LOGINIt didn’t feel like I was about to get married. Instead it felt like I was going to walk down the aisle to my own funeral. I felt steady in my attraction to Nathaniel, between the Binding and reading our file, I was certain that we were a good match. But the uncertainty of rogues and my sister's death loomed over me.
Even in death, I couldn’t escape my sister. Looking at the evidence, she was probably a pawn more than I realized in the Accord, but she constantly consumed my thoughts. Now instead of those thoughts being filled with grief and longing, they were questioning the last few weeks of her life. What did I miss? I knew there were things Nathaniel wasn’t telling me, he seemed more suspicious of others than he originally let on, but who could be behind everything going on? Or was this puzzle fragmented because it wasn’t connected? My gut wouldn’t make a commitment and my theories kept shifting. But I was certain that Nathaniel would protect me.Margot doesn’t stir. She’s dreaming somewhat peacefully against the pillow I moved in place of my body. Every so often, she mutters in her slumber. Her body is curled, our bed sheet pulled up to her chin. I can see the soft curves where her hips meet her upper thighs and my cock grows hard at the thought. But I suffer through the erection and sit on the edge of the bed, watching her sleep. Cassia had made it clear that she needed bedrest. I wanted her to be involved in what was happening. A respectful partnership between the humans and vampires could be facilitated if they saw Margot by my side. But I couldn’t traumatize her anymore. We hadn’t really spoken about her father. I felt obligated to tell her what I knew about Vivienne, but I wouldn’t push the discussion of her father’s body in a makeshift morgue on the back of the property. For an hour, all I did was watch her. I can still hear her cries in the shower, my heart breaking again for my wife. She hadn’t seen death like me.
The water runs pink for what feels like hours. But eventually, I see that it’s clear and I assume that the blood is off of me. When I slipped in the ballroom, I hadn’t expected to wear someone’s blood for so long. It wasn’t lost on me that I washed away the last remnants of life from someone. I didn’t know who. And I think that might have been the worst part. Nathaniel runs the washcloth over every crevice my body has. He is so gentle that it makes me realize how close I was to death. Whatever last piece of stone facade I was attempting to wear had dropped in the shower and I wept softly. I cry for those that died, my family that has been broken even more, but mostly I cry for the confusion. How did I get tangled up in this? I look up to my wonderful husband, the vampire King and see that he doesn’t hold the same confusion. I don’t know what Lucien said to him, but I suspected their conversation answered all of the unasked questions that lied between us in the small space. He scru
I drifted in and out of sleep. It grew quiet as the adrenaline left everyone’s bodies and pure exhaustion took over. We were safe but the shadow of doubt hung over us as we waited our chance to go upstairs and survey the damage. All I wanted was to crawl into my bed and cry. I couldn’t grieve. Not really. Not here. Deep down though, I knew I couldn’t handle seeing the chaos leftovers that lingered in the hallways above me. I waited patiently, not wanting to see any more dead bodies today. Grieving meant that I would eventually need to make plans for my father’s funeral. I expected my cousins would need guidance with my aunt’s will. I wondered how we would frame this. A car accident? I was glad it wasn’t my job to come up with that lie. Julian and a guard had taken turns dropping off food and blood for us. It was nothing special, homemade pizza and blood bags, but taking that first bite I realized how out of touch I truly was. It felt like a privilege to eat, like I was so lucky to b
The echoes of boots and broken glass echoed the halls as Sasha and I navigated the debris. The scent of lemon oil filled the air around me. Around ten staff members had volunteered to help clean up. I wouldn’t force them to clean up this wreck. Luckily we had enough guards willing to help that it would be done soon. Each room was swept for bodily fluids. Broken vases and windows were swept up. Sasha and I had spent the past hour boarding up windows. It was fast and efficient. Gratitude poured out of me for my people. The humans here showed perseverance that wasn’t easy without immortality looming over you like the Eternal Order. Sasha and I discussed plans as we walked, helping as we saw some struggle. A few times, I had to tell someone to take a break, a breather from the nauseating destruction. The sun was shining bright on Tencrest Manor. It was a new day. But the remnants of the damage Lucien did would last for years to come. I would have to earn trust from everyone back. Secure
The air in the basement is thick with fear and stale air. I descended the steps slowly, hyperaware of my every move. Down here, the bodies had already been removed and puddles of blood were the only evidence of a fight. At least only in the hallway. I peered into the bar area, the door hanging by a hinge. Seeing Lucien’s blood satisfied me little at this moment, but I did feel the wave of relief knowing it was over. At least for now. I still didn’t know what cadet houses we could trust. An investigation would happen next. More lives lost no doubt, but the necessary culling of the enemies wasn’t negotiable. I would kill every threat to the Accord and my family and then I would wash my hands of this mess.I walked into the front of Cassia’s office and all heads snapped to me. My every move was watched like a hawk as the room went dead silent. Their eyes begged questions, but mine only had one thing they were looking for. Margot. As I walked, the crowd shifted. People scooted around the
From somewhere nearby, a door slammed. The chatter that filled the room slowly came to a lull as footsteps pounded against the hard floor. I stood before I knew why, sensing it was important. When Matthew turned the corner, I could see the lines of distress on his face. He carried a limp Celia in his arms and I rushed to her.“Celia!!” I screamed, my voice breaking as the breath was knocked out of me. Exhaustion was setting in, but I felt the chair being scraped against the floor and the crowd parted for me. I wasn’t acting very royal, but nobody dared to criticize me. “She’s alive,” Matthew sputtered out. “She’s…alive” He said the words as though he was unsure though. And I understood why the closer I got to her.Her head was hanging backwards in her unconscious state exposing her pale neck. I reached a hand to touch her, but my hand shot back to me, surprised by the coldness of her skin. There were rips in her clothes. The blood stained them in spots that told me it wasn’t goo







