2. Montana

A storm was rising in me. A burning need. A single cause.

“We have to get them out.”

Callie’s voice.

I tried to reach for her, and the more I focused, the clearer the world became around me. An overturned carriage. My hands bound in chains, bashing against a barred window.

The vision shuddered and I was in the arms of a powerful man with long hair hanging around his face. His golden eyes captivated me the most. His mouth was just inches from mine. The moonlight shimmered around us, and something felt so incredibly right about the closeness of him.

“-what do you expect me to do? I can’t fix every problem you make for yourself, Erik,” Clarice’s voice jarred through my thoughts, and the dream fell away from me, the protective aura of the stranger dissolving with it. I jerked fully awake, my arms yanking against the torn sheet tying me to the headboard, reminding me of my miserable reality.

My wrists were bruised from hours of fighting to get free, and I was sure I’d only fallen asleep out of exhaustion in the end. I must have gotten just a couple of hours rest – though I’d hardly call it that.

The door was shoved open, and Clarice walked in with Erik at her back, the princess looking like daylight while the prince was the darkest of nights tracing her footsteps. Her gown was lemon yellow today, falling right down to the floor and hugging her curves like liquid satin. Her eyes fell on me, and her lips parted in shock at the sight of my tethers.

Erik was dressed in a crisp white shirt and fine trousers which hung from his slim hips. His eyes were brighter today than I’d ever seen them, seeming more like molten silver than the harsh iron tones I remembered.

“Erik,” Clarice snarled, rounding on him, shoving her hands into his chest, sending him stumbling back into the wall.

He snarled at her, and suddenly they were just two wolves with their hackles raised, Erik prowling toward her in a promise of a fight.

“She tried to escape,” he hissed.

“And apparently, I will rue the day I ever did so,” I drawled, quoting his own words from last night.

Erik’s eyes snapped onto me, all murder and hellfire, but Clarice forced his attention back to her.

“There is no excuse for this,” Clarice snapped, an air of true power about her that even Erik seemed inclined to take note of. “You are meant to safeguard her.”

“She is safe,” he said darkly. “She’s right there, and unless the mattress decides to grow teeth and devour her, I don’t believe she will be in any immediate danger.”

“How do you expect her to choose you at the ceremony if you treat her this way?” Clarice lowered her voice, but I caught every word.

Erik shot me a look that told me to keep quiet, but I didn’t plan on outing his secret plan for me to spy on Fabian. Not yet anyway. It was still the only chance I had of either blackmailing him or fulfilling my promise to him, securing the deal we’d made. Besides, I got the feeling Clarice wasn’t the right vampire to rat him out to. She was clearly close with him despite their differences. No, I reckoned my best bet would be telling Erik’s target, his rival, the vampire he was trying to use me against. Because I didn’t think Fabian would take to it kindly.

“Perhaps she’s into bondage,” Erik said, trying to turn my capture into a twisted little joke, but not even Clarice was swallowing it.

“This is not a game, you reckless fool,” she said so seriously that it made my heart pound. And my eternal questions clawed at me over why they had created this ritual at all. “Erik, you have chosen her, and you must honour that. Is it too much to ask to treat her with civility? She is human, as you once were. Or have you forgotten what it was like to be one of them?”

Erik’s jaw ticked, his eyes crawling over me again like I was the most infuriating thing he had ever laid eyes on. “Yes, I still recall what it was to be human, but I am perfectly certain that I was nowhere near as insufferable as this creature before me.”

“No, you’re doing great at the insufferable thing, I promise,” I said, and Erik stepped toward me, all growls and rage.

I couldn’t picture him as a mortal, with imperfections and the flush of blood in his cheeks. It was impossible to imagine him as anything but a timeless being with a hollow heart.

Clarice shot into his way, planting a hand against his chest, shielding me from his wrath, and I wasn’t sure how to take that. My value to these monsters seemed to be growing every day, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why.

“Erik,” Clarice said, then dropped her voice to a whisper I simply couldn’t catch the words of.

Erik’s hard features softened a touch, and he inclined his head, giving in to whatever she had said.

“Fine,” he gritted out. “I will untie her.”

“Thank you, brother.” Clarice swept forward with a smile, reaching up to wrap her arms around him, and he pulled her close for a second. Then she moved past him, exiting the room and leaving me there with my own personal nightmare.

My hands curled into tight fists as he kicked the door shut behind Clarice with a sharp snap, his eyes never leaving mine.

He clucked his tongue, regarding me with cold distaste. “Why didn’t you tell her about my plans?”

I wet my mouth, realising how achingly thirsty I was. “I’m tied to a bed like a tasty little vampire snack. Seemed like a suicide mission.”

“So you would have done so had you been in a better position to escape?” he asked, his grey eyes full of threat.

“No,” I admitted. “I’d prefer to blackmail you with your secret and get what I want.”

He released a breath of amusement, then lowered down to sit on the bed, angling his powerful body toward me. “What a clever little human you think you are.”

“I try.”

“Hm.”

I eyed him warily as he shifted even closer.

“I’m going to untie you now,” he said. “I would prefer if you don’t thrash and make a pointless scene of it. I believe I have made it very clear how easily I can catch you, and I promise you, rebel, I will find you wherever you may run to. Now be quiet and lay still.”

“I have a question,” I said immediately, and his lips twitched in frustration.

“Yes?” he asked curtly, clearly working hard to play nice with me. Or at least be civil like Clarice had told him to be.

“What exactly is going to happen now? Last night, you said I’m your prisoner and made a bunch of angry threats. Now you’re untying me. It’s a little confusing, don’t you think?”

“I think you are a fool to believe a scrap of material around your wrists makes you more of a prisoner than without it.” He reached over me, his body pressing down on mine as he grabbed my binds and tore through them with barely any effort at all.

He didn’t immediately move away as my hands dropped to the bed, and my heart jolted as his mouth came all too close to mine, reminding me of the kiss we’d shared last night. Of how deeply I’d wanted it when our lips had touched. He was a cruel temptation brought to life, and I had fallen for the seduction of him. But that was all he was, a trap set to confound me, nothing more.

The scent of cypress and falling rain made me inhale, drawing that enticing smell of his into my lungs, and his eyes lowered to my mouth.

“You taste like candied sin, rebel,” he whispered, and my throat thickened. “And oh, how easily that taste was claimed.”

