(INA)
I slept well, despite my new surroundings and all of the confusion that washes over me every time I close my eyes. My body was just exhausted the night before, so when I lay down in my bed, after King Solan left, I immediately went to sleep, and now, as I open my eyes and blink a few times, I realize I've slept longer than usual. The clock says it's past 9:00 in the morning. I am usually up by 6:00.
Trying not to think about everything that happened the day before, I take a shower and get dressed. I decide to pin my hair up off my neck, which is probably not the wisest decision in a castle full of vampires, but it seems like a warm day outside for this part of the world, and the sun is actually shining. My understanding is that it is almost always cloudy here, as it was yesterday when I'd arrived. If there'd been any sun the day before, I hadn't noticed, though I had spent some time beneath the ground.
My eyes wander over the makeup the ladies brought the other day, and I decide to put on just a little. I have no idea what I'm doing, but when I'm finished, I decide I look presentable.
I'm also starving.
I am about to go knock on the door to the maids' room when mine opens. Nellie is there with a tray. "Oh, good. You're awake now," she says, bringing it in and setting it on the table. "We came by earlier, but you were still sleeping." Helga follows her in, gives me a curt nod, and heads to the bathroom, to clean I suppose.
"I'm sorry," I say. "I was very tired."
"That's understandable. We brought you some food." She gives me a reassuring smile.
I can smell the bacon and eggs and move to the table. Since I hadn't eaten much the day before, I am famished.
As I eat, the two of them clean the room, and by the time I'm done, it's pristine again. They are quite fast and accurate.
"What would you like to do today?" Nellie asks me.
I arch an eyebrow. I have just assumed my job is to stay in this room, since I am a prisoner, and just wait for the king to want to feed on me—or whomever he allows to do so. "Do?" I ask.
She nods. "It's a beautiful day outside. We could go for a walk in the garden."
"Am I allowed to do that?" I ask her.
She giggles. "Of course. And you're dressed for it."
I glance down at my red sundress and strappy sandals. "All right," I say. "As long as you're sure the king won't mind."
"No, he won't. He gave a decree yesterday that no one can harm you, so you shouldn't worry about that either."1
She seems very confident that everyone listens to the king. I hope that is the case. In my pack, as far as listening to the Alpha is concerned, it's more of a question of will one get caught.
Nellie and I go out to the garden, through the door that Brennan showed me the day before. I am beginning to get the layout of the castle a little better now. The sunshine feels good on my skin, and the roses do smell divine. There are other flowers present, too, and Nellie seems to know all of them. As we walk, she tells me their names. I've never heard of most of them, but it's a nice conversation starter, and I can ask her questions about them.
Eventually, I ask her, "How do you know so much about flowers?"
"I use to work in the garden," she explains. "When I was a human, back when King Michael was our ruler, before he died."
It takes me a moment to process that. She looks like she is my age. She even acts young—but she's over a hundred and fifty years old. It's such a strange concept to me. Wolf shifters live to be about eighty or ninety at the oldest. Lately, thirty has become our median age in my pack because of the war.
"How did you become a vampire?" I ask her.
"The gardener, Mr. Castaneda, took a liking to me." She speaks of it now like it's nothing. "He bit me… even though it was against the rules. He was killed for it, but Queen Agatha allowed me to live. She had always liked me."
"I didn't realize a person could be in trouble for being turned into a vampire," I stated as we made our way down the cobblestone path that twined between the flowers.
She nods. "Oh, yes. King Michael was very strict about population control. Back then, it was difficult to get blood to feed the vampires in the villages. Now, it's no problem because we are wealthy enough to buy it, but much of the wealth of the pack has come under King Solan's reign, not his father."
I am about to respond when I hear a snapping sound and look down to see my shoe strap has broken. "Oh, no," I mutter.
"What is it?" Nellie asks, dropping down to look. "These are new!" she declares.
Sighing, I hobble to a bench. "I guess I'll just take them off and go back inside."
"No, no, it's fine," Nellie says, standing next to me. "I'll run in and get you some new shoes."
"You don't have to do that—"
"You are enjoying the garden and the sunshine." She lovingly pats my arm. "I'll be right back."
I smile my thanks, and she takes off like lightning.
Sighing, I look around me. It is quite lovely and secluded here. This would be a wonderful spot to get lost in a book.
Just as I begin to daydream about sitting here, reading a nice romance novel, I hear voices and realize I'm not alone. I recognize them a moment too late for me to get up and dart away, even with my broken shoe.
Lysandra appears from around the corner, flanked by a bunch of other vampire women, with her brother and Prince Theo as well.
"What do we have here?" she says, a snide smile on her face. "If it isn't the fucking feeder bitch."
I am in trouble.