Cassie sat down on a sofa next to Kahli in the sitting room. Three girls had their heads together, glancing at Kahli and laughing quietly. She’d been ignoring them, but now she just wanted to walk over and punch them. According to Cassie, a punch could kill them, so she behaved herself.

“So, I figured you’re probably worried about getting called,” Cassie tucked her feet under her on the sofa. She wore a pair of silk pants and a lacy top. She was very striking, pale skin and dark hair.

Confusion pinched her face, although she thought she understood, “Called?”

“Yeah, from a vamp—probably the Queen—for a feeding.” Cassie sounded like she was talking about the weather. Feedings were part of life for her for so long that she didn’t really think about it anymore. There were so many other places Cassie could have ended up. The palace was a blessing for someone like her. She didn’t really understand why Kahli wanted to leave. The weather alone was enough to make people afraid of venturing outside.

“Oh,” Kahli’s heart sank. She didn’t want to think about it. Every time the thought surfaced, she shoved it back down. “Yeah, I wasn’t dwelling on it.”

Cassie studied the side of Kahli’s face, the high lines of her cheekbones, the smooth skin with a light dusting of sunshine that had tanned her skin. She wondered what it must have been like to be strong and live on her own. That was a feeling she’d never know. The last time she’d been to a feeding was over a week ago and she nearly bled-out. They waited longer to call her back this time.

Cassie, glanced at the strange girl out of the corner of her eye and said, “If I were you, I’d want to know everything. It’s the difference between surviving and living. But, you seem to have already chosen your fate.” Cassie didn’t think she should feel offended, but she did. Every time she tried to start a conversation with Kahli, she tensed up and didn’t respond. Cassie took it personally this time. She started to stand up to leave.

Cassie was the only person who showed Kahli any kindness. She didn’t mean to blow her off, it was just something that she didn’t want to do—she didn’t know how to react or what to say. The girl had been nice to her over the past few days, but Kahli acted cold. She didn’t want to get to know anyone here. Her plan was to escape and emotional entanglements would make it harder to go when it was time.

Kahli reached for Cassie, her fingers catching the cuff of her sleeve. “Hey. You’re right. I’m sorry. Please sit. I—I’ve never imagined that I would be here.” She ran her fingers through her bright hair. “I thought my main worries were wolves and food. Not vamps and blood.” Things had changed so fast. Her head was still reeling.

Cassie’s dark eyes assessed Kahli before sitting back down. Once she was seated she seemed to relax again. “I suppose it’s a bit of a shock.”

“You have no idea,” Kahli replied. She looked up at the girl and smiled softly.

Cassie went on to explain how feedings worked, and what to do when she was called. Cassie assumed that Will would get her when the time came. Kahli listened, trying not to gag as Cassie told her what happened, the way it worked.

Kahli asked, “So they use tools? Because they can’t just bite anymore?”

“Yes. Your Handler will use them to prick your neck and then to seal you back up. Some of us are paired based on the ability of their saliva to coagulate better. Will is pretty good, and gentle. He used to be my handler. Now I have Maurice. The man leaves a wake of drool on my neck every single time. It’s disgusting.” Cassie was repulsed, but Kahli was confused.

“The vamps don’t drink directly from us?”

“No,” Cassie replied, like it was no big deal, “it’s forbidden. There are several reasons why. Life expectancy is longer if they don’t drink straight from us, and then the other thing.” She said the other thing like Kahli should know what it was.

But she didn’t, “What other thing?”

The girls on the couch across from them burst out laughing. Cassie shot them a glance, but they didn’t stop. When she turned back to Kahli, she couldn’t believe she had to say it. “Sex. Sex with a vamp is forbidden.” Kahli still didn’t understand. She shook her head slightly. Cassie smiled and grabbed her hand, “Let’s take a walk.” The girls across from her did little to hide their laughter. Kahli growled at them as she passed, and their eyes went wide.

Cassie grasped Kahli’s arm the way she did with Will a few nights ago, and they walked. The maidens’ rooms were contained in a large section of the palace. They were allowed to roam freely, but everywhere she looked, Kahli noticed that the windows were covered with iron and the doors were blocked by guards. It was clear that they were prisoners.

Somehow Cassie didn’t notice anymore. She saw them more as guards to protect her, rather than guards to make sure she didn’t try to run. The girls passed from one room into a long hallway. Glass windows spanned from the floor to the ceiling on one side, the opposite side was covered in mirrors. Blue drapes accented the hall, and the carpet runner muffled their voices. The sun shone brightly, illuminating the long hall.

