As usual, Thea sprawled on the couch, her legs folded over the cushions, and her nose buried into a book. Today, she was reading the Picture of Dorian Gray.

Why didn’t that surprise me?

However, what did surprise me was how much I liked watching her. Like she was at home, carefree and happy.

I knew she wasn’t happy, though. I guess she would never be while she lived here—which would be until the day she died. Unfortunately, I couldn’t let her go.

To be honest, even if I could, I wasn’t sure I wanted to anymore.

As much as I fought it, I was getting used to her presence in my chambers. It had been nine days of constant watching—watching her having breakfast, watching her sweetly teasing Thomas when he was embarrassed over something, watching as she walked around the library and took her time choosing the next book she would read, watching as she ate dinner and bid me good night. She didn’t know, but I sometimes watched as she strolled through the back gardens with Thomas.

Even her scent, as alluring as it was, had become a permanent fixture, something I craved, something I needed.

I frowned, thinking of the duel for her. The mourning period was almost over, and the duel was imminent. I couldn’t lose to Alex. I couldn’t.

“Something wrong?”

I smoothed my brows and willed my features into a neutral expression. “Nothing is wrong.” Besides the duel and the fact that she was wearing a summer dress and half her thighs were exposed, her smooth, shiny skin a beacon to my senses, there was nothing wrong. “I just … have something to do.” She lowered her legs and sat up straighter. Her luminous hair fell around her shoulders, emphasizing her long neck and slender shoulders. I cleared my throat. “Do you need anything before I leave?”

She shook her head. “No. Thank you.”

I bowed my head, then zipped out of the room, too fast for her to follow.

Once outside, I took a deep breath. What the hell was I doing? Why did I care if she needed anything? Why couldn’t I stop watching her? My mind wanted to explore a crazy answer I couldn’t acknowledge, so I shoved those thoughts out of my head.

Tank, one of my guards, glanced at me. “Everything all right, my prince?”

I straightened my back. “Of course.”

Without another word, I walked away. Going down the stairs, I passed a couple of blood slaves who bowed and didn’t move until I was out of sight. They were probably going to some prince’s chambers as a meal.

A growl rose from my chest as an image of Thomas or Thea becoming a simple food source flitted through my mind.

Once more, I pushed unwanted thoughts from my mind.

By the time I walked out of the castle and onto the largest stone balcony that opened up to the back garden, I had cleared my head.

I sensed her presence half a second before she appeared in front of me, and I barely stopped in my tracks before bumping into her.

“Hello, young Drake,” Sarki said, grinning at me.

“Sarki.” I dipped my head at her.

She glanced from side-to-side, her long, dark curls bouncing around her shoulders. Tonight, she wore a dark red suit and high heels that put her almost at my eye level. She returned her gaze to me, now serious. “Ready for the meeting tomorrow?”

“If it were up to me, we would have had this meeting days ago.”

She tilted her head. “I heard about the duel. It seems we’ll have to talk about that too.”

I grunted. “Alex and his childish acts. Yes, we need to plan the duel.”

She leaned closer. “Don’t worry. I’ll try to postpone it. Who knows? Hopefully, you’ll be appointed as the new Lord DuMoir and then you can cancel the duel.”

Now that made me anxious. As much as I would rather be lord of the castle over Alex, I wasn’t sure I was ready to take on so much responsibility. Accepting becoming a prince and joining Lord Reynard’s ranks had been a step I took so my existence wouldn’t be lonely. I didn’t mind obeying his orders and commanding his army.

But taking care of everyone in the castle? Vampires and humans? I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.

“We’ll see about that,” was all I said about the matter.

Sarki reached out and placed a hand over my shoulder. “Don’t worry. Whatever happens, I’ll be by your side.” Her voice was throaty, and her heart hammered inside her chest.

What the hell?

I took a step back and her hand dropped. “Thank you.” I started walking past her.

Until she said, “I know what today is.” I halted. “I know what you do on this night every year. Do you want company?”

I frowned. I guess after living in this castle for almost four hundred years, someone was bound to notice.

“It’s okay.” I glanced at her over my shoulder. “I prefer being alone tonight.”

She offered me a small smile. “Well, you know where to find me if you change your mind.”

“Thank you.”

I turned and resumed my walk.

In no time, I stood atop a small hill at the end of the large garden. From here, I could see the lake and, on the other side, the village. During two days of the year, the village became a beautiful place with a luminous fountain, fancy restaurants, wine shops, antique stores, and happy people walking around. During the other 363 days, it was a simple place where low-ranked vampires lived with their blood slaves.

But no matter what, it still reminded me of home.

Before becoming a vampire, I lived in Europe with my family in a village much like the one across the lake. A village that was burned to the ground hundreds of years ago tonight.

I sat on the cold grass and watched the village’s twinkling lights under the night sky.