Back to the Vampire's clan. The van rolled to a stop in front of a grand iron gate covered in curling vines of red roses. Beyond it lay the vampire kingdom's palace — tall black spires piercing the misty sky, cold stone walls glowing faintly under the moonlight.
Zoey sat still, heart pounding, unsure whether to step out. She could hear her own breath louder than anything else.
The doors opened with a hiss. Guards stood waiting. They were tall, dressed in black uniforms with red emblems.
None of them smiled. Their eyes followed every movement as if searching for weakness. They were more organized and looked very clean. They were quite different from what the werewolf guards looked like.
A lady in silver robes stepped forward from the shadows. She had very good skin, sharp cheekbones, and a calm voice. "Welcome to the Shade Castle," she said. "I am Marie. I've been assigned to assist the queen and her maid in."
Calista and Zoey stepped out, the cool air hitting their cheeks. Calista nodded slightly, forcing herself to appear nonchalant. While Zoey gave a slight nod, actually being nonchalant. She didn't know who Marie was or why her voice sounded so... careful. Measured.
From behind Marie, another woman appeared. She was pale, her lips thin and unsmiling. "Rose," she said curtly, not offering her hand. Her eyes scanned Zoey like she was an object — a thing brought in for inspection. "You're the one?"
Zoey blinked. "Yes. I'm—"
"I know who you are," Rose interrupted, already turning to Calista.
"My Lady, this way please."
Marie gave Zoey a kind look and whispered, "Don't mind her. Come. I'll show you to your room."
They entered through tall doors into the main hall of the palace. The floor was smooth, polished until it shone like water. Chandeliers hung overhead with candlelight that gave off a silvery-blue glow. Zoey followed in silence, trying not to trip over her own feet. Calista walked majestically knowing that was soon to be hers and her mated alone.
Along the corridors, guards stood motionless. A few eyes lingered too long on Zoey, and she pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. She knew she looked different. Her skin was very glowy and radiant, her dark curls long and wild, and her bright amber eyes—unusual even among werewolves—caught attention whether she wanted it or not.
Marie noticed the stares and gave a small nod. "Don't worry. They won't touch you."
"That's comforting," Zoey muttered.
Rose turned, "I'll lead the Lady to her chambers, Marie I believe you'll take the maid?" Then turned to Calista and led her on.
Rose, a very ambitious maid, had seen someone who gave out looks similar to hers. She had seen the perfect opportunity to serve a gold digging queen.
Marie on the other hand never really cared about anything or anyone. She just led life as it brought it to her.
Marie led Zoey up a spiral staircase to the third floor, then down a quiet hall. "This wing is reserved for royal guests and envoys," she explained. "Your room is next to the queen's. You'll be summoned if she needs anything."
They stopped before a carved wooden door. Marie pushed it open to reveal an average looking room, which had a bathroom and a very comforting bed. It was properly prepared and dressed.
Zoey stepped inside slowly. It was beautiful.
"Do you like it?" Marie asked.
Zoey nodded. "It's better than any bed I've ever laid on."
Marie smiled. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll walk you through your duties."
Rose led Calista to her chambers. It was huge and very beautiful. It was decorated with silks and colors of all types. Calista dismissed Rose and laid on the bed giving off a very wide smile.
For hours, Zoey laid awake, listening. The castle groaned in the wind. She could hear voices far away, footsteps, the distant sound of music.
Then something else.
Water. Running water.
She got up. Maybe a bath would calm her nerves. She looked around and found a door tucked behind a velvet curtain.
It was a bathroom — enormous and glowing with warmth. The walls were tiled in black marble, and there was a tub filled with steaming water.
She slipped off her cloak and stepped in. The heat wrapped around her skin like a hug. Her muscles relaxed. For the first time in days, she let out a breath without shaking.
But then…
She heard something.
A creak.
She turned her head quickly, heart racing.
Someone was clearly singing.
A man's voice — low, smooth, and echoing from the other side of a thin connecting wall.
Zoey froze.
Zoey didn't realize but her senses had greatly improved since she walked into the Vampire castle. She could now hear things which were far away. And her taste buds were sharper and clearer than ever. She could also see things from a distance.
She hadn't realized the bath chamber extended into another room, a shared one. She scrambled to her feet, grabbed a towel, and stepped toward the sound. She felt a pull from the sound .There was a faint outline of a door.
Curiosity got the best of her.
She pushed it open.
And stepped into another bathing room—darker, dimmer.
And there, under a curtain of steam, stood Adrien.
Completely naked.
His back was to her, the muscles on his shoulders moving as he poured water over his head. Dark hair stuck to his neck. His skin radiated light. It was the best she had ever seen. He turned slightly, revealing part of his face. His eyes were closed, but he knew someone was in. The only difference was he couldn't get the scent off her. He didn't know if it was a werewolf or a vampire's scent.
Zoey couldn't move. Her heart slammed in her chest like a hammer.
And then Adrien turned fully.
His eyes opened.
They locked onto hers.
Silence.
Utter silence.
Zoey gasped, backed up—
But her heel caught the edge of the door frame.
She slipped—
And fell—
Right into the steam-filled room.
Adrien blinked, still frozen in place.
Zoey scrambled upright, holding the towel tight. Her cheeks burned.
"I—I didn't know—this was connected—I thought—"
He raised a hand to stop her babbling.
His voice was calm but firm. "You're quite daring. Walking in here with your towel. Do you always feel the need to please your masters like that?."
Zoey's face quickly changed. She raised a brow and looked at him from head to toe once before she gave a smirk and looked sideways.
"I wasn't trying anything my lord"
"Then what are you still doing here?" he asked.
She nodded fast, heart pounding, and turned to flee.
But not before
hearing his low voice behind her say, almost too quietly—
"You smell like stormlight."
She froze, just for a second.
Then ran.