The Finale

by Leigh Walker

  The prince pulled up a blade of grass and examined it. “He is refusing to eat, I’m afraid.”

  I put down my scone, feeling sick. “I have to do something. I’ll go and see him.”

  Dallas frowned, his eyes stormy. “Do you think it will help?”

  “I don’t know, but I have to try. Does the king know yet? That Balkyn is my brother?”

  “No. I have kept that to myself for now. My father’s on the warpath. He wants the contest wrapped up and plans for the wedding finalized—he wants to go on the offensive against the rebels. And I’m worried that he won’t take the news well, even though I want him to know the truth.”

  I nodded, my eyes filling with tears. Dallas was risking himself to protect me. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me. I have your brother locked in the dungeons. I’m hardly your knight in shining armor now.”

  “That’s not true. You saved me, and you spared his life.” I wiped at my eyes, trying to keep my makeup intact. “May I please see him? Without you getting into trouble?”

  “Yes.” But Dallas didn’t look happy about it. “I’ll arrange for you to go as soon as possible, with full security. But I want to be at the castle when you visit, just in case…”

  “In case what?”

  He reached for my hand. “In case you need me.”

  “That’s very kind, but he is my brother. I can handle him.”

  A dark look crossed the prince’s handsome face, as if he’d tasted something bitter. “He was unkind to you, Gwyneth. I would prefer to be here.”

  My heart twisted. Dallas thought he had to protect me from my own brother, who I loved but who had become a stranger to me over the past five years. “I understand.” I wished I didn’t.

  “On to the next unpleasant topic.” The camera crew kept filming. Dallas ignored them, his gaze locked with mine. “I’m going to Settlement Eleven with Tamara this afternoon.”

  “Of course.” My stomach plummeted, but I tried to keep my distaste from showing on my face. Tamara was attractive, wealthy, and from a good family that supported the royals. She was Tariq’s favorite, so I wasn’t surprised that her visit was scheduled first.

  “When I return, I’ll have meetings with my staff and advisors. I’ll make sure the arrangements are made for you to see Balkyn during that time. But then I’m going to the next settlement visit straightaway. I don’t know which one. They’re working on the production schedule at the moment.”

  I nodded. “This is all happening so fast.”

  Dallas raked a hand through his hair, making it a bit wild. “Will you be okay while I’m gone? I’ll make sure you have plenty of guards and are safe, but…” He looked miserable as his voice trailed off.

  I lifted my chin. “I’ll be fine. I have more important things to worry about than Tamara.”

  He winced. “Speaking of which, we should get going. Mother will be waiting.”

  I nodded, praying my game face was intact.

  Dallas helped me to my feet. “You don’t have to be afraid of my mother, Gwyneth.”

  So much for my game face.

  “No harm will come to you, I swear it. I’ve been working with her. So has Eve. We’re trying to bring her into this century so she understands her old ways of…responding…to things are no longer appropriate.”

  The queen’s old way of “responding” to things was to sink her fangs into anyone who offended her. Which was how my friend Eve had become a vampire—the queen herself had turned her.

  “She really wants to get to know you.”

  I forced myself to smile. “That’s very kind.” I was still scared of her, though.

  “No one said this was going to be easy.” Dallas reached for my hand. He raised it to his lips and kissed it. “We are vampire and human, after all. We’re intrinsically complicated.” He pulled me to my feet.

  “How so?”

  He brushed the hair back from my forehead, his face inches from mine, and I cursed the cameras. “Because you smell mouthwatering to me. And my mother drained your friend dry and turned her. And your brother is locked in my dungeon and wants me dead. That’s just to name a few complications.”

  “None of that matters.” I clasped his hands. “Balkyn doesn’t know you. He doesn’t understand that you’ve saved my life, more than once. And Eve is getting on all right.” In fact, my friend had told me she loved being a vampire.

  I looked up at Dallas, wishing I were brave enough to say what I really felt. None of it matters, because I could never live without you.

