“So we just have to tell Lord Fane about what Harland’s planning. It will be enough.”
“No,” Lafayette said. “Not nearly.”
“Why?”
“Even if Fane can be trusted, he still has to convince Moldark to side against them. And he won’t be able to. The only thing I can think of that would sway him…”
Lafayette trailed off.
“What?” Theresa demanded.
“You would have to really convince Moldark that you are Emberlynn. And that you have chosen him over the rest of us.”
“What would that do?”
“He’d want to protect you from Harland. Which would mean they’d face off. Obviously, I would help out. And maybe Fane as well but it’s not going to work unless you give Moldark what you just refused me. That’s how it works.”
Lafayette moved by her back out through the hallway.
She followed him until they were out of the cottage.
“Where are you going?” Theresa demanded.
“It’s not your concern,” Lafayette replied. “Don’t listen to me anyway. Maybe you’re better off running. Maybe we all would be.”
Theresa covered her mouth with her fists.
She didn’t know how to respond.
He had seriously just messed with her head.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
A grey stallion broke out from the trees across from the cottage and Lafayette hopped on its back before galloping away down the road, without looking back at her. Theresa moved by the fountain towards the carriage that was awaiting her, but soon felt the presence of someone behind her.
“You were right not to sleep with him,” Lord Fane said.
Theresa whirled round. “How long have you been here?”
“The whole time.” He walked over. “It’s unfortunate he saw through you.”
“I know right. I’m not much of an actress I suppose.”
“You were fine,” the Warlock assured her.
“So how much of … did you hear –”
“I heard enough,” Lord Fane answered.
“So what’s my next move? Do I go and convince Moldark I’m into him now? That guy’s a bit full on.”
“Absolutely not. Visiting Moldark would be far too dangerous for you. You could barely handle Lafayette as it was.”
“So what happens now?”
“I will return to the harem and apologize for your absence. In the meantime, you will be sent back to the castle.”
“What?”
“You will have to leave tonight as they might be after you. No doubt Lafayette will expose your identity to the others.”
“So you don’t believe him? That he wants to help?”
“He was just leading you on. Unfortunately for him, he’s severely underestimated me. They will be dealt with.”
“But wait,” Theresa persisted. “What about my villa? What about –”
“That was for the girl who succeeded!” Fane thundered. “Not for some destitute failure.”
“But I haven’t failed yet. There’s still time.”
“No, there isn’t. Not unless you make it back to the harem before Lafayette and that’s not going to happen, is it?”
“You’re not a hundred percent on him though,” Theresa said. “I could – I could wear that ring you gave me. I could put the truth potion in their glasses whilst invisible. Listen to what they all say.”
“If they catch you, they’ll kill you. No, it’s too dangerous.”
“I can’t go back to being a slave! Not now! Not after this! You can’t make me!”
“You’re better off at the Princess’s castle than out in the wilderness where God knows who will come along and steal you up.” Fane looked into her eyes and saw the hurt that was there. “I’m sorry, Theresa. It’s for you own good.”
And then it hit her.
He wasn’t going to listen.
He couldn’t be reasoned with.
He wasn’t on her side.
Theresa put her head down and started walking away from him.
“Driver,” Lord Fane shouted. “Take her back to the Princess’s castle. Leave via the west gate where you won’t be seen. That’s an order.”
She turned and saw Fane go inside the cottage.
The driver held the carriage door open for her.
“I’m not going with you,” Theresa said walking by him.
“Are you sure?” the driver asked. “It’s quite a ways back to town.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You know. You can trust me. I’ll take you where you want to go.”
Theresa shook her head. “I can’t trust anyone.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The carriage charged on by her as Theresa walked alone on the side of the road. Every so often she looked back to see if the Warlock was following her. She fumbled about with the invisibility ring, holding it in her hand just in case she needed to use it.
Somewhere along the line, she’d gotten confused. She hadn’t done what was asked of her. Lafayette told her one version of events and Lord Fane another. Were they both right? Were they both wrong? Or was it just one of them who was pulling her leg?
Theresa couldn’t figure it out. Something told her not to trust either of them. And while in one frame of mind it might have made sense to stick to the original plan – to just run away and abandon the town – she couldn’t help but feel an aching sense that she’d be letting everyone down. After all, she knew things. She knew trouble was coming to the orchard. It seemed strange in a way. For all the Princess’s evil deeds there was now truly one thing they shared in common. Her enemies were Theresa’s own. So who did she trust? Who did she choose to believe?
Who might she choose to be with?
She stopped herself in the middle of the road.
The sprawling dark north. The sprawling dark south. And the woods all around her.
Even though she’d spent the most time with Lafayette, even though she’d kissed him, and believed most of what he’d said to be true – she knew he’d never be in her heart. When she thought of the room and the way they’d all connected with her – it was Harland she couldn’t get out of her mind. Harland who seemed to share that connection with her.
Lord Fane had been right to begin with.
Harland of the North, standing alongside her as they fought off the vampires of the west and the south… There was so much she hadn’t seen yet so much she could see.
His kingdom was in both her mind and heart. And it would be till the day she saw it.
The sound of a horse galloped along from behind.
Theresa quickly slipped the ring on and ran down the slope into the trees. Soon enough Lord Fane and his steed charged along into the night. They were done with the cottage. And going back to the harem no doubt.
Theresa still had one card left to play.
She opened up the carry purse Fane had given her, to uncover the crystal orb wrapped in cloth. She sat down by the tree with it, glowing in her hands.
Fane had said only to use this as a last resort, as its powers could sometimes work out for the worst.
Theresa was at that point.
She looked down at the orb and whispered: “Where do I go now?”
