Page 36 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
This was my only solution for keeping the balance of power. paying the Witches of the Lawless Lands—those who still made deals with demons—for relics.
Natalia’s scowl deepened. “That will only last so long if they are being targeted. Shreesa says they don’t have enough magick to bind familiars, and all the beasts have died.”
I stared at the map, thinking hard. As much as I wanted to hold the entire realm together by sheer force of will, I couldn’t.
“Angelina Prideaux doesn’t have the resources or the support to do little more than raid,” I said. “I’ll send word tothe Duke of Lakeland, doubling down on my position that he strengthen his forces, and in the meantime, we’ll send a patrol to protect Shreesa’s home.”
She made another note. “Very well. We’ll treat the symptom, not the problem.Yet again.”
“I amnotthe High Prince,” I scolded her. “I can only do so much.”
“Uncle Marius would give you the crown if you would only take it.”
I scoffed. “Is there any other business?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
I inclined my brows.
Natalia waved to the guards standing watch at the tent, who escorted in a human man. He was tall, well built, with dark skin and dark hair, and the sly, charming smile of someone who always got what he wanted. He bowed when he stood before my table.
“Your Grace, this is Alec. He claims to have seenthings. Things that shouldn’t be possible.”
I inclined my chin, interest piqued. “Well, Alec, what have you seen?”
The man cleared his throat. “I was working at the Veraleese Inn, which is in Nightfall, Your Grace, when I saw…” he hesitated, “I saw two men who seemedstrange. As a pillow whisperer at the inn, I see many people come and go, but none like these.”
My nephew chuckled behind his fist. I shot him a chilly glare.
“Tell the Duke the interesting part,” Natalia prodded.
The man wetted his lips and drew in a breath. “I know this is going to sound mad, but I swear Your Grace, on the night of Diana’s moon, I saw these strange men with a woman, and they weren’t treating her as a woman should be treated. So, Iintervened, but before I could stop them, they attacked me and ran off into the night. When I went to help the woman, she transformed into a werewolf, scratched my arm, and raced off after them.”
Laughs went around the table. My advisors clearly thought this was a ludicrous story.
Tyson drank deeply from his cup of wine. “Or he’s lying to get a free ride in your court. Word of your hospitality stretches into the south, Uncle. He’s clearly pandering to your altruistic nature. Not even the strongest Witches of the Light can transform into a wolf. It is but a rumor. A legend.”
All hint of humor fled the tent. Silence fell. While I took counsel from advisors, no one in my court spoke for me. I motioned to Destinee, a hardened warrior. “Commander Gris, escort the viscount out of this meeting.”
Tyson sat up straight in his chair for the first time. “Uncle, I offer my opinion.”
His father asked me to teach him how to lead. The boy had much to learn in humility. He could thank me later for these valuable lessons. The look on my face didn’t change. “Leave, or let Commander Gris toss you out.”
With a huff and a flourish of his royal blue cloak, Tyson stood and stalked out of the meeting. Natalia was beaming with glee. “This was the same inn acertain someonewas followed into.”
She was being purposefully coy, so I slipped inside her mind and heard her tell me,“Miss Donadieu’s sister. Seraphina.”
My ability to slide into minds was a gift few other vampires possessed. I couldn’t hear thoughts, but I could speak directly with someone. However, I’d never felt it as deeply as the bond I had with Claire.
“This woman who allegedly turned into a werewolf—what did she look like?”
“Like all Witches of the Light, Your Grace. Long white hair. Glowing gold eyes. A mean look on her face.”
I canted my head toward my niece.“See, Claire’s sister had lilac hair. Not white.”
“Hair can be charmed!”
There was no use arguing with Natalia when she thought herself right. So I returned my attention to the man with the impossible story. “You said she scratched you. Where is the wound?”