  Instead, I lightened my tone and put on another smile. “As for being mouthwatering, I understand it’s quite the compliment. And frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  He chuckled, and my insides twisted with longing. “Nor would I, Gwyneth. Nor would I.”

  Chapter 3

  Never Break The Chain

  I’d said I was scared of the queen, but I meant that I was petrified. Waiting outside the entrance to the palace for her arrival, I longed to flee. The camera crew set up on the lawn, eagerly awaiting the queen’s entrance. The people in the settlements viewed Her Majesty as exotic and mysterious. Her interactions with the remaining contestants would make for excellent television.

  Finally, the doors opened, and Dallas’s mother swept through.

  “Her Royal Majesty, Queen Serena Black, Crown Queen of the United Royal Settlements,” a sentinel announced.

  All of the guards bowed before Her Highness. She descended the steps slowly, deliberately, and I was forced to confront her icy beauty in broad daylight. Tall and slender, with sapphire-blue eyes, she was stunning. Her pale complexion was set off by a sumptuous black gown. In the light, her skin was so white, it was as if she’d never been in the sun before.

  I suddenly squeezed Dallas’s hand. “Wait—the sun! Is it safe for her to be out in the daylight?”

  “Yes, of course.” Dallas pulled me closer, clearly sensing that my nerves were about to get the better of me. “Just not for too long. This is new for her, actually. She prefers to stay in her chambers during the day, but she’s really making an effort.”

  “That’s w-wonderful.” I hoped the sun didn’t make her cranky.

  The queen reached us. Dallas bowed, and I curtsied.

  He smiled and took her hand. “Mother. You remember Miss Gwyneth West, from Settlement Four.”

  The queen’s glittering blue gaze raked over me. “Yes. It’s a pleasure to see you.” Her words were stiff, as if she was out of practice exchanging small pleasantries.

  “The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty.” I smiled at her tentatively.

  She did not smile back but nodded instead. Then she accepted the arm Dallas offered.

  “We’ll walk around to the reflecting pools if that’s acceptable to you, Mother.” His tone was filled with kindness, and I melted toward him even more.

  She nodded again, and this time it seemed more natural. “That would be nice.” She surveyed the grounds. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been outside during the day. It’s quite different. A bit jarring, I think, all this brightness.”

  Dallas tilted his chin up. “The sun feels nice on your face, though, once you get used to it.”

  The queen lifted her chin, too, closing her eyes briefly. “You’re right.”

  He chuckled. “Of course, Mother—I’m always right.”

  Her eyes snapped open. “You and your brother. Ridiculous egos.” She chuckled.

  I fought to keep my jaw from dropping. The queen could chuckle?

  Keeping an arm linked through his mother’s, Dallas reached for me with his free hand. He twined his fingers through mine, and the three of us strolled forward. It was an odd feeling, being linked to both of them like that.

  “Mother, Gwyneth’s an accomplished rider. She loves visiting the horses in the stables.”

  “Really?” The queen peered across her son’s broad chest. “Which horse is your favorite?”

  I cleared my
throat. “M-Maeve, Your Highness. One of the white mares.”

  “Ah, yes. She’s a beauty.” Her gaze traveled over to her son’s face. “So you two can enjoy that together.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  The queen nodded. “It’s important to have things in common. Particularly when you’re not of the same race.”

  “Mother.” Dallas raised his eyebrows. “What have I told you? Our different backgrounds don’t matter.”

  She stopped walking. “Did they matter when you went to rescue her and the human rebels tried to kill you because you’re a vampire?”

  Dallas regarded her. “I see Father has kept you up to date.”

  The queen arched an eyebrow. “We are running this country together, you know. Secrets won’t do.”

  A chill needled my spine as I thought about my brother, locked away in the dungeons. Talk about secrets.

  “Mother… How can I make you understand? Our different backgrounds don’t matter to me, and my counsel is the only one I plan to keep. Gwyneth and I care about the same things. That’s what matters to me.”

  She looked past him to me. “Gwyneth?”

