I knew what he was referring to—the fact that my appearance resembled Queen Laila’s. My looks were what had drawn Nicolae to turn me in the first place.
Luckily, it hadn’t taken him long to realize that despite our resemblance, I would never replace the queen who had stolen his heart.
“So you want me to stay in the Vale for long enough to gain information,” I assumed.
He nodded that I was correct.
This was good. I took a steady breath, since as long as I wasn’t being sent to win the prince’s hand, I could do this. But first I needed to know more about what would be expected of me.
“What information do you want me to seek?” I asked.
“Weaknesses in the Vale,” he told me. “While you’re there under the pretense of seeking the prince’s affections, I want you to be exploring the palace and the surrounding town. If you see any places where they’re weak—where the wolves might be able to get through or stage an attack—report them immediately.”
“To you?” I raised an eyebrow, since that plan hardly seemed solid. I couldn’t very well send a letter—there was too big of a risk it might be intercepted. And requesting a witch to transport me to and from the Carpathian Kingdom might raise some eyebrows amongst the royalty of the Vale. The last thing I needed was anyone becoming suspicious of my intentions, or worse, finding out what I was doing.
That could result in a break of the peace between our kingdoms and a full-blown war.
“Of course not to me.” He sneered. “We’ve developed a rapport with the pack of wolves that Marigold has connected with. You’ll report to their leader—a wolf by the name of Noah. He’ll be expecting you, and will send a messenger with the information of where you can find him once you arrive in the Vale.”
“Okay.” I bristled, but straightened a moment later, trying to hide my distaste at actually talking to one of the wolves. I’d only ever fought with wolves—never spoken to them. They were animals. They couldn’t be reasoned with.
Perhaps the wolves that lived outside of the Vale were different than the ones who resided outside of the Carpathian Kingdom? I could only hope so. Because the ones who prowled along the fortified walls of our castle were monsters.
“Is that an agreement that you’ll do it?” he asked.
“It was an agreement that the plan could possibly be done,” I began, since I didn’t intend on doing this for nothing. I expected he knew me well enough to be aware of that. “But as you know, doing this will be a huge risk to my person. The target that will be on my back if I get caught will not be one that can be erased.”
“So don’t get caught,” he said simply.
“I don’t intend to,” I said. “But if I do this for you… what’s in it for me?”
“The ability to continue to live in this kingdom once your task is complete.” He raised his voice, his gazed locked on mine.
“You would truly kick me out?” I raised an eyebrow and smiled, since I knew he wouldn’t. Firstly, I resembled Laila, and he would never harm Laila. Secondly, as one of his sired princesses, I was like a daughter to him. The original vampires would never admit it, but there was a chemical bond that formed between a sire and the vampires they turned. It was one of those things that we all knew and understood, but never discussed. “What would become of me if you kicked me out?” I allowed my voice to quiver so he could hear my fear. “You would feed me to the wolves? Let their monstrous teeth rip at my flesh, leaving not even the bones?”
He flinched, and I knew I had him.
“No.” I shook my head, letting out a long breath. “I know you wouldn’t do such a thing.”
“What is it you want?” he asked with a tilt of his head. “You’re royalty of the Carpathian Kingdom. You have everything you could ever need within the castle walls.” He motioned around the cavernous throne room to demonstrate what he meant.
“The one thing I want—the one person I want—is one I can never have,” I said, allowing my gaze to drift to the floor.
“Peter,” he said simply.
“Yes.” I blinked away tears at his name.
“My dear Karina,” he said slowly, pity showing in his eyes. “Peter has been gone for decades. We both know it’s impossible for him to return…” He sounded as if he was about to continue, but then his gaze went far off, as if an idea had crossed through his mind.
“What?” I asked, taking a step forward. “What is it?”
“The last time Marigold reported back from the Vale, it was with interesting news,” he said. “The Crystal Cavern has been disturbed.”
“And you think that what?” I asked, since like all vampires, I knew all about the Crystal Cavern and the dark artifacts it held. “Is there something inside of the Crystal Cavern that can bring Peter back to our world?”
My breath caught at the chance. Could it be possible? Like all vampires of the Carpathian Kingdom who were killed, Peter’s body was kept in the crypt of the castle. It was locked inside to be kept safe for all of eternity. Vampires didn’t erode like mortals did, so Peter’s body was still in tact.
The only thing missing from it was his soul.
A soul had never been returned to a vampire’s body before. But if there were a chance…
“The sapphire ring,” Nicolae spoke. “More specifically, Geneva herself.”
“But Geneva’s a witch,” I said, and all of the hope that had gathered in my body left as quickly as it had arrived. “No witch in all of history has been able to restore the dead.”
“No witch in all of history has been as powerful as Geneva,” Nicolae reminded me. “Her power scared all other supernaturals—so much that they locked her away forever. If anyone can succeed where the others failed, it would be her.”
“It’s a miracle they didn’t kill her,” I said. “That’s what the vampires would have done.”
