Lillian woke slowly, her body still heavy from
the chaotic night. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. The Persian rug was soft beneath her bare feet.
Blaine was still asleep.
She glanced at him, then looked away.
Pale morning light filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the stone floor. She walked to the living room, then went back and woke Blaine.
He jolted awake, saw it was only her, and rolled his eyes.
"Follow me outside. I want to check if my car has been fixed."
"They're all gone. Nothing's going to happen to you," he mumbled.
Lillian glared. He groaned and stood.
At the door, she stepped back. Blaine opened it. Cool air rushed in, carrying the faint scent of pine.
The car sat parked outside. Fully repaired.
"Wow," she said flatly. "They actually fixed it."
"Okay, you've seen it. I'm going back inside."
She grabbed his collar and pulled him back. He sighed.
"There's a frame in the backseat. Help me take it inside."
She walked to the boot and tried to open it. Nothing.
"Is the key even with you?" Blaine asked.
Lillian froze. "Oh... It's not with me."
"Wow." Blaine's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I love how you think, Lillian. I really do."
She glared.
"Will you stop that?" he asked.
She ignored him and went inside. The key sat on the glass table in the center of the living room. She grabbed it, went back out, and pressed the remote. The car beeped.
She opened the boot. Two heavy rolling suitcases. Two huge bags. She wore the bags on her shoulders, held the suitcases, and dragged everything toward the castle.
Blaine followed with the frame.
"Help me hang this in my room," she said, already struggling up the stairs.
"Do you need help with that?"
"No." She strained. "Do I look like I need help?"
"Yes. Obviously."
Blaine dropped the frame, took the suitcases, and climbed past her like it was nothing. She grabbed the frame and followed.
---
In her room, Blaine dropped everything.
"Be careful," she said, not looking at him as she tore open the frame.
Blaine exhaled. "Should have told me before I dropped it."
She ignored him. The wrapping came off.
A beautiful painting. Her. Smiling.
Blaine stared. "Wow. I can't believe a vampire drew you like that. Your book must be really good to catch the attention of something that's hardly human."
Lillian looked up. Didn't blink. "What did you say?"
"The guy who gave you this. He's a vampire. That's what Tony told me. They all thought he was there to hurt you. He just wanted your signature."
She turned to the wall facing her bed. "I can hang it, then."
"I guess."
"I need a nail and a hammer."
Blaine rolled his eyes. He pulled a pen from his back pocket, stabbed it into the wall, and hung the painting.
"Thanks," she said coldly. "Now leave. I need silence unless I call for you."
"What am I? Your slave?"
"No. But this is who I am. Silence. Get out."
He left. "I definitely live with a crazy bossy woman."
"I heard that!"
"I wanted you to hear that!"
---
The castle stayed quiet until evening.
A knock. Blaine opened the door. Bryan, Tyler, Diana, Shawn, Tiara, and Tony stood outside.
Blaine ushered them in and dropped onto the couch. "What are you guys doing here?"
Tyler glared at the couch. "You know I paid for this with my own money, right? Because the old one had blood stains."
"Yeah, we know," Diana said. "Was that what you wanted to hear?"
"Not exactly."
"So why are you here?" Blaine asked. "Please tell me you're replacing me. I'm dying to leave."
Bryan shook his head. "Nope. You're still staying until we get what we want."
Blaine's face fell. "Then what?"
"Checking the forest. Making sure no vampires are lurking," Shawn said. "Thought we'd drop by."
Tiara tilted her head. "Which brings me to a question. Tony — Blaine said you saved him when he wanted to commit suicide. Why?"
Blaine cut in. "How did Shawn's words bring you to that? Even I, his Alpha, never asked."
Tiara started to speak, but Tony stopped her.
"My parents died in an accident a year ago," he said quietly. "Bullies at work hit me. Make me do their work. My boss supports them. The police want evidence I don't have. Two weeks ago, my savings were stolen. Someone I thought was my best friend hacked my account." He paused. "Bad luck."
The room went quiet. For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then Lillian's voice cut through.
"Seriously? What if someone walks in and sees you here?"
Blaine turned to her. "Do you have feelings? Any?"
"Of course I do." Her words came fast and sharp. "If I didn't, I'd cut off your heads and feed them to ravens. Or expose you. Or let you die instead of saving you."
Tiara raised her hands. "Girl, calm down. We mean no harm."
"No harm?" Lillian's voice rose. "You're werewolves. You almost got me killed. You're the reason you need to protect me now."
A car engine rumbled outside. Tires on gravel.
Everyone went silent.
Lillian's eyes widened. "Someone's here."
The door burst open.
Everyone turned.
It was Mirabel.
She stood in the doorway, eyes wide, scanning the room. From Lillian to Blaine to the others. Strangers. In a castle. In the middle of nowhere.
"So this is why you left," Mirabel said slowly.
---
Do you think Mirabel now knows their secrets? Read the next chapter to find out more and don't forget to vote for me.