by R L Medina
We passed through the open giant, rusted gates, and drove up the long winding driveway. The manor rose above the trees, looking every bit as haunted as I imagined. Dark shutters hung crookedly against the vine covered windows. Dead grass spread across the yard, dotted with creepy, crumbling statues.
Once parked at the entrance, we piled out of the truck and looked around.
I held my breath as the front door opened for us. A fierce looking vampire stood guard, his body built like a professional wrestler. His narrowed dark eyes followed me as we passed by. I didn’t like the way his lips twisted into a cruel smile. As if we were doing exactly what they wanted… as if it was a trap like Kohl feared.
My witches closed in around me, our magic thrumming to life.
It was more palace than haunted mansion. My head whipped as I took it all in. I felt as if I’d stepped back into the past. Into a world of ballgowns and elegance.
Decadent gold trimming bordered the striped wallpaper. Rich colors of red and black adorned the room and despite the age of the building, everything was vivid and looked like it was sparkling new. Even the shiny gold-plated mirrors and marble statues, so obviously antiques, looked like they hadn’t aged at all.
Everything was frozen in time—cursed. Like the vampire prince himself. Except he wasn’t anymore. Who had woken him? I shivered at the thought of coming face to face with the heartless heir.
We were led farther in, and I was surprised to find even more lush décor. Giant oil paintings framed in gold, intricate tapestries, and a blood red rug. Full bloomed roses filled the various vases, adding life to the room.
It was beautiful and frankly impressive though I hated to admit it. How could a place this beautiful be home to someone so dark?
“The prince is waiting for you.” A feminine voice interrupted my thoughts.
I nodded to the blonde vampire who appeared in the doorway. “I’m ready.”
But I wasn’t. My heart pounded too fast. Sweat gathered on my palms and it was all I could do not to bolt. I shoved away the fear. I was the queen. I had my magic. What could he do?
Well, he could bite me. Turn me. Drain me.
My lip curled at the thought. I wouldn’t let him get that chance. I could stake him before he could get close enough for a bite.
“The rest of you can wait here,” she added with a sneer.
Kohl’s eyes met mine. I nodded at him in reassurance.
He opened his mouth to speak, but snapped it shut. We’d already had the argument a hundred times over. I would call him if I needed him. Which I wouldn’t.
I was more than capable of dealing with this myself.
Without a final glance back, I followed the blonde down the hall. My footsteps echoed around me, drowning out the sound of my heart. Candle wax and cinnamon filled the air. Strange. It smelled like someone had baked something fresh. The soft glow of the candles created shadows along the endless hall. Paintings of ancient figures stared down at me. Their eyes held anger and contempt. I held my head up high. I would not be intimidated by some old pictures.
When we made it to the end, I stopped. A giant gold frame stood over the doorway. The candles burning from the candelabras bolted on either side of the closed door illuminated a stern yet beautiful face.
Warm gold-brown eyes burned into my very soul. He looked nothing like his brother—complete opposite, actually. Honey, gold skin with dirty, blonde curls combed back to highlight a strong, handsome face. My eyes snagged on his proud chin and full lips. Even with his eyebrows furrowed so harshly, he was mesmerizing.
A shiver ran down my spine. Prince Ryn?
Noticing my hesitation, the vampire stopped and walked back to me. “Sexy, isn’t he?”
My eyes widened at the girlish infatuation in her voice. Sexy? Well, yeah. I couldn’t deny the proof in front of me, but this was Ryn we were talking about. The heartless heir. Prince of darkness.
He had no right to look like that.
Before I could muster an appropriate reaction, the doors burst open. My escort flung herself to the floor in an exaggerated bow.
I barely registered her response. I was too busy staring at the gorgeous god who had just stormed in.
His eyes met mine and my heart skipped. The picture didn’t do him justice. He was almost too beautiful to look at, as stupidly cliché as that sounded.
A dark eyebrow arched at me. “Queen McKenzie.” His voice was softer than I’d expected. Not full of smugness like his brother. In fact, it sounded almost… kind?
I blinked. Get it together, girl. This was just sad. He wasn’t that hot.
“Prince Ryn.” I finally found my voice and thank God it was strong, holding no hint of my initial reaction.
He glanced at the prostrate vampire between us. “Thank you, Lilly. You can leave us now.”
She scurried to her feet and bowed once more before backing away in a fit of nervous fluttering.
I watched her go, my heart speeding up. His eyes were on me now and I needed a minute to prepare myself before facing him once more.
“Come in. Would you care to sit?” he asked.
Pulling back my shoulders, I turned and nodded at him. “Thank you.”
Ignoring the thundering of my heart, I followed his lead past the doors. My eyes widened. This room was just as elegant as all the others.
His hand swept the fancy furniture. “Sit anywhere you like.”
I sank into one of the upholstered chairs and folded one ankle over the other. He stood and watched me, his face unreadable.
His golden curls were combed back like in the picture, but one stray lock kept dipping down his forehead. Noticing my gaze, he brushed it back with a finger, a slight frown on his face as it sprang free again.
