“Wow! Thank you, mom!” Ami said with a big smile on her face, slightly in shock. “I love you, my dearest daughter,” Queen Amirah said. “I love you to mom,” Ami said before hanging up and looking for her handbag. “You seem awfully happy?” Ann asked, wondering what was going on. “My mom just told me I have a black bank card in my purse, and it is limitless!” Ami said, taking her purse out of her handbag to have a look. “Oooh, nice,” Ann said, looking at the bank card that Ami just took out of her purse. “Better not ever lose this,” Ami said, putting it back in her purse. At least now I have money to pay for school fees.” “Fantastic!” Ann said, excited. “Don’t get too excited. I am not going to school, but I will further my studies at the local university,” Ami said, falling back onto the bed with a big smile on her face. “I cannot wait to finish school and go to varsity. Somewhere where it is warm!” Ann said, falling next to Ami on the bed. “Dinner is ready,” they heard Ann’s m
“Shall we pray? Do you pray before dinner?” Mrs. Steel asked Jovita. “Not really, but never too late to start,” Jovita said, taking Mr. Steel’s hand on the one side and Mrs. Steel’s hand on the other side, watching as Jessica does the same. ‘I thought it will be a great way to get to know you. We will be like best friends, no; sisters!’ Jovita mind linked Jessica back. Jessica snorted while her father was praying, making her parents open their eyes, looking at Jovita, thinking it was her as they know Jessica took prayer seriously. Jessica’s parents close their eyes again and her father continued his prayer. ‘I have a best friend and I enjoy being an only child,’ Jessica mind linked Jovita. ‘Why are you so stubborn?’ Jovita asked, about to search Jessica’s mind for the answer. Jessica saw her actions and shut Jovita out, not wanting her to know that she blamed her parents for Wynn’s death. “Amen,” Mr. Steel said, ending his prayer. After dinner, Mrs. Steel informed Jessica that
Willow residence. “Are you looking forward to school?” Ann’s mother asked. “Not really. It is going to be strange without Jessica,” Ann admitted, eating oatmeal. “What about your boyfriend? What is his name again? Wynn, right?” her mother asked “Mom, we broke up a week and a half ago before the trip and I don’t think he is in town anymore,” Ann said. “You and Wynn?” Ami giggled. “You know Wynn?” Mrs. Willow asked. “Yeah, a little,” Ami said, swallowing her words with Ann making funny eyes at her. “We leave in twenty minutes. I will drop Ann off first and then I will drop you off at the university, Ami,” Mrs. Willow said, excusing herself from the table. Once Mrs. Willow left the table, Ami could not wait to ask Ann about her dating Wynn, “how was it dating Wynn? I heard he was Jessica’s fated mate. Must have been awkward.” “Shysie compelled me to be in love with him, it was nothing more,” Ann said, trying to put it to rest. “How hot is her boyfriend, Paris?” Ami asked. “So,
Wynn took his seat at the back of the class next to Shysie, as before the holiday. Michael sat next to William and Paris decided to take the seat that he chased William to on the first day he arrived a few months ago. “This is going to be interesting,” Jessica said sarcastically. Jessica and Ann look around at the same time at Wynn while Ann whispered, “what happened for you to think he was dead?” “It seems everyone is here,” Ms. Wangberg silenced the class to begin the lesson. “It looks like you have some admirers,” Shysie whispered teasingly at Wynn. “Well, Ann is obviously off limits,” Wynn whispered, looking at Michael. “I am just glad we don’t have to call him King Michael here,” Shysie chuckled, making Michael turn around and looking at them. Shysie gave him a seductive wink, followed by stroking her bottom lip. ‘He will be a suitable replacement for Paris,’ she thought, admiring Michael’s good looks, wondering if he was as good in bed as his brother. After Mrs. Wangberg’
“I want to know what happened at the council after I left. What did you do? What happened to Wynn?” Ann asked, seriously. “Let me drink from you, then I will let you drink from me; that way you will see everything that I know,” Michael suggested. “Didn’t you just have your way with Samina and Mary?” Ann asked. Michael grabbed Ann and lifted her into his arms, speeding off to the compound that has been fixed. “What are you doing?” Ann asked when he put her down inside the house. “I can’t break my own rules that I just laid out earlier during lunch, now can I?” Michael asked. “Who are all these people? Vampires?” Ann looked around at the unfamiliar faces. “I like what you have done with the place. One would never have guessed it was in ruins just over a week ago,” Ann said, not waiting for Michael to answer her first question. “Please let me drink from you. I have not drunk from a human besides you,” Michael confessed. “Why not? I told you, you could,” Ann said, walking around,
Ann pushed him aside before fastening her bra again, followed by the buttons of her shirt and zipping her jacket up. Ann looked for her stockings and shoes. “Why do you have to make things complicated?” “It is not complicated. I like you and I want you to be my wife but I—” Michael explained, but Ann interrupted him. “Your wife? I am eighteen!” Ann laughed, putting on her stockings. Michael took her shoes and kneeled at her feet, slipping them onto her feet. “I know, but one day.” Ann looked at him, putting on her shoes for her, and smiled while thinking, ‘perhaps he won’t make a bad husband, being under my control and all.’ “I know you like me, and we can turn it into love if you allow it,” Michael said, looking up at her, placing a hand on each of her sides. Ann cooped his face. “I am way too young to settle.” “I know. So, I will let you explore your feelings for Paris and when you have him out of your system, I will make you mine, forever,” Michael said, before standing up.
“You gave me the go-ahead!” Wynn protested. “I wanted to keep her safe. I feared Shysie would kill her like he killed Soraya 900 years ago,” Paris reminded him. “Still beats me how she got away with it,” Wynn said, his eyes on his sister that was making her way over to them. “Come with us tonight,” Wynn suggested. “And do what? Get tricked or killed by an enchantress? No thank you,” Paris said, walking away. “Wait up,” Wynn said, standing up to follow him. “Dude, I am just going to the compound. I need to feed,” Paris said. “I will come with you,” Wynn said. “I need some space,” Paris objected, having no plans to really go to the compound. He wanted to get out of sight and hide out until the pool was cleared so that he can sneak back for a swim. ‘Ever since he swam that first time when they arrived, he could not get enough of it. The way the water made him feel; free. As soon as the coast was clear, Paris stripped down to nothing and dived into the pool. Paris stayed underwate
“I share this room with Ami now; you can’t just come and go as you please,” Ann said. “Be my girlfriend,” Paris asked out of the blue. “I thought you said I belong to the Vampire King?” Ann teased. “Shouldn’t you be the one to decide who you belong to?” Paris asked and stood up. “Sure, but you are the one that made it clear that I belong to Michael,” Ann reminded him, taking off her coat. “Only because he said I should stay away from you that you are his.” Paris spilled the beans. “Really?” Ann wondered if Paris was telling the truth since Michael told her to explore her feelings for Paris. “I know what you are thinking. I saw it when I drank from you,” Paris said, biting open his own wrist to show Ann the conversation between Michael and him. “Don’t you think you have lost enough blood for one day?” Ann asked, meeting him halfway, and put her mouth on his wrist. Ann saw more than just their conversation. She can see and feel the love that Paris had for her and it was like not