CHAPTER 1 #2
I run my fingers along the fine parchment before ripping open the gold-and-black seal and threading the letter out of its envelope. My eyes scan the scrawled cursive, and the giddiness of surprise curls in my chest.
I can’t believe it: It’s an invitation to his court.
I read the letter again and pause at the king’s requested arrival time, which is within the week.
Not a lot of time to prepare.
My gaze flicks to Second. “Nerian’s inviting us to his court for discussions.”
He rakes back his chestnut hair, anger palpable—or maybe it’s fear. “Discussions for what?”
“Our peaceful surrender.”
Second belts a laugh, thick lips stretching into a confident smile. “Not a chance.”
“Agreed.”
I stuff the letter back in the envelope.
The terms of our surrender include a marriage proposal to Nerian.
I’m fairly certain Second won’t agree to this visit if he knows what’s at stake in our negotiations.
But I’m willing to risk just about anything to get close enough to kill this king—like disappointing Second by withholding some of this letter, or letting Nerian think he might have a chance with me.
“This is our way in,” I say, hope and eagerness twisting inside me at the opportunity I’ve wanted for so long. My fangs pop—I’m unable to suppress my joy—and my focus lands on Emmanuel and Charlotte. “How would you like to join me in Goreon as the queen’s attendants?”
They grin, and Charlotte offers a bow, long blonde curls dipping toward me. “I can’t wait to sink my fangs into some filth,” she says, eyes flashing red above her perfect pink cheeks sitting atop high cheekbones.
“I couldn’t agree more,” I assure her, lip lifting in anticipatory excitement.
Charlotte is everything you could want in a diabolically dedicated courtier who plays chess and wields knives with equal skill.
And she has been many things to me over the years, but most of all, she is my friend.
Decades ago, she waltzed into my castle and demanded an audience with me.
The human girl got on her knees, swore her fealty, and begged me to change her.
I don’t wish this existence on anyone, but there was something about her power and poise in that commanding moment, standing in front of her queen and choosing the life she wanted for herself, that had me bending my own rules.
I don’t like to turn others—I don’t want to live with the guilt of the decision they may someday regret. So, I rarely do it.
But I’ve never regretted turning Charlotte. And neither has she.
Second paces the dais.
“Something to add, Second?” I ask.
He stops mid-stride and turns to me, face stern.
“I don’t fucking like it.” The vampire wears the agony of losing his humanity like a cloak, always shrouded in it, and his temper runs hot from the pain still itching at his skin.
But it makes him focused, callous even, which produces an effective second to the crown.
Although I still hate that he suffers as much as he does.
I’d take the burden of it from him if I could.
Second soothes the pain of his losses by protecting those who remain in his life. So a risky, borderline suicide mission to Goreon disguised as a cordial peace discussion has him seeing red.
“Of course you don’t like it,” I laugh, trying not to roll my eyes at the poor male.
“Don’t make light of your safety,” he snarls back.
My lips press into a thin line, and I let his words wash over me. He’s one of only a few I would ever tolerate such a tone from.
“You’re right,” I say finally, nodding at him.
He scoffs. “Of course I’m right.”
“But we have to go,” I say, holding up the letter.
Second crosses his thick arms and tosses his head back to stare at the ceiling. “I know,” he says after a long moment and dips his chin to look right at me. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“We’ve been trying to orchestrate a way in for decades. This is our best shot.”
“I know that, too. And I wouldn’t ask you to pass up the opportunity to walk through the front fucking door,” he says and then points a finger at me. “But we need a plan. We need to be sure of your safety there.”
“I agree.”
“Good. I have a meeting with Officer Maya upstairs; there’s rumors of a stirring in the Southern Continent.
Join us when you’re done so we can strategize our visit up north,” he says, spinning on his heel and speeding down the hall.
“And I’m going with you to Goreon!” he shouts, disappearing through the doors before I can tell him any different.
Charlotte clears her throat politely. “You won’t talk him out of it.”
I ease back into my throne, slipping the letter into my pocket. “I rarely do.”
