by Leigh Walker
I felt alive again. As crazy as it was, I felt like I’d picked up the thread of my real life. I drained the tub and grabbed my fluffy towel. My bed, the prince, a meal—it sounded positively luxurious. I knew he was waiting for me.
Suddenly, I couldn’t dry my hair fast enough.
28
Spotted
Mistress Olivia had quickly worked her magic. Another pair of pajamas—flannel pajamas—was laid out on my bed, as was a tray with fettuccine Alfredo and a rather large glass of wine.
I sniffed the goblet. “Is this safe?”
“Yes.” Dominic sat in a chair next to the fire. “I took it straight from the wine cellar before my mother could get to it.”
“Speaking of your mother…”
“Yes, there’s much to talk about. But get dressed and eat something. You’ve had another terribly long day, I’m afraid.”
I went to the bathroom and changed quickly, half hoping that Dominic was partial to plaid flannel.
“Ah, there you are.” He gave me the lopsided grin that I loved. “I’m rather fond of you in pajamas. Is that strange?”
Grinning at him, I said, “No.”
“Good.” He grinned back. “Please, sit and eat. And there’s plenty of wine. We don’t have to go anywhere, not until the morning.”
I coughed, blushing. “Is that so?”
He tilted his head at me. “Yes, my lady.”
I had a sip of wine, which was warm and delicious. “What do we have to do tomorrow?”
He gave me a long look. “Meet with the blood slaves. Apologize. Sit through their class and take part in any workshops or whatever garbage they have planned for us.”
Putting down my goblet, I said, “I thought you’d vanished all of them with my blood.”
“Not at all. I didn’t get very far. I only managed to get through two guards. I was in a bit of a… mood, I suppose.” Dom frowned. “I couldn’t bring myself to vanish everyone on my list. It was going to take a fortnight.”
“It’s good that you didn’t. The guards who brought me in recognized me—they didn’t dare touch me. It was a blessing.”
“Yes, it was. Thank goodness they found you.”
I nodded then was distracted by my stomach growling. I tried to ignore the handsome prince on my bed and turned my attention to my dinner. The pasta must’ve been handmade, as it was fresh and light, unlike anything I’d ever tasted. I could only picture the vampire chefs and their pasta crank.
“Is the food to your liking?” Dom asked.
“It’s amazing. Can you try some?”
“No, I’m afraid I can’t. That’s Anthony’s claim to fame. But I’ve no appetite for human food. I do enjoy watching you eat, though. Is that strange?”
I giggled. “No. I mean, maybe. But not to me.”
He laughed too. “That’s all that matters.”
I had another bite then asked my next question. “Does anyone else know that I disappeared?”
“No, thank goodness. We were able to keep the circle extremely small. I’m blessed to have Mistress Olivia working for me. She handled everything, keeping the staff out of your chambers. It’s good that you weren’t gone for long. It was easily concealable.”
“Thank goodness. I could’ve come back to a much more complicated situation. Speaking of complicated… I didn’t tell you about something that happened before I left.”
“What’s that?”
I put down my fork. “I vanished a guard.”
He coughed. “I’m sorry—what?”
“I vanished a guard with my brainwaves. Like you do—like the vampires do.”
Dominic got up, poured himself a glass of wine and had a healthy sip before he spoke again. “Can you explain this to me? Slowly?”
“Anthony and I had been working on it for a while, I guess—”
He cursed. “Just wait until I get my hands on that red-headed leper—”
“Dominic, please. He’s your best friend. I expect he might be my best friend too.” I ignored Dom’s scowl and continued. “He’s had me trying to work a vanishment, and I’d only been somewhat successful. But then a guard surprised us down in the dungeons, and Anthony refused to help me—he said I had to do it on my own—so I focused really hard, then my brain waves did it somehow.” I chuckled, remembering the blank look on the guard’s face. “The guard didn’t know what hit him.”
