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once, she wished he would just talk to her the way he used to. Coming to the palace was exciting at first. It meant a better life, but Cole never acted like that. Instead he seemed to shut down and was constantly anxious, like he was going to be attacked at any moment. There were more rules in the palace, more protection. But that didn't help Kahli, she thought sadly. Maybe Cole's been right all this time. Cassie rubbed her face and looked up at him. "Gonna tell me anything else about it?"

"Not at the moment. I shouldn't have mentioned it. I just don't want more attention and running draws it. Although, Kahli shone a spotlight on us, so maybe it doesn't matter." Cole wanted to strangle Kahli. She was reckless. Her behavior would affect Cassie, and while Kahli was protective of his sister, she couldn't protect Cassie from the vamps if she was dead.

Cole turned toward his sister. Taking her elbow, he stopped her. "Hey, sorry I snapped. I've tried so hard to make sure that we survive. I'm not handling this very well. Kahli doesn't mesh with my ideal situation."

Cassie arched an eyebrow at him. "Ideal situation? Are you nuts? The ideal situation was before the ice shelf snapped off and drown half the world. The ideal situation was before everything was covered in ice. Nothing is ideal, Cole, not anymore. We're at the bottom of the food-chain, living in hell. And honestly, if it wasn't for the vamps, we'd be dead by now. People can't survive on their own out there. Not anymore."

Cole's voice was soft, pensive. He looked straight at her, saying, "And yet Kahli did, from age seven, and she was alone. Makes you think, doesn't it?"

Cole didn't say anything else. He couldn't. The vamps were too close. They heard every word he said. He led Cassie back to her rooms and told her not to worry, that he'd look into Kahli's whereabouts as well as the other girls who were missing. He gave Cassie a kiss on the head and shoved her through the door and told her to go back to her room.

As he walked away, Cole wondered what happened to him. Since Kahli arrived, he'd gone from just another piece of vamp decor to socialite status, drawing attention and turning heads. No one looked at him the same way anymore. He was lucky to get a reprieve between feedings. The Regent would have tried to tap him tonight if the Queen hadn't requested him. They noticed Cole, now. They watched him closer, and he didn't like it. That made everything he worked for harder, but there was no way he was giving up now.

Chapter 4

Sophia sat on her throne admiring her reflection. A large mirror with white gold gilding sat directly in front of her dais. The warm silvery tones gleamed, reflecting an image that was ghostlike in appearance. Sophia grinned. It was the effects of the girl's blood. She knew it. That shimmering likeness was a hollow display of her beauty. The reflection was fading and soon, with enough blood, would disappear entirely. It marked the restoration of her former power. Everything would return to the way it was. "Just like old times," she said, pleased.

"Yes, sister." Reginald rolled his eyes. He sat slouched in his chair, next to her, head leaning sideways on his hand. "Exactly like old times. You sat in front of the mirror even when there was nothing to see."

Sophia's eyes cut to her brother. Why she allowed him to return was a mystery. Fickle was how the Regent described her actions, but Sophia knew why she called him back. Reggie had a way of bringing out the worst in her, and she'd need that soon. Very soon.

"Remind me why you're still alive?" she said, sighing, like she was bored.

"So you can rub my face in your returning power." He straightened in his chair. "Power isn't much fun without someone to flaunt in front of." Bitterness filled his mouth. That girl should have been his. Instead of watching his vapid sister fading from that looking glass, it would have been his reflection that was nearly gone. Reggie tried to hide his jealousy, but he couldn't completely mask it - which was why Sophia kept him around. They both knew it.

"Ah, yes," she grinned. "Flaunting is the perfect reason to spare your insignificant life." After gazing at the glass for some time, she tilted her head. A