He drew away from me in a blur of speed, and I sat upright with my hand swinging for a strike I couldn’t land. “Well, you taste like tar, asshole. Keep your mouth away from me.”

“Alright, but don’t blame me for refusing you when you come begging for another kiss,” he chided.

I growled as I launched myself out of the bed, unsure what my intention was, only that I wanted to hurt him.

He was gone in a flash, the door slamming shut and the lock clicking behind him, leaving me there with only my rage for company.

I huffed out a breath and stalked into the small en suite, brushing my teeth and scrubbing away the memory of his taste until it felt like my gums were going to bleed. Then I stripped off, tied my hair up in a messy bun and strode into the shower, turning the heat up so high that the water nearly scalded me. But I needed it, to feel the blaze of warmth running over my skin and making me forget the cold touch of the vampire who’d laid his hands on me last night.

By the time I was back in my room with a towel wrapped around me and my black hair hanging loose around my shoulders, I felt stronger, ready to face whatever came my way today.

“-sire, you really must hire a professional stylist, I’m just a maid!”

Erik strode into the room dragging Nancy behind him, and any hope I’d had of being left alone today flittered away before my eyes.

“You just got promoted,” Erik announced, and Nancy shook her head in desperation.

“Please, sir, I really must insist-”

“Enough.” He took Nancy’s shoulders, angling her toward me. “See all the hair sticking up on top of this human’s head?”

“Y-yes,” she stuttered, and I gave him a flat look.

“Tame it,” he commanded. “And make that pouty face fit for royalty.”

“Erik?” I said lightly.

“Yes, rebel?” he answered formally.

“Stop being an ass.” I reverted to my usual sour tone, figuring it was best to pretend nothing had ever happened between us. Between my failed escape, the kiss, and him tying me up and leaving me there all night, I wasn’t going to let him get the better of me.

“Noted,” he muttered, a smirk twisting his lips which almost made me smile too, but I stamped that motherfucker down.

Erik was a vampire. And no matter what I’d felt toward him in that fleeting moment of madness, it didn’t matter. Because humans didn’t fall for bloodsuckers, they just got trapped in their snare. But I wasn’t going to be some creature in his trap, just waiting for him to come make a feast of me. I’d be ready with teeth and claws of my own.

“What’s this for?” I asked.

“You will be spending the day with Fabian, remember?” Erik said, an edge to his tone. “And you’ll behave, won’t you?”

Behave was code for ‘stick to the plan’. I nodded, and he gave me a searching look that said he didn’t quite believe me. But I guessed he had no choice but to try.

Erik seemed like he wanted to say something more, but instead, he turned to Nancy and murmured, “Good luck,” then headed out of the room.

The tension in the air disbanded and I soaked in the relief at being apart from him again. He was too intoxicating up close. I needed to focus on getting through my day with Fabian. Nothing else. I had to figure out if betraying Erik to Fabian was even viable, or if the prince who apparently ran the Realms was as brutal as his reputation.

Nancy moved towards me cautiously, pointing me toward the dressing table. “Take a seat and let’s get started.”

I yawned as I moved to comply, last night’s strange dreams coming back to me as I perched on the stool before the mirror. I’d seen Callie, felt the closeness of my twin, and I swear at moments, it could have been real. As if we had found our way to each other through the dark, but I knew that was just a mirage I wanted to believe in.

I gazed at myself in the gilded mirror, my eyes heavy with dark circles and my lips overly pale. Frankly, the lack of sleep showed, and I looked like shit.

Nancy started combing my hair and I put my faith in her, her magic powders and array of fluffy brushes to make me fit for this day. Because if I was going to get Fabian interested in me, then I needed to look like an immortal vampire with flawless skin instead of a sleepy-ass human.

Nearly an hour later, Nancy - for all her monstrous faults - had done it. I was primed for Fabian with my face painted to perfection and my dark hair coiling down my spine in loose waves. There was no trace of the tiredness around my eyes, and I had to marvel at Nancy’s skill, even if I would never speak a word of admiration in her direction.

“Lovely,” she announced, threading her fingers through my hair as she arranged it over my shoulders. “It’s so good to see you smile, Montana.”

I glanced at myself in the mirror in surprise, discovering that she was right. I was smiling, but it wasn’t a cutesy little puppet of a smile, it was a wicked thing that spoke of the rush I felt at having a plan up my sleeve. Or at least, that was how it appeared to me. To Nancy, it probably looked like I was delighted with my new look. But you don’t know anything, Nancy.

When I didn’t reply, she gave me a knowing look like she understood something. “Prince Erik is quite the catch.”

My smile faltered at her insinuation and her belief that I was just a giddy moron who had fallen for the prince.

“Is he? I hadn’t noticed,” I said coldly. “He’s not really my type, being a hungry, blood-sucking demon and all.”

Nancy’s soft features skewed with hurt. “We’re not all bad,” she said gently.

I could have sworn those emotions in her eyes were real, and they made my gut tug, urging an apology to my lips. But I’d be damned if she was going to get that from me. I wasn’t going to say sorry to a creature who would happily drink a cup of my blood if I handed it to her.

I quickly changed lanes. “This stuff is wild.” I circled a finger around my face. “I don’t look like the undead now.”

She laughed softly, moving closer. “Actually, I’d say the opposite. The undead are the hottest thing in the New Empire.” She headed across the room and searched through the closet, examining the dresses before picking out a long, green gown the colour of General Wolfe’s cloak.

“Not that one,” I growled, and she frowned.

“Fine. You pick one,” she said, planting her hands on her hips.

I moved to the closet, rifling through the dresses, wondering what the best option was for today. I had to grab Fabian’s attention, so looking appealing was high on my priority list, even if it made my skin crawl to do it. My fingers halted on an ebony gown with thin straps, a low-cut neckline and a slit up one leg. I’d never cared about the clothes I wore back in the Realm, not beyond choosing whatever was most practical. But with the options I faced here, I started to see why the vampires liked their finery. If you didn’t have to think about where your next meal was going to come from, or how you were going to make it through another cold winter’s night, I guessed you’d have more time for dressing up and prancing about the place like a carefree dipshit.

I took a slow breath, making my decision as I plucked the dress from the rack, ready to embrace my carefree assholeness. Or at least the illusion of it.

Nancy helped me into it, then stood back, admiring the flowing gown which gripped my waist and ass like it was made for me.

“Does it look okay?” I asked Nancy. “Do you think Fabian will like it?”