“The witches are a generally peaceful people,” he said with a chuckle. “Which is why they don’t have anywhere close to the political power of vampires in the supernatural world. It’s also why they were so scared of Geneva. She was different… she had a hunger for power that the witches never quite understood. Locking her in the sapphire ring was supposed to get rid of her without resorting to murder. But I know for a fact that Laila has a personal reason for wanting to bring back Geneva.” He narrowed his eyes again, anger blazing across them. “And I’ve never known Laila to not get something she wants.”
“So you think she’ll get Geneva’s sapphire ring?” I asked.
“I know she will,” he said. “I’ve expected it since Geneva was banished. And I promise you that if you work with the wolves to successfully bring down the Vale, I’ll get that ring from Laila and command Geneva to bring your Peter back.”
“Are you willing to make a blood oath on that promise?” I asked, not allowing my gaze to leave his.
“I am.” He nodded.
“Good.” I smiled. “Then once the blood oath is complete, we have a deal.”
Jacen
I was gazing out the window and finishing my morning cup of blood when Laila entered my room—without knocking, of course.
“Have you heard from Stephenie recently?” she asked, joining me by the window.
“No.” I savored the final drops of blood and placed the empty glass down on the windowsill. “You know my sister and I are hardly close.”
That was the understatement of the century. Stephenie was only considered my sister because we were both turned by the same sire—Laila. Stephenie had been turned decades before me, just following the Great War. She was a jet setter and a major partier, always out with her latest boy toy—usually a human she would forget about in the next year.
She spent far more time traversing the globe than staying home at the Vale. She hadn’t even bothered to come back for my coronation. Not that I’d minded, of course. Stephenie might technically be considered my sister in accordance to vampire politics, but she would never replace the family I’d been torn aw
ay from when I’d had my humanity stolen from me one year ago.
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I always wished Stephenie would take more interest in the politics of the Vale. But oh well. We can’t force her to be who she’s not, and now we have you to be a respected face in our kingdom, don’t we?”
“Of course.” I forced a smile. “I’m sorry I can’t help you get a lead on her location.”
“No worries,” she said. “She’ll return soon enough. And your sister isn’t why I came here to talk to you, anyway.”
“Enlighten me then,” I told her. “What was so urgent that you needed to come to my bedroom first thing after sunset?”
“I hope I’m not disturbing you?” She raised an eyebrow, smirking.
“Disturbing?” I returned her smirk with one of my own. “Never.”
“I thought not.” She swished her dress around herself and settled onto one of the sofas in my sitting room.
I followed her lead, situating myself in the one across from her and waiting for her to continue.
“I received a letter from the Haven,” she said. “Their leader—Mary—is opting not to send any princesses to the Vale for your selection.”
I thought back to what Laila had told me of the Haven—they were the kingdom in India that was neutral on all vampire politics. The one with the vampires who survived on animal blood and tiger shifters to protect them. A kingdom of neutrality hardly interested me, since I doubted they would have any interest in furthering my cause of a revolution against the Vale, but it still wasn’t good news to hear that my options were going to be limited.
“That’s a shame,” I said. “Did they give any reason why?”
“Of course not,” she said. “Although it’s clearly an issue of neutrality. They can’t make an alliance with the Vale and remain neutral. Although they did wish you best of luck with your selection, and said that they’re looking forward to see who you decide to wed.”
“Where does this leave us?” I asked her.
“The same place as before.” She straightened, her gaze cool and composed. “An alliance with the Haven would have hardly been to our benefit, so this doesn’t foil our plans at all.”
“As for the other kingdoms?” I asked. “All is well?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “King Nicolae is sending a fine choice for you—Princess Bianca of the Carpathian Kingdom. She’s everything I could ever want for you in a match. She was only turned about a decade ago, making her young like you, and she’s also extremely beautiful. I think you’ll be pleased when you meet her.”
“She sounds lovely,” I said. “But he’s only sending one princess?” After all, each kingdom was asked to send two princesses. It wouldn’t make sense for him to send only one, unless he was truly that confident that I would choose Princess Bianca.
“He’s sending two,” Laila said. “His second choice—Princess Karina—confuses me, but I’m sure the king has his reasons.”
“Why does she confuse you?” I scooted forward on the sofa, curious.
“Karina was turned in the late 1800s,” Laila began. “She soon fell in love with a man named Peter, and she insisted that Nicolae turn Peter into a prince so they could live out their immortal lives together. The two of them were deeply in love…” Her eyes went far off, as if she were imagining a love of her own.
But I knew better than that. Laila didn’t love anyone but herself.
“What happened?” I asked, snapping her back into focus.
“Peter was killed about twenty years later, in the Great War,” she said. “He was staked in the heart by a group of Nephilim. Karina was there with him, and after witnessing his death, she murdered every single one of those Nephilim herself. She emerged from the battle covered in their blood. Soon afterward, she attempted to take her own life, but King Nicolae stopped her. I see her during my visits to the Carpathian Kingdom, but she’s different from the way she was before the war. Darker, and more tortured. I’ve heard that she fights the wolves that surround their walls for fun. She’s a fierce one… but she’s sad, too. Her sadness is so strong that it radiates off every inch of her being.”
