Chapter 32

Gideon

I could not believe there had been a vampire within the bounds of the royal compound. My people were supposed to be safe from those creatures within the wall. Had I been too slow in closing that gap in the wall?

We had been at war with the vampires for as long as I could remember. The battle in which I had recently been poisoned had been against the vampire’s forces. They didn’t face us directly. No, they sent Rogues they gathered to their banner, and other creatures they controlled with their unholy magics.

I wondered whether a vampire had forced my brother’s Beta to strike me with that poisoned blade.

Today was the first time in years that I had fought a vampire face to face. Even with a dozen fighters at my back, even with all my skill and experience, I had barely been able to force the creature to flee.

It was possible that this one vampire had noticed the gap in our defenses and slipped inside. It was probably alone. Now that the hole was patched, we were probably safe enough.

But I could not risk the safety of the entire palace on an assumption. I needed to find out exactly who that vampire had been and how he had gotten inside. I needed to make sure no more could get inside in the future.

First, I summoned the palace guard. Already rumors about the fight with the vampire were beginning to spread.

“I suppose you’ve all heard about the attack today,” I said.

There were a few nods and some nervous shifting.

“There was one vampire,” I said. “It has been dealt with, and there is no indication of any further threat.”

I heard several sighs of relief at that statement.

“However, in the interests of caution, I want to double patrols,” I said. “Check in every hour. Go nowhere alone. Am I understood?”

“Yes, Prince Gideon,” the guards chorused.

Once that was settled, I went to speak with the guards who had first arrived to fight the vampire.

“You were the ones to respond to the attack first,” I said.

The first guard, Paul, nodded.

“Yes, your highness,” said the second, Jacob.

“Tell me everything about the encounter,” I ordered.

They did. Unfortunately, they had responded to Clara’s distress, and arrived only after the vampire had already attacked Clara and Nora.

My wolf whined at the idea of the two women facing down a vampire alone. For some reason, it remained fixated on the danger to Clara. I silenced the wolf and continued to question the guards.

“Did either of you see how the creature entered the compound?” I asked.

“No, your highness,” Jacob said, “But I recognized it.”

“Pardon me?” I asked.

“The vampire. I know it, well him. His name is Kyle. He works in the stables.”

“A vampire works in our stables?” I asked.

“Well, he looked like Kyle,” Jacob said. “Can vampires disguise themselves as other people, your highness?”

“I’ve never heard of them having such an ability,” I said grimly. “I will speak with the stable master. You two go rest. You’re relieved from patrol until tomorrow.”

They both bowed.

“Thank you, your highness,” Paul said.

I went to the stables. The last time I was here, I had been blind, injured, and wracked with poison. I’d nearly died on that straw floor. If not for the kindness of a gentle maid, I would not be here.

I shook my head. I had survived and this was just a stable. There was no reason to hesitate at the door.

The stable master met me just inside the door.

“Good day, your highness. May I ask what brings you to the stables today? I can have your steed ready in a moment if you’re wanting to take a ride.”

“No,” I said, “I had some questions for you.”

“Of course, your highness. Ask away, I am at your disposal.”

“It would be best to speak in private,” I said.

“My office then,” the stable master said.

He led me to a small, neatly kept room in the loft of the stable. I noticed that the room allowed him to oversee the entire stable.

“So, what requires all the secrecy, your highness?” the stable master asked.

“I need to talk about one of your workers,” I said. “You have stable hand known as Kyle?”

“Kyle, Kyle,” the stable master hummed, and then nodded slowly. “Yes, I do recall having a worker by that name. What of him?”

“How long has he been working here?” I asked.

“Oh, that’d be about…” The stable master paused, shook his head, and frowned. “Well, I can’t rightly say,” he continued. “He’s been here a while, though.”

“You can’t say?” I repeated. “Can’t you remember?”

“No, can’t say that I do,” the stable master admitted. “Funny thing. But it’s been a few years. Guess my memory’s not what it used to be.”

“You’re sure it’s been years?” I asked.

The stable master nodded confidently. “Yes, your highness. I distinctly recall him being here to help with those twin foals two winters ago. He always takes the night foal watch.”

Well, as he was a vampire that made sense. While vampires could move around in sunlight, it weakened them dramatically. It was disturbing to hear that he had been in the compound for at least two years, though. How had a vampire lived among my people for so long without being caught?

“What can you tell me about him?” I asked. “What kind of worker is he?”

The stable master hummed to himself in thought. “Well he’s a quiet sort. Keeps to himself mostly.”

“I see,” I said. “Does he have any friends or associates who might know more?”

“I don’t know of him having any friends,” the stable master said, “but I do believe he has a mate. She’s some pretty little maid. Give me a moment, I can find out where he lives. Since he’s mated he’ll have separate quarters, not a dormitory assignment.”

The vampire had a mate?

Was there another vampire among us, playacting at being a maid? Could the creature be in the royal palace even now?

I swallowed back my horror and took a single, deep breath. I had to maintain my composure.

“Here it is,” the stable master read off the vampire’s housing assignment.

“Thank you,” I said. “Your cooperation is appreciated. I will let you get back to your work.” I paused. “It is unlikely you will see Kyle again. But if you do, contact a guard immediately.”

“Is he in some kind of trouble?” the stable master asked.

“Yes,” I said. “I cannot speak of it at this time.”

“Of course, your highness, I know better than to ask questions,” the stable master said.

Knowing there might well be another vampire among my people, I first returned to the main palace. I found my Beta, Jasper, and gave him orders to have everyone tested.

“Everyone?” Jasper asked.

“Everyone,” I repeated. “From the lowest ranked maid to the highest nobles. Have the healers test each other and then send them with guards to test everyone else.”

Jasper bowed and went to obey my orders without further questions. At least I could be certain he was trustworthy. He’d been by my side since we were children, and I had no closer friend in the world.

I went to the vampire’s living quarters. The room was, naturally, very close by the stables. I had been sheltered by Lucy in one of these little rooms. Had I been resting a few rooms away from a vampire? I shuddered at the idea.

I stepped inside the room and looked around for any signs of a vampire’s presence. I’m honestly not sure what I expected to find. Contrary to popular belief, the creatures did not spend the day sleeping in a coffin. There were no goblets of blood or mutilated corpses.

Truthfully, the room looked much like any servant’s quarters. There was a bed with rumpled sheets. A few tunics had been tossed over a chair. The vampire wasn’t the neatest person but he wasn’t a total slob, either. I saw no signs of any mate, though. All the clothing was men’s, and there were no obviously feminine items in the small washroom.

I noticed a photograph frame sitting face down on a table near the bed. Curious, I picked it up. The image showed the vampire, Kyle, with his arm around a very pretty young maid, presumably his mate. I recognized her immediately.

The vampire’s mate was my mistress, Nora.