by Leigh Walker
I caught a flash of strawberry-blond curls, then her alabaster face peeked out.
Again, her eyes almost undid me. It was like they were battery-operated. Eve’s aqua eyes glowed as they greedily raked over me. I forced myself not to flee the room.
She stepped out of the wardrobe, and I was surprised by her outfit, a dark tunic and pants, as if she were about to go riding or swing a sword around.
“Why is she dressed like that?” I asked Dallas.
“I can hear you, you know. I’m right here.” Eve stalked closer, and Dallas put his body protectively in front of me.
“I know. I just didn’t know if—”
“What?” Eve asked, peeking around Dallas. “If I still understood English?”
My shoulders sagged. “I thought I should ask the prince. I don’t want to upset you.”
“Are you worried I might bite?” Eve arched an eyebrow. Or mess with your mind?
“Hey! Whoa, whoa. How did you do that?” I put my fingers to my temples.
She grinned. “Just girl talk. One old friend to another.”
“What did you do?” Dallas asked.
Eve stepped back and shrugged, some of her former jaunty swagger shining through. “Nothing, Your High-and-Mightiness.”
Dallas turned back to me, eyes burning. “Tell me now, Gwyn.”
Eve waggled her eyebrows. “It’s Gwyn now, is it? I see you two have gotten quite cozy.”
Dallas bit back a curse, keeping his eyes on me. “Tell me what she did, and tell me now.”
“She spoke inside my head.”
Eve crossed her arms over her chest. “Once a bootlicking Upper East Ender, always a bootlicking Upper East Ender.”
“Bootlicking?” Dallas looked confused.
“I’m trying to help you,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Help me? Help me?” Eve laughed, but it was a bleak sound, barren of joy.
I took a step forward, ignoring Dallas’s warning look. “I’m still your friend. If you’ll have a filthy bootlicking Upper East Ender as a friend, that is.”
“I don’t think I can have friends anymore. Can I, Dallas?”
“Of course, you can.”
“Do you have any friends?” she asked him pointedly.
“Not here,” he admitted. “But maybe that can change.”
“Good luck.” Eve rolled her eyes.
“How did you talk inside my head?” I asked.
“I don’t know. You’re the first one it’s worked with.” Eve frowned. “I can only talk in your head. I tried it with the guards, I tried it with Dallas, I tried it with the queen—nothing.”
Dallas turned to her sharply. “Gwyneth can hear you because she’s human. It’s one of our kind’s tricks. We can use it to hypnotize our…prey.”
Eve looked thoughtful while I moaned.
Dallas stepped toward her. “But what did you mean about the queen? You’ve seen her?”
Eve’s aqua eyes flashed. “I tried to mind-speak with her, but she didn’t hear me.”
“When?” Dallas’s whole body went tense.
“Every night,” Eve said. “She comes in when she thinks I’m asleep and plays with my hair. She coos and fusses over me like I’m a baby. It’s weird.”
Dallas’s shoulders sagged. “It’s because of my sister.”
“You have a sister?” I asked.
His gaze met mine. “She died years ago. My mother’s never gotten over it. She might be having…maternal instincts for Eve.”
“Just what I freaking need! Your mother has some serious issues.” Eve rubbed her neck. “And a wicked grip.”
I laughed. “Dallas was right. You’re not the same, but you’re not completely different.”
“It’s not funny, Gwyn.” Eve shook her head. “I’ll never go home again. I can’t.”
The laughter died on my lips. “I know. I’m so sorry.”
Her blazing eyes rose to meet mine. “You warned me to stop, to keep my mouth shut. But I didn’t listen because I never do.”
The three of us looked at each other, an awkward silence settling over us.
“What happens next?” I asked.
Dallas paced near the fire. “Eve will learn to drink donated blood so she gets her strength up. This will also prevent her from luring her friends closer so she can drain them dry.” He looked at her pointedly.
Eve rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t actually going to bite Gwyn.”
Dallas jerked his thumb at me. “You smell her, right?”
“I’m sorry?” I asked, taken aback.
“Yes,” Eve said dejectedly.
“She’s mouthwatering. Of course, you would have bitten her.”
I stamped my foot. “I beg your pardon!”
Dallas turned to me, amused. “It was a compliment. You smell fantastic. I usually have to guzzle a quart of blood before I come to see you just so I don’t get too excited.”
I looked at him, incredulous. “The way my blood smells gets you excited? Like you would be excited to have a roast for dinner?”
Dallas looked thoughtful. “I don’t know about that. I’ve never had a roast.”
Eve shook with silent laughter. I vowed to yell at her next.
I focused on the prince. “Oh, you’re unbelievable. My point is, that’s all you care about? My smell? I could be wearing a burlap sack instead of this dress, then!” I spluttered.
“I’m actually fond of the dress.” He eyed me, his gaze traveling over me appreciatively.
“Oh stop.” My cheeks heated, and I clenched my hands into fists. “This is ridiculous. Tariq keeps threatening me with high heels! He shouldn’t bother. He should just be stuffing me with food so I’ll be plump. A goose ready for your dinner!”
