by Tamsin Baker
“King Andrew, I must speak to you. Is it possible to go somewhere… darker? I am afraid the sun will rise any moment. It’s too late to get home in safety, so I must hide somewhere in your castle today.”
His eyebrows flew up and he looked at me with a considering expression, sympathy dawning in his eyes.
“Yes. We can go to the wine cellar.”
He turned to the guard behind him. “Find a mattress and blankets and drag everything down with us. The queen will need somewhere to rest during the day.”
I smiled my thanks and followed him as he unlocked a heavy door and took me beneath the castle.
One flight of steps we descended, then another, until we were standing on a stone floor in a room with no windows and many barrels of wine.
The king indicated to the space around him. “Even if someone needs to come down to retrieve wine during the day, there will be no sunlight cast into this area. I can promise you that.”
I looked around, relieved. It did seem particularly dark.
I launched into my speech. “Thank you, King Andrew. I don’t know how to truly express my gratitude for your kindness on this trip.”
He crossed his meaty arms over his chest and stared at me. “Well, you can start by explaining why you roused me from a heavy sleep.”
I began to move around, nervousness flooding through me.
“In cases such as these, I think it is best to tell the whole truth, and spare no details. However, it is a long story, so please bear with me while I tell you all.”
The king nodded and I began.
I told him of my love affair with Marcus, and how we were both forbidden to love one another.
I told him of the witch’s murders of my guards and her plan to exact revenge on the humans who killed her sisters.
I explained about the wards around the castle and how I could not leave until I told him everything, because once I was out of range of his magical protection, I was fair game to the woman who wanted to use me against those same humans I’d come to feel connected to.
When I was done, the guard walked down the stairs and quietly arranged the bed for me.
I collapsed onto it, daytime fatigue seeping into my muscles. I glanced up at the king to gauge his reaction.
He pulled a huge barrel towards him, sat down heavily, then sighed. “Well this is a fucked-up situation.”
I burst out laughing. What else could I do?
“Exactly my own thoughts,” I said, enjoying the candour of the human.
He clasped his hands together, his brow furrowed. But he didn’t look as surprised as I thought he would. “Did you have any idea that this sort of thing might occur?”
He sat up straighter. “Well, I have to say that I’m shocked this has happened to you. Shocked and horrified that you had to witness such murders right in front of you when peace was what you were travelling to seek. But unfortunately, no, I’m not surprised. Those three sisters have terrorised our town for decades. I did not sanction the burning of their house, but when I found out that they were gone, I was relieved. They kidnapped our children, seduced the men. They’ve wreaked havoc for as long as I have held the reins to this kingdom.”
My lips twisted bitterly. “But all three did not die.”
He nodded. “Yes, I found out later on that the eldest, and unfortunately the cruellest of the three, survived the fire. That was when I put up the wards around the castle. I’ve been trying to keep my people safe, but it seems she is getting more desperate.”
I nodded in agreement. “Yes. And I am not sure what will happen when I step outside your castle walls. I think you need to extend the wards to protect your whole city, if possible.”
“Agreed. I will start ordering the men to guard the gates and will request my witches to strengthen their casting.”
Then he turned to me, sadness in his full face. “Thank you for risking everything to save us, Queen Alessandra. Your loyalty will not be forgotten.”
I inclined my head as my skin tingled and my eyes began to droop.
“I must rest, King Andrew. The sun has risen. But as soon as it is dark, I will need to find a way back to Syvim. Your kingdom will be safe, but mine will not.”
The king stood up from his seated position and began to walk up the stairs once again. “I will post someone at the door to make sure you’re not disturbed, and I will send you home with guards so that you may travel safely.”
I smiled at him as he moved further away.
“That won’t be necessary. But thank you.”
I lay down on the mattress and let my eyes close. I’d done a good thing today and my parents would be proud, but whether or not it was too late for Marcus, would be determined when I rose again.
***
I woke to the sound of the door above me being unlocked and opened.
My eyes sprang open and I stood up, taking a few deep breaths to steady myself after my day-sleep.
The good witch’s wards must penetrate right down to this cellar because I couldn’t hear or feel anything from the nasty witch. Not yet, anyway.
A male voice called tentatively down to me. “Queen Alessandra? Night has fallen.”
I bounded up the stairs to the guard standing at the entrance. “Thank you so much.”