Dom, however, wasn’t chuckling. He looked like he might crush the goblet in his hand. “Ant had you in the dungeons? He refused to help you? By the gods, I’m going to—”
“Easy, easy. He knew what he was doing. It worked. He said I did it quickly too.” A note of pride snuck into my voice. “He said it was amazing.”
“If I weren’t so pissed, I’d be very impressed.”
“Do you think that’s why I remember being here? Do you think I had some sort of breakthrough mentally, like something changed with my mind and now I’ll be able to remember more?”
Dominic considered this. “It’s certainly possible, but I don’t know for sure. I’d like to see you do a vanishment, if I may.”
“Okay!” I closed my eyes.
“Not on me, Victoria!”
“Ha, I’m only kidding!” I snapped my eyes back open.
We just stared at each other then burst out laughing.
“It’s quite fun having you back. I wish I didn’t have to share you.” Dom sank onto the edge of the bed. “My mother’s on a tear, I’m afraid. One of the guards drained Mia the blood slave last night. My mother had to turn her, and she was none too happy about it.”
I frowned. “That’s terrible. I heard the guards talking about it.” Too bad it wasn’t Alexandra or the dreaded Elise.
“She’s insisting that you attend the class with the sacrifices and apologize to them. Because they’re very upset about Mia, I don’t feel I can argue with her anymore.”
“I’ll do it.”
“And I’ll go with you.” Dom settled in next to me on the bed.
“You will?”
“Of course. After the scene we made the last time, that’s the least I can do.”
I finished eating, and we sat for a few minutes in companionable silence, each nursing our wine.
“So,” I said eventually. It was time to finally talk about my family. I needed to know the truth.
“So.” Dominic sounded ready for me.
I got up and went to the wardrobe. Mistress Olivia had taken my filthy clothes away, but I’d slipped the photograph out of the trouser pockets first. The picture was still damp, its ends curling from being soaked. The moisture had stripped away some of the image, but my mother and Izzy’s faces were still clear. I handed it to Dom. “This is my mother, and that’s my sister, Isabel.”
Dom smiled at the picture. “I know.”
I sank back down next to him. “I’ve shown you this before?”
“No.” He didn’t look up from the photograph. “I recognize them.”
My heart skittered in my chest. “Because we look so much alike?”
“No, Victoria.” He raised his gaze to meet mine. “Because I’ve seen them before. In the kingdom.”
29
Inclined
I meant to ask, “What?” But my jaw just hung open.
Dominic sighed. “This part is always difficult.”
“What do you mean, ‘always’? We’ve talked about this before?” I wanted to rip my brain out of my head and press whatever the right buttons were—do something to make the memories come back.
A knock came at the door. “Your Highness?” It was Mistress Olivia.
“Go away,” Dom said irritably.
“Your Highness, I’m so sorry. I can’t.”
The prince cursed as Mistress Olivia opened the door. “You’d better have a bloody good reason for interrupting us!” he bellowed.
She cleared her throat, looking miserable. “Your mother’s looking for Lady Victoria. I guess the blood slaves are in a right state
because of what happened with Mia. The queen wants her to go and see them now to apologize—they need a morale booster. And a proper distraction. She said they’re about to get into the wine again.”
“Victoria will go when I bring her there. Right now, she needs to—”
“Right now, she needs to do what I say, or I’ll chop off her head.” Queen Danica strode into the room. She raised her eyebrows when she saw us in bed together. “You two are getting quite comfortable, I see! I do hope you’ve bitten her, Dommy. Such a waste of a perfectly good circulatory system.”
“Mind your own bloody business, Mother!” Dom roared.
Queen Danica ignored him. She came closer, peering at me from beneath her crown. “You were rude to the other sacrifices, Lady Victoria.”
“They were rude first.”
She inclined her head toward me. “Do I look like someone who cares?”