My first thought was that a fighter like Karina might be good for my cause… if she supported my desire for a rebellion.
My second thought was the one I voiced out loud to Laila.
“Now she’s coming here for my selection,” I said thoughtfully. “And you’re skeptical about her putting herself forth. Do you believe she’s ready to move on from Peter?”
“I do not,” Laila said, quickly and surely. “Truthfully, I don’t think she’ll ever move on. She and Peter were soul mates in the purest sense of the word.”
“But she can’t live in the sadness of his death forever,” I said. “Perhaps she wants to move on. Coming to a new place—like the Vale—and participating in the selection might be good for her.”
I said it, although I didn’t believe it. Because from what Laila had said, Karina had no interest in moving on from Peter. Surely there were other reasons for her coming here. I suspected Laila knew that, but I didn’t want to give her any cause to raise those suspicions further.
“Perhaps,” Laila said simply, and I could tell by her distant tone that she didn’t believe it. “I think it’s far more likely that Nicolae knows I seek an alliance and that he trusts Karina can get the task done. After all, Karina is Nicolae’s favorite. But if she is coming here because she truly wants to move on… I think you’ll like her. Her soul is dark like yours.”
“So that’s why you came here today?” I asked. “To warn me about Karina?”
“Precisely.” Laila stood up and smoothed her gown, and I stood with her. “I think you would be happier with Bianca, as I think you deserve someone who can give you her full heart. With Karina… be careful that her motives are pure. While I value the alliance we’ll make, I also want to see you happy.”
With that, she gave me once last smile and let herself out, leaving me with only one thought on my mind.
If Karina was as fierce and sad as Laila had said… I was determined to learn more about her and find out if she might be interested in helping my cause.
Jacen
The day was finally here—when I would meet the princesses who had journeyed to the Vale from the other four participating kingdoms. The Carpathian Kingdom, Utopia, the Ward, and the Tower. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my cufflinks in preparation. But as I looked at my reflection, all I could think of was her.
Annika.
Since meeting her, I’d been replaying the moment I met her over and over in my mind. I would never forget how beautiful she’d looked that night—how full of life. On the day that I’d tried to rescue her from the Vale, she’d had so much hope in her eyes. And when I’d kissed her…
Emotions rolled through my body at the memory of her kiss. Pain, anger, regret. I’d known it could never work between us—not with me being a vampire and she a human—but I’d thought she’d had her entire life in front of her. I’d wanted to help her escape the Vale and give her a chance to be happy.
All hope for that had been ripped away the moment Camelia had thrown Annika’s corpse at my feet.
I would never forgive myself for failing her.
And I knew that none of these princesses I would meet would compare to Annika.
I’d never believed in love at first sight—lust at first sight, sure—but not love. Now when I thought of Annika, all I could feel was a gaping hole in my chest where my heart should be.
But I needed to get a grip on myself and stop brooding.
So I straightened, staring at myself in the mirror and pushing all thoughts of Annika out my head. She was gone now… there was no point in wishing for something that could never be. I needed to focus on the present. On the future. On doing whatever was necessary to start a rebellion against the queen of the Vale. To change the way that the entire kingdom was run. It wouldn’t be easy—that I knew.
But it would be
easier if I had a princess by my side—an alliance with a kingdom that might support my cause—to stand behind me.
So I turned around, left my room, and prepared to meet the princesses.
I didn’t go straight to the throne room—instead, I’d been asked to first go to Laila’s chambers to convene with the family before the reception began. They were all there—Laila, Scott, Lauren, Alexander, and Deidre.
Laila was in a stunning red gown—she would take the spotlight tonight, as I’m sure she intended. My brothers and their wives all were in their formal gear as well. Together, we looked like quite the royal family. Except that one person was still missing…
“I take it that Stephenie isn’t going to bother to attend?” I asked with nonchalance. Her skipping this event was an insult to me as a prince of the Vale, but it wasn’t as if I cared about all of that royal protocol. Especially because this family wasn’t my own. They never would be or could be. Still, I had to pretend like I cared somewhat, thus why I’d pointed it out immediately.
“Your sister was last seen partying with the vampires of the Tower at Christmas,” Laila said with a frown. “I suspect she jetted off to some exotic location to celebrate the New Year.”
“Not much time has passed since then,” I pointed out.
“She should be here,” Laila said. “When the time is right, I’ll ask the princesses of the Tower if they know anything about her whereabouts. But her not being here is an insult—not just to you, but to the crown. When she gets back…” Laila didn’t continue, but I could tell from the anger in her eyes that Stephenie was going to be in for quite the verbal lashing when she returned, along with who knew what else.
“She’s gone missing for far longer in the past,” Scott chimed in. “Remember when she went to Ibiza and we didn’t hear from her all summer? I’m sure she’s fine.”
The Vampire Prince (The Vampire Wish Book 2) Page 6