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“Twenty humans drained in the course of two weeks,” he whispered. “The humans haven’t panicked yet because they’re reporting the deaths as natural causes. Apparently they think it’s just an insatiable rogue.”

My eyes traveled to the teen, taking in his face, devoid of emotion. He was too smart for his own good. Father would surely notice, if he hadn’t already, and I didn’t know what was worse—Father’s attention or his punishments.

“But you don’t.” It was a statement.

Tate didn’t say anything, just stared at the people below. He had something to say to them. I knew the look.

“Come on,” I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You have school tomorrow, and if you go to bed now, you can catch a few hours of sleep before then.”

“I’m not sleeping,” he replied, his lips turning into a scowl. “I’m seeing you off.”

I had to look away from him as a wave of sorrow rocked my body. It was such a foreign feeling that it sent me off balance.

“If you wish.”

“I do,” he said quickly. “I want to remember everything.” He couldn’t look at me. That made it hurt even more.

I didn’t have the words to tell him how much it upset me to see him like this. To know that, once I walked off these grounds, he would likely never see me again and that he would use that memory to fuel the fires of his hatred for our parents.

“In two years, Mother and Father will give you a choice,” I whispered. “You can go to a boarding school for people like us or stay with Gabriel?—”

“I don’t know him,” he grumbled.

I leaned into him and rested my head against his.

“He’s nice,” I said, trying to pull his image from my blurry memories. The firstborn son, the one we all strive to be like. He had left right as Tate was born to build his own business. I might not remember much, but I did remember his hatred for my parents. I remembered how he raised his voice at them when he found me in the basement, starving and full of bruises.

Tate will be safe with him.

They hadn’t forced Tate to go through the training I had. He still had time to change his life.

“Forget about me, Tate,” I pleaded. “It’s easier this way.”

He pushed me away, causing me to tumble to the ground.

“Don’t say something so selfish!” He turned his back and ran to his room before I could stop him.

My eyes darted to the kitchen, where all eyes were on me. Father’s gaze was already narrowed in my direction.

Aurelia

The hard sound of the slap reverberated throughout the meeting hall, followed by a stunned silence.

Pain exploded in my head and traveled far down my neck. I was forced to grip the edge of the table. The polished slickness of the surface almost caused me to lose my balance and crumple to the floor.

All eyes were on me, the heaviness of their weight intensifying the pain. All of them waiting to see if the beloved yetspoiledprincess would burst into tears at her daddy’s firm hand.

I never did, but that didn’t stop them from creaming their pants at the possibility.

What was it with men loving to see a woman in tears and knocked down a peg?

Blood filled my mouth for a split second before the wound disappeared.

He didn’t hold back.My mind was swirling with bitter, violent thoughts as I forced my gaze to his.

He was standing, his sudden movement pushing his obnoxiously decorative chair back. His eyes were bright red, his fangs bared. Both my stepmother and sister were in their placesbehind him, standing and looking at me with wicked grins they tried so desperately to hide behind their hands.

“What youmeantto say was that you will be honored to receive Prince Icastodayto accept his engagement,” my father said, his voice low but not at all hiding his anger. “If I hear one more disgraceful utterance like that again, I will have you flogged, and your blood privileges revoked for a week.”