“So…” I leaned in another inch and whispered, “...you’re not afraid. Of living here. Surrounded by vampires?”
Alba’s eyes lit up. “I was. And if I can speak freely?”
“Please.” It’s all I wanted. Like she was offering a table scrap to a hungry stray.
“They have been kinder to me than I ever experienced in my childhood in Bromport. They haven’t…they haven’t committed offenses others back home felt so free to commit.”
I held back the urge to pry further.
“Thank you,” I said, laying my hand on hers. I gave the chambermaid a squeeze and asked, “Have you been allowed to see your brother since coming here?”
The fireplace crackled, filling the silence of Alba’s hesitation. She cleared her throat and said, “I have not seen him since.”
“I’m so sorry.” She nodded silently and blinked away another tear. I noted that her brother was a sensitive topic. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Anything.” Alba sat up straighter.
“How can you tell them apart? Humans and vampires? When they don’t show their fangs, I mean.” I tapped my own teeth for dramatic effect.
Alba lifted her hand and gestured to her face. “It’s in the eyes. When they turn, their soul is replaced with a shadow. And when they’re hungry or feeding, the shadow takes control.”
I shivered thinking of the onyx pits of Vaspar’s eyes when he tasted me. The spot where he’d sliced and licked might have been healed by Rhazien’s blood, but the unwanted memory cast a phantom, claustrophobic whisper across my thigh.
“So, what do you think?” I asked, changing topics was my top talent at the moment. “Can you help me with this?”
She let out a small grunt as she lifted the text. “I couldn’t properly tutor you, but I can test you on the contents of this text.”
“That’s perfect, thank you.” I sat up a bit straighter, ready to face the questions, ready to get most of them wrong.
Alba and I were caught in a fit of laughter when Gorvin entered mychamber. Dommik even poked his head in but promptly excused himself once he determined the sounds of women bonding weren’t a threat.
We’d been concocting silly nicknames based on traits or words that rhymed with the nobles and notables of vampire history as a memorization tactic. Our latest victim was Lord Arthur of Trolle who, unfortunately for him, did in fact resemble a troll.
“I’d asked for your whereabouts, Alba, but see now you’ve been otherwise detained.” Gorvin looked down his slender nose at the two of us.
We exchanged a cautious glance and I let out an involuntary snicker as I said, “I asked her to help me with my studies, Lord Hale. I’m so sorry for keeping her.”
“No, no.” Gorvin raised his hands apologetically. “Alba’s duties are to serve you. But um—” The steward shifted his weight. “You’re not dressed for dinner.”
Alba jumped from her seat as if she were a loosed arrow. “Come, come. We’ll just be a few minutes. Apologies, Lord Hale.”
We scurried to the bedchamber and giggled like sisters as we chose a comfortable ruby-hued gown for dinner.
“I’m so nervous,” I admitted as she pulled the laces of my corset.
“Trust me, Lady Reyva.” She gently spun me to face her twinkling eyes between the strips of gray fabric. “You have nothing to worry about.”
I didn’t know what overcame me, but I threw my arms around her. The appreciative embrace caught her off guard, but after a moment, her arms wrapped around me. As we parted, she gave my shoulders a squeeze and looped my arm through hers.
Heart full, I strode to the sitting area and halted with the sight of the vampire regent.
“You didn’t open your gifts.” Rhazien wandered through my sitting room.
Alba and I dropped into a synchronized curtsey. “Your Majesty.”
“Rise, rise. This is your room after all.”
Dressed to impress, Rhazien wore a deep green tunic threaded with golden vines. Its cut hugged his broad build, again making me wonder if he’d been a laborer before he’d turned.
