In the burlap bag, I felt the ropes coming free. Strengthening my attempts, I fought until I felt them loosen enough for me to get out. Sitting up and looking around, I took in my surroundings. It seemed that whoever kidnapped me threw me into the back of a carriage, and we were currently heading to some unknown location.Under me, the carriage rattled with each rock and bump and occasionally swayed on the uneven road it was taking."Think Valerie." I murmured, looking around at the crates that surrounded me in an attempt to come up with an escape plan.Slinking forward, I pulled aside a flap and stared at the dirt road quickly racing past. Immediately, I began to wonder just how badly I would be hurt if I were to simply fling myself onto it. Deciding that whatever damage I took was better than being taken to who knew where, I settled on this being my only route.Sucking in a breath, I climbed to the edge and waited until the carriage managed to make its way across a grassy field. Clos

After the healer finished stitching up my leg, Tristan took me to a guest room to stay for the night. I couldn't stop feeling uncomfortable as I looked around the massive castle that we moved through. It was so similar but so different from the one that Elias stayed in. And just seeing the similarities made me instantly miss him.Frowning, I began to internally kick myself for missing a bastard who made it clear that I meant nothing to him. However, no amount of reminding myself of this made the emptiness in me feel better."You can stay here for the evening." Tristan instructed, opening a door at the very end of a very long hall. "This is the guest quarters, and no one should bother you.""Is this really okay?" I asked, eyeing the large room ahead as my anxiety continued to grow.Inside the room was a king-size bed with an intricate wooden frame that seemed fit for royalty. At the foot of that was a fluffy white bear skin rug that had to be imported from somewhere cold. The walls held

"Do you truly not remember anything?" Vladmier asked quietly, staring deeply into my eyes. "Nothing at all?""No..." I murmured as my heart began to beat faster. "When I woke up in this world, I didn't remember anything about my past, not even my name. All this time, I've yet to remember anything solid, only things here and there.""And with those things, we were included?" He pushed, seeming hopeful.Was he included? Before arriving in his kingdom, I had only remembered one man, and even then, I didn't recognize him or fully know what he meant to me. After arriving here, I only had that brief flash of Vladimier in the field. Did that mean that I did know him and that we had a history? If that was the case, what was it with the other man?Feeling a surge of pain run through my head, I hissed, giving up entirely on trying to make heads or tails of anything. By this point, maybe it was better that I didn't push too hard."Don't try to force yourself." Vladimier said, lifting a hand and p

The next evening, I found myself standing in front of a full-length mirror, staring at myself. For most of the afternoon, I was poked and prodded by a personal stylist that Vladimier had hired specifically to make me presentable for a banquet that he insisted that I attend.As the whole ordeal was taking place, I couldn't help but remember when the same thing happened when I was with Elias. Which, in the end, sent my thoughts to that arrogant prince, and I couldn't stop myself from wondering how he was doing. Even though I told myself that I needed to forget him, I just couldn't stop the wave of emotion that crashed through me at the mere thought of him. It was like I was an addict, and he was my drug. Now that I had a taste, I craved him."Quit being ridiculous." I hissed at my reflection as I tried desperately to push away my feelings. "You're with the man you truly love. Forget that arrogant prince.""What arrogant prince?" Adrielle, Vladimier's personal assistant, asked, reappearin

"Are you not happy to see me?" Elias asked, frowning ever so slightly."I just..." I didn't even know how to explain the torrent of emotions that were rushing through me right now. "I just don't understand."Honestly, that was the best I could even think of. How the hell did he even manage to sneak in here without getting caught? Why would he come? Before his bitch of a fiance kidnapped me, he rejected me entirely. Was he here to possibly claim his blood source back?"How can you not understand?" Elias demanded, his frown deepening. "Do I need to spell it out for you?""What are you..."I didn't get the chance to finish my question as he moved forward, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me into the shadow of the much too large palm frond that he had been hiding behind before.Once he was sure that we were out of sight of any possible prying eyes, he placed his finger on my chin and pushed, causing my head to lift. Eyes growing wide, I watched as his head came closer to mine u