21__I did what?!

Kamilla pouted sadly as she watched Viktor sleep. It was morning, but as usual in Onyx, the sky was covered by a thick blanket of clouds.

She sat cross-legged on the bed beside Viktor, watching him with concern. What? She, Kamilla Drew, hater of all arrogant Vampire Kings, was concerned for Viktor, most arrogant of all Vampire Kings?!
Yes, dammit! She was. Kamilla huffed. It was that wretched concern that had sent her back to him when she’d been an inch from freedom. That despicable concern that had her hand reaching out to softly stroke back his hair now.
She stroked the thick locks softly, unable to stop herself. His strong profile softened just a tad bit when he was asleep. His smart mouth soft and his frown erased.

Kamilla scoffed. He was King of Onyx. The most powerful man she’d ever met in her entire life, and yet, she who had no power, nor wealth… she had to protect him. The memory of the pain he’d gone through when Charming came out filled her head and Kamilla swallowed the lump in her throat. He’d been in so much pain.

She sighed. “Why won’t you wake up?” she whispered. “What’s wrong? Are you really, really hurt?”
Kamilla knew that the moment Viktor woke up, it could possibly become Armageddon because of what Charming did, but she still wanted to see the dark, seductive blue of his eyes. She missed him.
Like magic, her wish was granted. Kamilla’s hand froze in his hair when Viktor’s eyes opened. She gulped.
Slowly he blinked and turned his gaze to her and then up to her hand in his hair.

“What’s this? Are you trying to seduce me or something?” Viktor demanded, his voice husky from sleep.
Kamilla snatched her hand back, but couldn’t help the smile that curved her mouth.
“Viktor! Y-you’re awake.”
Eyeing her suspiciously, Viktor sat up beside Kamilla. “And just why are you so happy over the fact? Last I remember, you were trying to kill me.”
Kamilla waved that all away. “Oh, never mind that!” She shuffled closer, holding his hand in hers, all cheerfulness and smiles. “How do you feel? Are you alright? Should I ask Demetrius to make you a delicious casserole?”
Viktor’s eyes narrowed further and his gaze zeroed in on her hands around his. “Just what is this? Why are you being so nice? Did you plot my death while I was asleep?”
Kamilla gave him a look. “No! Geez.”
Viktor tilted his head. “Did you really miss me then?”

The question would have received an easy denial before, but now Kamilla knew that she had actually missed him. Blast! No matter. He couldn’t know that.
She pulled her hands away from his. “N-no.”
Kamilla made to shuffle away, but in a split second, he’d wrapped his hand around her neck, jerking her forward to seal her lips against his.
She made a sound closely resembling a squeak, stunned at Viktor’s sudden attack. An attack was exactly what it was. Kamilla’s defenses were currently down and it was like Viktor could feel that as he deepened the kiss, delighting in the taste of her. Damn, she tasted so good.

Kamilla’s eyes fell closed of their own will, her hand trailing up to cup his face as his lips moved hungrily against hers.
The doors burst open.
“Oh, my God!” screamed Kamilla as she went falling of the bed. “Ow!”
Viktor leaned over to look at her with a frown before turning to glare at Damon who stood in his doorway.
“Damon, what the hell are you doing?” he demanded.
Damon stalked. “What the hell am I doing?! Me? Why’re you asking me that when you signed off on a potential war!”
Viktor frowned and shook his head. “What the fuck are talking about?”

Damon huffed to calm himself and melodramatically flicked back his hair. “Viktor. You gave your word for an inter-Kingdom marriage! Not just with any kingdom, but with fucking Cassius!” Kamilla flinched from her spot on the floor. If Damon had been human, his face would’ve been red for sure. “And not any girl! God, Viktor, the Queen’s daughter?”

Kamilla blinked. Oh, no. That girl was the freaking princess of that Kingdom? Demetrius hadn’t mentioned that part! Damn this was all her fault! She shouldn’t have left Charming by himself.
Damon looked like he’d aged a few hundred years as he sunk into an armchair.

Kamilla looked at Viktor. He was staring at Damon with a very blank look on his face.
“I did… what?!” Viktor demanded. Kamilla resisted the urge to crawl under the bed.

Damon jerked up. “What do you mean? Demetrius told me all about it! You told those two you’d let them get married under you authority and that you’d even bless their damn wedding!”
Kamilla frowned.
Viktor’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly. “I… Damon, I… what?”

“Damon, it’s not Viktor’s fault. So stop giving him a hard time, okay. He’s been through enough!” Kamilla said with narrowed eyes. She understood that this was a shit show, but it wasn’t Viktor’s fault!
The man she was defending turned to her with narrowed eyes. “What do you know about this?”
Kamilla blinked. “Huh?”
“I had no hand in this disaster, Kamilla. If this was your doing, I suggest you come clean right now!”
Wait. Was he accusing her right now? After she defended him?!
Kamilla huffed and crossed her arms. “I… no! I mean, it was you, but… it wasn’t you! I didn’t…” She sighed and bit her bottom lip in frustration.
Damn, this was hard to explain.

Damon took a step forward. “Kamilla.”
She looked at him and he raised his brows for an explanation.
Kamilla pursed her lips. “Damon. It wasn’t… Viktor,” she said, trying to convey the secret message. Her heart eased when Damon’s face lit up with realization. Then he cursed.
“Fuck. How do we fix this?”
“What the hell is going on here?” Viktor demanded. He turned to Kamilla. “Why did you give permission for such an insane thing? Do you know what you’ve done?!”

Kamilla’s jaw dropped open. “I…” Trailing off, she silently shook her head. “You don’t understand. You were asleep—”
“And you couldn’t wake me?!” Viktor demanded with narrowed eyes. Did you do it on purpose? To fuck me over?”
Kamilla froze, staring at him with an open mouth. Was he serious right now?

“Viktor stop,” said Damon. “Before you say something you can’t take back.” He looked at Kamilla with apologetic eyes but she ignored him. Lowering her dark glare to the floor.
Great. Charming makes a mess and she has to take the blame.

“Make arrangements, Damon,” said Viktor, his sharp gaze on Kamilla. “We’re going to Cassius.”
With that, he threw off the covers as he got out of bed and stalked out of the room.
Kamilla’s glare followed him till he left. The moment he was gone, she grabbed her shoe from the foot of the bed and flung it at the empty doorway.
“That jerk!”
Damon hurried over to her. “Damn, I am so sorry—”
“Like hell! You know very well that I didn’t give the King’s word on that damn marriage! Charming did it, why should I take the blame?!”
Damon held out his palms in a placating manner. “Calm down, Kamilla. Think about this. This might be our only chance to avoid a war. Also, if Viktor thinks you did it, he won’t find out about Charming.”
Kamilla shoved her thumb and forefinger before Damon’s face. “I am this close! This close to telling him everything. All he has to do is talk to me like that one more goddamn time—”

“Damon!” Demetrius appeared at the door. He looked at Kamilla and did a little nervous bow. “Good morning, Kamilla. Uh, Damon… the elders are here.”

Damon tensed. “Shit.”

“Yeah. They’re pissed and they’re looking for an explanation as to why Cassius is declaring war.”