“No, Your Highness.” She definitely did not. I raised my chin and met her gaze. “I apologize for my behavior in the first class, and I’m happy to be in your service. I wasn’t prepared for them then, but I am now.”
“Really?” she sniffed.
I nodded. “I’ll have Mistress Olivia dress me, and I’ll go as soon as possible. I’m sure they’ve been through a terrible shock because of the loss of their friend. I’ll behave—you have my word—and I will do my best to represent the crown.”
The queen looked vaguely surprised, then pleased. “That’s infinitely better. Keep it up, and I might actually expect something from you.”
“It’s my duty as your daughter-in-law to follow orders, Your Highness. I won’t let the other girls run me off again.” I bowed my head in deference.
“Nicely done.” She swept toward the foot of the bed, her heavy gold-and-green brocade dress stiffly brushing against the floor, and eyed her son. “You’d best go with her, Dominic. I understand you owe Professor Talbot an apology.”
His nostrils flared. “I owe the wench nothing, but I’ll still go. My betrothed is what’s most important to me.”
In response, she arched an eyebrow again. “You never cease to surprise me, my child. It’s nice to see you being so fiercely loyal. I certainly haven’t seen that side of you in a while. I expect a full report—and demonstration, should I determine it necessary—later.” Without another word, she left the room.
Mistress Olivia bustled to the wardrobe. “I’ll just get your dress, miss. So sorry for the interruption.”
“No worries.” I turned to Dom, who was staring at me with a confused expression on his face.
“What?”
“Why are you being so agreeable to the queen?” he asked.
“I have to do what your mother asks, at least for now. She is running the show. Being on her bad side does not serve me; it will only end with me served on a platter.” I wanted to ask him a hundred more questions about my mother and my sister, but for the moment, I had a role to play in the game of fate’s making.
And the stakes were higher than I could ever have imagined.
I gripped Dom’s hand tightly as we headed through the garden toward the sacrifices’ house.
He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “I’ll tell you more as soon as I can. I’m so sorry we were interrupted like that. Are you okay?”
Nodding, I took a steadying breath. “I just need to know—they’re alive?”
“Yes.” He squeezed my hand. “Yes, they are.”
I wanted to sob, I wanted to jump up and down, I wanted to run screaming from the garden to go straight and find them. But I would be smart, not reckless. In order to be reunited with them, I had to stay alive. In order to stay alive, I had to play the game. And I intended to play the living crap out of it.
We entered the sacrifices’ house, hearing only murmurs inside. Everyone went quiet when we walked inside the large room, in sharp contrast to the gaiety of the party I’d heard the night before. I looked at the women in the audience. Several of the girls had obviously been crying. Some of the older ones looked pale and drawn, as if they’d seen this sort of thing one too many times before.
Professor Talbot scowled at us from her podium.
Dominic and I went and stood at the front of the room. “G-Good Evening.” I curtsied, my deep-purple gown pooling around me. “I am here to offer my apologies for my behavior during the course. You welcomed me here in an attempt to teach me your ways. I’m truly sorry for the way I acted—it was inappropriate and rude.”
The women murmured to each other, and I took a deep breath. “I also wanted to offer my condolences. I heard what happened to Mia, and I’m so sorry.”
Several of the women dabbed at their eyes.
Dominic stepped forward. “I’m here to apologize as well. Both for my behavior during the class and for what happened to Mia. Please rest assured that she’s getting proper medical attention and that my family accepts full responsibility for her in her new life. She’ll be well taken care of.”
One of the women, who I recognized as Constance, raised her hand. “Will she be able to come back and visit us?”
The prince smiled at her. “Of course, as soon as it’s safe.”
I filed his statement away and would ask him what he meant later, along with all my other questions. For the moment, I forced a smile at Professor Talbot. “I believe you were about to have the sacrifices show me proper feeding etiquette when we were interrupted. His Highness and I would love to see the techniques they have to offer.”
