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“It is a little creepy.” Jesper glanced back into the forest before meeting my eyes. “I feel like we’re being watched.” His hand ran through his dark blonde hair as he glanced around us.

I felt it too, but nothing stood out to me in the darkened woods. I wish they would have just stayed back at the castle. They were ruining this night for me with their complaining.

“You guys may go back to the castle, but I wish to stay for a little bit.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright out here by yourself?” Jesper asked.

I turned to him and stared at his hand holding Tally’s tightly. I thought he would protest me staying out here by myself or at least pretend to care as he claimed to.

“Yes.”

“Ok.” His tense shoulders sagged as he and Tally walked into the dark forest without me. My eyes lingered where they disappeared. I should feel more upset that they left me, but I knew where I stood with my family. As the illegitimate daughter of the King of Cerithia, I was not royal by any means.

All my father had to do was accept me as his daughter, and I would be considered royal blood. He hadn’t, though, and I was losing hope he ever would.

Tally, Gwyn, and Mae all pretended to be civil with me, but I could see the hatred in their pale blue eyes when they looked at me. Maybe that was why I was surprised when Jesper approached me instead of Tally. Everyone in the kingdom knew who I was to the king, and most stayed clear.

My focus returned to the blood moon, and I smiled as I sat down on the grassy cliff. This was nice, quiet, and peaceful.

The villages in the distance started putting out all sources of light. They believed it would keep them safe from monsters that lingered in the woods. Tonight was the most dangerous night of the year, according to what we had been taught. Monsters would kill and eat anything that moved, but again, I had never seen these monsters.

My eyes shifted down the cliff as I scooted a little closer so I could throw the flower petals off the side and watch them drift down. My face turned up to the blood moon, and I asked it for the same thing I did each year. A mate, a man I could love and build a true life with.

I shifted slightly when I heard a small noise behind me. I turned, expecting to see Jesper standing there, but I didn’t see anything. Someone or something was watching me.

I pulled a dagger from its hiding place in my boot.

“I can hear you. Come out, you coward.” I stood and backed away from the cliff.

I half expected nothing to happen, but then he stepped out. The man was taller than any man I had seen in our kingdom. He wore all black except for his cloak, which was dark red—or maybe it just looked that way in the blood moon. He kept his oversized hood on, but I could feel his eyes on me.

“A coward, huh?” he said with a chuckle. I should feel scared. Why didn’t I? I gripped the viper-handled dagger in my hand tightly as he stepped closer.

“I will kill you if you get any closer.”

“Oh, I believe you would try, little viper.” His voice was deep and reverberated off the forest and dirt around me. Something about it instantly soothed my tense body. I glanced around the woods to see how many others there were, but I couldn’t make out anyone else. My eyes shifted back to him.

“Why are you out here?” I demanded with as much confidence as I could muster.

“I could ask the same of you.” His voice was soft, like he worried I would spook easily.

My gaze narrowed at the hooded man, but I didn’t respond. His golden eyes shined brightly from under the hood, making me lose my thoughts altogether.

“Watching,” he finally muttered.

“The blood moon?” I turned toward the moon for a brief moment before looking back at him.

“No.” I gasped when he was only a few feet in front of me. The stranger had made no noise as he snuck up to me. I should not be out here talking to this man. “You.”

“Me.” I stilled at his confession. I should run. I should run and scream. If he thought I would be an easy target, he was very wrong. I was a good warrior. My father let me train with his guards because I was not a woman of royal blood.

“You come here often.” It was a statement. “Alone, without protection. There are monsters in these woods.”

“I’ve done just fine by myself,” I argued weakly.

He let out a soft chuckle again and took a step forward.

“Have you? Or maybe someone else was watching out for you?”