flinched, her gaze sliding to the ground.
I stepped toward. “What about your memories?”
“They’re fuzzy,” she admitted softly. “I’m having a hard time remembering the breeding camp and certain things about my past.”
“I see.” That usually happened when a human transitioned into a supernatural state. I could hardly recall my mortal days. Of course, I was fucking old. So that was to be expected. “It’s probably related to drinking my blood.”
Her eyes flashed up to mine. “It takes a human’s memories?”
I chuckled. “No, pet. It gives a human temporary immortality, which is why you were able to heal. But part of the immortal transition is to forget your mortal past.” I reached out to play with a light strand of her hair, the end curling near her breast. “It’ll pass. You just required a lot of my essence to heal.”
“Vampire blood gives humans immortality?”
“I’m guessing they didn’t teach you that at the university,” I murmured, smirking. “Wouldn’t want anyone to know such things, would we?”
This was exactly why Willow could be of use to me. As long as she continued to speak freely, I’d be able to use her knowledge and experience to craft my approach to this new world. As a twisted happenstance of fate, the young female knew more about society than I did. At least to an extent. Working as a team, we could put all the pieces together.
“Come on,” I said, tugging on her hair playfully before releasing the strand. “I’ll show you how to use the shower and the other amenities in the room. Then I’ll leave you to acclimate yourself.” I had some files to review that Damien sent over yesterday.
Playing the role of a royal vampire was going to be so much work.
Maybe I would end up serving a temporary term after all.
Only time would tell.
5
Willow
Acclimate yourself.
I wasn’t even sure what to do with that term. Nor was I sure how to handle him actually leaving me alone in the room.
He walked out.
Didn’t lock the door.
And just… left me by myself.
It took me nearly an hour before I forced myself to move around the room. I kept expecting him to appear, to tell me this was all some sort of cruel joke, but he never came back. Not even when I decided to shower. Not when I wrapped a towel around myself. Nor when I stepped outside onto the balcony to take in the scenery of his estate, bathed by the night sky.
Endless stars danced overhead, as well as a bright moon that wasn’t quite full.
I stared up at it for countless minutes, the fresh air a foreign concept that rendered me frozen. Had I ever experienced such a moment? One where I wasn’t expected to be somewhere right away, didn’t have a monster looming over my shoulder to dictate orders, or wasn’t outside just for a field exercise?
I searched my foggy mind and came up blank.
Then I gazed upward once more, inhaled slowly, and exhaled in a similar fashion.
It wasn’t until I scented a minty aftershave on the wind that I realized I wasn’t alone.
The hairs along my arms stood on end, my throat constricting. “I… I’m sorry. I just… I was…”
“Admiring the night?” Ryder finished for me, stepping out of the shadows and into the moonlight shining down on the balcony. “You’re allowed to stand outside, Willow.” He trailed a finger down my arm, his touch oddly soothing while simultaneously terrifying.
He’s a royal vampire.
That made him old. Powerful. Dangerous.
I swallowed and forced myself to face him, needing to see his eyes. They served as a stark reminder of his lethality, the coldness of his dark orbs sending a chill through my spirit. This was not a male I wanted to trust, even if he had offered me something no one else ever had—a moment of peace.
“I’m getting ready to retire for the evening,” he informed me softly. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything else. More food, perhaps?”
My stomach churned at the notion, his sandwich sitting heavy inside me still. “No, thank you.” It came out so polite. So quiet. So… strange.
I’m talking to a royal vampire.
Why the hell am I talking to a royal vampire?
As the hours had spun onward, my memories had begun to trickle in. Not all at once, just pieces and splashes of my history, including startling moments from my past and punishments I longed to forget. Courses I never wanted to take again. Exams that haunted my nightmares.
Part of me wanted to bow at