I hid a smile at his description. Fluffy bits of goo was not really being fair to the majesty of a well-cooked pancake. But it was accurate enough to be hilarious.
“Plus, I wanted to let Bernard sleep. He was beside himself yesterday. He ran up and down the roads all night looking for you. He would not allow me to convince him to be cautious. He was most indiscrete.”
I set my fork down, staring at Caleb as all the blood drained from my face. Bernard had put himself in danger while I was out wasting time with a boy. Bernard could have been spotted. Or arrested.
Or worse.
Well, that did it. My appetite was officially gone. Guilt set in with a vengeance.
I swallowed, staring at my hands in my lap.
Caleb was good at this. Too good. He was the master of manipulation. I’d forgotten he was known for it during my father’s rule. Strategy and subterfuge were his calling cards.
I wouldn’t forget it again.
He hadn’t yelled or told me about my obligations to our kind. To humankind, as well. It wasn’t just the supernatural world that was impacted by who ruled the Kingdom of Night.
My father had changed the way things were done after he met my mother. His love for her had changed his opinion of the living. He’d written laws that were less frivolous with the lives of mortals.
He had a strict ‘feed, but don’t kill’ policy, often keeping well cared for humans glamoured and on hand to sustain those in the castle. Then he’d send them on their way with mysterious but generous financial settlements.
Sometimes, he’d even turn them if he got attached.
I sat there with my head bowed, unable to even look at him.
No, Caleb hadn’t need to yell at all. He’d waged a much subtler form of warfare on me. And much more effective.
He’d used Bernard.
“Was it worth it?”
“No. Not really.”
“Look at me, Sophie.”
I scowled and crossed my arms defensively.
“Look at me.”
Finally, I raised my eyes to his.
“You can’t disappear like that. Your safety is too important.”
I knew he was right. But I was right too. I needed things to change here, or I was going to lose my mind.
“Fine. But I can’t stay cooped up in this house forever either. I want to… do things! Normal teenage things!”
“But you aren’t a normal teenager.”
“I can pretend. Just for a little while. For a few months, maybe even a year, I can pretend.” He looked like he was considering it, though he was famously hard to read. I forged ahead, sensing that I had a chance to win him over. “I promise to work twice as hard! My powers are still growing. We need more time to develop them. You said so yourself. I’m not ready.”
He studied my face in the waning light of afternoon, the remnants of my unfinished breakfast on the table between us.
“This is that important to you?”
“Yes. It is.” I nodded. “I’m not sure why, but it is.”
“Fine.” He nodded curtly and I suppressed the urge to jump up and down. “But there will be strict rules. Rules about everything but most importantly your safety. And your training must not suffer.”
I smiled as Caleb started his list of conditions. It was long and very specific. I had tears in my eyes and a grin on my face by the time he got to curfews and checking in.
“Wait here.”
He ran upstairs and came back down with something. My phone. He set it on the table. I watched as he downloaded an app that let him find me. Sort of a GPS for teens.
It was probably a good idea, though I wasn’t crazy about him knowing my whereabouts at all times. But I didn’t care. Disaster had been averted.
Caleb would forgive me. We were going to stick it out. We weren’t going on the run this time.
We were staying in Green Rock.
Chapter 12
“Hold it like this—”
I grasped the throwing star between my thumb and index finger. Maxim stood beside me in the waning light of the yard. He touched my shoulder and I heard Caleb clear his throat.
I smiled and threw the star, hitting the target dead on.
“Not bad, Princess. You’re a natural at this.”
“Try it in motion.”
I glanced over my shoulder at Caleb and nodded. He was supervising my training from the sidelines; Maxim’s specialty was weapons and he was taking over my lesson for the day.
“Give her eight.”
“I only have seven.”
“Fine.”
Maxim raised his eyebrows but said nothing. He held up six additional razor sharp stars. I fitted them in between my fingers while he fetched the one I’d just thrown. I grasped that between the knuckles of my left hand.
“Come all the way back.” I moved closer to the house and Caleb nodded. “Now, over the table.”
I turned and faced the target nailed to the tree. There was a picnic table about halfway down the yard. I took off at a run, tossing the first star as I lifted into the air, twisting as I flipped over the table. Time slowed for me as I calculated each movement with absolute precision.
By the time I landed in a crouch a few seconds later, all seven stars had landed behind me. I didn’t need to look to know they had all found their mark.
Maxim clapped, his face split in a wide grin.
“Impressive, Princess. You’re surprisingly fast.”
I glared at him. Did he have to say ‘surprisingly’ in that tone? He’d been making little digs at me all day. Or at least since the visiting vamps had risen at sunset.
“She has to be.” Caleb frowned. “Do it again.”
I had worked up a slight sweat as I practiced throwing the stars, and then knives, swords and axes, while jumping over and under various obstacles. I had just flipped off the roof of the sun porch while throwing two swords, a dagger and three stars when Bernard came out. He had something pinched between his fingertips, holding it as far away from him as possible.
