Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
The sun shone brightly as Kole and I rode on an enchanted carpet away from the palace because apparently, mistphasing wasn’t happening.
When I’d told my parents my plans at breakfast to leave the palace for the day, my parents had suggested that I use a carpet instead of mistphasing.
They said it would be good if I made more appearances in the capital as they thought it would be helpful if I smiled and greeted those I passed instead of spending all of my time mistphasing to the libraries as I had been.
It was all part of their public relations campaign to make me appear harmless following the council meeting only a few days ago, in which character witnesses had been called forth to testify on my behalf.
Except, so much had changed since then, and I was definitely not harmless anymore.
But it was imperative I didn’t reveal that.
The enchanted carpet flew steadily through the streets. Wind breezed over my cheeks, and at my side, Kole sat closely. Every time we sailed around a corner, his thigh brushed against mine. He was warm and solid. It reminded me so much of our time together when I’d been hunting the Stone.
But even reveling in memories of that wasn’t happening.
Each lane we traveled down garnered attention.
Some fae stared blatantly. Others gasped or spoke behind cupped hands to those around them.
Even though I hadn’t been a princess long, word had spread throughout the capital that the dead third daughter of the Mistvale royals was back.
I waved to everyone, my smile wide, and entirely forced with cheer. But all I could think of was what they would do if they learned of the monster I’d become.
My smile grew stiff, and my back was ramrod straight, but I tried to appear friendly and guileless.
“Don’t let them intimidate you.” Kole glared at everyone who so much as dared look at me wrong. “You’re good, Primelle. Honest. Strong. True. They should be honored to have you help lead their kingdom, and if they don’t realize that now, they will soon.”
My chest tightened. All I could manage was a nod. Kole still believed in me unfailingly. Yet, he didn’t know what lurked within me.
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him, to spill everything that’d happened. I wanted him to know. I didn’t want to lie to him or anyone else, but the second the thought even formed in my mind, my uncle’s magic seized me.
My tongue froze. My mind stilled. My entire body just stopped.
Inside, I screamed and railed, but once again, I was a prisoner in my own body.
We careened around another corner, moving steadily north in the capital, and when our carpet sailed around the last turn, the widened lane to the kingdom’s ten Houses spread out before us.
Like all the kingdoms on the Silten continent, ten Houses presided over the land.
The Houses had been in existence ever since the Elvish wars ended so many centuries ago.
The Houses held power. Might. Like the royals, the Houses also ruled our society since they owned the majority of the businesses and the land.
They also oversaw all of the fae who worked beneath them.
Prior to my birth origins being shared with me, I’d never given the Houses much thought. They were all powerful nobles, wealthy and elite, yet in my day-to-day life, they hadn’t affected me. Yet now, my very existence was focused on them. They’d become my epicenter.
“Can I ask now what it is you want to speak with House Torleaf about?” Kole said just as the great House came into view. “Or am I still not allowed to ask questions?” His voice was teasing, more like the Kole I’d come to know since we’d confessed our feelings to one another.
Knowing I couldn’t avoid his curiosity forever, I replied with a shrug, “It’s about the mines.” My uncle’s command buzzed inside me. I could speak of what he wanted, but I couldn’t reveal why I was doing so.
I felt, rather than saw, Kole’s stare. “What mines?”
“Ah, we’re here,” I replied in a strained voice.
The carpet veered us up a wide path through House Torleaf’s front gates. The fae guards posted at the estate’s entry both bowed as I passed.
At my side, Kole’s aura was pounding, but I was careful to stay turned away. I could only imagine what my anxiety was doing to my expression.
We passed an enchanted fountain on the House’s front lawn that sprayed water in streams of colorful hues that seemed to defy gravity.
The carpet glided up the wide drive to a stone staircase that led up to the House’s large double-door entry, then fluttered to a halt, and several wildling staff jogged down the steps to greet me.
“Princess Primelle.” The one on my right bowed.
He was a ramifin, just like Nivinity in Inisville.
How long ago that time now seemed. The ramifin servant’s long head dipped in greeting, and hooves peeked out from the bottom of his trousers.
