Tired of being inside Drake’s chambers, I asked Thomas to go with me for a stroll in the gardens. He didn’t like it, but after a few emphatic pleases, he relented.

It was hard to say, but it seemed he was warming up to me. At least, I didn’t get his glares more than twice a day now. While we took our usual walk around the maze—he never went inside with me again—I tried making him open up to me a little more.

“So, tell me,” I started, forcing my voice to be innocent. Sweet. Friendly. “How is it to grow up in a castle full of vampires?”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “You mean as a blood slave?”

I cringed. “I mean … yes, I guess that’s what I mean.”

He shrugged. “It’s not like I have a choice, is it?” He stayed quiet for a moment. “I guess it could be worse. I was fortunate to be chosen by Prince Drake. Otherwise, I’m not sure I would be still alive.” He lowered his voice as he said, “Most blood slaves don’t last a year here.”

My heart squeezed. “That is …” I had no words.

“It’s cruel,” Thomas said it for me. “It’s a terrible fate.” He lifted his chin high. “Like I said, I’m grateful for Prince Drake. I’m sure I’ll live a long life because of him.”

But was it worth it? I tried wrapping my mind around living as a blood slave, even a well-treated one, and I couldn’t. No privacy, no dreams, no friends, family. No freedom.

Well, it was not as if I had a choice right now either.

“What about friends?” I asked, trying to keep the subject less dark. “Were you able to make friends with any of the other blood slaves?”

“Here and there,” he confessed. His cheeks gained a red tint.

“What is it?” I elbowed him in the ribs. “Tell me.”

“There was this girl,” he started, his voice low. “She was pretty and around my age. I liked her and I think she liked me, too.” My chest constricted. I already knew how this tale was going to end. “Prince Nolan claimed her. She didn’t last six months in his hands.”

I rested my hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged, making me drop my hand. “It’s okay. It was a lesson. To not let my guard down or get attached to anyone here. It’s not worth the heartache.”

I wanted to tell him I was sorry again, but I couldn’t muster the courage. At first, I hadn’t given him much credit, but now I saw how strong and loyal Thomas was.

Maybe … maybe if he showed me any signs that he wanted to escape, that he wanted a real life, I could include him in my plans. It would be harder, but if he wanted, I could try. We could try.

We strolled in silence a little while longer, while my mind wandered through different scenarios of how I would find out if Thomas would want to join me or not.

I was lost in thought when I spotted an unusual sight in the distance.

“What’s he doing?”

Thomas followed my line of sight. “Oh yeah.” He halted and stared at Prince Drake, who was seated alone atop a hill. From here, we couldn’t see him well, but it seemed Drake was gazing at the lake. “He comes here on this night every year and sits there alone.”

“Why?”

The boy pressed his lips tight before finally answering my question. “It’s a special night for him.” I took a step toward Drake, but Thomas grabbed my arm. “No. He prefers to be alone.”

I stared at Drake, and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why someone would want to be alone.

“Let’s just check if he’s okay.” I jerked my arm free from Thomas’s grip, and approached Drake. I didn’t know why, but from his reserved mien and tense body stance, this special night looked more like a sad night, and for some reason, I wanted to make sure the prince was okay.

I was still fifty yards from him when Drake said, “I thought Thomas said to leave me alone.”

I halted in my tracks. Of course, he had heard my conversation with Thomas. He was a vampire. “He did, but I ignored him,” I said, my tone normal since he would hear me anyway. Perfectly still, I waited three heartbeats. When he didn’t protest again, I resumed my walk. I stopped again only a few feet from him. “Are you okay?”

His gaze wasn’t on the lake. It was on the village. And I had been right. He did seem sad.

After a long moment, I didn’t think he would answer me, and I was about to turn and leave, when he finally let out a long breath and said, “Tonight is the anniversary of my family’s death.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“My family and I lived in a village like that one.” He jerked his chin toward the other side of the lake. “I can’t really explain why, but I come here every year and watch the village at night, as if my family was somewhere in there, asleep and dreaming of a better future.”

Cautious, I took a large step toward him and lowered myself on my knees. “You miss them; that’s why.” Missing his family. Such a human feeling. Once more, Drake surprised me. He really wasn’t like the other vampires. Curiosity welled inside me. He was a five-hundred-year-old vampire. His family had died a long time ago, but I wanted to know how. What happened to them? The courage to pose that question was missing. And before I could gather any, Drake turned his head and locked his gaze on mine, robbing the air from my lungs. The moonlight illuminated his pale skin and emphasized the sharp angles of his handsome face. By all that was sacred, I couldn’t deny he was handsome. Heat crept up my cheeks. “I’m sorry.” I started getting up. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

“Stay.” It had been low, almost a whisper, but I had heard it nevertheless. “I never wanted company before, but now that you’re here, I don’t feel like being by myself.”

I should have gotten up and left. I should have scoffed in his face, laughed at his misery, said, “Who cares?” But I couldn’t. Vampires were monsters, but not Drake. At least not right now.

I scooted a little closer to him and stayed seated by his side the rest of night.