LydiaRainer managed to sneak me some food from the kitchen, and I’m feeling better after getting some rest. I’m able to walk without feeling nauseous which I can contribute to that fast shifter healing. He also took a dress from the servants’ quarters for me to change into as the heavy velvet gown
RainerI walk quickly down the hallways, trying to be as unnoticeable as possible. Unfortunately for me, Castle Pestera being a smaller castle has a more limited number of guards and servants, so it’s harder to blend in. The guards all talk and joke around in between their shifts as there’s really n
WillowI receive a letter from Rainer asking for help about a spell or potion that could make someone appear dead without actually killing them. This is beyond my level of magical expertise, so I take the matter to my niece. Ivy has a nearly encyclopedic knowledge for spells and potions. When I tell
LexIvy snorts, looking at me like I'm nothing more than a pitiful street urchin that has just asked her for spare change. “Seriously?” She shakes her head, and I know in that moment, she doesn't think I'm capable of doing anything important, anything that takes intelligence or courage.“Lex current
LexKing Matthias informs me of a small party King Myenas is throwing for the royals he’s in business with. Due to my recent alliance with Red River, I’ve secured an invite to Castle Pestera for the event. The invitation comes with restrictions but it’s our only way to get the potion to Rainer so I
The guard leads us to a ballroom filled with people. There’s a string quartet playing music in the background as royals and courtiers drink glasses of blood, talking amongst each other.King Myenas is at the center of it all, holding the attention of all the vampires in the room. I’m reminded of the
RainerWillow tells me that Lex and Ivy will be in the castle for the little party King Myenas is throwing. I stay close to the ballroom and am able to watch as the two appear and follow Igor into the ballroom. I wait by the open doors for one of them to come out, trying to act like I’m just doing m
IvyOnce we know the potion is effective, Rainer and I go to the ballroom. He has to inform King Myenas of Lydia’s unexpected death while I get Lex and use the commotion to disappear unnoticed. Lex is in conversation with King Myenas and King Matthias. He’s managed to look like he belongs with them,
Michael“The second born son of this union will be handed over at birth to King Mattias and his court to be raised in Red River as the rightful heir to the throne,” Dad reads aloud as he paces in front of the windows in his office that overlook the bleak, snow drenched landscape beyond, “to ensure t
MichaelThe emissary to Red River–the real one–isn’t anyone I recognize. He’s tall and pale blond, his red eyes gleaming in the brightly lit ballroom where he and his posse of royal Red River guards have gathered. He scans the group before him–myself, my father, and my uncle, and smiles faintly, hi
I listen intently, watching a myriad of emotion play over her face as she knits her fingers together. “We spent an entire summer sneaking around,” she says softly, closing her eyes. “He’d find me in the garden, in the library, sometimes going as far as to sneak into my room at night. We couldn’t st
FayeStill in the library, I listen intently as Emelda discloses far more than I expected her to.There was a point in Emelda’s life as a vampire that she’d accepted she’d always be alone. Her bed would always be cold, her skin unblemished by a loving touch. She’d never know love again, and for deca
Faye“It really is gorgeous,” Emelda says the next morning while walking with me to the library. She runs her thumb over the massive sapphire ring and smiles faintly, raising her brows. “I think it’s a family heirloom, too. You should expect a load of fine jewelry to follow.”“You know I don’t care
FayeKing Kane is a slightly terrifying man. His presence is all consuming–like he sucks the light out of the room. He doesn’t look his age, like all vampires. The only indication that he’s a senior vampire compared to his son is the faint gray glow around his temples where his dark hair is starting
MichaelI watch Faye run a comb through her hair, over and over. The golden strands shine like golden silk in the pockets of sunlight shimmering through the curtains. Beyond the glass, knee-deep snow covers the castle grounds in a blanket of pure, untouched white. Deep inside, I feel a flicker of m
I shake my head, sniffling, trying to pull my tears back into my eyes but fail miserably. They trickle down my cheeks, freezing to my face. “We would have been caught.”“I wouldn’t have cared. I still don’t!”“You were getting married–”“I’ve been betrothed since I was a child,” he says hotly, gritt
Emelda“Why are you out here?” Cole asks, his hand moving up my back as he presses me closer. “You’re freezing.”“I wanted to check on Ravenfell–”“I was on my way–”“It’s not your responsibility–”“I was on my way to find you,” he cuts in, taking a breath. I open my eyes, breaking out of the haze