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“Did you hear Simon and Yvette are engaged?” Anna asked, trying to pull my mind from my impending demise.

My heart leapt at the good news. “Since when?”

“Last night.”

The pair had been together for as long as I’d been alive. Separately, they’d come from the human world and had to remake their family here. As they were also among the oldest of Master Aldéric’s slaves, they often saw the younger generation through troubled times.

Yvette had helped me celebrate every passing turn and sang to me on my name days. She had also been the one I’d gone to when I’d first bled. Four turns on the wheel of time later, she wiped my tears when a male I’d been so taken with broke my heart. She’d taught me to read in High Vitralic, the ancient language of vampires, Old High Fae, and her native language, English which had also morphed into the common tongue of the nine kingdoms. As far as I was concerned, Yvette was my mother. In any case, she was the only one I’d ever known.

Yvette and Simon deserved nothing but whatever happiness they could seize from this life.

“When’s the ceremony?”

“Two weeks.” Anna bit into her roll. “Yvette asked Master Aldéric if she can use scraps to create a dress, and he agreed, so she wants time to whip something up.” Anna’s lips softened into a smile that I felt in my soul. At least, until I remembered that any union between blood slaves only lasted for as long as they had the same owner.

If Yvette and Simon ever pulled something like I had, they’d be sold. Separated.

Bleeding skies, this life is rubbish.

But I wouldn’t say that. Not when Anna looked so happy for the older human couple. As slaves, it was hard enough to find someone to trust. To find genuine love and a person who desired a wedding? Most never even tried because we were tied to the whims of our masters.

The clanging of the front doors announced a late arrival. I looked past Anna and gaped. “New humans!”

Whispers shrouded the room as a vampire soldier led a trio of people, two men and one woman, to Cook’s station. They wore clothing from the human world and held the dazed expression of the compelled.

They all arrived that way. Human blood slaves were either born in this court or they showed up with no knowledge of how they got here. I’d often wondered how.

“Your replacements,” a soft feminine voice said from behind.

I twisted to find none other than Yvette looking down at me, smiling softly. The corners of her eyes crinkled with age, and though she smiled, I could see the sadness in her body.

“We’ll miss you, Neve.”

“Thank you.” I tried to keep my chin up. I wouldn’t ruin her day with the horrors of my own. “So, I hear congratulations are in order?”

A sweet blush crossed her cheeks. “Thank you. Simon and I are quite excited.”

I patted the table. “Tell us what you have planned.”

Yvette took the seat next to me. Her aura enveloped me and eased my nerves. Our trio devolved into chatting about how Yvette wanted her marriage ceremony to go. It all sounded quite nice, very human with traditions I knew nothing of. All that distracted me for a while. At least, until Anna froze, her eyes widening. I didn’t dare turn, but when an icy hand clamped on my shoulder, my stomach sank.

“Neve, stand up,” my master commanded. “Prince Gervais wishes to get a better look at you.”

I stiffened, hoping I’d hallucinated those words. But one glance at Anna’s tense shoulders told me I had not. The prince and our master must have entered through a side door. Prince Gervais was already making good on his word to find me.

Slowly, I turned and rose. My master stood next to the prince, smiling down at me with a serpent’s smile. Prince Gervais wore finery I recognized as coming from Master Aldéric’s workshop. Anna had done the gold embroidery on the jacket. Clearly, he’d stopped by here before going to the Blood Ball.

As his appearance was even more intriguing than the new humans, everyone watched us.

“That’s the one who caught my eye,” the prince said, as if he didn’t want to pounce at that very moment and stick his fangs into my neck. “You truly are selling her?”

“Due to the events related to your brother’s child.” My master cleared his throat. “I thought it prudent.”

“I’d like to purchase her. Now. I wish to have her waiting in my rooms after the Blood Ball.”

Aldéric’s eyebrows twitched, the only tell that Prince Gervais had not mentioned this before. “I’ve already entered her at the auction.”

“What’s the point? I’ll win, Aldéric.” The prince smirked.