“Would you care for a drink or something to eat? Viktor made cinnamon rolls.”
My mouth hung open. Viktor? Cinnamon rolls? If it weren’t for the sweat beading my forehead and the very real, very hard seat underneath me, I’d think I was in a dream. In what reality did the prince of darkness offer me breakfast pastries?
I was expecting the fierce vampire in the painting. Not… this.
“I… uh. No thanks.” I tried to shake off the unease.
A smile spread on his face, one dimple appearing. My head reeled back. Was this some kind of trick? Why was he being so nice? To disarm my guard?
His smile faltered. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. I don’t have company often.”
Pushing away my fear, I straightened in my chair. “No, I bet not. With your reputation.”
He flinched. Was that genuine remorse I saw flickering in his eyes?
“Being the Prince of darkness and all.”
His jaw hardened at my address. “Yes. I’ve heard the rumors.”
I frowned. “Rumors? Are you seriously trying to deny what you’ve done?”
Amber eyes narrowed on me. His lips flattened into a thin line.
“Did you or didn’t you kill those humans?”
He glanced away. “Does it even matter now?”
“It does to me.”
His eyes snapped to mine. “Did you know them?”
His question took me by surprise. The anguish and regret I saw on his face made me pause. Did he actually care?
“No, but my sister did. And Grace. Do you remember Grace? She was my sister’s best friend.”
Silence stretched between us. He didn’t answer, but he looked sad. Heat spread up my neck at his reaction. After all he’d done, it didn’t seem fair that he could apologize and move on from it.
“Does your sister seek restitution?”
Restitution? Nobody talked like that anymore.
My face hardened. “She doesn’t seek anything. She’s dead. The curse took her.”
Ryn winced, and turned away, leaving me sitting in silence and sorrow.
“I’m sorry.” His voice was so soft and broken, I almost wondered if it belonged to him at all.
This couldn’t be the vampi
re prince I grew up listening to stories about. The one who did these cruel things without feeling. Could the curse have changed him for the better? It was a ridiculous thought, but how else could I explain his change of heart?
I leapt to my feet. “You’re sorry? What good does that do? They’re dead.”
I drew on the memories of Mel as she sobbed over her best friend, Grace. She’d been compelled and turned by Ryn two years before the spell. He’d broken the ancient agreement and in response the coven had pushed for his punishment. Four years of confinement—in his coffin. It wasn’t enough.
He took the seat in front of me and sighed. “I do remember Grace. Two years of being frozen, all I could do was think about her and all the others I turned or killed.”
“Who woke you up? You still had two years left of punishment.”
“I don’t know.”
I snorted. Yeah, right.
“Why did you do it?” The questions escaped me. My anger made me bolder. Or stupider.
His eyes bore into mine. “Grace? She asked me to.”
Shock filled me, but I recovered quickly. “Liar.”
“She did. She was already dying. Already bitten.”
“By you.” My voice rose.
Ryn shook his head. “No. I found her like that. I tried… it was too late to take her back to the coven. Giving her my blood was the only way to save her and it’s what she wanted.”
I blinked back the hot tears threatening to spill. “Then why didn’t she tell us? Why didn’t she ever come back?”
“She wanted revenge. She was compelled and couldn’t remember the vampire who bit her, so she spent all her time searching.”
“Who did it?”
He looked away. “It doesn’t matter now. Most of the vampires were taken with the curse.”
I watched him, waiting for further explanation, but it never came. This wasn’t some trick to make me lower my guard. His pain was genuine, and it frightened me.
“You drained one of my witches. That’s a breach of our agreement. That and your brother showing up on my doorstep. That’s twice.”
His brow furrowed. “I didn’t drain any witches. I haven’t fed since… the first day I came back.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Who did it then? Fane? I expect you or him to pay for that crime.”
He sucked in his lower lip, revealing his fangs. I fought the urge to skitter back.
“Are you sure it wasn’t one of the low life vampires in the city? There’s too many of them for me to keep watch of.”
“She was compelled. That says royalty or at least a higher-class vampire.”
Anger flashed in his eyes before he looked away. “Let me handle it. I’ll find out who it was and punish them.”
“No, I don’t think so. You hand them over to us for punishment. That’s how that works, Ryn.”
He arched a brow at my informal address and smirked. “Alright.”
“Alright?”
“You are right. We’ve broken the agreement and owe you recompense.”
Confusion swept over me. He was agreeing to my terms. Why so easily? I shifted in my seat and changed the subject.
“Fane said you could help. With opening the barrier?”
He met my eyes. I forced myself to hold his smoldering gaze despite my reflexes urging me to look away.
“Yes. I want to help.”
A harsh laugh escaped me. “Help? You want to help me? Why now? Why not six months ago when all this started?”
Folding his hands together, he sat forward. His scent enveloped me. It was musky, warm, and way too inviting. My body prickled with awareness in a similar way it did with magic. Heat washed over me, and immediately I knew I was in danger. He was too close. Too alluring.