Dallas tilted his chin as he inspected me. “I’ve never had goose, either. But when you put it like that, it somehow seems appealing.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And you are adorable when you’re mad.”
“I’m. Not. Mad.”
Dallas winked at Eve. “Does she seem mad to you?”
Eve stopped laughing and nodded. “I agree. She’s cute like this. You two are funny together.”
Disgusted with both of them, I turned on my heel to leave.
I stopped when I reached the door. “Eve, it was good to see you. I’ll come as often as the prince allows.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was soft, and I could tell she meant it. She wasn’t laughing anymore.
“Gwyneth—” the prince started.
I just held up a finger, and then I shook it back and forth, the universal sign for no.
“The goose will see you later.” I stomped from the room.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Dallas’s laughter trailed out behind me, and I cursed him the whole way back to my room.
Chapter 16
The Perfect Dress
I fretted about what Dallas had said for the rest of the afternoon.
Did he mean it literally, that I was mouthwatering? What on Earth did that indicate, besides the obvious?
Did he want anything from me other than to drink my blood?
I had a serious physical reaction to Dallas’s scent. But I didn’t want to drink his blood. I wanted…well, I had no idea what I wanted.
Did Dallas intend to marry the winner of the Pageant? Or did he just want to have her for supper?
The answer would gauge how I was doing so far, compared to the rest of the contestants. But of course, I didn’t know the answer.
My thoughts swirled as I ate dinner with Shaye. Refusing to linger on the subject, I tried to focus on our conversation.
“How was the tea tasting?”
She crinkled her nose. “Bloody boring. How was the fitting?”
“Fine.” I stuffed another piece of popover into my mouth so I didn’t have to lie more.
“I had my walk with the prince during the last ten minutes of the lecture.” Shaye played w
ith her curls absently, looking dreamy.
I nearly choked. “How did it go?”
She grinned. “Great! He’s really very nice, don’t you think?”
I swallowed hard. “He’s something, all right.”
My friend’s brown eyes focused on me. “Do you like him or not?”
I sighed. “I don’t know. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.” That was the truth. “What about you?”
“I like him,” she said without reserve.
For some reason, my heart lurched at her words.
Shaye shrugged. “I had my doubts about the competition, but I think the prince is a good catch. Not just because he’s wealthy and powerful, but because he’s interesting and kind. And let’s face it—he’s hot.”
I put down my popover, feeling a bit sick. “He’s handsome. Even I’ll give him that.”
“It’s okay if you like him too,” she said. “One of us might have to marry him. We should both be so lucky to like him.”
I started tearing my napkin to shreds.
“Gwyn, what’s wrong?”
“It’s just that I don’t want to like him.” I lowered my voice. “I feel guilty because of my family. I feel like a traitor.”
Shaye leaned forward. “We all feel like that just by being here. And we all knew it coming to the palace.”
I nodded.
“The thing is,” she continued, “we all came anyway because we didn’t have a choice. And one of us must marry the prince no matter what. It’s better to like him, don’t you think?”
“Yes.” I agreed with everything she said.
“Then why do you still look so miserable?”
Because you said you liked him.
“I’m just confused, I guess.”
Shaye smiled at me. “That’s good. That’s how you know you’re still human.”
I mulled about my room after dinner. Several times, I picked up the book I’d been trying to read then put it down. I paced in front of the fire. I had a sip of water.
I got back to pacing.
Shaye was my friend. So why was it that, when she said she liked the prince, I wanted to throw myself across the dinner table and scratch her eyes out?
I was just as bad as the vampires I pretended to loathe. I was an animal too, a beast.
A confused beast.
There was a knock at the door, and Evangeline stuck her pretty face into the room. “May I come in, miss? I have something for you.”
“Of course.”
She brought in a garment bag and hung it in the wardrobe. She unzipped it as she spoke. “The twins and I wanted you to have a special dress to wear for the first day of the televised program. We had the seamstresses whip up a little something.”
She pulled it out, and I put a hand over my heart. “Oh, Evangeline. It’s gorgeous!”
The gown was red satin. It glimmered with intricate beadwork sewn all over the bodice, which glittered in the firelight.
“Do you really like it?” Evangeline asked hopefully.
“I love it. It’s stunning.”
She beamed. “I think the prince will approve.”
“I hope so.” The words were out of my mouth before I could take them back.
Evangeline grinned. “He will. I’m happy to hear that you care what he thinks. Are you warming up to him a bit?”
I bit my lip. “I don’t know. Maybe? He’s trying to help my friend, Eve. I guess I saw another side of him.”
“He really is a kind young man,” she said. “I’ve never seen him be anything but fair with the staff.”
“That’s good to know.” I nodded, refusing to feel guilty. Shaye was right, if I had to be here, it was better to approve of the prince.
“Now, let’s try this on.” Evangeline’s eyes sparkled. “I want everything to be perfect for you.”
I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed until I remembered Mira Kinney was coming today.
The cameras were coming today.
I cursed and pulled the blankets up over my head.
There was a knock at my door. “Miss,” Bettina called, “I have your tea. And two letters.”
I sat up immediately. “Come in.”
