by Leigh Walker
Chase warily backed away. Then she turned and ran, her injured leg making her escape into the forest awkward and painful-looking. She didn’t give Balkyn another glance. I suppose he was worse than dead to her.
“Blake.” Austin clutched my hands. “Why did you not punish her? She’s responsible for a number of crimes, not the least of which is ending your human life.”
I bowed my head. “I’ve decided something, Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“I will not take another life.” I looked back up at him. “Not even those I deem dangerous or hateful. I will protect my family and friends, to be sure. But if I have a choice, I will always choose to let others live. It’s not in me, in spite of what I’ve become.”
Austin looked at me carefully. “You are extraordinary, my lady. I admire your standards, but I’m even more stunned by your ability to execute them.”
“What do you mean?”
He shook his head. “Most newly turned vampires do not have that sort of self-control.”
I shrugged, even though I was pleased by his words. “She didn’t smell very tempting, quite honestly. A bit on the acidic side.”
He laughed, and then kissed the top of my head. “What is it the humans call it? A ‘foodie?’ I suppose once a foodie, always a foodie.”
I pulled back and peered at his face. “It’s about a bit more than that.”
Austin nodded, looking thoughtful. “Of course it is. I don’t mean to speak too lightly.”
“She did smell a bit like spoiled vinegar,” I admitted.
“Still. You have shown grace, my lady. I expect that I’ll be learning from you for a long time.”
I grinned. “I expect you will. Now let’s stop congratulating ourselves on our moral superiority and check on the others.”
“Yes, my lady.” He bowed his head.
“Come on, then.” Still, I smiled. I could quite get used to this.
Chapter 24
Reckonings
“He’ll be all right…he’s lost consciousness, of course.” Eve brushed the hair off of Balkyn’s pale, pale face.
Austin nodded. “I’ll carry him back to the castle. We can bring him to the medical wing and make the necessary preparations.”
“We’ll be right behind you,” Eve said. We watched as he gently lifted the large man into his arms and started back toward the palace. Eve and I paused before following him, each taking in the scene.
The Black Guard had either killed every last rebel, or driven them off. A smoking funeral pyre of bodies burned in the middle of the clearing.
“Why do they burn them?” I asked Eve. “Why not drain them for donations?” I shivered at the macabre thought, but there was the practical aspect to this I didn’t understand.
“We cannot drink from the dead. Their blood holds no magic for us.” Eve watched as the black smoke curled into the air.
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
She nodded. “It’s Vampire 101. You have much to learn, my friend. But you were impressive today. Did you drink from anyone?”
“No. I might’ve killed a soldier or two from whacking them with my stick, but I didn’t bite anyone, and I didn’t want to really hurt anyone.”
Eve leaned forward. “Well done. Except for Chase, of course. She deserved quite a few things, but I’ll keep her on my list. I’ll deal with her someday, I expect.”
I shivered. Eve, like Austin, didn’t take their vows lightly. “I’m sure you will.”
“Back to you. I’m impressed. Most new vampires would do anything to be around this many humans—oh, the opportunities!”
I nodded. “I’ve decided that I will never kill another being, not if I can avoid it. I wish others no harm, even as they hate us. They will learn, eventually. We will show them by example what we truly are. Every human I leave unharmed is a testament to our kind.”
“I admire that.” She frowned as she looked at the smoke. “But for now, they burn. It’s such a waste.”
“I know,” I sighed. “I’d hoped that showing mercy in the North would have changed their minds. Instead, they rushed full-on into a massacre. And it was their choice! I’ll never understand.”
“They do not want our mercy. They want our destruction,” Eve said. “I admire your conviction, but you must remember that. The rebels won’t rest until either we’re overthrown from the settlements or they’ve died trying. I’m not sure we can expect much more from them than that.”
“But we have to expect more from them than that. We have to expect more from us all.”
She shook her head. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve been on both sides, now. The haters and the hated. It’s not that different, I don’t think. It’s the same sentiments—fear, misunderstanding, entrenchment. Everyone is digging in on their side until the line between us becomes more important than everything else. I don’t believe in that line, Eve. I will show them, by example, that we don’t need to live divided like that.”
Eve scoffed. “But a lot of them are like Chase. She tried to kill you, and then she slit Balkyn’s throat—all because he sympathized with our side!”
“I know. But it doesn’t matter. If we join them in their hate, their fear, they win. I won’t let that happen.”
She sized me up. “It’s going to be interesting spending eternity with you, my lady.”
I chuckled. “And with you.”
We left the battle, arm in arm, while the Black Guard cleaned up the bloody mess we’d all made.
“What’s going to happen next?” I asked, as we made our way slowly back to the castle.
“You’ll go back to solitary confinement, even though you’ve proven yourself to be trustworthy. It’s safer that way for everyone—especially Gwyneth and her family, and I know that’s important to you.”
I sighed. “Of course. It’s just going to be boring. Will we return to the North soon?”
