such a devastating attack on the palace. The answer was money. It was wrong and manipulative. I bit my tongue as my body fought to scream out that it was all a lie, but I knew it was a lie that needed to be told. It was the lesser of the evils. If we told them the truth it could produce some disturbing consequences.
For centuries our region had been kept in the dark about the truths of the vampire world we lived in. To shatter that now would only cause more destruction. It would only aid Baal in his efforts to tear us apart. Our people could handle the story that the anti-vampire league had taken their protests to a threatening level, but they wouldn’t be able to handle the truth that the most frightening vampire that ever lived had come back to turn the human race into cattle; to hunt them down like prey ready to be plucked. It was ironic to think that the enemy the cult feared us to be was actually waiting in the shadows for a chance to kill us all.
As soon as Nicolae announced that the interview was over and the reporters were being escorted out, I latched onto Arrick’s hand and dashed out of the throne room as quickly as my tight dress would permit. There were two humans in this region that I refused to lie to. I didn’t care what anyone said, hell, I wasn’t going to even ask permission. I was going to get my human mother and Liz out of the Noire region as soon as possible.
Slamming my door shut behind us, I flew into my closet with incredible speed. Louie meowed at me as he batted the clothes that hung in the closet above him. His familiar, furry face calmed my sense of urgency. I could breathe; no one was going to stop me from going into the city. I didn’t need to get all worked up. I pulled the dress off over my head and tied on a robe before taking a seat next to Louie on the floor. He ignored my presence and continued his attack on the helpless tassel that dangled from one of the many dresses.
“Come here, fat boy.” I scratched his back until he plopped his body to the side. I’d never seen a cat that liked having his belly rubbed. “Do you want to come to Naos with me?” I cooed at him. He answered with a deep purr as I rubbed his giant belly.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re up to no good?” Arrick asked, strolling into the closet as he began loosening his tie and unbuttoning the top of his dress shirt.
“What gave you that idea?” I looked back to Louie and kissed his pink, wet nose.
“Gee, I don’t know.” He took of his jacket and draped it over the back of the chaise. “Maybe the fact that you’ve been thinking about nothing other than going into the city for the last twenty minutes.” I turned; ready to fight him on my decision, but his expression silenced me. “I’m not going to stop you, but I am coming with you.”
“You’re not?” I’d thought for sure he would have, and he was one of the few that might have actually talked me out of it.
“No,” his voice grew soft as he knelt beside me. He pulled my hair back over my shoulder and placed a delicate kiss on my neck.
I held back a moan as shivers ran down my spine. “I won’t lie to them, Arrick. I can’t leave them here. I want them to come to Naos when we go back.”
His arms wrapped around me as he took in a deep breath and let it out again. It traveled across my skin soothing the goose bumps he’d just given me. “I figured you would.”
I started to relax as I realized he was supporting my decision. I should have known he would have. I knew he worried for my safety every moment, but he was more than just my protector, the depth of our emotions ran deep. Someday when this nightmare with Baal was over we would be able to explore those emotions. Perhaps then I won’t be so afraid to.
Chapter 4
The ride into the city took longer than I had remembered. I stared out the window watching the world whiz by, and waiting for the city to come into view. I’d put my hair into a pony and braided