*Rafe*“Since Bertha and Brenda have been dealt with, everything has gone smoothly,” Jerim beams. He pats George on the shoulder, who is in on the donating rotation once more and currently giving blood, healthy as a horse.“I’m glad to hear it,” I say. “And I’m glad we caught them before George here got any sicker. I am sorry, George, that you suffered so. That should never have happened.”George’s eyes nearly bug out of his head. Apparently, a prince apologizing to him is not anything he ever expected to happen in his lifetime. “Your Majesty, I am just glad I was the last. That none of my other friends had to go through that… wolfsbane poisoning.” He shuddered.I also pat George on the shoulder. “That’s very noble, George. And like we said, you didn’t have to go back to donating blood if you didn’t want to…”George straightens. “Your Majesty, I consider it a duty and a privilege to make sure you are all well-fed. You give us a lot, and I want to give back. I am still young enough to
*Ainslee*Rafe stares at me all through dinner. Not his usual coy glances. No, he has decided to openly moon over me.Maybe I just should have let him have his taste back in the hall near the feeders’ quarters. Maybe that would have stopped him from being an idiot. But then, I think, trying not to watch him watch me, maybe not.“Your Majesty,” I say, leaning over to whisper in King Axel’s ear just as dinner is ending. “Would you mind if I took a turn around the gardens? I could use some fresh air.”King Axel who, blessedly, hasn’t noticed Rafe’s staring, smiles at me and gives me an indulgent nod. “Of course, my dear. Do whatever makes you happy.”I smile back with little feeling. King Axel has become more and more doting. He won’t be a bad husband. He just won’t be Rafe.Gathering my skirts, I stand and head for the palace gardens. These are, obviously, more opulent and brimming with plantlife than the feeders’ garden, but personally, I prefer the feeders’ gardens. There’s more… happ
*Rafe*Ainslee did not come out of the gardens through the front entrance that night. Or any of the three nights after.I slam my seal onto the papers in front of me with enough force to crack the handle. And the blotter. And the desktop, for that matter. I don’t care. Ainslee has avoided me most of the week. Her wedding is two days from now. We have things we should talk about.Things that won’t make a damn bit of difference, but hell, I want to talk about them anyway!To add to my foul mood, Kris saunters into my office without knocking. He came back a few days ago. So far, I’ve avoided him, but here he is, invading my personal space. “Kris,” I say in a clipped tone.“Prince Rafe,” Kris grins. It can never be good news when Kris is grinning.“How are things in the hinterlands?” I ask nastily.Kris’s grin widens. “I’ve appointed Nelson as the mayor of Beoutown. I thought you’d appreciate that. The townsfolk fell in line quite quickly. I actually let them think they were voting on the
*Ainslee*The dress is alabaster white. I know this because both Mrs. Dotty and Princess Sophia told me. I would be wearing alabaster white. Now, I am wearing alabaster white.My mother hovers over me, tears streaking down her cheeks, resplendent in a gown of her own, tailor-made for her. She isn’t ill anymore, now that Nelson is mayor and people in Beoutown are eating. Still, the way she was staring at the huge steak the servants put in front of her last night told me I am still living a much higher life than she is.“You’re just so beautiful, my darling girl,” my mother whispers, gently brushing the smallest stray lock of hair back into its carefully-pinned curl.Zoey frowns at my mother briefly, but only for a moment. They’ve actually become fast friends. The only thing I’ve seen them get into a snit over is dressing and primping me up today. Both want me to look perfect, but they have differing ideas of what ‘perfect’ is.I look back in the mirror and see a person I don’t recogni
*Rafe*She’s beautiful.If my heart still beat, it would be pounding at the sight of her. If I needed to breathe, she would have taken my breath away.Ainslee hadn’t seen me looking, at least I don’t think she had, but I did. I couldn’t help but stare at her as she walked down the aisle. Now that she’s in front of me at the altar, I can’t take my eyes off her. Every damn time she smiles at King Axel, my chest aches a little more.The blood in my veins boils hot. Ainslee is mine. I should be the one up there on the dais, grinning like an idiot because I get to marry the most stunning creature to ever walk the earth. I’d wed her and steal her away to my bedroom and make love to her over and over, guests be damned. I’d be undoing that bodice and releasing those gorgeous breasts before the priest finished pronouncing us man and wife.Or perhaps not. I glance at the tent she’d come out of. Yes, that was close enough. I don’t think I’d have made it to the bedroom. But that tent would be pe
*Ainslee*Sticky red blood drips down my face, covering my alabaster white gown, dripping down in rivulets. I gasp in shock, wondering how King Axel managed to spill the chalice all over me. But there’s more blood than what was just in the cup. It’s everywhere. I wipe my hand over my cheek and pull away bits of bone and brains. “O-Oh Goddess…” I cry out, wiping more, trying to get it off me.Rafe is at my side in seconds, taking my hands, saying something. Something I can’t hear or understand.There are brains on my face. How the fuck are their brains on my face? I raise a hand to my head. Nothing hurts–are these my brains?“Ainslee… Ainslee…” Rafe’s voice begins to crack through my stupor. “Ainslee, you’re all right. You’re all right. It wasn’t you. It was the king.” He tucks me behind the archway, shielding me with his body.I look down to see King Axel’s crumpled body at my feet, an arrow lodged through his temple. There must have been some small explosive on the arrow because th
*Rafe*By the time I reach the tower stairs, the interloper has disappeared. However, I see a flash down the hall and realize I haven’t missed him by much. I kick off a wall more than turn and begin running after the asshole.The figure stays ahead of me, but I’m faster. I’m close enough to make out the broad shoulders of a male vampire. He’s frantic, his fear spurring him to increase his speed, but I’m gaining on him. I’ve always been faster than most. I’m making this one fight hard for his lead, and he won’t keep it for long. I don’t know if this is the assassin for sure, but for someone who’s innocent, he sure is intent on getting away.The stranger makes the treeline and dives into the woods.I’m sure he think he’s safer there. A feral smile touches my lips. I practically grew up in these woods. He might as well have stopped dead in the middle of a plowed field and held up a sign saying, ‘Catch Me.’I run after him, sniffing the air. Though our sense of smell is not as astute as
*Ainslee*My mother carefully picks a skull fragment out of my hair, her jaw set but her lower lip still quivering a bit. Zoey and she had carefully unraveled the careful coif my maid had made earlier that morning to get all the blood and bits out of it. Then they scrubbed it, and me, thoroughly. While my mother helps me dress, Zoey disappears and so does the ruined wedding dress.Zoey returns, and my mother and she repeat the same process on Princess Sophia while I sit, stunned, on the edge of my bed. The black and blood red gown I wear is accompanied by a different, black veil. It’s a sort of macabre wedding gown parody, meant for a funeral. I had no idea I even had one in my closet.I guess they really did have me prepared for all occasions.Princess Sophia emerges and gets plugged into a similar dress from her own collection, complete with veil. She looks a long time at her sleeves, then hiccups a sob.I rise from the bed and quickly take her in my arms. “Sophia. I'm so sorry.”Pr