Page 11 of House of Royals

“Is it true?” the man says as we step out of the van and slam the doors shut. “I mean, it can’t be, right? Henry’s dead and this is his kid?”

“Please, why don’t we go inside?” Rath says, calm and composed as ever. But he does give me a narrow, disapproving look.

I doubt the man even heard Rath’s request. His eyes are wild and confused and full of adrenaline. He walks into the house first. I meet Rath’s eyes and for some reason feel as if I’ve let him down as I walk past him and into the house.

We end up in the library, only one lamp lit to illuminate the room dimly.

“Rath, how does no one know about this?” the man demands, turning back to face him.

“Because that’s exactly the way Henry wanted it,” Rath says as he stands behind a wing-backed chair, his hands resting on it.

“Can anyone please tell me what is going on?” I demand, trying to keep the frantic tone out of my voice and totally failing. I am covered in my own blood, after all.

“And she doesn’t know a damn thing?” the man says with a breathy laugh and a hand extended out in my direction.

“Lord Conrath wanted to keep it from her for as long as possible, even though he knew it wouldn’t take long,” Rath says, his tone still even. “And he wished to keep his death a secret, as well.”

“Yeah, because the second word got out and anyone saw her, everyone would know the truth.”

“LordConrath? Wh…what? What is happening here?!” I practically scream, and both of their eyes finally turn to me.

“Your father was a damn vampire, that’s what,” the mystery man yells back at me. “And you’re going to be one as well someday.”

It takes about eleven seconds for the word to register in my brain and to process what it means.

It takes about four more seconds for the laugh to break from my chest. It builds and builds until I must look completely hysterical.

“Miss Ryan,” Rath says, loud enough to be heard over my meltdown. “Mr. Ward is telling the truth.”

“Come on, Rath,” I continue laughing. “You don’t seem the type to pull pranks, but you got me. It was awful and I think you two might be completely insane, but you got me good.”

“This isn’t a joke,” the man with at least a last name now says. There’s actual offense in his voice. And I now finally register him. I was right, he’s probably only a few years older than me. Wild, slightly too long brown hair on his head. Dark eyes under dark, heavy brows. Thin, serious lips. Intense five o’clock shadow. “Do you not remember how that blood got all over you? That thing was trying to suck you dry before I staked it. Remember how I said I was going to kill you, too? That’s because that bite should have turned you.”

My laughter dies away as my hand once again rises to my neck. I finally look down at myself. My clothes are drenched in my blood. Dirt is sticking to me all over. I’m a wreck. I remember the numbness that took me over within seconds of the pain.

“We’re telling the truth,” Rath says. His voice is kind and quiet. “Your father was a vampire and immortal Born. He spent a night with a human woman, and you were conceived.”

Vampires. Being Born. Stakes.

I want to call bullshit. But what just happened to me had happened.

And these two guys are staring at me without even a hint of uncertainty in their eyes.

“Why didn’t you say anything when I got here?” I accuse Rath. My eyes burn as I look at him.

“Because that was your father’s wish.” He turns from me to a desk against one wall. He takes a key from his pocket and opens a drawer. From it, he pulls a letter. The back of it is sealed with a wax stamp. “He asked me to give this to you when the time was right.”

My hands shake as I take it. The envelope that bears my name—Alivia Ryan—on the front is immediately smeared with my blood and dirt. There’s more weight to it than just a few pieces of paper. There’s something hard inside.

“Rath, you know what this means, right?” Mr. Ward says quietly. “There’s no way the House won’t hear about the attack tonight. They’re going to find out and quickly. They’ll want to take her in.”

“I know.” I look up and see Rath staring straight at me. “We don’t have much time.”

“Look, I can help,” Mr. Ward says, and his voice sounds desperate. “Let me talk to her. Because if the House gets to her first, they’ll manipulate her and she’ll have no real choice of her own.”

“You’re right,” Rath says. He takes a few steps across the room and places his hands on my shoulders. “But first, you need to clean up and get some rest. You look like shit, my dear.”

And his unexpected word drags my eyes up to his.

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