She placed a tray on the table near the fire and smiled at me kindly. “One letter’s from your family, and one’s from the prince. Take your time waking up. It’s still early. We’ll be back in a little while to get you ready for your day.”
“Thank you, Bettina.” I caught a flash of her pink bow as she bustled from the room.
I grabbed the letter from home first.
Dear Gwyneth,
How are you, my darling? We are anxiously awaiting news from the palace. We cannot wait until they start the television broadcast. Winnie and Remy are driving me crazy, asking when it’s going to start.
I hope you are well. I also hope you are behaving yourself.
What’s the palace like? What about the queen? What’s she like in person? I’ve always been so curious. And of course, the prince himself? Have you met him? Is he nice? Winnie wants to know if he’s as dreamy in real life as he is on TV (her words, not mine).
Lyra came by. You can imagine what she had to say about all this. Still, she sends her love. She’s rooting for you.
We all are, darling.
Write to me soon. It’s very hard having you away from home. We miss you.
Love,
Mom
I pressed the letter to my chest. I missed my mother too, which surprised me. At home, I was too busy feeling superior or annoyed to appreciate her very much. I’d write back to her today and tell her I loved her. It was the least I could do.
I snatched the letter from Dallas and opened it next.
Dear Gwyneth,
The televised portion of The Pageant begins today. Would you do me the honor of having the first dinner with me? Tariq has requested that I dine with each of the contestants individually. I asked to begin with you.
Notice I said “with” you, not “on” you, as mouthwatering as you may be.
You promised the goose would see me later. It’s later.
If you would do me the honor, please send a note via your maids.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Your Dallas
I clutched the letter, a confused wave of emotion rising through me. I didn’t want to want him like this. It tore at me, as did his sense of humor, which I’d never expected.
But you’re here. You’re here, and you should make the best of it.
I hastily grabbed a paper and pen.
Dear Dallas,
I accept your invitation. As you said, I promised, and I don’t break my promises.
As long as dinner isn’t me, I’m happy to join you.
Sincerely,
Gwyneth
PS: Will you see Eve today? How is she?
I folded the letter and carefully put it into the envelope.
Then I spent the rest of the morning wondering just what the hell I’d gotten myself into.
Chapter 17
On The Spot
We decided to save the red dress for my dinner date with the prince.
My maids were positively beside themselves about his invitation. With a mixture of excitement and nerves thrumming through me, I felt positively sick. Still, I put on a brave face as they dressed me in a violet gown and fussed over my makeup, getting me ready for my day of lessons and cameras.
I descended the stairs, feeling as though I were walking the plank.
I wasn’t the only one on edge. The salon buzzed with nervous energy. Tariq fidgeted at the front of the room, impatiently waiting for us to settle into our seats.
“Ladies, this is the day we’ve all been waiting for. The Pageant will begin its televised portion today. Mira Kinney is here with her crew. They’re setting up in the formal salon. She will be observing us and filming around the clock. But don’t worry. I will have final say over anything that’s put on television.�
�
A girl with long dreadlocks raised her hand. “Sir? The broadcast won’t be live?”
“No.” Relieved murmurs rippled through the room. “There will be a live portion, but that’s not until later. No need to worry about it for the moment. That being said, you need to be camera ready today. I know your maids dressed you with special care. Mira will want each of you for meet-and-greets. Footage of you interacting with each other and the prince will be filmed as well.”
Tariq clasped his hands behind his back. “Remember your goal—to make the public fall in love with you, as well as the prince. The more supporters you have, the better your chances of advancing in the Pageant.”
Everyone chattered with excitement. Had they all forgotten what happened to Eve so quickly?
All I felt was worried. The good news was that the broadcast wouldn’t be live. The bad news was that the cameras were here, and I wouldn’t be able to escape them. In fact, I was supposed to woo the audience at home.
I swallowed hard. I had a bad feeling about this.
Wooing wasn’t exactly my thing.
Eventually, we were taken to the formal salon. The television production crew was all intense action, busily setting up their equipment and rearranging the furniture.
Mira Kinney was absolutely stunning in person. In other breaking news, she was also a vampire. All the sunscreen in the world couldn’t keep your skin that unearthly white.
She seemed impervious to the fact that we were humans. Like Dallas, she seemed comfortable around our kind. Professional and focused, Mira worked with her team to set up camera angles, arrange the proper amount of lighting, and organize an interview list. She checked her notes methodically and frequently.
“She’s quite serious, isn’t she?” Shaye asked, watching her.
Tamara, another contestant, nodded. “They said she’s been working since first thing this morning and hasn’t taken a break. No wonder she’s so successful. I just hope she’s as nice in person as she seems on TV. And I hope she’s…like the prince. Civilized, I mean.”
Tamara was from Settlement 11, one of the richer settlements. She mostly kept to herself. She was tall, with long raven hair that bounced when she walked. She had enviable physical assets, such as large blue eyes framed by eyelashes that Tariq must have envied, perfect, perky breasts, and a round butt that she must have maintained by doing a thousand zillion squats per day. She wore a floor-length deep-teal sheath that hid nothing and showed off everything.