Her eyes sparkled, and her face went all glowy as she clearly thought I wanted to impress her prince.

“See for yourself.” She guided me toward the large mirror on the wall and I fell still as I spotted my reflection.

The dress was striking and even made my cleavage look fuller, the slit between my tits dropping almost to my belly button. If this thing didn’t grab Fabian’s attention and kick him in the dick with desire, then nothing would.

“Enjoy your day.” Nancy bowed her head then hurried to exit the room, leaving me to my thoughts.

Nerves pooled in my stomach as I waited, the minutes ticking by as I expected Fabian to come for me, but the next person to step through the door was Erik.

“I just wanted to check you hadn’t decided to dress in rags.” His eyes slid from my head to my toes, and I felt like I was being skinned alive. Heat sparked at the base of my spine as I awaited his conclusion, folding my arms and jutting up my chin in a way that told him I didn’t give a damn what he thought of me.

When he didn’t find any words to give me, I prompted an answer from him.

“Are these rags alright, Prince Boring?” I asked dryly.

Erik cleared his throat, and his voice was gravelly when he spoke. “Passable.”

“Good enough to draw your brother’s eye?” I pressed.

“His attention is easily won, keeping it will be the challenge,” he said, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve, though there didn’t seem to be anything astray with it.

“I’m sure I can think of a thing or two to say to keep his attention if all else fails,” I said airily, and Erik’s gaze sharpened.

“You are playing a very deadly game,” he warned. “If you think outing my plan to him is a good idea, I assure you, you will regret it. He will show no mercy to you, no matter what he might promise. You will be far better off following our original plan, then I shall see what I can do about your family.”

“So you still haven’t done anything?” I hissed, and his demeanour darkened in an instant.

“Play your part, rebel. And it will be done,” he barked, making my heart lurch in my chest.

“Fine,” I said bitterly. “But I will revert to plan B if you keep me waiting much longer.”

He scored a hand down his face, composing himself in the face of the frustration I was clearly causing him, and I couldn’t help but take a little pride in that.

“So. Fabian,” Erik clipped. “Do as he asks today, but feel free to tease him in your usual way. I suspect he will fall for it hook, line and sinker.”

“Did you want me to ask him anything specific?”

Oh fuck. I’m actually going to do this.

“Not today. You must earn his trust first.” He stepped closer and offered me his arm. “I’ll walk you to his room.”

I didn’t take his arm, so he took mine instead, locking it in place with his elbow.

“Another shackle,” I murmured.

“Well, you are my prisoner after all,” he said, dropping his head to look at me, and amusement danced in his eyes.

A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, like we were sharing in some fucked-up joke, and perhaps we were. My heart beat harder under the fierceness of his attention, but I didn’t look away, caught in a dare of who would submit first.

Erik turned, towing me from the room as he set a fast pace.

“Did you sleep well in your coffin?” I asked coolly. “Oh, wait. Do you even sleep? Or do you lay awake all night counting your blessings? There must be so many of those here in your fancy castle.”

There was some true curiosity in my question, to be fair. I’d heard hundreds of rumours about vampires in my lifetime; I didn’t know what was true and what wasn’t.

“Yes, I sleep. But only every few days. We don’t need as much as humans. And my blessings aren’t quite so many as you would believe.”

“Uh huh,” I said blandly, stowing away that truth, along with the rest of the information I’d gathered during my time here.

We drifted along a bright corridor with beautiful paintings of the grounds hanging on the walls, and all I could hear was my pulse thrumming musically in my ears.

“How did you sleep?” Erik asked after an age, and I looked up at him in surprise, unsure why either of us were keeping up this ruse of civility. But I supposed it beat being tied to a bed.

“I keep having strange dreams,” I admitted. “I saw my sister.”

“The fugitive?” he asked, and I nodded, scowling at the word. “I ordered my men to bring her here when she’s found.”

I stopped walking, gazing up at him in relief. Not that this castle was a great place to be, but it was better than dead or strung up for your blood to be harvested.

My nails dug into his arm as desperation filled me. “Here?”

“Yes.” Erik nodded stiffly, his gaze glittering with a promise I hoped he’d keep.

“Why didn’t you mention this before?”

“Because you were being mouthy. You see, I reward you when you’re behaving.”

His hand pressed into the base of my spine, making my stomach knot as he drew me closer. I stood inches from him, taking in the sharp line of his brow, the shadows that lay in the depths of his ash grey eyes, speaking of some wickedness I couldn’t even put a name to.

“Let’s not keep my brother waiting,” Erik murmured, but he made no move to continue walking.

“I don’t plan to,” I said. “It’s you who’s holding me here.”

“Mm,” he grunted, unspoken words seeming to thicken the air between us, though I wasn’t entirely sure what they were.

Erik took my arm again, encouraging me along the corridor, and as we walked, hope expanded in the centre of my chest. If he was telling the truth, at least Callie wouldn’t end up in the blood bank if she was caught. And that meant I might be reunited with her soon, though truthfully, I hoped she’d continue to evade the vampires. If anyone could survive out in the harsh world beyond the Realm, it was my sister.

Erik tugged me to a halt again as we arrived outside a black wooden door. He lowered his head, talking into my ear as all the vampires seemed to do when they didn’t want to be overheard. Although this time, it felt more intimate than convenient.

“Only kiss him if you have to, rebel.” His breath floated over my neck, and I shivered, fighting away the urge to lean into him.

My thoughts tangled as I tried to decipher the intention behind his words, unsure if it was a tactic he wanted me to play or if there was some deeper meaning I couldn’t be sure of.

Taking my wrist, he pulled me in front of the door, rapped his knuckles on it, then disappeared in a flash of movement. I glanced around, shell-shocked at his abrupt departure which had left my dress fluttering around my legs, the asshole long gone already.

The door opened and I came face to face with Fabian. He was dressed in a black suit, looking godly with his dark locks pulled up into a neat bun on top of his head. His eyes were two rusty coins, gleaming with interest. “I was about to come and hunt you down.”

“I guess I hunted you down first.” I tried out a smile and it wasn’t too hard. Despite what I knew about Fabian, his aura wasn’t nearly as oppressive as Erik’s.

“That predator instinct will serve you well here.” He stepped into the corridor and offered me his arm.

I took it, the firm muscle of his bicep flexing against my hand, and I glanced up at him with narrowed eyes, sensing he’d done that on purpose. I guessed I was meant to be impressed by that, so instead of wrinkling my nose, I fluttered my lashes.

