Pain came first - sharp, electric jolts that shot through my skull and dragged me from unconsciousness. I pressed my palms against my face, waiting for the agony to subside, when I felt the bandage. Rough gauze wrapped around my head, and as my fingers traced its length, they came away wet.

  My shoulders came forward, the motion sending ripples of pain through me. In the dim light, I could make out the dark stain on my fingertips. Blood.

  “What—why am I bleeding?” My own voice sounded foreign, worry flickering across my features. “My head feels like it’s been hit by the hilt of a sword.” The room swam into focus slowly, shadows taking shape in the darkness, illuminated only by a single wall candle that cast sickly yellow light across the doorway.

  As my vision adjusted, familiar outlines emerged. My chamber. But how had I gotten here?

  The door burst open before I could piece together any more memories. Queen Fiora swept in, every inch the vampire royal in a form-fitting black gown, its high collar framing her face like dark wings.

  Her hair fell in perfect waves down her back, parted precisely down the middle. She clutched a piece of paper, her eyes fixed upon it as she glided across the carpet. My heart jumped into my throat. I had plans to avoid this woman since our first meeting, when those predator’s eyes had told me exactly what she thought of her son’s minx bride.

  Perhaps if I just… My body moved before I could think better of it, easing back against the pillows, trying to feign sleep.

  “You’re up!” Fiora’s eyebrows shot toward her hairline as if I’d materialized from thin air.

  “Hello, Queen Fiora.” My voice came out strained, barely more than a whisper.

  “I hope you’re feeling better,” she said, though her tone rumbled with something darker.

  “I feel awful. What—what happened to me?”

  The scoff that left her curled lips exposed her fangs - a reminder of what she truly was. “Child, how hard did you hit your head?” The weight of judgment in her pause made my skin crawl. I could read the real question in her eyes: How dare you be so weak?

  “Hit my head? It must have been quite severe.” I touched the wound again, and suddenly memories rushed back like a flood - breakfast, the stable, Nel helping me onto the horse. My stomach fluttered traitorously at the memory of his touch, and I had to suppress a growl of frustration at my body’s reaction to him. The field of blood roses came next. Our argument. My foolish demand to be left alone. The dark figure. The fall. The tree—

  “You could have died.” Fiora’s voice cut my thoughts like a blade. “Perhaps, next time you’ll listen to my son when he tells you it’s not safe to be alone.”

  “He told you about—”

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  Her words crackled with authority. “I have eyes and ears everywhere, especially where you’re concerned. Though Nel bears equal blame - he should never have left you. This could have ended very differently.”

  Of course she had been spying on us. What else should I expect from a woman who clearly saw me as nothing but a political pawn? “I just wanted some time alone,” I said, though I knew it was pointless. “Nel only obliged to my command.”

  “You do not have the privilege of being alone.”

  Something in me snapped. I might be trapped in this marriage, but I wouldn’t be stripped of every basic right. I pushed myself upright despite my protesting muscles.

  “It’s not a privilege. It’s my right.”

  Her laugh was like breaking glass, sharp and dangerous. Then her face transformed, fangs fully extended, every feature becoming the predator she truly was.

  “You wield no power here, princess. I agreed to this union with the understanding that you would not be a burden and I do not do well with burdens in my court. Was that a lie?”

  Terror crawled up my spine as I stared at those deadly fangs. “No,” I managed, hating how small my voice sounded. “It wasn’t.”

  “Good. Your place here is to honor this… alliance. With that. No secrets. No deceptions. No ruthless decisions. You are free to be princess.” She gestured with an irrelevant wave of her hand. “But any power you thought you had is gone in the dust. And if you ever speak out of turn again…” Her eyes dropped to my throat with such hunger that I could barely breathe.

  “Well, you’re a smart girl.” My eyes rounded in fear as she moved to my vanity with inhuman speed, dropping the letter she’d been holding onto my jewelry box. Without another word, she stormed out, the door slamming behind her.

  I gasped for air, clutching my throat, tears spilling down my cheeks before I could stop them. Those fangs had been inches from my neck - one wrong word, one wrong move, and the queen would have shown me exactly why minx feared vampires. I would never forgive Father for sending me here.

  My eyes drifted to the letter on my vanity, its broken seal a deliberate message. No secrets. Fiora hadn’t even tried to hide the fact she’d read it. No, she’d wanted me to see it - another reminder that nothing here belonged to me, not even my private correspondence.

  If she had spies watching me, why hadn’t they intervened sooner? Why let me be dragged half to death by my own horse? My head throbbed harder as questions swirled like leaves in a storm. Nothing made sense in this horrid place.

  My fingers traced the bandage again, coming away with fresh blood. The room tilted slightly, and I had to close my eyes against a wave of dizziness. When I opened them again, the letter still sat there, mocking me with its broken seal.

  With trembling hands, I reached for it, trying to focus on the familiar blue, full moon of Leonebus despite my spinning vision.

  Loretta,

  As I prepare to leave for Zayrut Mountain, I wanted to touch base with you. You are safer in the Ustoria. The Valmorin have targetted the northern villages since they stand nearest to the mountains. My plan is to intercept their progression and push them over the edge of the ocean, where death will make its mark. With the help of the Ustorian soldiers, my plan shall pass with efficiency. Naomi should be arriving with an important message soon. She will remain with you in court as your loyal subject. She will be our solution. I can’t say much, but expect her. I do love you. Never question that.

  Leonebus

  I stared at his words until they blurred. Everything was happening so fast - learning about the Valmorin, being sent away to marry a vampire prince, and now this shadowy encounter. Even now, he couldn’t tell me everything. Even now, I was just another piece on his chessboard. And now I was trapped here, watched by Fiora’s endless eyes, surrounded by mysteries I couldn’t begin to understand.

  My head pounded harder, and I let the letter fall into my lap. Too many questions, too many fears, and no one I could trust with either. Father was preparing for battle, Nel had left me in that field, and Queen Fiora… well, she might be just as dangerous as whatever lurked in those shadows.