Similar to what Master Fistideeous had found, the documents spoke of the Goddess of Light being the creator of modern vampires. However, his information wasn’t limited to the fae lands. His colleague had done extensive research on vampires, even venturing to theotherrealm to study them further.
He’d documented how vampires in theotherrealm lived, how they interacted, what common characteristics they shared, and how they’d been forced to hide themselves from the common species of that realm in order to avoid persecution. And like me, the portraits revealed that modern vampires were startlingly similar to how I looked. Pale skin. Wickedly sharp fangs. But unlike me, they had rounded ears, apparently a trait of the species who lived in theotherrealm. Yet, apart from those characteristics, one would never know we were different, which allowed them to effectively hide.
I laughed humorlessly when I read that. Even there, in an entirely separate universe, they had to hide too.At least I’m not the only one.
When the sun began to rise, I set the documents aside and waited for the rest of the palace to awaken. And when Betsee arrived to dress me and straighten my room, I was careful to avoid her touch, and I kept our conversation light and frivolous.
But when Kole never appeared at the time he usually did, I frowned. “Do you know what’s keeping Kole?” I asked the lady’s attendant.
She pursed her lips and tapped a blue finger to her chin. “I don’t think he’s coming today, Your Highness. Royden arrived not too long ago. He’s in the hall.”
I froze. “Royden?”
“Yes, m’lady.”
“What’s happened to Kole? Is he all right?” My thoughts immediately whipped to the Imperial Council and the time Kole had been forced into isolation.
She cocked her head. “I believe so. Royden said it was his day off.”
“It is?”
She shrugged. “Would you like me to confirm that?”
“Please.”
After Betsee left, I nibbled on my lip. If Royden was truly to guard me all day, that was a problem. With Royden’s enhanced senses, it would be very easy for him to realize that my heart no longer beat. Even more worrisome, depending upon how strong his magic was, he might even be able to detect my vampiric stench through my uncle’s masking potion.
Shite.
I paced to the other side of my wing, putting as much distance and as many rooms between the Imperial Warrior andme as I could. If I didn’t, he would likely suspect that something was amiss with me, even from his position in the hall.
Not long later, Betsee traipsed into my wing’s small, private library. “Ah, there you are. I was trying to find you.” She folded her four hands behind her back. “Royden confirmed it’s Kole’s day off, but I also sent the Council a dillemsill, and their response just arrived. They too confirmed that Kole wasn’t required to work today and is absolutely fine.” She clapped her four hands. “Now, I set your breakfast tray where you normally take it, and I’ve finished my cleaning, so unless there’s something else you need, I’ll be on my way.”
I forced a wide smile even though it felt as if my soul was shattering. “Of course, I don’t need anything further, and thank you for confirming about Kole.”
“You’re very welcome, and should I tell the king and queen that you’ll be joining them for lunch?”
I brought a hand to my head, feigning fatigue. “I think I’ll actually stay in today. I’m quite tired from all of my traveling yesterday. Can you please tell my parents I won’t be joining them for any meals today?”
“Yes, Your Highness.” She curtsied and then left, and I thanked the stars that Ree had to work today so couldn’t meet at the library, otherwise I would have had to bring Royden with me, but I couldn’t risk that.
Worry continued to fill me about why Kole hadn’t mentioned his plans to be away today. I tried to tell myself he might not have known it was his day off, and I tried to reassure myself he hadn’t taken a day off simply to avoid me.
But I continued to wring my hands as I resigned myself to another boring, wasted day alone in my chambers.
Of course, with only my thoughts for company, I paced back and forth from sunup until sundown. My anxiety only grew, since by the evening, I’d still heard nothing from Kole.
I debated reaching out mentally to him again, and I tried to decide if that was a wise move or not.
But I eventually decided not to. He hadn’t reached out to me either. Even though he couldn’t connect mentally across vast distances as I could, he was perfectly capable of sending a dillemsill.
Yet, the tiny messenger bird never arrived, which told me that Kole didn’t want to be disturbed.
Somehow, I managed to get through the day without wearing any paths into the carpet, but the next day, when I eagerly waited for Kole to arrive, once again, he didn’t.
Instead, Betsee informed me that Royden had returned and was in the hall, awaiting my commands for whenever I wished to leave.
But I couldn’t leave with a warrior who would inevitably detect that I was no longer fae. Even though I needed to keep researching, and at some point needed to venture to my uncle’s estate to discover more about his potions and potentially hidden vamfeers and vampires, Icouldn’t.