Eve nodded. “I expect so. We’ve got to get the prisoners sorted here, and then of course there’s the werewolves to deal with, and the king, who isn’t happy about anything—”
“What’s the matter with him?” I jerked my thumb back in the direction of the battlefield. “He vanquished the rebels. There’s nothing to be unhappy about.”
“Blake.” Eve looked around to make sure there was no one in the forest near us. “The king is always unhappy. That is how he rules—with dissatisfaction, so no one dares rest on their laurels. I’m sure he’s already onto the next thing, which likely involves dissatisfaction with one of his sons.”
I furrowed my brow. “The king did seem upset about something… Something to do with me.”
She sighed. “He’s a right git, I’ll tell you.”
“So do you know what that’s about? Austin said he’d tell me later.”
“Then I expect that Austin should be the one to tell you—later.” She glanced in my direction. “Speaking of His Highness. I take it you two have reunited?”
I nodded slowly. I knew Eve had been very angry at Austin for how he’d treated me. “I have forgiven him. I understand him, now.”
Eve snorted. “That’s more than I can say.”
I nodded. Fiercely loyal, I knew that it would take some time for Eve to forgive. “Well then, let’s speak of something else.”
“Let’s.”
I wrapped my arm more tightly in hers. “How about the fact that Balkyn asked you to turn him, just so that he can dance with you?”
Eve held her head high, but the two hectic spots of color that bloomed in her cheeks told me everything I needed to know. She was pleased.
“I hope I didn’t hurt him too badly.” Her voice was soft.
“I’m sure he didn’t feel much,” I lied.
Eve grunted. “Both you and I know better than that. I thought we weren’t lying?”
“I said we weren’t keeping secrets. It’ll be all right. You have an eternity to make it up to him, in any event.”
Eve tugge
d me closer as the castle came into view. “Yes, I suppose I do.”
Austin came out to greet us; he proposed to take Eve to the medical wing and drop me in my chambers on the way. I glanced at the castle as we swept past. A flash of red caught my eye and I saw Gwyneth at the window. She pressed her hand up against the glass and said my name. It reverberated against the glass and came out muffled.
I raised my hand in return. I mouthed the words I wish I could tell her in person: “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Tears streamed down her face.
“Bullocks.” I wiped my own eyes.
Dallas appeared next to Gwyneth and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her against his chest. He kissed the top of her hair and waved to me.
I waved back. My heart lifted to see them together. We would be reunited soon, and then, it would be forever.
And forever meant something very different to me, now.
Austin clasped my hand as we entered the palace and headed down the hall. Eve walked stiffly beside us. “Lady Eve,” he said, “a word.”
She raised her chin. “Yes, Your Highness?”
The prince cleared his throat. “I owe you an apology.”
“Actually, you owe Lady Kensington and apology.” Her voice was icy.
“I have already apologized to Lady Kensington, and expect to continue apologizing for the rest of my existence. It’s the least I can do. I acted boorishly.” He straightened his spine. “You tried to tell me as much, but I was being too much of a sniveler to listen. I’m very sorry for how I acted. I was a bit…boo-hoo-ish, I’m afraid.”
“You were a prat.”
Austin’s eyes glittered. “I love that you will always tell me the truth, Lady Eve. You forever have my loyalty. I hope that you will return to the North with us as soon as our business here has concluded; I’d like to put you in a position of authority with my guard. You’ve more than earned it.”
She cleared her throat, still looking stoic, but those two spots of color were back. Eve was pleased, I could tell. “I would be honored, Your Highness. And I accept your apology. But as I have vowed to you, my ultimate loyalty is to Lady Kensington. Do not be such a boor or a sniveler again.”
“You have my word.” Austin bowed his head. “On my honor, Lady Eve.”
“I’ll just go see about Balkyn, then.” She marched off.
“Well, she sure told me.” Austin chuckled.
“You deserved it.”
He stopped laughing. “I know I did.” He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. “I am sorry, you know.”
I nodded. “I know. Now, return me to me chambers so that you can meet with everyone and find out everything that’s happened.”
We headed to my room but stopped short when we saw the King waiting outside. “You two.” He motioned between us. “A word.”
My stomach sank as we followed him into my chambers.
As soon as the doors closed behind us, King Black jabbed his finger in the air at his son. “You have betrayed this family!”
Austin didn’t look as upset as I felt. He arched an eyebrow. “What now, Father?”
“The deal you made with Rhys!” the king bellowed. “You’ve no right to grant land to that pack of filthy beasts!”
I held my breath as I waited for Austin to answer. Does he still plan to punish Rhys?
“I had every right, Father. The Northern lands are mine to govern. I made a deal with Rhys and his pack in order to protect our people. The wolves are not perfect, but they’ve shown me their loyalty. I understand now that I’ve been wrong, all these years, to deny them legal rights. They want something in exchange for their years of service. They were right to want that, to have something to pass down to the coming generations.”
The king threw his hands up into the air. “An animal cannot own land! That’s not an enforceable contract!”
“Father, your ignorance confounds me. They are no more beasts than we are.” He let that statement hang in the air for a moment. “They fought valiantly for us today. They helped run the rebels off because they wanted to help. They want our relationship to work and stay intact. We cannot afford to make any more enemies.”