“Do you have to work at keeping in shape or is it a part of your general…monstrosity?”

He cut me a sharp look at that word, but then his lips twisted into a smirk. “I look the same as I did the day I was turned.”

“You were turned?” I asked in surprise.

“By the gods,” he said grimly, then hurried on as if he didn’t want to talk about that. “My brothers, sister and I were the very first of our kind. I was a Viking warrior back then, blood and death almost as much a part of my life as it is now.”

I recalled the stories Dad had told me about the past, and my mind reeled at how long ago that must have been.

“So you were always built for violence,” I stated, bitterness coating my tongue.

“Violence, power, greatness,” he agreed, and my heart stammered at the savagery that clung to those words.

“Are those things you value, Prince Fabian?” I asked, heat scoring a line up the back of my neck.

My temper was already simmering, and I knew I needed to find out the truth as to whether he truly was responsible for the Realms, or if Erik had just been lying to shirk responsibility. Either way, the blame lay with these royals, and I ached to hold them accountable.

“Of course,” he said, reeling me closer. “But they are things to strive for, not things to be savoured.”

“And what do you savour?”

“Beauty…” He carved his finger along my jaw, then ran it down to my throat. “Blood…” His fingers curled around my neck, squeezing gently and making my heart race. “And fucking.”

“Which do you long for most?” I whispered, his thumb stroking the pulse point in my neck, and I sensed the beast in him was near.

“Blood,” he exhaled with a shadow in his eyes. “There is never anything I desire more than that, it is impossible. The thirst transcends life and death itself.”

“It sounds horrible,” I said, and he dropped his hand, his brow lowering as if he had been reluctant to do so, and I was relieved to be out of his hold.

“Yes.” He frowned. “The thirst is a terrible thing, but once quenched, it is euphoric. A high like no other.” His fangs glinted at me, and he wetted his lips. “Come, speak of something else, you are making me hungry.”

We began walking through parts of the castle I’d not seen, my focus captured by a beautiful music room and a hall of tapestries before heading into a conservatory that overlooked the huge garden, the grass stretching away from us under a grey sky, the morning dew still glittering on each blade.

Breakfast was laid out beside one of the windows and Fabian guided me toward it, pulling out a chair at the table and gesturing for me to sit.

Thanking him, I dropped into it and eyed the selection of food with a growl in my stomach. Crescent-shaped breads sat beside pots of coloured jellies and a slab of butter, all of it far too much for just one human.

“Croissants,” Fabian announced, sitting opposite me, and spreading himself out in his seat. “A food humans like, apparently.”

“I never saw anything like this in my Realm,” I said with false confusion, wondering if he might comment on why we were given so little food. And certainly nothing that looked freshly baked.

“No?” he questioned vaguely as if he didn’t particularly care, and heat coursed up my spine.

“No, our rations were pretty inadequate actually.”

He shrugged. “It must seem so now you are here, but not everyone can live like royalty. Are you going to eat, or shall I have them disposed of?” He pushed the plate of food toward me with enough force to warn me that I might be pushing him too far. Though his face remained friendly, I sensed danger stirring beneath the mask.

Keeping my expression neutral, I breathed in the doughy scent and my stomach growled again. I figured it wasn’t the worst fate in the world to eat one of these things, so I prised one apart and spread a red jelly on it. When it entered my mouth, my tastebuds went wild. It was sweet, flaky, goddamn mouth-watering.

I moaned and Fabian arched an eyebrow as I took bite after bite, soon left with nothing but the flaky remains scattered everywhere on the table in front of me.

“I told you to eat it, not brutally murder it,” Fabian said sharply, and my heart jolted.

He smiled in the next second, but it was a wolf’s smile and it set me on edge as he picked up a black and white paper which had been left on the table. The Royal Times was printed across the top of it, and I realised this was the newspaper he’d mentioned when I’d bumped into him before.

“No story about Erik’s undone fly, I’m afraid, but apparently a flock of pigeons shat all over an Elite,” he said.

A surprised laugh broke from my throat as Fabian lowered the paper, and his smile seemed suddenly stitched on, too taut, too much teeth showing.

My throat thickened as he leaned across the table, flattening the paper beneath his large hands. “How do you feel about my kind, love?”

His brown eyes burned into mine and there was no escaping the ruthless allure of him. But there was no lull of safety with him, he wasn’t pretending to be anything other than the predator he was now. I knew the truth was dangerous, but I got the feeling he would see right through my lies.

“I’ve hated you my entire life,” I said, unblinking. “Any prey would be a fool to befriend its predator.”

“A fool indeed,” Fabian said, rising to his feet and unnerving me a little as he walked closer, circling the table and drawing a lock of hair away from my neck. I didn’t move or show any sign of the fear that was creeping into me, instead looking up at him and awaiting his next move. “The difference is, now we’re giving you a chance to climb the food chain. And you don’t strike me as a prey animal, love.”

He swept behind me, finishing his full circle before lowering back into his seat and cocking his head to one side. “You will make a fine predator. And a beautiful one at that. You are a fine thing to behold already, so when you are one of us, you will be perfection embodied.”

“And what if I don’t want that?” I asked, anger sharpening my voice.

“Then you are the fool you claim not to be,” he said darkly. “Life has always been cutthroat, even before the vampires rose to power. When the humans reigned, your kind spilled each other’s blood. And not just in war. I have lived many lives, and through them all one thing has remained consistent. Humans do the most terrible of things to one another. At least now we have given the last of you a common enemy. But trust me, given the chance to rise, most of your people would do anything to seize power and not care whose blood they spilled in the process.”

“So I suppose I should be grateful,” I said overly sweetly, wanting to hurl the whole table at him and more. But I had a part to play here, and we were already way off subject. I had to get back on track because my family was depending on it.

“No, please, by all means despise me, love. I rather like the challenge,” he said, grinning wickedly.

I turned away to let him sit with that challenge while I studied the peaceful woodland beyond the conservatory. It looked like the perfect place to get lost, to immerse myself in the seemingly endless stretch of trees and pretend I was in one of the faraway dreamlands I’d once depended on to mentally escape the monotony of my Realm.

“It’s called Central Park,” Fabian said, bringing me back to the room. “Or it was, before the Final War. Now it’s just part of the castle grounds.”

“Humans used to live here?” I asked.