“Your phone keeps making this atrocious sound.”
I held out my hand and took the phone from him. I had missed several calls and what looked like half a dozen texts. I knew who it was. I had forgotten to text Dylan and let him know I had gotten home alright.
“Crap.”
Maxim raised a brow at me.
“Boyfriend?”
I shook my head, though that didn’t feel completely honest. Dylan wasn’t a boyfriend. Not yet. But as crazy as it sounded, it he felt like he could be.
“Her Highness doesn’t have boyfriends.”
Maxim stiffened at the tone of Caleb’s voice.
“Of course not.” He bowed, though there was a hint of mockery in the sweeping motion. “My apologies.”
“Ignore him. He’s cranky.” I shrugged. “It’s my fault for staying out so late.”
“Feeding?”
“No. I was at a party.”
“Ah. You smelled like humans when you got back.”
I gave him a funny look.
“I always smell like humans. I am one, remember?”
He shook his head slowly. I noticed again how handsome he was. He must have been turned in his late teens or early twenties, but I had no way of knowing how old he truly was.
He smiled, revealing his fangs. I returned the stare, resisting the urge to flinch. It wasn’t necessarily a friendly smile.
“No, you smell like something else entirely.”
There was something strangely intimate in his tone, like he knew me better than he did. Better than I knew myself. He clearly appreciated me as a female. It was not unlike the way Dylan looked at me, truth be told.
I felt goosebumps break out on my arms.
“It’s getting chilly.” He tilted his head, observing me. “You should go inside. I know that sort of thing bothers you… warm blooded creatures.”
“Creatures?”
He grinned wide, clearly loving that
he was getting to me. I gave him a dirty look. No one told me what to do. Well, except Caleb and Bernard and that was only when it came to my safety.
Plus, they’d raised me. They were allowed to make suggestions. This was different. I’d just met this guy.
True, he had sacrificed a lot to fight the traitors and aid my cause, but I wished he didn’t have to be so smug about it.
I shrugged, deciding not to put him in his place. It was getting chilly. And as usual, I was starving.
Plus, I kind of needed to deal with Dylan… I didn’t need humans combing the woods looking for my body in some sort of misguided search party. The poor guy probably thought I’d been eaten by bears.
I walked inside and upstairs to change. I wasn’t surprised to find Caleb in my bedroom, waiting.
With visitors in the house, there wasn’t really any privacy. They could hear us if they wanted to anyway. Even in here.
“You like him. Maxim.”
“He’s arrogant. And he has an annoying sense of humor. But he risked his life to warn us, so I guess he’s alright.” I sighed. “Do you trust him?”
Caleb nodded.
“He’s cheeky. But he and his mother are loyal to your father. He was highly placed before the fall. He held a title of his own.”
I frowned. There were only a handful of noble titles given during my father’s reign. Eight in total. Two Dukes, two Earls and four Lords. Several had colluded with the New Leaders. Others had perished or disappeared, most likely into the castle dungeons.
“Why hasn’t he been captured then?”
“He’s been on the move almost constantly, like us. And his mother was taken recently, if you recall. She’s the reason we are all on edge.”
“Right. I know.”
“Many have played both sides. Be prepared for that. There are some who will welcome you back, but not all.”
I nodded.
“No matter what they thought of my father, they have other interests.” I sighed, rubbing my neck. “They don’t all believe in human rights.”
Caleb snorted.
“That’s just the beginning of it. They crave more than just the ability to kill at will. They want power and domination over the entire human race. They believe humans are little more than cattle and should be treated as such.”
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. It was a terrifying thought. The human race was capable of cruelty, yes, but also great feats of artistry.
They were not cattle.
Never mind that I was half human. What the New Leaders were after just wasn’t right. I believed in equality for everyone.
Besides, if vamps went around like it was open season on human-hunting, they would start a war. We might be stronger, but there were infinitely more humans than vamps. They were courting disaster if they lifted the veil of secrecy that protected us.
“Dinner in twenty minutes!” Bernard called up the stairs and my stomach growled audibly. Caleb raised an eyebrow and I shrugged in a way that said: What could I do?
A girl had to eat.
“I’m going to wash up.”
Caleb nodded and paused by the door.
“Was I right?”
“About what?”
He gestured to my phone.
“About the boy.”
I felt my cheeks get warm.
“He’s a… friend.”
He stared at me for a moment.
“A human friend. Interesting.” He gave me a sardonic look. “Foolish, but interesting.”
I sighed and plopped down on the bed, holding my phone. I got a warm feeling, realizing how many times Dylan had called. I stared at the screen, reading the texts.
Dylan sounded worried. Really worried. Maybe even a little angry.
Are you okay?
Hey, you were supposed to text me when you got in.
helllllo.
Sophie, you better not be in a ditch.
Or eaten by a bear.
I will be so pissed if you get eaten by a bear before prom.