He took a step back, wary of me. “The king has assembled a strong cadre of guards to ride with you back to Syvim.”
I shook my head, having worked out while I slept the best possible way to travel. And that was to run.
“Tell your King I am most grateful for his offer, but the fastest way for me to travel is on foot.”
“Are you sure… we would be most happy to accompany you…”
I smiled and started to walk down the hallway, away from him. “I must go. I have a long way to travel. Tell the king I will be in touch in the next few days.”
I began to turn away, but thought better of it. The witch could be waiting outside the castle gates for me.
“Actually, you could advise me? Is there a back way out of the castle?”
The guard furrowed his brow, then nodded. “There is. It’s usually reserved for the noble family, but if you need a different retreat point…”
“I do.”
“And you are part of a royal family, though not our own.” He nodded. “This way.”
I followed him through several doors and tunnels, weaving through the castle to areas unknown. Then we ended up outside in an extremely remote location. I wasn’t even quite sure where I was.
“The forest is that way,” he said, and pointed north.
I glanced in that direction, seeing the moon rising above us. “Thank you. I appreciate your help.”
He nodded and pulled shut the secret door that kept the castle inhabitants safe from invaders.
I waited and listened, dreading the return of the crone’s voice inside my head and her control over my body.
But nothing came. For the moment, it seemed I was free of her.
I turned and headed east, away from the forest.
I ran as fast as I could, being careful of my surroundings, taking the back roads around the forest.
It would, of course, have been faster to go straight through the forest, just as we had passed through the night before. But that risked crossing paths with the witch and I wasn’t sure what she’d do to me if she found out that I had deliberately revealed her plan and put the humans on alert.
I ran along the darkened roads, tripping and falling several times, but my vampire reflexes saved me from any serious harm.
By the time I made it back to my kingdom, I’d lost half the night but had avoided the furious witch.
“Queen Alessandra! How did everything go?” My guards appeared anxious for information, but I couldn’t focus on sharing any of the good news I had. I was too worried about Marcus.
The more I’d travelled tonight, the more I’d realised how furious the witch would be with me for what I’d done. Especially if she’d been able to d
etect the changes to the wards around the castle.
Would she attempt to manipulate a human? Or another vampire like me? It was obvious she wanted to get to the king himself—and that would require someone of a decent standing. Someone with access to him.
So the question was, would she leave me alone now that her plan was foiled, or seek out revenge for my rebellion?
Finding Marcus was my top priority.
I began searching for him around the castle walls, then moved into the forest. He had to be somewhere.
Please, God.
I ran all the way to his house in the woods, where no smoke billowed from the chimney and the front door was wide open. That was not a good sign in the dead of night.
I rushed inside his small home and looked around.
There were no signs of a struggle, but there was no evidence of life, either.
Marcus wouldn’t just leave his cabin unlocked and unguarded.
Stumbling out into the forest, I headed deeper into wolf shifter territory, though it wasn’t necessarily a smart move.
The wolf shifters hated vampires as much as my people hated them.
A woman was walking past with a child and when she saw me, she clung to the little one as though her life depended on it.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed, her voice turning into a deep growl, indicating she may shift if threatened.
I put my hands up and stopped, not moving any closer to her.
“I’m looking for Marcus. It’s possible he may be in trouble. Have you seen him?”
The woman’s posture became less tense but her face became dark. “How do you know Marcus?”
I ignored her and pushed on with my question. “Have you seen him?”
She shook her head. “No. Not since this morning.”
I glanced over my shoulder at the castle. Which way should I go?
I looked back at the woman with long, dark hair. “If you see him, please tell him Alessandra came by to check on him. If you don’t see him—please ask around. I’m very, very worried that he may have been injured.”
Something in my face or voice must have gotten through to the woman, because she nodded stiffly.
I turned and ran back to my castle, in search of any signs that perhaps he may have been looking for me.
Chapter 6.
I headed back to my castle and began asking people if they’d seen a tall wolf shifter with dark hair and dark eyes anywhere. I knew it to be possibly fruitless, maybe even dangerous. Why would Marcus come to me? But I had to try something.
Everyone I asked was confused as to why I would be asking about a shifter because, after all, associating with a shifter was forbidden.
But I didn’t stop searching and as I wove through the population of my small town, working my way up to the front entrance to the castle, my worst fears came true.
