened slightly. But before my dad could say anything, my mom gracefully pulled him aside, giving us a knowing smile.

"Have a nice evening," she said lightly, steering my father toward the kitchen before he could launch into an interrogation.

Dawn's voice shattered the moment.

"Oh wow, Pippa! You look so hot!" Dawn squealed, giving a little jump as her eyes zeroed in on my bare legs. "You’re dressed to kill!"

Helios shot her a look, but she only shrugged. "What? She does! That dress is going to break some serious hearts tonight." Her mouth curved in a wicked grin.

"Thanks," I said, smirking. "You have great taste. I’d never have picked this for myself." Dawn had spent hours helping me find the perfect dress earlier this week. I had wanted something more modest, but she insisted that if I wanted Helios’ attention, I had to ditch the nun look.

Yes, she knew I was in love with him. Honestly, sometimes I wondered if anyone hadn't noticed already.

"Can I use your makeup? Selene ‘forgot’ to bring some," she asked, dragging her poor sister forward by the hand. Not that Selene needed it—her gray eyes were striking enough on their own.

"Sure. First drawer in the bathroom. Try not to steal my lipstick!" I shouted before they disappeared upstairs.

Once they were gone, Helios took a step closer, his crooked smile making my pulse stutter.

"You look stunning, princess," he murmured. "I have something for you."

He fished a velvet box from his pocket, flipping the lid open to reveal a necklace—a delicate platinum chain with a diamond pendant shaped like a water droplet.

"It’s beautiful!" I gasped. "I love it."

"It’s because you love water so much," he said, his voice softer now. "This way, you can always keep it close."

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. "Will you put it on me?"

I turned my back on him, lifting my hair.

His fingers skimmed my neck, feather-light, as he fastened the clasp. The simple touch sent tingles cascading through me, and I fought the urge to lean into him. His breath was hot against my skin, lingering at my nape.

The sensation was so sharp, so overwhelming, that I let my eyes flutter shut for a brief moment.

When I turned back to face him, his gaze had darkened.

"It looks good on you," he said, voice low, his eyes grazing over me in a way that made my stomach tighten. Dressed in a button-up blue shirt, he looked devastatingly handsome. "Happy birthday."

I wanted to kiss him. Really kiss him. But I didn’t trust myself to stop at a simple thank-you.

Instead, I flashed him a slow smile, letting my tongue flick over my lips.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then Dawn’s voice cut through the tension.

"Ready to go! This was the best I could do with such a difficult client and so little time," she grumbled, gesturing toward Selene’s face. "I’m still hurt you refused to wear fake lashes," she added, directing the complaint at her sister.

"Oh, please. The club is so dark, no one will notice. Besides, my lashes are long enough," Selene argued.

"Sue me for wanting my little sister to show off how gorgeous she is," Dawn huffed. Then, turning to the door, she announced, "Let’s go. I have a thirst that only gin can quench."

Selene followed her out.

As Helios clasped his hand around mine, pulling me close, my heartbeat quickened.

I took a breath, steadying myself as we stepped over the threshold. Tonight wasn’t just another night—tonight would change everything.

And this time, I was making sure of it.