I laughed, shaking my head. Okay, so he was funny. And cute. The boy was a walking double whammy. And I did owe him a text. I might have to fib a bit about why I hadn’t called him back.
‘I’m being hunted by evil Vampires who want to kill me and my two guardians made me feel so guilty I couldn’t talk. Sorry.’
Yeah, no. Honesty was not always the best policy. I needed to come up with something more human. Like being grounded. Or having your phone taken away.
And… ding ding ding! We have a winner.
I’m alive. No bears. But I did get my phone confiscated.
I thought you had chill parents.
Yeah well, I thought so too. Sorry if I worried you.
It’s okay. I’m just glad my prom date is not being slowly digested.
Prom date? Really? I thought you were supposed to ask first.
Oh, I will.
I look forward to being asked. I might even say yes.
You are so encouraging. I feel encouraged.
I laughed. When was prom anyway? Wasn’t it at the end of the year. Would we even be here? The school year had barely started and Caleb had already mentioned leaving, more than once.
Prom meant dancing and party dresses. I could go shopping. I could wear heels.
Suddenly going to prom seemed like the greatest thing ever.
When is this prom you speak of?
About eight and a half months. We could warm up with the homecoming dance in a few weeks.
Oh, I see. You like to plan ahead.
I don’t need to plan ahead. You’re the only girl I want to take.
I smiled, my whole stomach doing a flip flop. He was so sweet. Almost too sweet, if what Karen had said was true.
She’d said he didn’t chase girls. He was definitely chasing me though… I bit my lip. Had I semi-glamoured him somehow? That didn’t make sense either. Someone under my spell would not be capable of joking around, only following me around like a lost puppy on happy pills.
Yeah, mortals pretty much went instantly from normal self-absorbed humanoid life form to zombie with a case of mindless Goddess worship. It was not a good look. This was not that.
This was a lot nicer.
I exhaled, glad that Dylan wasn’t into me against his will.
I stretched on the bed and decided to take a shower. I wasn’t sure what to write back to that last text, so I just let it hang there in the air.
I was the only girl the most popular guy in school wanted to take to prom.
Me.
It sounded silly when I thought about the grand scheme of things. I had an empire to recapture. Enemies to slay. Supernatural powers to develop.
But in the meantime, I was going to the freaking prom.
Chapter 13
Everyone but Bernard went out hunting while I had my dinner. It was kind of a special occasion. Like the rest of us, Caleb made do with blood banks usually.
But tonight, he was out on the prowl with Vlad.
The visitors had been warned not to hunt in a fifty-mile radius, so it would probably be a while until they got back. Everyone had split into groups to hunt, with Gerard accompanying the two females.
The three of them kept to themselves for the most part. They were a close-knit group who had been persecuted by the New Leaders for their refusal to take part in the new regime. They’d done their best to keep a low profile until a member of the resistance had warned them they were going to be ‘questioned.’
It was just in the nick of time. They’d been hiding in the woods, barely out of harm’s way when they saw the army of the New Leaders approach. it was a dramatic story.
Apparently, the bad guys had hummers. And silver gas. I shivered at the thought. I wasn’t impacted by silver the same way, but I still didn’t want to wear it.
A vamp though, they would get vaporized. Not all at once either. It would eat away at them, in spots. Often while they remained conscious.
If the New Leade
rs had opened with that, it was unlikely they were interested in questioning anyone.
So Marietta, Helene, and Gerard were especially close, having survived that. Of course, to hear them tell it, it was not that far from the way 17th century peasants had responded to blood suckers living nearby.
They were used to running, like the rest of us.
Maxim had gone hunting alone.
I sighed, taking another bite of a baked yam slathered in butter. Even though I didn’t crave human blood the way they did, I might be a little jealous. Going out on the town and glamouring humans sounded like fun.
Too much fun for me apparently.
It was getting old, how everyone treated me like I was some coddled child. They never let me hunt. So even if I was a little resentful, I hoped hunting would cheer Caleb up.
Apparently, he and Vlad had been very bad boys, tearing it up all over Europe in the 16th and 17th Centuries. Before the catch and release days, it had been a free for all. Caleb followed my father’s rules, but he’d admitted he enjoyed the years of glutting himself on blood without thinking about the consequences.
Or the cost in human life.
I guess it had been so long since he was human, it made sense that he would forget how much their lives meant to them. Every second was potent and full of potential. Perhaps it was even more beautiful and meaningful because it would end in a finite amount of time, unlike us immortals.
I took another bite and saluted Bernard with my fork. He raised an eyebrow and slumped in the chair across from me. He looked depressed.
“So, where did they go anyway?”
Bernard rolled his eyes.
“Trolling in some bar, most likely.”
I had the sudden perception that he was jealous. Not that Vlad and Caleb were an item, not as far as I knew. Maybe it was the shared history they had.
He felt left out. I sympathized. I knew the feeling all too well. I didn’t really fit in anywhere.
“You know you could have gone with them. You still can, if you want.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“It’s okay, Sash. Besides, you know that’s not true.”
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