Page 27

I wasn’t sneaking out, per se. Father liked to look away when it came to theseoutings,but he and I both knew just how beneficial they were to his ruling. Relationships formed behind closed doors were the strongest in the world we lived in andsometimes were the only thing stopping an all-out war with some of the families involved.

But there was no getting without first giving. I had been in attendance at these events time and time again, but this was the first time I would go as a newly engaged woman.

They would want to see me. Would want to make sure that I wasn’t going to leave them and take all their secrets with me.

That deserved something big.

I paused at the limo door, motioning for my guard to stop. The weight of someone’s eyes on me was still present.

Looking up at the darkened palace, I felt the weight of her gaze. Most of the windows were dark, but the moonlight shone into the palace just enough that I was able to catch where the eyes were. Andwhoseeyes they were.

Fifth floor, west wing.I could barely make her out in the distance, even with vampire sight, but damn could I feel her.

It was a surprise that the little mouse had made it so far up before realizing that I wasn’t even there.

Looking for me, huh?

But would she be so bold as to try to find me in the middle of the night when every other human was sleeping? Her actions excited me so much it felt like my insides were buzzing.

“Bring the silver-haired one to me,” I ordered. “She will be accompanying me tonight.”

I got in the car first and shut the door, enjoying the way the warmth felt against my skin.

She had the perfect timing. If she wanted to be around me so badly, I might as well just take her with me.

Because of her, the plan had ended in disaster. Instead of being able to use the poisoning attempt as a way to force Father’s hand for my freedom, I had to watch as my newest guard killed a boy, an innocent human boy, in front of me.

Why did she have to save me? Why couldn’t she have waited until Father showed up?

If she had just waited, there would have been no reason that boy had to die. Prince Icas would have been the one to blame, and I would have been out of this stupid engagement faster than he could run away with his tail between his legs.

Father would let a lot slide, but murdering his only blood daughter?Not likely.

It was no more than fifteen minutes later that the silver-haired guard was pushed into the back with me. She gave me and my guard a hesitant stare, as if waiting for instructions.

The back was spacious, but I motioned for her to sit next to me. She took one look at the empty seat beside me before moving.

The bastard decided to sit a whole five feet away from me instead.Annoying.It took everything in me to keep the smirk on my face instead of twisting it into a scowl.

Her eyes stayed planted on the floor, and her arms were crossed.Annoyed? Pouting?A picturesque image of a child not getting their way.

My guard gave me a lingering look before shutting the door and joining the driver up front. The loud slam didn’t even have her flinching, but she did give the guard a side-eye.

Just how long is she planning to sit there in silence?But as the seconds passed, it seemed that she had no intention of speaking.

The car rolled forward, causing her to look out the window as we pulled away from the looming palace.My home.

It looked so beautiful under the darkening sky. The palace stood tall over everything in the area. The images of the hundreds of roses reflected on the lower floor’s windows.

There was no mistaking its presence…or Father’s importance.

“Kidnapping now? They better give me my weapons back.”

I couldn’t stop the light chuckle that spilled from my lips.So she had a little bit of a bite.

Someone must not have liked it when I almost sucked them dry.Or maybe she liked it more than she was letting on.

I wouldn’t easily forget the noises that came out of her mouth. The snarled look she gave me as the venom lit her body on fire.