ISABELLAThe music still drifts faintly from below, laughter and drunken voices blasting through the walls of the mansion and filling the entire building. The Crimson Masquerade is alive, even at this hour. Vampires never tire, especially not when the moon is so high and the wine so red.I, however, am already bored out of my mind.I flop across the lounge chair in my chambers, my nightdress pools around me and one slipper is dangling off my foot. The wine glass in my hand is untouched, the blood already looking so dull in the glass. Useless.“Why do we even let them inside?” I whine, pressing the back of my hand to my forehead. “Werewolves. Here. In our house. Celebrating as though they belong.” Why would Father even make such a crazy decision? I wonder what's going on in his head. I wonder what he's always thinking, really.The maid beside me, Sasha, my closest and trusted maid fidgets with the tray she’s holding. “Your father invited them, Miss Vitale. He must have a good reason.”
ALEXANDERIt has only been a few hours into the drive when I realise it…I miss him.The thought is bitter on my tongue, absurd in its weight. Ethan’s laugh still lingers in the silence of the car, echoing faintly, the way it does in my chest when I let myself think too long. I roll my jaw, turning my face to the glass window. The forests blur past.Rhydian shifts inside me, restless. He doesn’t like leaving the pack, doesn’t like leaving him. My grip tightens on my thigh and I force my wolf back down where he belongs.Hudson glances at me from the driver’s seat but says nothing. He knows better.Hours fly by, the scenery shifting until the road dips into lands claimed by vampires. It’s impossible not to notice the difference. The air is colder and unnaturally still. Even the trees look wrong, their branches lack leaves and the branches look like claws Sanguis. One of Dario’s three kingdoms.The Second of the vampire lord’s kingdoms, and the one he’s most proud of. The land reeks of
ETHANThe sunlight streaming through my window wakes me before I even open my eyes. I roll onto my back, stretch my arms out and let out a long groan. My body is sore in all the right places, thanks to yesterday’s training session with Alexander.God. I grin like an idiot just thinking about it. He had me pinned to the ground more times than I could count, smirking down at me with that expression that made me want to do something reckless. Every muscle in my body is screaming in protest this morning, but I don’t regret a damn thing. If anything, I want more.Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffle across the room, pulling on a shirt. I run my fingers through my hair and head out, my first instinct being to find him. My day feels incomplete if I don’t.Alexander’s office is empty. The chair is neatly pushed in, the desk arranged like he hasn’t even touched it this morning. My brows pull together as I lean against the doorway, scanning the room. Where the hell could he be this early?That
ISABELLAEveryone is outside. I step out of the building into the gardens just like the rest do. Most people are in a different outfit, more exposed, freer.I am too. My long gown is off, and now, my body is clad in a glittery, V-line cut dress. The gown is sea green and blue with glitter all over, and the length is so short that my thighs are exposed. The V-line cut is so low that my boobs are on display for the eyes of the hungry men to feast on.Bodies press together beneath the moon, laughter mixing with groans, lust dripping heavier than the wine that's going around just as much. They intertwine their bodies, having sex and whatnot.And me?I am bored.I sit on a carved stone bench near the edge of the clearing, a plastic cup dangling between my fingers, lazily swirling my wine. My legs are crossed, my dress ridden high, my hair spilling in its free waves, down my back. I sip and stare, watching the madness.“Isabella.”I don’t have to look to know who it is.Matteo drops beside
ALEXANDERI am still smiling as I walk away to the mansion. Ethan will never cease to amuse me. Yes, that's it. He's amusing. My smile drops just a bit but there is still evident happiness on my face. The door to my office groans as I push it open, and the moment I step inside, my smile threatens to vanish. Hudson is standing there,with a dull expression as he stares at me. “Alexander,” he greets, bowing his head.I move past him without replying, going to my desk and searching for some important papers I need to address before I leave. Hudson doesn't say anything for a while, he watches me.I find the document I'm looking for and take my seat behind my desk, going through it. He then finally speaks. “Are you still going to the vampire lord’s kingdom?”I look up for a second and stare at him as my lips draw into a thin line. Me? yes. Though, I don't voice out my reply. My silence doesn’t stop him. “It isn’t wise. Not now. If anything goes wrong in your plan then we are all—” He s
ETHANI blink at the ceiling, a smile tugging at my lips as flashes from the beach play in my head. The kiss we shared makes my whole body warm just thinking about it.I drag the duvet over my face, groaning into it as I kick my legs like an idiot. My cheeks feel like they’re on fire, but I can’t stop grinning. It’s ridiculous, I know, but it’s like I can still feel his lips pressed against mine.When I finally throw the covers off, the room is empty. He’s already gone.Not that I expected him to still be here. Alexander always has something to do, somewhere to be, someone to order around. Still, a small part of me had hoped…I bounce out of bed anyway, light on my feet, and head straight for his shower. The water is warm, steam filling the room as I hum some stupid tune, I’m so lost in replaying every second of last night… his hand on my jaw, the taste of him, that I laugh out loud like some crazed person. “His girlfriend,” I mutter to myself, remembering the little fight we had yes