does look like a different time era altogether, but mixed with bits of the modern world. The women all dress in saris or Victorian style dresses, and the men are in suits. I don’t spot anyone who looks like how Reign dresses; he clearly likes the modern clothes. The tiny houses make way for bigger ones with thatched roofs and brown brick walls with glass windows. There are newer street lights, suggesting the island has some sort of power going through it. A few children, which I have no idea if they are human or vampire, run past the car, staring in. I smile at them, lifting my hand and wiggling my fingers, their giggles rising above the noise of the engine for a second. A second enough to make me smile.
“Are you the only one with a car on the island?” I question.
Reign turns down a street, and people move out of the way, not that Reign even attempts to slow down. “Mostly. I prefer the outside world’s choice of transport and clothing. What about you?”
“I can’t say I’m a fan of the dresses,” I admit, picking at the sari I have on. “I envy your jeans and shirt.”
“I will find you suitable clothing to keep,” he replies just before slamming the brakes on the car, and I jolt forward, the seat belt hurting my neck. Not making any apologies, he flips up the handbrake and opens his door, climbing out and disappearing with vamp speed. Swiftly, I undo my seat belt and climb out my door, my boots smacking against the stone. Several people stop to stare, a mixture of vampires and humans, I think. I try to ignore them and head around the car, seeing that Reign hasn’t waited for me, but a door is kicked open. Taking a wild guess the prince has gone that way, I gingerly walk into the house and into a front sitting room. Reign stands in the middle, easily commanding the space, and there is a very pretty vampire woman on her knees in front of him, bleeding from her nose. Did Reign punch her?
The woman has long, almost white-coloured hair and bright grey eyes that watch over me.
“Of course, your majesty. It would be a great honour,” she is saying to Reign. Reign turns his head back, meeting my gaze and pointing to the door at the back of the room. I don’t give the vampire woman a second glance, running to the back door and pulling it open. The smell hits me right away, the metallic tang of blood and just an awful stench of god knows what. I hold my nose as I walk into the dimly lit room, and I stare in shock at the sight of Arlo chained up at the back of the room. His wrists and ankles are chained to the brick wall, and dozens, if not hundreds, of bite marks litter his bare chest and legs. In fact, every part of him looks bitten, and he looks so pale.
A sob leaves my lips as I run over to him, picking up his fallen head and checking for a pulse on his neck. When I feel it, I breathe out a shaky sigh.
“I’m going to look after you,” I whisper and kiss the top of his damp hair. I look over my shoulder and raise my voice. “Reign, I need your help!”
Reign is in front of me in seconds, his vampire speed making it impossible for me to have tracked his movement. He looks me over before turning to Arlo, frowning for a moment. He lifts his arm and bites harshly into his wrist, blood pouring out all over his mouth and dripping onto the floor in front of us.
“Will your blood heal him?” I question. I’ve gathered as much, but I don’t know for certain.
“I’m surprised my brother has not forced you to drink from him to heal you,” Reign replies. “He usually likes to break his toys and put them back together, unaware of the internal damage wreaked.”
“He offered me blood when he marked me, which I refused, and he fed me when I passed out on the auction stage, but otherwise, no,” I explain.
Reign doesn’t seem happy with my answer, but he gives no comment, only lifting Arlo’s head and forcing him to drink the blood, even unconscious. After a few seconds, he lets Arlo drop once more, and I look at his wrist, seeing he has already healed. Damn, they