“What?!” “My Lady, Miss Leda has left for a few days” “Yes, I heard you, I just do not understand. She was told she was not to leave until a cure was found.” The maid simply backed away, cowering. “Mathias!” I screamed. “Yes, My Lady?” Mathias entered the state room in a hurry. “Where is the Chosen One?” “My Lady?” The fool had the audacity to look genuinely confused. “I was advised that I was not required to guard her today. Was this incorrect?” I was seething. I had made it clear that she was not to leave until a cure had been found. She was the Chosen One – whatever that meant. It should mean that she knows how to cure this thing. Or to stop my subjects dying from it anyway. It’s bad enough she didn’t immediately recognise the symptoms but wanted to ‘research’ it. Magnus and Sebastien were both convinced she was special but I’m not certain it’s that she’s the Chosen One. I stood abruptly from the sofa and stamped my foot. “And who ‘advised’ you that you would not be

“Weeks!” Carlotta shouted across the table at me. She was right, I had been here for nearly 6 weeks and so far, I didn’t seem to be any closer to finding out how to stop this plague. I thought it was a little unfair to expect me to just know, but Carlotta evidently thought otherwise. I managed to resist rolling my eyes. I was back in the war room, as I found out the place, I’d first met the Vampire Queen, was called. I was here with Seb, Magnus, the Queen and Rasmus too. It was strange, but with Rasmus here, I found Seb less appealing. I shook my head, I’d consider that later, right now I had to focus on avoiding being stung by the Queen, who seemed to be feeling particularly waspish today. “I’m sorry Your Highness” I answered “I feel as though I’ve only just been made aware, and I am trying to find something which matches all the symptoms in each case” I explained “And I feel-” Carlotta sneered “That you have forgotten what you were told when you first arrived. You. Are. Not

That lazy fucking bitch. I swirled my index finger round the rim of my glass. I wasn’t sure if it had blood or wine in it anymore. Whatever it was, it wasn’t enough. And Sebastien had killed my favourite toy. Bastard. It’s been almost three months now. Adelaide doesn’t seem to have found a single thing. Every update I get, I’m told what it isn’t. I can’t placate my people on negatives! She is so fucking inconsiderate. So much for a ‘Chosen One’. Maybe this is all a ruse? Perhaps it was put in place by Bragi? Some infinite double bluff to make me doubt myself? She’s the first person to go into that library in decades and she can’t find whatever it is that’s killing my people?! I looked up as a warrior entered the throne room. He stopped mid-way across the room, a few feet from the edge of the dais where I sat. Then he knelt on his left knee, right fist across his chest. “My Queen” he stated, looking down. “Speak” I answered him He removed his helmet, and I would recognise th

“The library is far more impressive.” Rasmus’ voice cracked through the heavy silence. I couldn’t help it – the sob ripped from my throat; Lars opened his arms and I flung myself into them. There was a pregnant pause, then, a perplexed Rasmus spoke once more “I’ll...give you two a moment.” My face was buried in Lars’ barrel chest; his beard tickling my face, but I didn’t care. I’d immediately felt at ease in his presence. Now that made sense. I couldn’t see Rasmus; he’d sounded confused, but still, no footsteps indicated that he had left. “She is... Leda is... my niece” Lars managed to choke out as he stroked my hair with his spade-like hands. There was a sharp intake of breath. Then, silence. After a few minutes, I managed to retrieve my face from its hirsute harbour. Pulling myself away, I gave Lars a watery smile. He wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Neither of us are alone.” he whispered, poking my cheek gently upwards in an attempt to make me smile. I glanced ove

“What?!” “Yeah, so, his mother and my mother look almost identical. I thought they were taking the piss” I’d paused to look at Seb, who looked...angry? I wasn’t sure. “Are you ok?” I asked. He shook his head, as if to clear it “Yes. I – uh. Sorry, this is just a bit...well, a bit of a shock. I suppose I don’t need to tell you.” I nodded and Seb cupped my cheek, rubbing my scar softly with his thumb. Unlike when Rasmus did it, I wished he wouldn’t - every time Seb did, I remembered it was there. I’d had to tell my colleagues at the conference that I’d had an unfortunate run in with a rabid dog. I’m no good at lying, but I’d rationalised that one as not being too far from the truth. He’d smiled down at me and pecked me on the lips. He could be quite sweet. “Will you go to the library? I have some things I want to check out and then I will meet you there. I’m convinced you’re onto something, but I want to make sure before we make accusations of this magnitude.” I nodded, l