Pacing my living room seemed to be a preferred pastime. This time, though, it wasn’t Luana, but me. Ever since coming back from talking to the rebel vampires last night, I had felt anxious, more anxious than before.

All that was missing now was Thea’s signal. Once she contacted me and let me know the witches were coming, I would tell the werewolves and the rebel vampires. I would then try talking to princes Cain, Phelps, and Gray about what was to come. Hopefully, they would listen to me; they would support me as they once had done.

If all went down as it was supposed to, Alex and his allies didn’t stand a chance.

Soon, this castle would be mine, and I would restore order and peace.

I shuddered, dreading the weight of it all. It would be a boulder permanently settled on my shoulders, a boulder I had agreed to, and yet, I wasn’t sure I was ready for it. I didn’t think I would ever be ready for it.

To alert the werewolves, I needed Luana here, and she had been gone for hours now. I had assumed she had gone to Alex for her daily duty—reporting on me and my activities. According to her, all she told him was that I sulked in my chambers, dragged my feet around the garden while grumbling about my miserable life, drank her blood, and tried to persuade the other princes that Alex was bad news. The last one wasn’t a lie, but it hadn’t been that simple either.

I wouldn’t risk talking to other princes about my plans unless I was sure they would stand by my side, or the attack was imminent. And even then, who knew? Most of the princes had always been fickle and supported whoever gave them more power.

I sighed and stared at the door.

If she wasn’t coming, then I would go after her. Who cared? If Alex saw me looking for her, even better. This way he would believe I was really into her—and too distracted to do anything.

In fact, I would go banging on Alex’s door.

But, as I was going down the stairs, I heard rapid footsteps and rushed words. Several guards rushed past me.

What was going on?

I turned, sensing Prince Dorian coming this way. “What happened?”

He paused beside me. “We’re under attack.”

“W-what?”

No, it wasn’t time yet. This was wrong.

“Well, we’ll be soon,” he said. “Werewolves are coming from one side and witches from the other. They will be here in a matter of minutes.” He frowned, puzzled. “It seems like an organized attack.” Without another word, he ran down the stairs, probably to meet the other princes and organize our defenses.

Hell … So much for planning and trying to be prepared.

I went back a few steps, and after making sure I was alone, I called upon Thomas.

His shape took form in front of me. “My Prince,” he said, sounding out of breath. “I was just coming to warn you—”

“The werewolves and witches are coming.”

“Yes.” He tilted his head. “Wasn’t Thea supposed to let you know about that?”

“She was,” I whispered. My chest constricted. “Something must have gone wrong.” I could waste time worrying about that, or I could act. “Call the rebels ,” I told him. “It’s time.”

He bowed and said, “Yes, my Prince,” before disappearing again.

New sounds filled the castle—the rush of footsteps, the yell of orders, the clanking of armor.

I could join them and pretend to be on their side, or I could slip out of the castle and join the werewolves or the witches. Perhaps I could find Thea and stand with her.

Or I could go looking for Alex and finish this quick.

I took a step down the stairs when I felt him—Alex was coming.

I stood tall atop of the stairs and waited for him.

Not ten seconds later, he was standing at the base of the stairs. Hands curled into fists, he snarled at me. “I don’t know how, but I’m sure you’re to blame for this surprise attack.”

I shrugged. “What if I am?”

Alex bared his fangs. “I will kill you.”

“I would like to see you try,” I snarled.

I lunged down at him and he jumped up at me. We met halfway in the air. Alex had his hands up to grab me, but I curled my knees into my chest and pushed my legs out, kicking him with both feet in the chest. Alex went careening back down the stone steps.

He groaned but came right back at me. And I went at him.

I punched him hard—and he did the same.

We exchanged blows, and all I could think of was how much I wanted to break his nose, break his chin, break him. Even though I was raised to be a prince, a general of sorts in Lord Reynard’s army, I avoided fighting if I could. How would we have a peaceful and harmonious society if we kept fighting, and fighting among ourselves?

I had fought a lot in my long life, but it had been because I had to.

Just like now.

I had to fight Alex. I had to kill him. Otherwise, he would forever drive our society down a rabbit hole, where it would be impossible to rescue it from.

Unfortunately, Alex wasn’t like the rebel vampires. He was as old as I was, and well fed and healthy. Our strength and stamina were almost the same.

Baring my fangs, I punched him hard in the jaw. Alex’s head snapped to the side with a loud crack. Red rage flashed in his eyes before he pushed me back hard against the stone wall.

“How about we repeat the other night?” Alex snapped his teeth at my face. “How about being my bitch again?”

“In your dreams.” I shoved my hand in his chest, and dug it in.

I would have buried my fingers in his body and carved out his heart if he hadn’t retreated, eyes wide.

A loud boom resonated through the castle, and a moment later, the walls shook.

“They are here!” someone yelled from downstairs. “Get ready!”

If it had been the werewolves, or the witches, or both, who had arrived, I didn’t know. And right now, I didn’t care.

All I cared about was finishing the poor excuse for a vampire in front of me.

I took advantage of the distraction and jumped at Alex. He didn’t see it coming and was completely taken aback when I landed several good hits to his face. He retreated again, but I went with him, until he was pinned along a tall built-in shelf with lots of decorations.

“Get off me,” Alex roared, slamming a picture frame over my head. Then a vase, next a jewelry box, a marble ball, and other things. Until he grabbed the shelf and broke off a piece of wood. First, he broke the wide board on my head, making me dizzy, then he grabbed a smaller piece and pointed at me like a stake.

Panic rose into me as he took advantage of my dizziness and pushed me down, stake in hand.

He knelt on top of my chest and leaned into me. “Goodbye, Prince Drake.”

He raised the stake. I readied myself to push him back, to throw him away, to punch him, to fight back, damn it. But before I could react, magic rushed over the stairs like an electric current, and Alex flew across the stairs.

I propped myself on my elbows and saw one of the most beautiful sights of my life: a blond witch with brilliant, long hair, wearing a black gown, coming up the stairs.

Thea was here.