There she was, and there he was.
My stomach dropped and my legs trembled as I stared at the witch holding Marcus as if he were a rag doll. She had her hand to his throat and he wasn’t moving, although his eyes were bright and alive as they found mine.
What has she done to you?
If he had any strength to fight her, he would have.
“What do you want?” I called out to her, uncaring of the many people around us.
She laughed. “I can hear your people asking the right question, Queen Vampire. Why would you be asking about a shifter? Well, I’ll tell you!” she announced. My blood ran cold. This was the end for me.
“Because she’s in love with a dog!”
The witch threw Marcus to the ground and he crumpled as though he had no strength nor blood left to even himself up.
I didn’t move, although I was dying to rush over to him.
The witch must have put a spell on him to drain him of his power, or forced him to ingest something to make him so weak.
He was one of the strongest shifters I’d ever known.
The people around me were beginning to mutter to themselves and a larger group was forming.
I kept my focus on Marcus. “What did you do to him?”
She smiled with devilish delight. “Just a little wolfsbane and arsenic. He may be able to walk again, if you get a remedy into him quickly enough.”
A large group of my guards stormed into the area.
“What’s going on here?” one of them demanded.
I held my arm up to stop them from coming any closer.
“What do you want, witch? I won’t help you destroy the humans. I’ve struck up a peace treaty with them, and I will honour it.”
She snarled at me then looked over at the guard who’d asked the question. “Your Queen. Your beloved Vampire QUEEN, has been fucking this shifter for years now! She’s in love with him, and has, in every way, betrayed her people.”
There was shocked silence as the information fell upon my town like rain.
Marcus tried to move, lifting his head and looking at me.
I stared down at him, trying to communicate how sorry I was that he was in this position.
I didn’t correct the witch, or try to lie. My time for deception was done.
Straightened my spine, I glared straight at the witch. “You are in the wrong here. You murdered all of my guards just so you could blackmail me into helping you destroy the humans. I won’t do it.”
Marcus had begun to move, pulling himself along the ground towards me.
Rushing forward to help him up, I used my paranormal strength to lift him off the ground.
The witch’s laugh cackled in the open air. “See! What did I tell you?”
“It’s true.” “Oh, no.” “Traitor.”
I heard it all, and I didn’t care. Not now.
There was a street bench nearby and I helped Marcus to sit upon it. He was the colour of ash and his eyes were bloodshot.
He grabbed for my hand. “Alessandra. No. Please.”
I cupped his beloved face with my other hand and turned away from him, towards the woman that would see my whole life, my whole kingdom, destroyed.
This woman, this witch, was a menace. To my society and to my new allies. She could not be allowed to get away with it.
I stalked back towards the witch, whose eyes went wide with my approach.
Suddenly she called out, “I promise mercy to all those who stay out of this fight.”
Anger boiled in my gut. “Mercy? Mercy! You’ll have no mercy, you old crone.”
I pointed at her and demanded of my guards. “Arrest her now.”
But they didn’t move.
“What are you waiting for? Do as I say!”
My chest tightened and my breath hitched in my throat as my guards refused to move. I had to do something. I raced towards the men and pulled a sword from the nearest one’s belt.
He blinked at me.
“What’s wrong with you? I ordered you to fight!”
They stepped back, further away from me, just as the townspeople around me did. Mutiny.
“Why would we help a shifter?” the captain of the guard asked, lifting his chin with defiance.
I scowled at him, heat enflaming my blood as the act of betrayal settled in my system. “Because I love him. And I am your queen!”
The witch ran off through the town and I set off after her. I would not let her escape, nor destroy the kingdom my bloodline had protected for centuries.
Luckily for me, she took a wrong turn and ended up in a dead end, looking left and right for a way out.
But there was none. I knew that. I knew every inch of this castle and the town it guarded. She was trapped by three stone walls and several shops, and unless she morphed into a bird and flew away, she wasn’t going anywhere.
The witch turned around to face me, her wild, grey hair flying around her face. I stepped forward, gripping the hilt of my sword with all my strength.
“You should have died with your sisters,” I spat at her.
Her eyes went wide and wild, the pain i
n her face obvious as she registered my words.
She threw her hands out in front of her and bursts of black magic shot from her palms.
Rolling to the ground, I ducked behind a stall to avoid the blast, my skin simmering with the heat in her magic.
