I craned my neck for a better view. “What is it? An accident?”
Callan stuck his head out the window. “Looks like some kind of patrol.”
“What are they looking for?”
“Not us, I hope.”
Our turn arrived and Callan offered the two patrolmen a pleasant smile.
The vampire snapped his fingers. “Out of the vehicle, please.”
“What’s this about?” Callan asked.
“Security check on account of the gala tonight at the castle,” the shorter vampire said. “We need to see your papers.”
Callan and I exited the jeep and I walked around the front to stand beside him.
The taller vampire’s eyes widened as he got a closer look at Callan. “Glory be. Don’t need no papers from him.” He lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head. “Forgive me, Your Highness. You must be here for the gala.”
The shorter vampire laughed. “Get up, you fool. This isn’t a prince of House Peyton.”
The genuflecting vampire’s hand shot out with preternatural quickness and whacked the back of his friend’s knees. The shorter vampire dropped to the ground and yowled.
“What’d you do that for?”
“This is Prince Callan of House Duncan.”
The shorter vampire snuck a peak at Callan. “You sure?”
“My sister kept his pictures tacked on her bedroom wall for years. Yeah, I’m sure.”
“You may rise,” Callan said. “Yes, we’re here for the gala. This is my date, London Hayes. She’s a knight from Britannia City.”
The shorter vampire laughed uproariously. “A girl knight? That’s a tall tale if I ever heard one.”
Callan and I exchanged glances.
“If you don’t believe me, why don’t I show you?” I asked.
Callan placed a hand on my arm. “No need for displays of strength, dearest.”
The shorter vampire snorted. “No, I’d like to see her display of strength.”
Oh, boy.
The idiot smiled at me. “Let’s go, poppet.”
Poppet? My mother didn’t even call me poppet when I was seven.
I clocked him right in the face and heard the crunch of bone.
“Oops,” I said.
The vampire cradled his face to catch the dripping blood. “You broke my nose.”
His companion laughed.
Callan clapped my shoulder. “He said he wanted to see.”
The injured vampire whimpered. “She didn’t count to three. I assumed there’d be an official countdown.”
“We’ll be on our way now,” Callan said.
“No, no. You’re to be escorted directly to the castle. King and queen’s orders,” the taller vampire insisted.
My stomach clenched.
“We’re meant to meet a friend at the train station,” I said. “That’s where we’re going now. We’ll head to the castle afterward.”
“No trains arriving now,” the taller one said. “Too early. Come on then. We’ll be your official escort.” He waved to another patrolman and indicated the jeep. “Hansen will bring your jeep to the castle carpark.”
“That’s…very kind of you,” I said. What else could we do?
The taller vampire gave Callan an admiring glance. “I can’t believe the Demon of House Duncan is attending the gala. Wait until I tell my sister. She’ll be so jealous.” His smile dissolved. “I shouldn’t call you that, should I? Apologies, Your Highness.”
Callan waved him off. “Water under the bridge.”
The patrolmen ferried us into the backseat of a golf cart and drove us across rolling hills until we arrived at the castle entrance. I recognized the building from history books.
Technically a fortified manor house, Peyton Castle was once known as the Manor of Powderham and later Powderham Castle. It was even mentioned in the Domesday Book. Its position on the River Exe and close to the city of Exeter made it an ideal location.
Less than ideal for us, of course. If it had been farther away, we would’ve made it to the train station without interference.
We exited the golf cart and were escorted to the castle entrance. Two guards flanked the door. The guard on the right took one look at the vampire with the bloody nose and recoiled.
“You all right, Robert?”
“An accident,” Robert said.
Callan clapped him on the back. “Poor sod. Wasn’t watching where he was going. Ran straight into the side of our jeep.”
Robert cast him an aggrieved look. “They’re guests for the gala.”
The guard on the right brightened. “Good timing. You can pay your respects to the king and queen. They’re holding court right as we speak.”
“It’s been a long journey,” Callan said. “If it’s all the same to you, we’d like to be shown to our quarters first. To freshen up before we see anyone.”
The guard on the left jammed his staff into the ground. “You can’t simply demand to bypass the king and queen.”
“I didn’t demand.” Callan glanced at me, perplexed. “Did I? I mean, I know I have a certain gravitas when I speak…”
I sighed and lightly touched his arm. “Gentlemen, this is Prince Callan of Houses Duncan and Lewis. If I were you, I’d let him do what he wants.”
The guard on the left gasped in recognition. “The Highland Reckoning?”
I nudged Callan’s arm. “See? You’re a celebrity.”
The guard on the left fixed him with a deadpan expression. “You still can’t go to your quarters. Not until you’ve paid your respects to the king and queen.”
Callan hesitated and I could tell he was mulling over his options, which were basically to pay his respects or start a war between Houses.
Finally he offered an anemic bow. “I’d be happy to pay my respects.”
The guard on the left dipped his hand into his pocket and retrieved a pen. “Before you go, would you mind giving me your autograph?”
I stifled a laugh.
Robert and his broken nose remained our escort through the castle.
“This is an amazing place.” For a brief moment, I forgot I was surrounded by lethal vampires and let myself enjoy the surroundings. Wood-paneled walls. High ceilings. Portraits. Long banquet halls. If only my mother were here. She’d be as awestruck as when she entered Buckingham Palace during her brief stint as a teacher.
Robert delivered us to a line of guests outside the State Room where the king and queen were receiving them.
By the time we reached the threshold of the State Room, the dark purple skin of Robert’s broken nose had faded to a light pink.
I glimpsed King Marcus and Queen Iris on the dais at the opposite end of the room. With their medium builds, light brown hair, and creamy complexions, they looked similar enough to be siblings. A streak of silver ran through Iris’s hair, the sign of a long life. Vampires with full heads of silver hair were rare, but if you saw one, it was best to steer clear. Vampires didn’t reach old age by being warm and fuzzy.
Robert strode forward. “Prince Callan of Houses Lewis and Duncan and his companion, London Hayes.”
A royal vampire on my arm and my knighthood was apparently forgotten.
The queen and king remained remarkably impassive given the surprise announcement.
“Truly?” the queen asked. Her gaze raked over him. “You have your father’s eyes.”
Callan bowed. “Forgive the unexpected arrival, Your Majesty.”