rc

with her hair down to her waist, her figure curved, and her strength apparent

now, I was surrounded by familiar and unfamiliar vampires. I suddenly realized that I was sitting o

s quickly as they had begun. When I told my mother that she had just smiled at me, she

ing that that signifies. Your par

I didn't see how that could be a bad thing. Knowing I

rince, and y

or what had caused her to pause mid-sentence. I was

ast n

erienced a different emotion. Her feelings, her rage. She had also gotten closer. Her distance from me usually pre

nged to her otherworldly

wolf

l on canvas, I could still feel the depth of her motherly disappointment-inspired disappointment in her eyes as they bore into me. The first thing I had done once I

de what you're going to do with it now that you know it has meaning and will have an impact. Accepting o

d and walked over to th

ponse, I questioned. "It seems cruel." I said, concluding that rather than

es, there had been persistent rumors that the new White Wolf was a woman. That would make her the

riately, taking

would have been invited. Werewolves had been rejected because t

opulation under check. Her rage and whatever she would say would be ineffective. Even though the very thought

my door to find m

e and decided it would be best to leave him alone. He ente

tirely on him in response to what he said. I should have known better th

e tomorrow." I responded

picture of my mother. The only picture of her still up on the castle walls was this one, and if h

w that anything I said would condemn me to share her destiny, I was unable to answer. As Marioara's Queen Dracula. My uncle's body was already on the f

ing to look at me, he said. They had a bland brown c

ay be coming." He

maintained a calm demeanor, kept my heart rate down, and avoided sh

omfort or concern. "We need a strategy in case he does show up. I need you to think of one, do you understand? I agreed when he asked. "Good, now keep in mind that we will be there for a few days be

ng once more,

hrough by a messenger. "A message from Mun K

ccessful. Although it appears that we have a firm grasp on the supernatural world, we don't. It loses

th a hint of panic in his eyes. However, there shouldn't be any cause for con

supposed to

el

with Sk

rc

for the leaders of the races to gather and ensure that every nuance of crucial information was communicated to

ose wasn't really the best one. Our family has owned the title of King of Vampires ever since one o

ve always h

ho was sitting next to me. She had the same long black hair and a

" I said. She replied by slapping

han this." She spoke as she watched the vampires in th

you mean." I spoke

circumstances..." She said as s

e only time each year when we had to coerce other races into making peace with

eyebrow as she turned to face me. "Ha

she understood what I stated when I said that. Since he killed my moth

te my suspicions. She spoke. Since Nari and I were both born around the same time and had grown up in the vampire courts together, she was the closest thing I had ev

call that strange." She bit her lip with her canine as I replied. "What are

we're set up to be married without either of us knowing it, and I think we

ar

l dances and music at this boring gathering. Typically, formalities would take place over drinks and blood after dinner. Never had anything this big happen. "Mircea-" "What do you think of the odds it's happening tonight?" As I shif

a hushed tone while s

, but the panic in her eyes only grew. It's not th

and in hers, she sighed. I've never been able to

men, Nari, I'm not

h.

marked, and she gave a slow nod. "It did take

enquired as anxiety too

accumulation of little things like my own gaze lingering on women.

now." She spoke as she released my

ter all this time, we'd have lost in

I would become king, but my thoughts were mostly focused on the burden of the throne and the obligations I would have

different. I stumbled, my mind racing with concepts and unsettling ideas that had always bot

had been playing music, the place abruptly fell silent. Like everyone else i

nded excitement, he said. "I am sure that some of you are wondering why we have enacted such traditional methods tonight, and that is because of an announcement

the plan was. We both wore soft smiles of phony excitement as we proceeded to the front of the room holding hands and holding Nari's hand. My father wanted me to be confused because

but it was rather unexpected. I would have brought my mother's engagement ring with me if I had known I would be doing this, but Nari caught me off guard. I said, taking ch

time, we have come to understand what we actually mean to one another. I've agreed to the pro

t that I had to do it myself." I remarked, turning to face my f

the Hunt, there will be a wedding. What more fitting way to rejoice than by gushing all the blood we ca

late us on our engagement one or two at a time. My mind was occupied with attempting to understand wh

d that I needed to find out why quickly bec