King Black shook his head. “We were meant to rule them, son. We were meant to rule them all.”
“That is the sort of thinking that will undo your kingdom.” Austin took a step forward. “In this world, we are new. We are equals with the others. You claim to love the settlements, then love the settlers as your own, not as beasts to be kept in a pen. Same with the wolves. I cannot go backwards, Father.”
The king came forward, face-to-face with his son. “I am the king—not you. It doesn’t matter what you think. You will do as I say. You will rescind the contract at once.”
I raised my hand. When neither one of them broke their glowering contest, I cleared my throat. “Excuse me. I have a question.”
Now the king jabbed his finger at me. “She’s another problem we need to address. You promised me, son—”
“What’s your question, Blake?” Austin asked.
I kept my eyes firmly on King Black. “Do the settlers know about the rebel attacks?”
“Absolutely not.” The king’s nostrils flared above his white mustache. “They don’t need to know their loved ones are still out there, trying to upend our government. It will only cause confusion and fear, when we’re just getting our footing with prosperity and peace.”
“I see.” I nodded.
“You see what?” The king sounded more annoyed than interested.
“I agree with Austin about the werewolves, you know. They deserve their land.” My gaze flicked to Austin. “They deserve our loyalty in return for theirs.” The prince nodded, and I relaxed a bit. He would not kill Rhys…he would listen to me.
The king, however, did not look swayed at all. “I do not care if you agree or disagree, my lady.”
“Ah, but you must.” I took a step forward. “I have footage, Your Highness.”
“Footage of what?” he cried.
“Footage of the rebels attacking the North. Our cameraman also filmed their camp. If released, the settlers would see the rebels still at large and still fighting for their cause.”
The king’s expression turned dark. “You dare to blackmail me, child?”
“No, Your Highness.” My voice was quiet but steady. “I have promised myself that, in my new life, I will do no harm. Part of that means I have to combat harm. It would be a great injustice to take back the land from the wolves. They might be an imperfect ally, but I have seen the effect the grant of land has had on them. They have been loyal ever since Austin showed them true loyalty in return. I won’t see you undo this alliance merely because you deem their kind below ours. That is dangerous thinking, indeed.”
The king cursed under his breath. “Now you sound like the queen.”
“Then the queen is wise, and we would do well to listen to her. Can we agree?” I asked. “That the wolves will keep their land, and no harm will come to them?”
Austin nodded immediately. “Of course.”
The king blinked at me. “Do I have a choice?”
I straightened my shoulders. “I suppose not.”
“Then I agree.” His smile was pure ice.
“I have another question.” I crossed my arms against my chest. “What is this promise you two keep referring to? The one that has to do with me?”
“I’ll let you answer that, son.” For the first time since our meeting had begun, the king looked pleased.
Austin squirmed as the king and I both stared, waiting. “Well… The thing is…”
Chapter 25
The Vow
Austin sighed. “The king and I made a deal.”
I waited. When he didn’t continue, I said, “The king and I also just made a deal, and you are privy to the details of that. So do not be afraid to reciprocate.”
“That’s right, son. Don’t be afraid to reciprocate.” The king’s smi
le was now full of warmth.
Austin shot him a dirty look, then turned back to me. “I told him that in exchange for you being able to give up touring duties as Goodwill Ambassador in order to stay with me in the North, that I would allow him to…” The rest of the sentence came out garbled.
“I’m sorry? I didn’t catch that!”
Austin cursed and rocked back on his heels. “I said he could broadcast our engagement and our wedding on national T.V.”
“Ah, I see.” I nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Austin seemed confused as to what exactly I was agreeing to.
“Yes. I agree. To all of it.” I turned back to the king. “I do have several conditions, though.”
The king shook his head. “No conditions. I’m not even sure if this is worth it to me, anymore. Austin has turned you. I’m losing the value of my son marrying a settler, now that you’re a vampire. Perhaps I should have him marry one of the other girls, like that curvy one with the black hair…”
“Father!” Austin’s face was stormy. “Don’t you dare speak like that in Blake’s presence. We will do as we see fit, and when I say we, I mean, with absolute authority, myself and Lady Kensington.”
The king looked disgusted. “What, are you two going to threaten me with those films again?”
“Yes,” Austin said.
“Of course we are,” I said at exactly the same time.
Two vampire maids fussed over me, applying a ridiculous amount of makeup, while I wrote a letter to my brother.
Dear Everett,
I hope this letter finds you well. I’m sorry I haven’t written in a few weeks; there’s been quite a lot going on. I hope that Father is doing well. Please hug him for me!
I’d hoped to be able to travel home to see you soon but I am afraid that’s not possible. I am leaving the castle later today to return to the North. My duties are to continue there indefinitely.
Speaking of indefinitely… I have some news, news I can only share in person. You will receive another letter from me soon with more information about this. Prince Austin and I would like you and Father to come to the North for a special event. We haven’t set a date yet, but it will be sooner rather than later. We can speak of this news when I see you face to face.