Despite having known the fact, it was hard to imagine them walking freely among those trees and lounging on the grass.

“Yes,” he replied. “The park was a tourist attraction.”

“What does that mean?” I pushed.

He started telling me about the old city, how people would travel from all across the world to visit it. Families would play in the fields and frolic in the woods. It was captivating. He built up such a picture in my mind that I could practically see them out there now, living that peaceful life.

My heart sank as I slowly came back to reality and my expression fell. Fabian was responsible for taking away that freedom. He was one of the reasons we couldn’t live that way anymore. And the more that settled on me, the deeper I despised his angelic face and charming tone.

“Come,” he commanded, rising abruptly. “We can take a walk out there, and you can tell me what it is you hate about me most.”

“I thought we only had a day together? I’d need at least a week to get through all that,” I said, standing, and he took hold of my arm, tugging me close to him forcefully and eyeing my face with deadly intrigue.

“Your humour leaves a lot to be desired,” he growled.

“Prince Erik finds me quite amusing,” I said with a shrug and his eyes sparked at that. Sure, I tended to be the butt of Erik’s humiliating jokes, but still.

“Does he now?” he murmured to himself, then half-dragged me out of the room.

We took a short set of stone stairs down to a wooden door and Fabian opened it, leading me into a little walled garden. I shivered in the cold wind and Fabian shed his jacket, sliding it around my shoulders before I could object.

“Oh, I’m fine.” I tried to take it off, but he clamped his arm over my shoulders tightly.

“I don’t offer chivalry to many humans,” he said coolly as if that made me such a lucky little thing.

“Wow,” I cooed sarcastically. “You really know how to win me over.”

“Even most vampires would kill to be in your place right now, love,” he said, his arrogance a special kind of irritating.

The leaves crunched under my feet as we walked, but Fabian barely seemed to disturb those beneath him. I gazed up at the tall trees, eyeing the little birds hopping between the branches, recalling the times I’d watched the birds flitting back and forth above the Realm, going wherever they pleased. More than once, Callie and I had pretended to have wings when we were kids, flapping around our tiny kitchen while Dad laughed. I’d dreamed of what it would have been like to just fly out of that place and go wherever I wanted. Now I was far from home in the most luxurious place I could have imagined, and I felt more like a prisoner than ever.

Fabian told me about the trees as we walked, naming every one of them as if that might be the key to impressing me. Then he spoke of the stream and the birdlife, clearly liking the sound of his own voice and having a willing ear to listen. I happily drank in the information though, stashing away the knowledge of things I could rarely have imagined learning about once.

As we headed through a cluster of oaks, he pulled me to a halt and spun me to face him, the mellow scent of him sailing under my nose. Like honey and orange, sharp and appetising.

It was quiet here, the circle of trees creating a clearing and someone had placed a carved wooden bench at the heart of it. Fabian stalked slowly towards me and I retreated at the same pace, part of me wanting to run, but turning my back on this monster seemed like a bad idea.

I had his full attention now, and knew my plan was working, though his hungry gaze said I was about to be his next meal if I didn’t keep him curious.

“I brought you here for a reason,” he said, and my breaths came a little unevenly.

“And what’s that?” I questioned, glancing away into the shadows between the trees, reminded of the huge vampire I’d seen lurking out here, who had hunted down one of his own and savagely killed him.

My head whipped back towards Fabian, and I sized him up, trying to fit that profile on him, but he wasn’t quite as big as that. Unless my mind had been playing tricks on me, and perhaps I’d overestimated the killer’s size. No one I’d seen in this place was as big as the vampire who had murdered so callously in these trees. Either way, it suddenly seemed like a very bad idea to have walked willingly into the deep dark woods with a deadly hunter.

“If you stand still, perhaps I can show you,” he said, the dare in his voice clear.

My legs stopped moving, my trust in this situation long lost, but if he had brought me here to bite me or worse, then I stood no chance of escaping either way.

Better to die with your fists swinging than your feet running.

Dad’s words. And at the thought of them, I found strength. He had fought with fury and ferocity in the face of adversity, and I would damn well do the same.

Fabian closed the space between us, and his hand came up to cup my chin, his fingers like ice against me. He dragged his thumb over my lower lip, pressing with almost enough force to bruise, but I didn’t let him see me wince. “Are you afraid, love?”

“Never,” I breathed.

“Liar,” he accused. “It’s human to be afraid. Your heart flutters, your breaths quicken. I can taste the fear on you no matter how hard you try to fight it. But when you turn…” He took my free hand, lifting it up to place against his chest where no heart pounded, just a hollow silence that felt wholly unnatural. “It all stops.”

“If you can’t feel, what’s the point in living?” I growled, pulling my hand away, and Fabian’s grip tightened on my jaw.

“Oh I feel, love,” he said, darkness dripping through his expression. “I just don’t feel weakness. Instead, I feel strength and immortality flowing through me like liquid power.”

“There’s a price for that,” I said. “One I’d never pay to be a monster.”

“There’s more to us than you think,” he insisted.

“So there’s nothing of being human you miss?”

His dark brows pulled together, and he hesitated on answering before finally muttering, “No.”

But I didn’t think that was the truth at all.

“Now, look,” he said, using his grip on my chin to angle my head towards the tree canopy. For a second, I thought he was simply exposing my throat to him, but then I saw what he was trying to show me.

A huge bird sat up one of the branches, two large brown eyes staring at me that were almost the exact same colour as Fabian’s.

“He’s an owl,” Fabian said, releasing me and stepping back, raising his right arm and bending it before him. He shut his eyes for a moment, then the owl took off and a rush of wings and feathers came swooping towards me.

I gasped, staggering back before it landed on Fabian’s arm, the creature even bigger than it had seemed up there in the tree, with mottled brown colouring and huge white tufts over its sharp talons.

“He’s tame,” Fabian promised, stepping closer. “You can stroke him if you like. His name is Heimdall, named after the watchmen of the gods.”

I tentatively reached out, running my palm over the owl’s silky feathers.

“He’s beautiful,” I whispered, glancing up at Fabian. “Did you train him?”

“Not exactly.” Fabian stroked the owl as he explained, “I can control him. Any animal I bond with will be eternally linked to me. I can see through their eyes, guide them wherever I like.”

“Like a spy?” I gasped in horror.

He grinned darkly. “We call them familiars.”

“Can all vampires do that?” I asked as a cold realisation hit me. The vampires had always known everything in the Realm. Was this how they’d been able to keep an eye on us?