Emmanuel lifts a blood pitcher off its warming candle and pours himself a glass. We don’t drink from the vein. A single bite will turn a human, and doing so against someone’s will is punishable by death in the Night Kingdom. But those who live here have no complaints. We chose this way of life.
Bicep flexing as he casually swirls his goblet, Em looks up at me. “Did the letter say when they’re expecting us?”
My eyes meet his. “Within the week.”
Emmanuel curses and slams the contents of his glass. “I need liquor.”
I’m about to walk into Goreon, and failure isn’t an option—for my kingdom, for the human lives in Goreon, and for the long-held promises I made to nullify this threat. I need to take the edge off. “Pour me one, too,” I tell Em.
It’s a heady feeling, being so close to what I’ve wanted for so long, yet I know what this letter is.
A trap.
Emmanuel’s dress shoes clack along the marble to the cabinet beside the dais. “Charlotte?” he asks, snatching the whiskey bottle.
“Gods, yes please,” she sighs.
Vampires digest one thing well—human blood. Liquor hits us like the poison it is, and vampire tolerance is pitiful when stacked up against that of humans.
Emmanuel pours the auburn liquid, serving me, then Charlotte, then himself. “Well, I guess we’re spending a full moon in enemy territory,” he laughs. “It’s going to be interesting.”
I groan loudly, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.
The full moon.
For one night, every month, vampires are forced to relive our humanity.
The torment of our memories comes to life, and we dreamwalk through them.
We don’t get to choose what we experience when trapped in our human reality for a night.
We’re thrown in, reminded of all we’ve lost, and then we wake up—wholly broken all over again.
Our memories never fade. We endure pain we can never push past. Because it’s always there, haunting and relentless. But since we’re all equally vulnerable on the full moon, including the king, it’s nothing more than an inconvenience in enemy territory.
I look my people in the eyes and raise my glass. “To the king we’re going to kill. No matter what they put in our path.”
I will do this. I have to do this.
With all that I am.
Emmanuel nods at me, and Charlotte winks before we drink and numb ourselves for the day.
I enjoy my last sip, body finally calming against the onslaught of nerves. “Go rest,” I say. “We’ll leave at sunset and stop by the estate and wherever else you’d like to remind ourselves of what we’re walking into enemy territory for.”
Emmanuel’s eyes shift to mine. “I don’t think any of us need a reminder.”
“Fair. But I need to say goodbye. Just in case.
Charlotte sighs and plops down on the steps, her chiffon pooling around her in a giant pink puddle. “It won’t be goodbye.”
Emmanuel looks down at her, swirling his drink. “Well, if Char says so.”
She tilts her chin, pinning him in place with a glare. “Watch it, Em. Positivity is never a bad thing.”
“It is when you ignore reality with it.”
She scoffs around her smile. “Good thing you’re coming along and will never let us lose.”
He peels a finger from his glass and points at her. “Good thing.”
Gods, I adore these people.
“I’ll see you both in a few hours. Thank you in advance for what you’re giving,” I say.
They nod and exit through the large wooden doors as I fall back into my seat.
My gaze shifting to the skylight, I summon the transparency, and blinding morning light beams down in front of me. Sighing into the stillness, I descend toward the enticing sunshine.
Slowly, I extend my fingertips within reach of the warmth, and the burning rays of light drench me in memories of my humanity, of the life I loved with every fiber, every now-dead piece of me. A life I was forced to abandon as the fangs of death turned me.
My anger surges, and I plunge my hand into the sun streaks and watch myself sear, savoring the pain, as though it can burn away the anguish I still feel from losing everything.
With a press of my lips, I yank myself back into shadow before my skin melts, and I summon the window shut, blinking away tears but holding on to the pain that fuels me.
The throne room’s doors fly open at the flick of my wrist, and I depart to the war room to meet Second.
I stuff my nerves down with a swallow. King Nerian is already setting me on edge. Because we need to leave by tonight to make it in time.
But our moment to force Goreon to its knees and honor its innocent citizens with the life they deserve is finally here.