I plucked a rose, careful not to get pricked by its long, thorny stem. Brushing my fingers over its petals, I couldn’t help but let my mind speak to my beloved twin, part of me still hoping against all hope that she was still alive.
Viv, you put yourself at risk in order to get Sofia back to me. Now, I’m afraid I’ll lose her. How could a beauty like her ever remain true to a beast like me? What if she realizes that she’s better off living her life as a normal human being, marrying a man worthy of her? A man not plagued by this curse…
Before I could once again lose myself in my own melancholy, my ears tingled as I heard the sound of footsteps on Vivienne’s hardwood floor.
“Your highness? Are you here?” A familiar voice came from outside the greenhouse.
“Sam?”
The door to the greenhouse creaked open and an uncomfortable-looking Sam peered through it.
“What happened?” I asked him. “Is there something wrong with Ashley?”
“Ashley is recovering quite well, but she is craving human blood desperately. She almost attacked one of the Naturals when Kyle brought her back to his home, but we were able to hold her down. It wasn’t easy. The adrenaline rush is making her strong.” Sam paused and gave what he was saying some thought. “She’s not why I came here though.”
Panic surged within me as I stepped forward. “Sofia?”
Sam quickly shook his head. “As far as I know, Miss Claremont is perfectly fine, though I doubt she’s going to be very happy about the news I’m about to give you.”
I was growing impatient. “Just spit it out, Sam.”
“Three young women were brought into your penthouse. A gift from your father. Three new slaves to replace the ones you lost.”
“Slaves?” I already knew the answer to my next question, but I asked it anyway. “And where did these girls come from?”
“Your father has once again allowed human abductions.”
“Unbelievable!” I hissed, storming past Sam, my blood pounding with so much fury. “Does he have any idea how much risk he’s putting The Shade in by doing this?”
“Their reasoning behind it is that we’ve been doing it for years without getting caught.” Sam was trailing behind me, knowing fully well how against abductions I was.
“Pure dumb luck!”
“What are you planning to do, sir?”
“Stop this.”
I headed straight for the Great Dome, a large, round hall located at the Crimson Fortress. The large space at the topmost level of the fortress’ west tower was the site of all governmental, judicial and military strategic gatherings at The Shade.
The dome was one of the places on the island that was close to my heart, because just before she was taken by the hunters, it was the last place Vivienne had re-designed and modernized. She did a wonderful job and being there still reminded me so much of her.
Since my father’s return, however, there hadn’t been much reason for me to visit the dome. He never really did ask for updates on how the military trainings were going and he never summoned me for any of the council meetings with the Elite either.
After what Sam had just told me, that’s exactly what I found myself walking into—an Elite council meeting. The moment I pushed the large double oak doors open, it was my father who I first saw. He was seated on the throne at the front end of the room, on the balcony, towering three feet above ground—above everyone else.
At the center of the room, the round stage that served as the stand was occupied by Eli, the island’s resident scholar, and Felix, a vampire I mistrusted to say the least.
The hushed whispers and nervous glances that went around the amphitheater-styled hall made it clear that I’d just walked in on something very important—something that they would rather keep hidden from me.
“What’s going on?” I demanded, my eyes glued to my father as I marched right up to the stand.
All eyes shot toward Gregor, who had a bored look on his face. He was looking at me like I was just one of the many annoyances that he had to bear with in his life. “Good of you to pry yourself away from your redhead and join us, Derek,” he drawled.
“Could someone explain to me why we’re once again abducting people? Did I not make it clear that this has to stop?”
“I overturned your decree,” Gregor shrugged. “I’m king of the island, Derek. Learn your place.”
An audible gasp came from all present. Never before had my father challenged me in that manner. He may have been king of the island, but he wasn’t a fool who would underestimate how much sway I had over the citizens of The Shade.
“Why?” I asked, trying to reel my anger in. Ripping my father’s heart out wouldn’t really do anyone any good. I found myself longing to have Vivienne there even more. She was always the bridge between us Novak men. Without her, we would’ve killed one another a long time ago. “You realize how much risk you’re putting The Shade in whenever you bring these teenagers here, right? And for what?”