After our conversation finished,I found myself in an unexpected good mood and sailed back into my chambers, waving to Callahan with a wide grin along the way. Talking with Ree had been just like old times, and I reminded myself Icould do this. Becoming a vampire wasn’t the end of my life. Things were just different now. And tomorrow, I was determined to act normal so our research could continue.
Back inside, I didn’t even realize where I was headed until my hand closed around the door handle, and I was pulling it open.
Kole still stood in the hall beside Xaven. The Imperial Warriors were silent but alert.
“Can you come in here?” I said softly to him.
Kole was in my chambers, closing the door behind him before I could blink.
“I was just speaking with Ree.” I clasped my hands together and grinned. “We’re planning to go to the library again tomorrow to see what we can learn of vampires, and I was thinking that perhaps we should see Nathaniel too, to see if he’s heard anything from his colleague in Ironcrest. And with any luck, Master Fistideeous will also be in contact again soon.”
Kole moved closer, filling my space with his scent and undulating aura.
If I’d been alive, I had no doubt my heart would’ve begun galloping at his close proximity, but now, my silent chest didn’t thump. Instead, my hearing focused on Kole’s whooshing blood and heartbeat.
Venom coated my fangs, and the familiar ache began in my jaw again. I licked my lips and forced my fangs to stay retracted.
Kole’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze zeroing in on my mouth. At last, he replied, “Would you like to visit Nathaniel now? We have another hour of daylight, and then tomorrow, the three of us could focus entirely on what the library has.”
I cocked my head and glanced out the window. He was right. There was still at least an hour, possibly two, of daylight left, plenty of time before my curfew began, and that would indeed give us more time to search the books. “That’s actually a good idea. Should we go now?”
“I don’t see why not.”
Surprise momentarily rendered me blank. Kole wasn’t Nathaniel’s biggest fan since the lordling had made it rather obvious that he was attracted to me. I cocked my head. “Does the fact that you came up with this plan mean you no longer hate Nathaniel?”
Kole smirked. “I never said that. I can still hate someone who has answers we need.”
A genuine laugh bubbled out of me. “Well, I promise not to flirt with him. Would that help?”
“Immensely.” Amusement danced in his eyes. “Do you want to mistphase us? Or should I?”
I held out my hand, and when our skin connected, even though I knew he had to feel how cold I was, he didn’t comment. But the slightest furrow hit his brow.
“I’ll do it.” Magic rose inside me, and in a flash of mist and shadows, air and wind, we disappeared.
Thankfully,Nathaniel was in residence, and there was no sign of Lady Ryderdim as the staff showed us to the same receiving room that we’d met him in last time.
Still, it didn’t stop me from constantly being on the lookout for the elderly House leader. She’d made her feelings for me quite clear, all due to some innocent comments I’d made when I’d initially met her, that just so happened to be untrue. Following that, she’d labeled me as a liar.
Consequently, at the council meeting in which character witnesses had been called forth to testify on my behalf, she’d been the loudest opponent to me having a place in Mistvale’s court.
But as it’d been the other times we’d visited Nathaniel, I never saw her, so my nerves calmed when we made it safely to the receiving room without any run-ins with the elderly female.
“I shall fetch Lordling Ryderdim.” The staff bowed, then left Kole and me alone.
I clasped my hands behind my back as Kole’s heartbeat filled my ears with its lovely melody. Trying to distract myself, I began to wander around the room. Beautiful artwork decorated the walls, and a ticking clock hung near the window. I perched myself on the sofa’s armrest as Kole stood near the wall. At hisback, the pommel of his sword looked menacing in such a quaint atmosphere.
“Do you ever get tired of carrying that?” I asked him pleasantly and waved to his weapon.
“My sword? No.”
I smiled impishly, and it struck me that my good mood from my conversation with Ree was still flowing wonderfully rampant inside me.
Kole’s nostrils flared, and his attention shifted to the door a second before it opened, and Nathaniel traipsed into the room.
“Princess Primelle, how lovely to see you.” Nathaniel wore tan breeches and a black sweater. The top’s shade matched his hair color, and his brown eyes were particularly bright.
I rose from the sofa, and the young lordling immediately embraced me. A hiss came from Kole, but just as fast, Nathaniel pulled back.
