“We were just leaving,” I said and pulled Atlas by her wrist, which she allowed me to do as the general stared at us.
It wasn’t until we were in the car and back on our way to the clan that she spoke.
“Him being here creates a problem,” she whispered. “He has more support than I thought.”
“The vampire council, right?”
She nodded but continued looking out the window, deep in thought.
“It’s odd. I’ve never seen the council get involved in something like this.”
“Even more reason why we need to get Vesper,” I said. “We tried your plan. It’s not going to be as easy as waltzing in there.”
She let out a hum. I called my magic to me again, forcing the vines around her, and that finallygot her attention.
“We stick tomyplan now.”
My vines gave her a warning squeeze. There was no room for negotiation.
Vesper, we’re coming for you.
Vesper
“Ibet he smells,” Charlotte Leclair said as she leaned against the wall, bloodred ruby-like candies in her hands.
A child at heart who still likes to pop blood candies whenever she gets the chance.
She looked over at the man her parents were talking to with a pout. We had been stuck in this corner for most of the event as she sulked. Great for me because I didn’t have to move, sucked for her because she—well, both of us—would be hearing about it later.
Her curly bright blonde hair bounced as her gaze kept darting around the room. She was done up as any princess would be in this situation, but she hated these gatherings, opting to look unapproachable and bored instead of greeting her suitors with a warm smile.
“He’s a vampire, he can probably hear you,” I warned and shifted her empty glass in my hands. “Plus, your parents won’t stop until you’re married. At least he looks like he has money. You’d be well off.”
Charlotte let out a scoff.
“As if they’d marry me off to someone whowasn’trich. It would be an insult and unthinkable to myself and the familyto marry for anything other than the expansion of the family’s wealth or heirs.”
She said it like she had once dreamed otherwise. I gave her a long look, noticing her childlike nature. She was probably being forced into this role without so much as a say.
Much like Aurelia.
With a sigh, I stared off at the party, letting my mind wander.
It had been three weeks since I’d been stuck with the Leclair family. Three weeks assigned to be their youngest daughter’s best friend, servant, bodyguard, and anything else they wanted.
Charlotte was a lonely vampire who, just like Aurelia, had grown up in the confines of her parents’ palace. But Charlotte wasn’t as cruel, spoiled, or temper-tantrum prone. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.
And that line of thought only served to remind me of all of Aurelia’s so-called flaws and how much I loved all of them.
“Oh god, can she just not show up to these things?”
Well, there was one fly she absolutely detested and might actually harm.
There was a reason Charlotte wasn’t cruel. Why she was able to grow up as a pampered vampire princess with no duties in the world other than to be married off to someone she thought worthy.
It was because the Leclair family had a dirty little secret.
Right at the side of the ballroom, near the back exit, a small hybrid vampire came slinking in. Her stark white hair hid most of her face, but the deep scars still showed through. They were impossible to hide.