I didn’t like it. Except, I did, and that’s what scared me. What in the hell was wrong with me? Sure, he was gorgeous. Like other worldly gorgeous, but I was the freaking witch queen, and he had admitted to turning Grace and killing others.
“Six months ago… I was hardly at a place to help anyone. Besides, I didn’t discover how to break the barrier until a month ago.”
My eyes widened. He’d already found a way to break the barrier?
“What? How? How did you discover this?”
His lips pursed. “You won’t like this, but it was with a witch’s help.”
Anger lit inside me. “One of my witches?”
He shook his head. “No. She was a rogue witch.”
Was.
“What happened to her?”
He sighed. “She… turned twenty. A week ago.”
Dread curled in my gut. The curse. It was deadly specific, and no one survived it.
“I’m sorry.”
He nodded along as if he expected me to say that. My head was spinning with this revelation and despite the doubt, hope flared inside me. If I could break the barrier…
“Her name was Allison. She was a friend of my brother’s.” His words snapped me to attention.
“A friend of Fane?” My nose crinkled.
“My brother’s charm always seems to have that effect.”
I scoffed. “Charm? He’s disgusting.”
Ryn cocked his head at me. “I see he’s had an effect on you as well.”
Schooling my features, I turned my attention back to the barriers. Questions raced in my mind. So many questions.
“She figured out a way to break the barrier?” I prompted.
“I believe so. Her grimoire is here. I can show you.”
My eyes widened. “Yes. I need to see it.”
He smiled. It was a glorious, infectious smile, but my stomach clenched with dread. Was it a trap? Was this how he’d charmed his way with the humans before he drained them?
Don’t fall for it. Don’t fall for it.
But I was already on my feet. I glanced back at the way I’d come and debated calling for Kohl and the others. Would it make me look weak?
“Queen McKenzie?” Ryn called to me.
I fought down my fear and nodded at him. “Show me.”
14
Valeria
I met Drew and Becca outside the theater room. Becca’s eyes darted from her brother to my flushed face and narrowed with suspicion.
“Got my gun. We should bring an extra one for Valeria.” Drew spoke first.
Becca’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. “Um no, Drew. Let’s not give the werewolf a weapon.”
My wolf growled in my mind.
Drew frowned at her. “Valeria is on our side. She’s going to help us.”
Becca’s cool gaze slid to me. I pushed my wolf’s anger down, insisting the girl was no threat to us.
“It’s okay. I have a knife. I don’t need a gun.”
Drew opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself at my stare. Becca turned on her heel and led us past the other screen rooms. My mind raced as I watched the scattered humans huddled in the darkness. Where were these fighters Drew claimed they had? Was it just a bluff? After hearing him talk about achieving peace without violence, I was beginning to think he’d said those things only as a means to sway me.
Lies, my wolf retorted.
But could I blame him? As I pictured their weary faces, I couldn’t help but pity them. I knew what it was like to live in fear… as prey.
Their prey. Humans hunt us.
I ignored my wolf’s reminder. Not all humans were our enemies. If the covenant worked like Drew hoped it would, maybe there was a chance we could all coexist. At least until we died off from the curse. I pushed the thought away. No good came from dwelling on a circumstance we couldn’t change, and after what we’d endured, I wasn’t afraid to die.
You lie.
My lips pursed at her taunt.
Becca opened the doors, sunlight streaming in as we stepped out.
“Thank you for coming.” Drew’s voice caught my ear.
I turned to him, his nearness startling.
“Here. To our camp. You… you’r
e not like the others.”
Bristling, I opened my mouth to respond.
He shook his head. “I don’t mean it in a bad way. It’s a good thing. You… you’re a good person.” He flushed and looked away.
I blinked in surprise. Was he… flirting with me? Wasn’t that what you were supposed to do before kissing? Heat spread across my face as I remembered our near lip contact.
My wolf snarled at the memory.
His eyes met mine and the intensity of his stare made my heart skip.
I stilled.
“Someone is coming,” Becca interrupted.
My wolf rose to the surface.
Drew and I turned to face the street. Footsteps sounded in the distance. Angry shouts and gunfire rang out. My heart slammed against my ribs.
Wolves. Red wolves.
Becca shoved us back inside and slammed the door. Jason and the others gathered around us.
“They’re here,” she rasped.
Someone cried. Others swore.
Jason strode forward, gun in hand. “We’ll shoot them when they come.”
Drew shook his head at him. “Shoot them? That’s your solution? No! Not all of us have guns, Jason and they outnumber us. We need to get everyone out of here.”
Argument ensued among the humans. My wolf grew restless as they went back and forth. They needed a plan and they needed it fast.
“We get everyone to the witch’s camp. Now,” Drew insisted.
He started moving toward the front entrance, motioning everyone to follow. Becca and I were the first to go.
“You’re not in charge,” Jason hissed.
His words went unnoticed as everyone scrambled to catch up.
A scream came from the other side and a gun fired. My blood turned to ice. They’d already made it to the front door.
Panicked cries echoed around us. Chaos erupted. People dove into the screen rooms and some ran back toward the back door. Bodies slammed against me, separating me from Drew and Becca.