“Yes, but some are particularly good at it. Like myself.” Fabian lifted his arm, and the bird took flight, hooting as it rose into the trees once more. “I have a natural affinity with animals. I prefer them to people. Especially Heimdall.”

My gut churned. No wonder the vampires always had the upper hand with us...

Fabian regarded me with a frown. “Can I be honest with you, Montana?”

My own name sent a jolt through me. Erik insisted on calling me rebel no matter how much I told him not to. Hearing my name from Fabian’s mouth almost made me feel like an equal. But that was the last thing I was when it came to him. I may have been playing games with this vampire, but he was playing his own.

“Sure,” I replied.

“The day you walked into the courtyard, I thought you were trouble. But that’s not what I see here standing before me.”

My throat tightened at his words. “What trouble could a human really cause?” I asked innocently, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.

Please don’t see through me. What if he’s figured out that I’m working for Erik?

“Precisely. And I see that now. I believe I was playing it safe in choosing Paige, though my first thought was to select you. But you were standing half naked in front of a crowd of Elite with mascara smeared down your face, and I do have a reputation to uphold.”

I gritted my teeth. “Of course. I suppose Erik has damaged his reputation in choosing me?” I definitely hoped so.

“Yes, Erik has caused quite a stir; there have been several articles about him and his wild human already. They’re calling you the cavegirl.”

“Nice,” I deadpanned.

“It hasn’t hit his reputation quite as badly as I might have suspected, though Erik often dances to his own tune, so it is hardly a surprise to the masses that he has acted rashly. I, however, have a very clean slate and I would not be quick to tarnish it. Though maybe you are worth the damage I might incur. I am yet to decide.”

He reached out to tuck the lock of hair behind my ear as it came loose again. His hand on my skin made me stiffen, but I forced myself to lean into his touch instead of recoiling.

“Erik says you run the Realms?” I asked, keeping my tone casual, though adrenaline buzzed through my veins. “That must take up a lot of your time.”

“Yes, quite. But I have many subordinates to assist me,” he said, pride washing over his face while sickness engulfed me. Erik hadn’t lied. This truth was black and white now. And that made me despise Fabian so deeply that it physically hurt.

“Anyway, I am sure all this political talk is going right over your head, so let’s talk of something else,” he said.

I nodded, giving him a sugary smile rather than the slap I wanted to offer him.

“I still don’t understand what you want with us,” I said, wondering if I might get more of an answer from him than I had from Erik about the point of the ritual.

“Yes, well, be patient and all will be revealed.” He gave me a heated look. “You’re shivering.”

I was pretty sure I wasn’t, but he tugged me closer by the lapels of his jacket around my shoulders, trapping my arms inside it, and my heart pounded frantically as he leaned down.

Oh hell no, is he going to kiss me?

The glimmer in his eyes said he was. As he drew closer, I recalled the female vampire from the bar Erik had taken me to and at the last second, I offered him my cheek.

His mouth met my skin and a devilish laugh rolled up from his chest. “You’re fucking with me.”

“Am I?” I purred, but my heart crashed against my ribcage with the need to get away from him.

He held me a moment longer, wicked thoughts circling in his rust brown eyes. “One kiss from me and you’ll forget all about Erik.”

His hold loosened and I ducked out of his arms, dancing away. My heart rate settled a little as I put some more distance between us, but he hounded after me with a hungry look.

“I don’t kiss bloodsuckers,” I insisted, turning away, and taking a deep breath while he wasn’t looking.

“You were all over my brother the last time I saw you,” he accused, and my stomach twisted.

“Well Erik is…different,” I said lightly, trying to use their rivalry to my advantage. “He’s not like other vampires.”

I glanced back and saw the challenge spark in his eyes, assuring me I was on the right track.

“Whatever Erik has said to you to make you think he is some saint, I promise you he is coldblooded in every way imaginable. He chose you to make a mockery of the ritual, you’re his current entertainment. Nothing more. That is how Erik operates. He is bored by life and seeks pleasure in cruelty. You would do well to explore other options before you become another casualty of his tedium.”

I frowned, his words holding a ring of truth to them that I couldn’t ignore. As much as I hated Erik, I’d thought I’d seen something in him that wasn’t solely driven by callousness and a long-lost interest in life. But that had also been before he’d tied me to my bed and left me there to wrestle with my tethers all night.

“Walk with me,” Fabian insisted, shooting to my side and sliding an arm around my waist, giving me no choice in the matter.

We headed further into the woods, and I hesitated before slipping my own arm around his waist too, feeling hard muscles beneath my fingers. He was a feral animal, and those muscles told me all I needed to know about my chances against him if he ever decided to hurt me.

“What’s your other brother like?” I asked, aware I’d soon have to spend time with Miles.

“Emotionally unavailable, so he’s probably not worth your time pursuing romantically,” he remarked, and my eyes narrowed.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“His bodyguard is his consort,” he said simply.

“What does he want a wife for then?” I asked in surprise.

Fabian’s posture tensed a little. “It’s our duty. We must fulfil it.”

I bit back a retort. Duty? What did that even mean? Why take wives if they didn’t really want them? Weren’t they the kings of the world or some shit?

My mind swam with a hundred questions, and I decided to air one of them as calmly as I could, because I knew for a fact this wasn’t the first ritual these assholes had gone through, so that could only mean one thing.

“How many wives do you have?”

Fabian eyed me, seeming unsure whether to answer, then finally gave up the truth. “I have seven.”

I sucked in a breath, trying to get my head around that. “What about Miles?”

“Three,” he revealed. “And Clarice has many consorts in her harem, although none of them are officially married to her. She wishes to marry for love.” He snorted as if that idea amused him.

“What’s so wrong with that?” I asked.

Surely of all the things these royal vampires could afford, love was one of them. I’d never had that luxury in the Realm, too afraid of losing anyone I got close to. It was insulting to learn someone as privileged as Fabian could scoff at the idea of it.

“Because if there is one thing that embodies true weakness in this world, it is romantic love. I have known it once and once only. I shan’t be tempted into the trap of it again.” His jaw pulsed and true hurt crept into his gaze that spoke of the sharpest kind of pain. But it was gone when he blinked, replaced by a void.

“And Erik? How many wives does he have?” For some reason that question made my heart thump harder, and heat rise in my veins.