  My insides went all spongy and weird when she said my name. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

  “What sorts of things do you care about?”

  “Well, I care about my family. I love them very much.” Don’t blather on, I warned myself, and for the love of all things holy, don’t mention your brother, the rebel prisoner! “As I’m sure you know, my younger brother and sister live at home with my mother in Settlement Four. We’re very close.”

  “I watched the episode when you went home. They are quite cute.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty.” I was flabbergasted. “Cute” wasn’t a word I ever expected to hear from the queen. She’d certainly surprised me today.

  “And do you take care of them, when you are home?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And what will happen if my son chooses you to be his bride? Will your family move here?”

  “Uh. I…” I looked to Dallas, completely baffled.

  He stared straight ahead. Again, I swore he was blushing.

  “I suppose my family would do whatever the royal family is most comfortable with, in addition to what they feel is best for them.” I cleared my throat. “To be honest, I hadn’t considered it yet, Your Majesty. The contest has been quite all-encompassing.”

  We rounded the castle, and the queen gazed at the reflecting pool. “But you must consider it. I know my son would like to pretend that humans and vampires are one big happy family, but I would not be so simplistic with respect to such matters.”

  Dallas shook his head. “I’m not being simplistic, Mother. I’m being optimistic. Forward-thinking. There’s no reason humans and vampires can’t live together in harmony. Think of all the human servants who live and work at the palace.”

  The queen pointed at me. “Think of this girl’s friend—Eve—and what I did to her the first night she got here.”

  She stepped away, staring at the water in the pool, a dark look crossing her snow-white face.

  “We’ve discussed that. I understand why you did it.” Dallas’s voice was tender. “You’re working on your issues.”

  “Issues?” The queen scoffed. “If you call drinking human blood an issue, well…I am afraid you are setting yourself up for a grave disappointment in the future. It’s not as though we can change our very nature.”

  Dallas sighed. “That’s not what I meant. I don’t expect that our kind will stop drinking blood. That is how we survive. I was talking about the fact that she insulted you, and you couldn’t control your rage.”

  The queen’s gaze flicked to me. “You’re getting quite an earful this morning, aren’t you?”

  I cleared my throat. “Yes, Your Majesty. But I want to hear it. And as for Eve…” My voice trailed off, and I looked to both of them, unsure whether to proceed.

  “Yes? What about her?” The queen’s eyes glittered with curiosity.

  Dallas nodded, and I continued. “She’s very sorry about what she said to you. She sees it differently now. She views her new life as a gift from fate. An opportunity to see both sides whereas, before, she only viewed vampires through her own bias. She’s quite extraordinary, actually.”

  The queen tilted her chin, inspecting me. “Yes she is. And I wonder if she wasn’t correct about it being fate that brought her here to the castle.”

  “You believe in fate?”

  Her gaze traveled to her son. “I do.”

  An emotion briefly crossed Dallas’s face, but I wasn’t quick enough to read it. He rearranged his features and smiled, holding out his arms for both of us. “Come now. We’re getting awfully philosophical for first thing in the morning.”

  My head was spinning by the time I got to the common room. The queen’s question about where my mother, Remy, and Winnie would live had caught me wholly off guard. Delicious breakfast smells wafted to me, but I couldn’t concentrate on them.

  Suddenly, the fact that the contest had only one week left seemed very real. I was woefully unprepared for that. Questions I couldn’t begin to answer swirled through my mind.

  What if Dallas chooses someone else?

  What if he…doesn’t?

  “Well, there she is. Little Miss First and Foremost.” Tamara frowned at me from the table where she sat with Blake and Shaye.

  Here we go. I headed for them, my remaining fellow contestants, and prepared myself for a ribbing. The three of them watched me as I crossed the room: Miss Tamara Layne, Settlement 11, with her long dark hair and blue eyes framed by thick lashes; Miss Shaye Iman, Settlement 24, with thick, tawny ringlets, enormous brown eyes, and copper-colored skin; and Miss Blake Kensington, Settlement 15, with long, thick blond hair, a gorgeous face, and the ability to out-eat us all.

