76

My heart pounded in my ears as I ran past servants and maids, holding my bleeding side. My blood would leave a trail for them to follow, but I do not care. The most important thing is getting to the south wing.
I keep running, gasping heavily once I reach the South wing. I run straight for Sia’s chambers, opening the door and locking it once I’m in. But it appears that I’m not alone. Fear bubbled in my veins as I noted the pale-skinned man on Sia’s bed. He inhales deeply, fangs lengthening.
Vampire.
“What are you doing here?”, I ask, reaching gingerly for the small knife Sia had taped to the wall.
“I should be asking you the same wolf,” he snarled, rising to his feet. “What are you doing here?”
“I asked you first.”
He laughs. It’s bitter. “You dare to bargain with a vampire lord?”
“Didn’t know vampire lords have a knack for entering people’s rooms without permission.”
“We do not need permission,” he snarls. He’s a pretty vampire, with a fine face, and a strong build.
“Well, you need to leave now so that I can prepare for lunch.”
“Prepare? You dare to speak of food in a land you’re not welcome in? Moreover, why is your wound not healing? I thought wolves have healing ability or something.”
“Not me,” I bite out. “That’s why I need you to help me.”
“Me? Vampires do not care about wolves. We kill them once we smell ’em!”
“Yet here I am, still alive. Look, I don’t know who you are, but I need you to help me. I’d repay you if you render me help, I swear it.”
He raises his brow. “And what can a wolf like you offer me? You can’t even heal yourself.”
“I may not be able to help you but the prince will.”
He laughs. “Look at a mere wolf, promising me the help of an iced royal!”
“Please,” I beg him. I’m going to die if I don’t get this wound healed. Dogara would pay for this. I swear it.
“Fine. I’ll help you on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You let me dress you up.”
I blink, surprised. “You want me to let you dress me up?”
“Yes.” he replies with glee. “I’ve always wanted to be a fashionista, but being a vampire lord won’t permit me to do much. So, if you let me take care of your hair and makeup for this lunch you’re going to, I’d treat your wound”.
“Why my hair and makeup?”
“Well, I simply want you to look glamorous and outshine the Fae Queen. She’s one hell of a bitch”.
“The Fae Queen?”
“Yeah. She thinks she’s got it all simply because she has an iridescent glow, so we are going to prove to her that wolves with red hair can do better.”
“We might never be able to do that if you don’t treat my wound.”
“Oh yes. Drop that knife sweetheart, so that I can work my magic.”
….
I didn’t need to look in the mirror, but I felt that the vampire had done well. The look of admiration I received from the servants I passed on my way to the dining room confirmed that. I felt a surge of confidence, so strong that I don’t tremble when I make my way to the dining room. A woman is standing when I arrive, and I presume her to be the Fae Queen, with her winged crown and pointy ears. She’s beautiful but her beauty is no match for the Vampire King who flanks This’ right. I’ve never seen a pale man so stunning, and tall. My eyes meet Sia’s briefly and judging from his expression, I look okay.
Gathering the folds of my skirt, I curtsy. “Sorry, I’m late.”
The Queen looks up, face rooted in shock. I resist the urge to smirk. Well, someone didn’t expect me to be alive and well.
“Oh good. The maid is here. Now help me pack some of these empty plates.”
I blink. Is the Fae Queen referring to me? The maids are not even wearing purple today.
“Oh, don’t just stand there! Come here!” she yells.
“She’s not a maid,” Cocci said lowly.
“Whatever. It doesn’t matter if she’s a whore or slave. As long as she’s not royalty, she should serve me.”
Serve her? Who the hell does she think she is?
“She’s royalty Avetha. Can’t you see?”, the vampire king spoke dryly.
“Sorry, but I can’t see anything.”
“Sometimes I wonder how you became queen,” the man muttered, “She’s a concubine Ave. She has that green bracelet that all other concubines have.”
“I don’t care.”
“You should,” I say softly. Eyes widen. At this point, I don’t care if I should speak or not. I’m done being weak and fragile as an egg. I don’t know whether it’s the stomach cramps that are egging me on or the vampire’s magic, but I hold Avetha’s gaze, wringing my hands.