I clasped Dom’s hand and moved closer to him. The women in the audience noticed it immediately and whispered to each other.
“Alexandra,” Professor Talbot called, “I believe your services are needed.”
Alexandra rose, her nose in the air, all the better to see her long, graceful neck. She was wearing a floor-length silver gown. It contrasted beautifully with her dark skin, and even I had to suck in a deep breath as she sashayed to the front of the room.
She cleared her throat in greeting when she saw me then bowed before the prince. “Your Highness.”
He bent his head. “Alexandra.”
I raised my hand. “This puff pastry is ready to learn.”
She scowled at me.
“And you were right—you do have the prettiest scowl in the land. Now will you help me, please? I’m sorry I was such a cow the other day. You’re sort of too good-looking to deal with.”
The expression on her face changed, as if she were holding back a laugh.
“Please help me? His Highness doesn’t even like pastries.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, all right. Come and sit.”
Professor Talbot pulled up two chairs, and Alexandra sank down gracefully into one. She motioned for me to join her. “Your Highness?” she asked. “Will you help to demonstrate?”
“Of course, Alexandra.” He came over, smiling broadly at the sacrifices. They smiled back, and I noticed several of them fanning themselves.
“Now,” said Alexandra, “it’s easier for our masters to drink from the left side of our throats, right near the pulse point. It’s our duty to make it simple for them to find the right spot. Like this.” She arranged her long hair over her right shoulder and exposed her neck. “Your turn, Lady Victoria.”
I awkwardly leaned back in my chair and stiffly turned my head to the right. Alexandra moved like a jaguar, but I was more like a lumbering giraffe. Now imagine a giraffe trying to recline in a chair with its neck extended!
Dominic chuckled at my clear discomfort. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “I think I might actually like puff pastries—I’m willing to try, at least.”
I cleared my throat and frowned at him. “Alexandra, what’s next? Should I have the prince, er…sniff me? Elise mentioned something about that.”
At the mention of her name, Elise sprang up from her chair, all the better to make her ample chest jiggle. “I can help!” She smiled at Dominic hopefully. “It would be my pleasure, Your Highness.”
Dominic fr
owned. “I don’t think that’s nec—”
“We would love your help, Elise,” I said sweetly. In fact, I was still sour about the other day, but this was game on. The queen wanted me to apologize and make the girls feel better, and so I would.
“Elise, can you please show me how you shake your hair again?” I asked. “I think that would be very helpful.”
“My pleasure.” She stalked to the front of her room in her skintight mermaid dress.
Do the sacrifices have nothing better to do than work out and wedge their ridiculously toned bodies into ball gowns all day, every day? Upon consideration, I supposed not.
“Now, when I’m called to service my masters, I make sure that my hair has that special scented oil I told you about.” She flipped her hair just as she reached Dominic then turned in the other direction. “Can you catch my scent, Your Highness?”
He was scowling, so I whacked his hand. “Yes, Elise, it’s lovely.”
“Great!” She tossed her hair again, eyes sparkling. “Maybe once you two practice the feeding position, I can help Lady Victoria with her hair flipping!”
“Thanks.” I fake-smiled so hard my face hurt. “I would like that a lot.”
“Now then.” Alexandra motioned for our attention. “His Highness, if you’re comfortable, perhaps place your mouth near the lady’s neck? That way she can get a sense of what angle you like.”
“Of course. I’m happy to oblige.” He knelt down next to me, and every woman in the audience leaned forward. “My lady, are you quite all right with this?” he asked lowly.
“Yes.” But I was suddenly a bit flustered to have him so close to me, his cool breath on my neck.
“May I?”
I nodded. I could feel both Alexandra’s and Elise’s gazes locked on us. I tried to relax, leaning my head back so Dominic could get a good sniff.
And sniff he did, inhaling the length of my neck, sending shivers through me. “You smell amazing.” His breath, though cool, somehow made me inexplicably hot.