Opulent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) by Isabelle Gallo

blood. He pressed his arm to my lips, but I turned sharply at the taste of the toxic, sour tasting blood. I coughed loudly and looked up at him.
    “That is disgusting.”
    “Continue,” he ordered and pressed his arm back to my lips again.
                  It was horrible, and I choked, but found my head was beginning to clear. Fragments of memory came to me and one thing became obvious – I did not love this vampire and I needed to go back to Catastrophe, my home.
                  With this in mind, I refused to continue with the Ceremony. I just knew it was not supposed to be like this. The Blood Ceremony confirmed a bond. What bond did I have with Pete?
    “Continue,” he demanded once I refused yet again.
    “Fitzray,” I whispered.
    “What? What did you say?”
    “Fitzray,” I whispered, “I know that name.”
                  Pete uttered a deep growl and tossed me off his lap, onto the floor.
    “Don’t you dare say that name ever again,” he raged. “If you know what’s best for you.”
                  He stood up and looked down at me with an icy glare. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me to my feet and held me tightly in place.
    “What will you do to me?”
    “I will make you forget,” he laughed and tried to kiss me when I turned away.
    “I don’t love you,” I spat.
    “You don’t have to, but it can only help since there is no way you can escape me. Why do you think I created this planet?”
    “So I will never go to Catastrophe again?”
    “What for? You have a planet all for yourself.”
    “But I have no past…no life .”
    “Yes you do, but you have no need for it. You have started a new life.”
    “You mean you have started a new life?”
                  He shook his head and frowned. “I have used far too much power for it to be considered that I would be starting a new life. I have used my power for both of us.”
    “Well, I want my old life back.”
    “It’s too late for that.”
    * * * * *
    “Ready the dragons! Take your positions! We’re going to fly over the Bridge!”
    “I’ve heard that space is cold,” Pearl whined and held her beautiful fur coat tightly.
    “That it is,” Taj’ said.
                  Lucian clutched his cape in one of his hands to prevent it from smacking against Jasper while the hard winds continued to blow. In his other hand, he held onto one of Jasper’s blue spikes that ran down his neck.
    “Are you coming Taj’? We could use you.”
    “I am afraid your dragons will not be able to carry me. You must go on and leave me here.”
    “Nonsense, you won’t be a problem for our dragons.”
    “If you are sure I won’t be any trouble-,”
    “Not at all.”
                  The snake turned away as Lucian continued to shout his orders to the battalions.
    “How will we find her on that planet? Do you know how long it might take,” someone began to protest.
    “We will split up and look for her. The planet is smaller than Earth so it shouldn’t be that hard to find her.” Lucian said and quickly mounted his dragon, as the rest had done. “Now take your formations, let’s go!”
                  The vampires, now all on the backs of their assigned dragons all waited for his command.
    “Fly over the Bridge!”
                  In the first row Lucian, Amelia, Caspian, Calvin, Pearl and the werewolf girl, Prusaious, braced themselves for takeoff. Next were the strongest of the vampires atop stalwart dragons. The dragons had very little space to get over the Bridge wall and many barely made it over. The dragons’ stomachs skimmed over the apex of the wall, resulting in great thrusts from their back talons to prevent themselves from crashing.
    “Get behind me,” he yelled. The dragons flew behind him in formation.
                  Prusaious moved up near Lucian and smiled sweetly, keeping a firm grip on her dragon’s spikes. He