“You should care because if you don’t, someone else will. And I know that a woman like yourself doesn’t wish to be replaced, so please care more and speak less,” I smile before saying, “Avetha.”
Her pupils dilate and she glares at me. “How dare a lowlife as you call me by name? Oh, I’m going to…”
Thjis cut off her rant. “Avetha, that’s enough. There’s nothing wrong with being corrected by a she-wolf.”
She laughs bitterly. “A she-wolf? Can you hear that Hanos? Thjis brought a she-wolf into his home to insult me. He violated our code of conduct. Wolves do not belong here! I will kill her at once,” she said, talons appearing. I mentally roll my eyes. If she comes close, she’d be the one going home in a body bag.
“Calm down Avetha,” the vampire king said calmly.
“Calm down? Why should I ca…”
He butts in. “Calm down!”, he bellowed before turning to Thjis. “Is it true?”
“Yes.”
“Breaking our code of conduct is one thing brother-in-law and keeping the wolf alive is another.”
My eyes widen. Brother-in-law? Thjis is related to Hanos?
“I know,” Thjis said quietly.
“That leaves me no choice Thjis. The wolf has to die.”
Maybe I should have just stayed back in Sia’s chambers.
Sia jumps to his feet, eyes blazing with anger. “You will not touch her.”
Hanos and Avetha turned to Sia. “So, she’s the concubine? I’m afraid to say that there will be no ceremony between you and this she-wolf. What were you thinking about bringing her to the palace? She can’t be your concubine Nasia! You pick someone else for there will be no ceremony between you and a dead wolf,” Avetha yelled.
“You will not touch her, neither will you kill her,” Sia snarled, fangs gleaming.
“How dare you threaten the Fae Queen simply because of a barren woman?”, Hanos asked.
“Crinka is not barren and I didn’t threaten anyone. I was simply passing off a command.”
“A command?”, Avetha asked. “You have got your fangs down and your stupid eyes are regaining colour. Someone put a leash on this hound or I will.”
“Come on Ave, I dare you,” Sia barked, sporting a wicked smirk.
“Sia please stop. the children are here,” Izal said.
“Then ask them to leave. Eloive take your siblings out of here.”
Eloive frowned but obeyed. He nodded in my direction before leaving, Waxlyn and Yale hot on his trail. I feel tempted to follow them, because I don’t like where this argument is heading.
“Thjis control your son,” Hanos snapped.
“That’s the one lad that I can’t control,” Thjis shot back.
“Threaten him using that useless wolf. He’d give in,” Dogara murmured.
By the time I realized that the useless wolf was me, it was too late. Hanos turned to me, his serpentine gaze making me shiver. I take a small step back.
“Touch her and I’d rip your bones out,” Sia snarled.
Hanos smirked and I resisted the urge to scream. “Fine how about we make a deal. Me and the wolf would spar right here and now. If she draws the first blood, I leave her alone. If I draw the first blood, well you all know what would happen.”
I swallow. I don’t know how to fight with weapons. I only know how to use my fists, and that won’t get me anywhere.
A punch to my side brings me back to reality. I glare at the vampire king. He only smiles. “Come on, show me what you got.”
I lunge, fist formed, aiming for his neck. He dodges, lashing out at me. Pain resonates in my left cheek and I spit out blood.
He won. I hate myself for being so fucking weak.
He laughs. “That was too easy. You’re too weak for someone who wants to bear kids for a prince,” he says, grabbing me by the scruff of my neck.
“You’ve won, haven’t you? So just take what you fucking want and leave me alone,” I yell in his face, face red with anger.
“You’ve got a mouth on you wolf. Makes me wonder how you managed to survive till today. Let’s see if you can survive a bite from a vampire,” he says pinching the skin on my neck.
“Wait.”
He pauses.
“If… if I don’t pass out once you’ve had your fill, you’ll teach me how to pack a punch with power.”
He laughs. “You lost the first deal wolf, now you’re making another one.”
“Deal or no deal?”
“Deal,” he says with a smirk. I bite my tongue, bracing myself for what’s to come. May the goddess grant me success. His fangs break the skin on my neck and a scream erupts out of my mouth.