The girls walked side by side, Cassie leaning in closely, whispering, “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.” A blush rose to her cheeks. Her long brown hair was down, hiding her face a little bit. It was like she was somebody’s mom explaining the birds and the bees. “This is so embarrassing, but it makes sense that you don’t know. I mean, you’ve been locked away from everyone and everything forever. I guess this wouldn’t have been something you and your mom would have discussed.” She glanced at Kahli, the two of them walking slowly.

Kahli’s gaze was on the newly fallen snow. Gazing through the windowpanes, she wished were anywhere else at that moment. It’d been so long. She didn’t really want to talk about her mom. “Not really,” she hedged. After a second she decided to add, “Besides, my mom was taken by Trackers when I was just a kid. We never had a chance to have any awkward conversations. I learned almost everything the hard way. And for the life of me, I have no idea what you’re going to say, but you’re creeping me out pretty good. My skin is crawling.” Her lips pulled into that awkward smile that was too tight for her face.

Cassie snort-laughed, “Oh my god. Well, then let’s just cut straight to the juicy stuff, okay?” Kahli nodded and was relieved that Cassie didn’t ask about her mom. She knew nothing of Cassie’s life or if she even knew her mother. Things were different growing up here. That much she was sure.

Cassie flipped her hair back, a wide smile on her face, “Okay, here’s the other thing—if vamps drink straight from us, they get turned-on. Our blood makes them feel intoxicated, but it fills them with desire at the same time. I suppose at one point the two acts were connected, sex and feeding. But now they aren’t. That doesn’t mean that the vamps don’t feel it, though. And it doesn’t mean that we won’t either. If you get bitten, you’ll want it—you’ll want to be with your vamp.”

Kahli’s feet slowed as they walked, but now they had stopped. There was no way she would ever want to be with a vampire. The idea was disgusting. They were corpses. Their minds were savage, their skin like ice, pale and cold. The thought of desiring such a thing was repulsive. It would be like lusting after a wolf while it was chewing off her face. Kahli couldn’t fathom it.

Cassie saw her expression, and shook her head, “Just believe me, if you get bit, you’ll want it. When their fangs sink into your neck, it hurts at first, but then a rush of sensations drowns it out. Lust builds and well… you know how things go when both parties are hot and heavy. Things get out of control.”

Kahli nodded, not speaking. It sounded horrible. Questions were jumping through her mind, “So, the vamps’ teeth is like a toxin? A lust inducing toxin?”

Her lips pulled into a sneer, “Geeze, you make it sound clinical, but yeah, I guess you could say that. And lust isn’t the only thing it makes you feel, but the end result is the same—you’ll want more. It’s easy to get addicted and with the way things are, well, anemic girls and vamps don’t last long together. That’s why relationships and feeding like that were banned.”

Without thinking, Kahli asked, “But how would they know? Right?” She looked at Cassie. “If it’s forbidden, then how would anyone remember what it feels like? You’re talking about it like you…” Kahli’s mouth went dry and she didn’t finish her sentence. Was it possible? Did this girl have some sort of an affair with a vampire? The idea made her gag. A moment of silence passed. The girls stopped in front of a large window pane and looked out onto the snow-covered lawn. Finally Kahli understood. At least she thought she did. There weren’t very many explanations for why she would have had to endure a vampire romance if it was forbidden. Kahli asked, “No one follows the rules, do they?”

“Some of us do,” she said softly. “Some of us try to and others don’t let us.” Her dark eyes looked up, meeting Kahli’s. “Do yourself a favor, and don’t let Will leave your side. Things were better when he was around.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The dreaded call came late that night. Kahli was in her night clothes—a sheer linen gown—and staring at the ceiling. She’d been lying flat on her back, in her bed, unable to sleep. Plotting all day didn’t help her figure out how to escape. There were so many things that could go wrong. And Will. Damn. He bothered her. It was bad enough he knew her full name. He could just say it and she’d be at his command. The idea made her sick inside.

The bedroom door opened. A sliver of light stretched across the ceiling, and before she could blink, Will was standing over her. She nearly screamed, but he placed his hand over her mouth. Whispering, he leaned close to her ear, saying, “Come with me. And if you try anything, you’ll regret it.”