Prologue
They left me.
They truly left me in the dungeon without a second thought.
No food. No sunlight. Only blood.
I’m tired. All I can do is lie on the floor, clutching my middle.
It hurts.I can’t tell what does anymore, though.
My stomach? No, my head. All of it. My whole body aches.
I’m hungry, but no matter how much I keep drinking, it doesn’t do anything.
I’m still hungry. Hungrier every time, actually.
My energy is leaving me as the darkness crowds in.
Sometimes I see them.My lovers.
The princess stands there, looking at me with a sneer, saying cruel words she never said—and I don’t think she ever would. They spin around in my mind.
My witch has her back turned to me. Like she truly left me behind.
I always try to reach out to them, but they never get any closer.
My mouth waters when the next batch of blood is delivered. Suddenly, it’s not so bad anymore.
The pain slowly subsides.
My strength returns.
I feel myself… changing.
Aurelia
“Next!”
The line of vampires coming to greet the Castle family’s new king was out the door. The room that my father loved so much had been torn down and remade to fit my brother's new aesthetic.
Adrian had a flair for the extravagant. Sparkling stained glass windows. Black ceilings covered in glittering gold that made it look like the night sky was shining above us. The chandelier that was hanging from the ceiling was made to look like sharp blood droplets were starting to fall on the people below. A red carpet was rolled out on the marble floor.
The vampires knew better than to stand on it as I waited for Adrian to call them, all of them standing to the side.
The air was tense as everyone waited for the first official appearance of the new Castle king. Eyes darted around as many tried to figure out what was coming.
It all happened so fast. My father’s murder. The ousting of our stepfamily.
They were lucky he didn’t kill them, but still they ran as fast as their legs could take them.
I’d always wanted to be rid of the step-bastards but never like this. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
He then went on to destroy everything our palace once was.
He kept Father's throne, though. One of the only things that signified he had taken over from him, a cruel sign of power that only he could come up with. A reminder that, while my father's legacy was still alive through his children, he was no longer in charge. Just like Father, he pushed me out to the side, forcing me to stand during these occasions.
“My lord, this is Roman and his son Adam,” said the vampire to the side of us.