“What a wonderful surprise. We just received your dillemsill not too long ago.”
I stood from the carpet and moved as liquidly as water thanks to my new vampiric joints. Rich satin in a stunning long-sleeved gold color cascaded around me, but since the cold no longer affected me, I hadn’t bothered with a shawl.
Betsee had twisted my hair up into a stylish knot, and at my throat, I wore an amethyst necklace that had the royal crest engraved into it.
It was one of many pieces of jewelry I’d been given since rejoining the royal family, and I figured it served as a reminder of my birth.
I was hoping it would also aid me in convincing the House leader to follow my uncle’s plan, because if I could convince him of my uncle’s plan to create another exchange between the kingdoms’ mines, then I wouldn’t have to force him with my magic.
“Good morning,” I said to both of the staff members. “Is Lordling Torleaf available?”
“He’s working in the study,” the wildling on the left replied. “We shall take you there. Please follow me.”
Kole stayed at my side as we walked up the staircase. His heavy steps pounded next to mine.
The morning sunshine continued to shine down on us, and a cool early winter breeze caressed my cheeks.
Garden-preserving magic filled the air, and the hint of sweet mint mixed with balsam wood flooded my nose.
Atop the stair railing and around the spindles, flowers curled.
The petals opened in the morning sunshine, oblivious to the cool weather thanks to the potent garden-preserving magic encasing them.
“This way, Princess Primelle.” The wildling at the door ushered me inside.
Kole and I followed the wildling down a wide marble hallway. Similar to the palace, the ceilings were tall, expensive artwork hung from the walls, and wildling staff bustled about the many chambers.
I didn’t know much about this House, other than what I’d learned in my studies when I’d first been introduced to royal life, but my uncle had a keen interest in Lordling Torleaf’s businesses.
I pumped my hands into fists. Dread filled me at what was to come, and it didn’t help that dozens of heartbeats echoed around me. Scents kept accosting me as well. Cleaning charms, the earthy aroma of wildlings, and Kole’s inherent and intoxicating fragrance.
The warrior’s aura pounded from him. He was so strong, virile, sexy . . .
A bolt of lust abruptly shot through me.
Oh Gods, not now. Vampire need began to curl my insides, and the scent of Kole’s blood threatened to derail my focus.
The scent of others’ blood interested me too.
There were so many fae and wildlings within these walls.
So many throats to drink from. So many fae to fuck.
I nearly gagged at my vile urges, a remnant of my former self rising up in protest. But it did little to halt my desires. Venom dripped in my mouth, and mortification filled me that my new nature was rearing at a time like this.
If what I was experiencing were how all vampires lived on a daily basis, I didn’t know how any of them kept going. It was torture. Always. Constant hounding from hearts and constant urges to drink blood and engage in carnal activities. I hated everything about this.
Hands fisted tightly, I forced myself to place one foot in front of the other. We rounded a corner, and the wildling called over his shoulder, “Almost there.”
Behind me, Kole inched closer to my side. “Is everything all right, Princess?” Kole’s quiet question was asked in such a low tone that I doubted anyone else had heard him.
I gave him a forced smile. “Yes, everything’s fine.”
“Are you sure?” His comment was said dryly, but an edge filled it, and I had no idea what alerted him to my reactions since my uncle’s potions hid my scent that conveyed my desire.
But then I realized my fingers were curled into my palms so tightly that it was a miracle I hadn’t drawn blood.
I forced my hands to loosen. Keep it together. Just get this done, and then you can leave.
I did my best to act normal, but it didn’t help that Kole kept looking at me.
He didn’t ask anything further, but his reproachful silence was almost worse.
He didn’t need to speak for me to hear his concern.
Already, he was suspicious, blazingly so.
I’d only been with the warrior a few hours today, and once again, he knew something wasn’t right.
If only I could tell him.
But I brushed that thought off. Wishes were no longer in the cards for me. The sole wish the Stone had granted me all those weeks ago had been cast, and now I only had myself to turn to for answers.
“Here we are.” The wildling stopped at the entrance to a large study. Bookshelves lined the walls, and seated behind a large desk was Lordling Torleaf.