“No,” I said instantly. “We’re not allowed to have wormwood. You know that. If it’s in our system, our blood tastes bad to the vampires.”
“I wasn’t asking if you ingested wormwood,” he said. “I was asking if you have access to it. Or if you’re wearing it right now.”
“No,” I repeated, and I took a step back, unsure what was going on. We truly didn’t have any wormwood here—if we were found with it, it was grounds for being taken to the dungeons.
Was he working undercover for the vampires? Did they suspect that the Tavern was growing wormwood and were sending him to investigate?
I didn’t know why they would do that instead of simply storming the Tavern themselves.
Unless he was trying to get wormwood himself? Maybe he was trying to rebel against the vampires?
Maybe he wanted to attempt escape?
“Why are you asking?” I spoke slowly and softly, hoping it would help him open up to me. “Whatever it is, you can trust me. I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”
“I know I can trust you,” he said.
“Then tell me what’s going on,” I begged. “So I can help you.”
“You’ve already done more than enough,” he said. “My problems are my own, and I can handle them from here.”
“So you’re leaving?” I asked. “Just like that?”
“I have to.”
Clearly I wasn’t going to get any more information out of him tonight. But at the same time, for reasons I didn’t understand, I couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing him again. If we never saw each other again, I would fear the worst—that he’d been imprisoned, or that he’d tried to escape and had been killed by the wolves. I would always blame myself for not trying harder to help him right now.
“I know you asked me to forget you, but I can’t do that,” I said, forcing myself to stay strong. “So before you go, can you answer one more question?”
“Depends on what that question is.” He smirked.
It took everything in me not to chuckle—his comment was exactly what I would have said in response to that question—but I remained serious. “Will I ever see you again?” I asked.
He studied me, and I could tell he was thinking carefully about his response. “Yes,” he finally said. “You can count on it.”
Then he hurried across the room and thrust himself out of the window, moving so fast that I didn’t have time to tell him to be careful.
By the time I looked out to make sure he’d gotten down safely, he was gone.
Jacen
I sped through the outskirts of the village, as far as I could go without crossing the boundary of the Vale. It had been so long since I’d run free like this, and it felt good.
It allowed me to think. Mainly about Annika.
Why hadn’t my compulsion worked on her?
Perhaps I was so spellbound in her presence that I hadn’t been able to focus enough while compelling her? I supposed that would make sense… except that I’d felt the magic rushing through my system as I’d spoken. The compulsion should have worked. I may not have been a vampire for long, but I knew that.
I also knew that she couldn’t be immune to compulsion. The only creatures on Earth who were immune were the original vampires and the vampires they’d sired. And I was positive that Annika wasn’t either of those.
She must have been lying about the wormwood.
That was why I’d promised we would see each other again—because I planned on figuring out a way to get her to remove whatever wormwood talisman she wore, and then I would successfully compel her to forget me.
Otherwise, she would eventually find out who I was. After all, Laila wasn’t going to keep me locked in the palace forever. And if she was serious about finding me a bride and making a giant spectacle of it, all of the humans in the village would soon see the face of their new vampire prince. Including Annika.
I didn’t want her to know I’d lied to her. But more importantly, I didn’t want her to try convincing me to turn her. Because after hearing her speak with such conviction about how much she wished to be a vampire, I had a feeling that nothing short of death would stop her from trying to get what she wanted.
Also, I wanted to see Annika again. She made me feel more alive than I’d felt since being turned into a vampire, and I didn’t want to lose that feeling.
“Jacen?” someone called from nearby, stopping me in my tracks.
I turned around and saw Daniel, my main guard. He was joined by Zachary and Elijah—they’d been three of the guards who had appeared at the Christmas Eve celebration at the village.
They surrounded me, waiting for an explanation.
“The three of you never saw me here,” I told them, feeling the magic of compulsion flow through my body and out of my voice. “Now, run back to the palace and let me be on my way.”
“Not going to work this time.” Daniel pulled a chain necklace out from under his shirt—dangling from it was a clear gem with a green plant sealed inside. Wormwood.
The other two pulled out necklaces of their own, revealing matching talismans.
“Queen Laila’s not going to be happy when she finds out you’re wearing those,” I said.
“Doubtful.” Daniel smirked. “Seeing that she gave them to us and ordered us to find you.”
“So she knows I’m gone?” I asked, although the better question was if she knew how many people I’d compelled on my way out.
“She does,” Daniel said, and the three of them stepped closer, the threat clear. Do what they asked, or fight. “And she’s waiting in the palace to see you.”
Jacen
Sure enough, Laila was sitting in her office, typing so fast on her laptop that the clicking of the keys whizzed together.
“Jacen.” She lowered the screen and smiled at me. “I heard you had a little adventure tonight.” Then she looked at the guards, holding out a hand to them. “But before we hear about it—the stones.”
They removed the necklaces and handed them to her.
“Thank you,” she said. “Now, where were we? Oh yes—Jacen’s adventure. Please, tell me what happened.” She dropped the necklaces onto her desk and leaned back in her chair, making herself comfortable. “I do love a good story.”
And so, I told her everything.
Except for meeting Annika and escaping with her from the square to hide in the attic of the Tavern.
According to my story, I’d hung out at the square, observing the humans there, and left after spotting the guards. I’d made my way to the edge of the village and spent some time in the forest near the boundary of the Vale before returning to the palace, which was where the guards had found me.
Laila’s eyes twinkled as she listened. “Very interesting,” she said once I was done. “Guards—you can leave now. Thank you for doing your duty and bringing Prince Jacen back home.”
They nodded and left the room.
Once they were gone, she stared at me for a few seconds, saying nothing.
It took all my willpower to stop myself from fidgeting under her gaze, but I stayed strong. She might be a centuries year old vampire queen, but I would not let her intimidate me.
The only thing Laila hated more than disobedience was weakness.
“Impressive,” she finally said, and I blinked, unsure if I’d heard correctly.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“You heard me,” she said. “I was wondering how much longer you were going to accept being kept inside the palace walls. If you’d waited a few weeks longer to attempt escape, I would have started to question my decision to turn you into a vampire prince. After all, a complacent prince is a boring prince, don’t you think?”
“Seriously?” I said, my tone laced with anger. “This was all some kind of twisted test?”
“Of course.” She smiled. “And you passed. With flying colors, I might add, since as far as I’m aware, no humans were harmed during your adventure. Congratulations.”
I assumed she wanted me to thank her, but I refused to give her the pleasure. “Will I now be allowed to roam the Vale as I please?” I asked instead.
“Soon,” she said, tapping her fingers on the desk. “But first, we need to present you to the kingdom.”