And the orb showed her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
There was no telling who was lurking in these woods at this time of night. What creatures. Which people. Theresa knew the west gate couldn’t be that far once she made it out, it was just that making it out that was going to be difficult. She had seen the hooded figures in the ball, and she had heard her name mentioned by them, so sure enough she might have a couple of allies nearby. Who they might be though…
Tired from the walking, Theresa’s dress dipped into the mud and her feet dirtied in the gown’s wake. She felt the environment, all its breathing and cold. Her eyes still drifting beyond the cracks between the leaves overhead towards the sky with the stars staring down above. It was unlike any other ni
ght she’d seen. Unlike any time she’d experienced. Her world had been so small for so long and to have it opened was something she couldn’t put into words.
After about ten minutes of walking, she caught a pale turquoise glimmer against one of the trees ahead. As she approached it further she saw the outline of Lafayette’s grey stallion. He was talking with someone.
“I did just as you asked,” Lafayette was saying. “Threw myself at her feet. It wasn’t enough to fully convince her. She saw through me, I think.”
“The question is, where is she now?” a quiet female voice piped up.
“On her way to visit Moldark, I believe. I heard the carriage roll through fifteen minutes ago, so she should be well on her way.”
Theresa made her way round to get a better look.
What she saw stunned her.
“When Moldark and Harland are busy with one another, only then can we take care of Fane,” Princess Emberlynn said. “We will need to speed things along between Moldark and Nurse Chantley. Do you have any ideas?”
Theresa’s hand slipped along the trunk of the tree and her invisibility ring fell off. “Whoops.”
“QUICKLY!” Emberlynn screeched. “Find who’s there!”
Lafayette hopped on his stallion and charged off in her direction, whilst Theresa started running.
As hard as she could.
CHAPTER TWENTY
It wasn’t long before Lafayette caught up with her. He jumped down from his stallion, effectively landing on her, and pinning her to the ground. Princess Emberlynn hurried over to meet up with them. “Who is it? Who was spying on us? I want to know who!”
Lafayette got off Theresa and pulled her up to face the Princess.
“Ah-ha,” the Princess exclaimed. “I should have known.”
“Don’t be mad at me,” Theresa fired back. “I’ve been trying to help you. Now the two of you are scheming against Lord Fane? I thought he was your friend. What the hell is going on here?”
Emberlynn stared at her a moment. Then unleashed her fist striking her in the face.
Theresa took a step back, writhing in pain. Then she closed her fist into a ball and punched Emberlynn.
“You bitch!” the Princess squealed, bursting into tears. “Kill her, Lafayette. Kill her for me.”
“Everyone just calm down,” Lafayette said standing between them. “Let’s try to make this work. We can still use her.”
“No!” Theresa shouted. “You’re not using me! I’m tired of the way you’ve been treating me!”
“There she is,” the Princess said in a hollow voice. “There’s the strength I always feared from you. My … My little Kitten. How foolish you are to –”
Princess Emberlynn was cut off midsentence by a crossbow bolt shot through her eye.
Emberlynn’s mouth opened in horror, with both Lafayette and Theresa looking on stunned.
She dropped to the ground.
Theresa spun around as a pair of glowing red eyes peered down from the trees above.
Lafayette grabbed Theresa’s arm. “Run! GO! NOW!!!”
He pulled her along as they ran together, the great black mass jumping across the branches above them.
Somehow, despite all the agony her feet were going through, she made to the other side of the woods with Lafayette. The creature above them still giving chase.
They ran out into the open and kept going, the grass ripping at her heels.
She could hear the wild stallion’s gallop gaining.
“We’re not going to make it,” she said to Lafayette. “I can’t go any further.”
She stopped, letting go of his grip, crashing to the ground.
Lafayette stopped running and tried to pull her up.
Meanwhile the great stallion’s hooves bit the grass behind them.
Lafayette let go of Theresa’s reach and staggered backwards.
“What’s it going to be?” a voice growled behind her.
Theresa turned around.
Moldark was on the back of Lafayette’s stallion, the crossbow at his side.
She shook her head at him.
“Choose,” Moldark grunted. “Me or him. Choose.”
Theresa looked from Moldark to Lafayette and back to Moldark again.
She slowly stood up from the ground. “But I’m not a Princess. It was all a lie.”
“I don’t care,” Moldark said. “Come with me now, or forever be my enemy. Choose.”
Theresa looked back to Lafayette.
“Now Emberlynn’s gone, all I have is you,” Lafayette whispered.
The cold night swept over the grassy hill.
“Last chance,” Moldark said.
Theresa closed her eyes.
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GAME OF VAMPIRES: PART TWO
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WXQG67
Tonight is a night where Nurse Chantley will have to make choices. Choices about which vampire she should side with. Tell her secrets to. Go to bed with. Surrender her heart.
Not everyone is her friend. There are enemies all around her, working against her, plotting ahead and anticipating future decisions and choices. For Theresa, the harem has been but a shell.
She will have to peel it back layer by layer. Uncover secret after secret.
Until the truth makes itself known.
WORKS BY ROSETTE BOLTER
STANDALONE BOOKS
Vampire Dating Agency
Vampire’s Valentine
Stepbrother Bear
Game of Vampires (In Progress)
PARANORMAL SAGA
1. Shared By The Dragon Clan
2. Badass Dragons
3. Worshiped By The Bear Kings
4. Engaged To The Vampire Twins
5. Trillionaire Shifter Club (In Progress)
6. Embraced By The Vampire Triplets (In Progress)
SHIFTER NIGHTS
1. A Night In Bear Forest (Coming Soon)
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Game of Vampires: A Reverse Harem Serial (Part One) Page 4