Fabian’s eyes grew colder. “He has none. He’s refused his duty to marry. It is not a lie what people have likely told you. You are the first human he has ever selected.”

The way he specifically mentioned humans made me desperately curious. “What about vampires?”

Fabian’s face flashed with irritation. “He has lovers occasionally. I am yet to see him look at any of them with more than lust.” He shrugged. “Let’s not talk about my brother.”

I longed to know what had pitted Erik and Fabian against one another, or if it was just natural competition that drove them against each other, but it was clear he wasn’t going to entertain any more questions about him.

The sound of voices rose in my ears, and I turned, spotting Erik strolling through the woods with Brianna locked under his arm a hundred feet away. She was laughing at something he said, looking beautiful in a peony gown which complimented her flowing dark hair. My pulse drummed in my ears as I watched him shoot her an effortless smile, his eyes full of light instead of the darkness he always offered me. And something about seeing them like that riled up a storm in me that I couldn’t make any sense of.

Brianna threw me a small wave and I returned it, catching Erik’s attention too as his eyes snapped my way. Coldness descended on his expression as he glanced from me to Fabian, then he tugged Brianna down another path, and I gazed after them with heat rippling through my chest.

Heimdall swooped overhead and called to Fabian with a loud hoot just before an Elite sprinted through the trees, her eyes piercingly green and her brown hair cut short.

As she arrived, she bowed low to Fabian, throwing me an inquisitive glance. “Forgive me for the intrusion, your highness. I have unfortunate news.” She gave me another look, seeming uncertain if she should continue.

“Speak freely,” Fabian encouraged, and the woman bowed her head.

“Chancellor Torin was found dead this morning. His remains were gathered from his apartment, but we’re unsure of the cause. Although...” She eyed me once more and Fabian nodded for her to continue. “There were signs of forced entry.”

My thoughts wheeled to the murder I’d witnessed in these woods, and I had to wonder if the violent monster who had killed one of the guards had been involved in this death, or if vampires ended up killing each other more often than I could guess. Either way, I didn’t want to voice my thoughts on the matter. Not to Fabian anyway.

“I see,” Fabian said tersely. “Thank you for informing me, Constable Mirell.”

She bowed once more before hurrying back in the direction she’d come from.

I gazed up at Fabian’s taut expression and he sighed, turning to me. “Sorry, love. I have to take a trip into the city. Let’s meet for dinner later. I am not even close to done with you.”

My stomach knotted at his seductive tone. “Okay,” I said quickly, like I couldn’t be more willing to spend extra time with this asshole.

“I’ll escort you back to the castle.”

“It’s fine, I know the way back,” I said, wanting to be rid of his company as soon as possible.

He observed me for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. But no detours, love. Heimdall will be watching.”

The owl hooted at me, and I glanced up at the beautiful creature in the tree, not liking the way his eyes didn’t blink. He seemed less cute now that he was spying on me.

Fabian bent down, placing a soft kiss against my cheek without aiming for my mouth this time, and I was relieved he was respecting that boundary. At least for now.

My skin felt singed when he stepped back, then he rushed away after the woman at high speed, setting a wind whipping around me. I stood there in the woods, totally alone, wondering if I should have tried to go with him for the sake of Erik’s plan, but Fabian probably wouldn’t have let me anyway.

I turned back in the direction of the castle, taking the path Erik and Brianna had disappeared down. Their voices soon carried to me and I quickened my pace, wanting to pass them by as fast as possible. As I broke through the treeline, I found them sitting on a blanket on the lawn beyond the woodland, chatting about something with obvious enthusiasm.

A rustle of feathers above told me Heimdall was spying on all of us, though there wasn’t much I could do about that. It wasn’t like I was doing anything wrong, but his presence made me feel uneasy.

“Where’s Fabian?” Erik shot in front of me so fast that I slammed straight into his chest and Fabian’s jacket fell from my shoulders onto the ground. I was damn sure he’d caused that on purpose.

“Fuck. Ow. What is wrong with you?” I snarled, rubbing my nose and trying to step past him.

He used his broad chest to bar my way again, and I pouted up at him indignantly.

“Answer me, rebel.”

“He went for a shit, I believe,” I said through a false smile.

He barked a laugh, then clapped a hand down on my shoulder and spun me around, making me dizzy. “Then go wipe his royal ass. You are not to leave his side.”

“He’s busy.” I darted off the path, catching Brianna’s eye as I tried to run around Erik, but he shot into my way again. She had a look of fear about her, as if she expected him to tear my head off for my behaviour, but he would have done that long before now if that had been an option.

Erik caught me by the waist, wheeling me around to face the opposite way again, and I growled like a wildcat.

“He’s off on some royal duty, Erik. He sent me back to the castle.”

He finally let me go, his lips twitching in frustration, then his gaze darted to the trees. I glanced back, spotting Heimdall there, barely visible among the leaves, but he was clearly watching us.

“Fine. Go,” Erik muttered, taking hold of my waist and painting on the fakest of smiles. His lips pressed to my temple, and I fought the instinct to knee him in the balls, melting into him instead and letting Fabian see us like this through Heimdall’s eyes.

I tiptoed up to whisper in his ear, making it look so very intimate, but my words were dripping with hate. “I’m going to go back to my room and dream about all the ways I’d love to see you die.”

His mouth brushed my ear and a shiver darted through me from his ice cold touch. “Well, while you’re fingering yourself over my death, rebel, I’ll be here enjoying the company of an obedient little human, not thinking of you at all.”

He was gone in a flash, his super speed ensuring he always got the last word in when he wanted it, and I realised he’d taken Fabian’s jacket with him, so I was left to shiver in the cold. I stalked off along the path, not looking back at him and Brianna, my blood as hot as hellfire.

I made it back to the castle, passing by a couple of guards, but the halls were quiet as I walked inside, and my skin prickled with a strange sensation. I jogged upstairs, intending to return to my room, but the feeling wouldn’t subside. I felt...watched. And it wasn’t by Heimdall this time. There was no chance that big bird could have followed me in here without me noticing.

I eyed the corridor, searching for the source of the feeling, but there was no one there.

Maybe I’m being paranoid.

Continuing on, I quickened my pace, wanting to put a closed door between myself and the quiet hallways.

Before I stepped into my room, a rat scurried across my path, and I frowned in surprise. I’d seen plenty of the creatures in the Realm, but I wouldn’t have expected to find one here in the immaculate castle. I watched as it paused a few feet away, then glanced back, looking directly at me.

