We stepped into the first structure that connected to the pathway of the helipad, which looked like a mini version of Anastasia’s castle—completely made of grey stone.
The others followed us inside it, but I stopped, turning to wait for the Fae.
Every muscle on Bjørn’s face hardened when he reached me, but I didn’t let him look away. “You can’t avoid me forever.”
The harshness turned into pain, and he sighed.
“I’m sorry you had to see me like that, Natasha. I truly hoped that would never hap—” His words halted when I jumped him—the only way I would be able to wrap my arms around his neck—hugging him. The tension immediately melted from his being, and he gave into my hug, cradling me to him.
“Thank you for giving into the part of you that you hate the most, to make sure I was safe,” I whispered into his ear. “You have a piece of my heart now.”
His hold trembled around me for a second before he squeezed me fiercely, kissing my temple like a father probably would. “And now you know my secret.” He pulled back to look into my eyes, but before I could ask if hisother selfwas his secret, he smiled. “There is nothing I would not do for you either, dearie.”
I hugged him again, kissing his cheek before he set me on my feet. When we faced the others, their emotion was evident. Ralf joined us then, leading us through the mini castle that seemed like a welcome center to what I thought would be a pathway to the main structure. Instead, he opened the door of a car so long it looked like two glued together.
“It’s called a limousine,” Isis explained, and I nodded, following everyone inside it.
Ralf drove us around the grounds until we reached what I thought was the entrance to the structure. I was wrong. We crossed a long bridge over the water, that looked way smaller from above, and then stopped at a security house outside a massive gate that blocked our view. Ralf once again had to identify himself and ask permission to enter, but the large gates opened for us immediately, revealing a winding road to the castle.
When we finally arrived at the half-moon-looking entrance, a man in uniform stepped outside, pausing by the car as Ralf opened the doors for us.
“My lord…” He deeply bowed to Dante, or so I thought, until I realized he was facing D.
My eyes widened. My lord?! What the heck was D a lord of? And why was this the first time I heard about it?
I glanced at him, seeing him graciously nod in return without correcting him.
“My lord,” the man greeted Dante with a deep bow of his waist too, although he took several steps away from him to do so, then greeted Isis, Vane, and I, proceeding to request our luggage.
Frowning, I looked up at Dante, but his expression did not indicate what that was. He simply stared at the man indifferently, not bothering to graciously nod in return like D had.
Disappointed there was no luggage to take, the man turned on his heel to leave, but his gaze briefly stopped on me. He masked the shock well, swiftly walking away, but once again his behavior was weird.
“Here,” Dante offered, handing me his coat.
I was about to say I didn’t need it when I caught sight of my torn jacket drenched in blood. Nodding, I put it on and walked between him and Isis to the wooden double doors.
“Welcome toRosu Castle. Headquarters to the Vampire Clan of North America, Ms. Natasha,” an older woman in an elegant sand-colored dress greeted me the instant the large double doors opened. “Ms. Isis, Ms. Vanessa, my lords,” she offered, stepping back, and gesturing us inside the castle.
“Would you like coffee or tea?” a young woman asked, walking out of a side hallway with what appeared to be a two-tier cart made of pure gold.
An elegant tray was set on top with two metallic pots that I assumed held the coffee and tea she’d offered, plus a few small containers. The bottom tier had another tray filled with delicate-looking cups over plates with tiny colorful flowers and gold on them.
“Coffee please, with two sugars and a dash of cream,” Vanessa immediately answered, accepting the elegant cup and plate handed to her after the girl happily prepared it.
“Tea with honey, please,” Isis requested, and another cup was handed to her. “You should try it, Tasha, it’s really good.”
“It will help you relax after the unfortunately stressful journey you’ve had,” the young girl offered, receiving a reproaching look from the older lady that said her opinion wasn’t required. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
“That’s very kind of you. I’ll have one like Isis’, please,” I replied, smiling at the girl, and seeing her beam, handing me a cup too.
“My lord?” she asked D, who shook his head.
“May I please have some soda and water sent to my room? Thank you.”
Her light smile reappeared when she eagerly nodded, then immediately faltered once her gaze moved to Dante, who stood behind me now. “And you, my Lord?” her voice quivered with the words. “Would you like coffee or tea?” Her gaze lowered to her hands, awaiting his answer.
Why did everyone here act so strange toward him?