  “I beg your pardon?” I sank into my chair, scowling at Tamara. “Little Miss What?”

  Tamara tossed her raven waves over her shoulder and inspected me. “We were just discussing how you always seem to get the prince’s attention first and how none of us can figure out why.”

  “That’s not what we were saying, you insipid cow.” Blake pinged her toast crust onto Tamara’s plate. “You were complaining that Gwyneth always gets the prince’s attention first, and then you were listing all of your so-called superior assets. Shaye and I were just sitting here, gritting our teeth.”

  I chuckled, looking from Blake to Shaye. “Thank you.”

  Tamara rolled her eyes. “My assets are superior, though. Which is why I find it so vexing that His Highness took you for a walk with the queen this morning—and not me.”

  “Oh, do tell us.” Shaye leaned forward, her curls glistening in the sun streaming in through the windows. “How was she?”

  “She was…good. It was nice, actually.”

  “You and your ‘nice.’” Tamara yawned dramatically. “I’ve just got up, and here you are putting me to sleep again.”

  “What’s the queen like?” Shaye asked. “Whenever we’ve seen her, she’s been imposing. And a bit terrifying, if I’m being honest.”

  I nodded. “She’s definitely old school. Old vampire school, which is a whole other category. But she came out in the sun today because she wants to make an effort. She wants to get to know each one of us. She was quite pleasant, actually.”

  “Hmm. I’ve no idea what I’m going to talk to her about.” Blake fiddled with her glass of orange juice. “Maybe the weather?”

  “Maybe farts?” Tamara somehow managed to keep a straight face.

  Blake scrunched her nose. “Do you think vampires fart?”

  Shaye giggled. “Are we seriously having a conversation about this?”

  “No, I mean it.” Blake looked genuinely perplexed. “Do they have normal bodily functions? Do they pee?”

  Tamara shook with silent laughter. “Why don’t you ask the queen?”

  Blake regarded her juice. “I might.”

&
nbsp; Tamara snorted and turned back to me. “I assume His Highness will be visiting Settlement Four first?”

  “No, he won’t.” I played with my fork. “You get the first home visit. The prince told me this morning.”

  “What?” Tamara leaned forward, her bosom heaving beneath her purple gown. “When? Tell me everything. Now.”

  I sighed. “You’re leaving later this afternoon. That’s all I know.”

  She pumped her fist. “Yes! Oh, I can’t wait for the prince to meet Mother and Father. He’ll adore them! They’ve been very active in supporting the royal family, unlike your peasant, mongrel families…” She chattered away, intermittently insulting us and describing in too-vivid detail all the lingerie she planned to pack.

  Instead of smacking her, I counted backward from ten. Because really, when it came to Tamara, what else could I do?

  I kept to myself for the rest of the afternoon, not wanting to hear Tamara talk about her beautiful home, her amazing parents, and how much the prince was going to adore Settlement 11.

  Jealous cow that I was, I couldn’t bear to think of the two of them together. The car ride to 11 took hours, and they were spending the night at the Layne mansion. What on earth was Tamara going to get up to with all that free time and proximity to the prince?

  It made me sick to even think about, so I paced my chambers instead. I saw the king and the Black Guard when they returned late that afternoon, sentinels meeting them to take the horses back to the stables. I wondered if they’d found any rebels. I shivered, realizing it was really better not to know.

  Father, are you out there? Are you still alive?

  I also wondered—if he was alive, would he hate me now, as Balkyn seemed to? Would he consider me a traitor to my race? I refused to believe my gentle, brilliant father would be so narrow-minded. But both he and Balkyn had left five years ago to drive the royals off, never to return. Balkyn’s hate toward the vampires was vicious and deep. Did my father feel the same way?

  I heard a knock at the door, interrupting the unpleasant thoughts. Evangeline hustled in, bearing a letter on a tray. “For you, miss.” She smiled kindly. “The prince wanted to make sure you had it as soon as he’d left.”