“Vermin in the hallways,” a malicious voice cut into me like a dagger. “Tut. Tut.”

I flinched around, coming face to face with General Wolfe, and my gut clenched violently. His cold blue eyes weren’t on the rat, but me.

“What will we do about this infestation?” he mused.

I clasped the door handle behind me, desperate to escape this vile vampire. But the moment I tried to open it, he moved toward me at speed, slamming his hands either side of my head and crushing me to the door.

“Get away from me!” I cried, panic slashing through me as his powerful body pinned me in place.

His hand slammed against my mouth and a wave of terror flowed into my veins as he silenced me.

“No one’s here. It’s just you and me. And I’ve been wanting to have this conversation for a while.” I hated how beautiful he was, how cruel something so perfect-looking could be. His silver hair was slicked back to perfection, icy blue eyes observing me coldly.

My shoulders trembled, but I glared back at Wolfe with defiance, refusing to let him see me cower.

“I’m going to remove my hand, and if you scream, I’ll make sure you regret it,” he growled, his lifeless eyes drilling into mine.

I nodded and he released me but kept me penned within his arms. “Five vampires were killed outside of your Realm, human. Your sister was present when it happened, now tell me how that could be possible.”

My heart thudded harder as his words unfolded in my mind and I shook my head, having no answer for that. Callie couldn’t have killed them. It was impossible.

“I don’t know,” I breathed.

“Hm,” he grunted irritably. “I think you do know. In fact, I think your family are hiding a nasty little secret.”

He snatched my right arm, turning it over to study my forearm in the exact same way Valentina had done. He twisted it left and right, inspecting it under his nose.

“What are you looking for?” I demanded, fighting to keep my voice steady.

He dropped my arm, reaching into his robes and producing something wrapped in a sheath of thick leather. Unfolding it, he revealed a curved golden blade with runes inscribed on the hilt, the blade a thing of beauty.

Fear took me hostage and I leaned harder against the door to try and put some space between us, expecting him to strike me with it at any moment.

He can’t hurt me. The royals wouldn’t allow it.

But the royals weren’t here, so how could I be sure?

“Take the blade,” Wolfe commanded, offering it to me on the unfolded sheath of leather, not touching the thing himself.

I shrank back, shaking my head, confused by the strange command.

“Take it!” he barked, and I reached for it, having no choice.

I took hold of the hilt and it immediately warmed in my palm, a bright aura humming from within it and calling to my soul. Logic told me I was imagining it, but my heart told me it was real, this blade emitting some untold power.

Wolfe eyed me closely and I wondered what he was waiting for. Did he want me to attack him? Maybe he wanted an excuse to kill me. But why would anyone believe I’d attack an Elite?

The blade hummed, something ancient and natural about the impossible energy flowing from it into me, and I gasped as a strange voice entered my mind. Nightmare.

The weapon began to vibrate quietly in my palm and the urge to strike Wolfe overwhelmed me. It was as if it wanted me to fight, like it ached for Wolfe’s death as keenly as I did.

But if I fought him, that would equal my end.

“Well?” Wolfe snapped.

“Well what?” I whispered, refusing to tell him what I’d heard or how this weapon felt.

“Is the blade hot?” he snarled.

My lower lip threatened a quiver, and the blade seemed to whisper to me, don’t tell him the truth. I must have been going insane, but that voice seemed so certain, so trustworthy that I couldn’t ignore it. And I knew in the depths of my soul I needed to do as it said.

I gazed at Wolfe for a few more seconds, then constructed my face into confusion. “What do you mean hot? It’s a knife. It feels cold like any knife.”

His fingers twitched as if he wished to touch the blade himself, but something was stopping him.

“Do not lie to me.” He shoved a finger in my face, his eyes glinting with wildness.

“I’m not,” I insisted, praying I was convincing him.

He placed the sheath of leather over his palm, and I could tell how much he didn’t want to touch the blade.

“Give it to me,” he ordered.

As I handed it over, I purposefully dropped the handle so it touched his exposed wrist.

“Ah! You little bitch,” he hissed, quickly wrapping the knife in the leather.

I eyed the burn on his wrist with a thrill dancing in my chest. Whatever this blade was, it looked like it was designed to hurt vampires, and that made it my new best friend.

As he stowed the dagger beneath his robes, my heart ached with longing, like it wished to be reunited with the weapon, my fingers tingling from the loss of it and my right forearm beginning to itch.

Wolfe lowered his head, so he was nose to nose with me. “You will show me your arm again in a few days, then we’ll see.”

My heart nearly stopped as he forced me harder against the door, my back starting to ache from the pressure of his body against mine.

I ground my teeth, refusing to show my pain as his glare willed me to crack. But I wouldn’t. Not ever.

Finally, he released me with a growl of annoyance and relief tumbled through my chest.

Wolfe stepped back, lifting his angular chin. “Your sister will be caught soon. If you wish for her to arrive here without any little accidents happening, I suggest you keep this to yourself. Tell Prince Erik I questioned you and I’ll make sure she is gutted on her journey here.”

Fear burrowed into my heart, and I scowled at him, wishing I could hurt him in the way he’d hurt me and my family. If only I had that blade and a chance to drive it into his chest somewhere no one would find his body.

He turned on his heel, marching away, and I half-fell into my room as I twisted the handle at my back. My hands balled into fists and I fought the urge to scream my rage at knowing that piece of shit was on the hunt for my sister.

My forearm continued to tingle, and I observed it for some reaction. Nothing...

I shut my eyes, wishing I understood what had just happened, and light flooded my vision, followed by a glimpse of swaying trees. Birdsong and the rush of wind through a thousand leaves filled my ears. Golden hair danced around my face, tickling my cheeks.

“Callie?” I whispered aloud, then the vision faltered, and I found myself on my knees in a cold sweat.

I gathered myself up, trying to still my racing heart and looking down at my hair. Dark waves gazed back at me, and I blinked hard, feeling a little dizzy from whatever the hell had just happened. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me, but the feeling of that heated blade had been all too real, and I was sure I’d seen my twin, if only for a second.

I stripped out of the tight dress and changed into some soft pants and a white sweater. Then I dropped onto the velvet armchair, folding my legs beneath me, trying to figure out what Wolfe had been trying to discover, and my mind drifted into a daydream of a sunbathed forest and the sense that I was somehow achingly close to my twin.