VERONICA NIGHT (The After Midnight Series)

“I don’t wanna stay alone! Why can’t I go with you this time?” Emma cried.

I held her little face in my hands. “Emma, listen to me, okay? It’s just for a little while. Selene will make sure you have everything you need while I’m away.”

She shook her head, holding on to my wrists. At ten years old, my little sister was stubborn enough to argue until she got what she wanted. But not this time.

I had no idea whether I would return from the hunting games. Still, we were running out of food, and I couldn’t keep watching her go hungry. Winning a million coins was our only chance at a better life.

“I don’t want to stay with Selene! I want to stay with you!” she protested.

“Emma, please. Do this for me, okay? When I come back, we can do whatever you want.”

She stopped crying and looked at me hopefully.

“Anything?”

I sighed in relief. “Yes, anything.”

“Even the big berry tree?”

My smile faded for a moment. A few months ago, some idiots had cut down her favorite berry tree. I hadn’t told her because I couldn’t bear to see her disappointment. Now I was using it to convince her to let me leave.

“Yes, even the big berry tree. We’ll go there together.” I kissed her hands.

She wiped her tears. “Okay, but you have to come back soon.”

“I will.”

I stood up and found Selene waiting by the door.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of the little one,” she promised.

“Thank you. This means so much to me.”

“You’re my best friend, Vee. Of course I’ll help.” Her smile faded. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

I nodded. “I have to, Selene. We’re running out of everything. Those demons have left us with barely enough food to survive, and I can’t keep relying on you.”

“You can never be a burden to us.”

I squeezed her hand. “If I don’t return, please promise me you’ll take care of Emma.”

Selene shook her head. “Don’t say that. You’re coming back, and we’ll be waiting for you right here.”

I wanted to believe her.

After my father died, Selene had helped us whenever she could. She’d even tried getting me a servant’s position in one of the elite vampires’ households, but they weren’t hiring anymore. There were already enough humans serving them.

My only option now was the hunting games.

“I have to go. The first round starts tomorrow,” I said, struggling to swallow the lump in my throat.

I’d been a hunter since I was fifteen. At twenty-six, I knew how to track animals, use a bow, and handle a dagger. I’d spent years learning how to survive in the wild. But this time, I wouldn’t be the hunter.

I’d be the prey.

Selene pulled me into a hug. “Survive,” she whispered.

“I will.”

The next morning, I packed my daggers, bow, and arrows. I’d heard weapons weren’t allowed, but I wasn’t about to enter the games completely defenseless.

I wore black leather pants, a fitted vest, and sturdy boots. They were light enough for running and dark enough to help me hide in the shadows. After one last look around our little home, I left.

The guards escorted us to the arena, where dozens of contestants were already gathering. Some looked confident, while others stood quietly, avoiding everyone’s eyes. A few kept glancing at the gates as if they were already considering making a run for it.

I couldn’t blame them.

We all had our reasons for being there, but I suspected most of us wanted the same thing: a chance to escape poverty. Some wanted money for their families. Others probably wanted to escape lives of hunger and servitude. Whatever our reasons, we were all about to risk our lives for a chance at something better.

The arena was enormous, surrounded by tall stone walls and packed spectator stands. Golden banners hung from the upper balconies, while enormous torches burned along the walls despite the morning light.

The vampires sitting above us wore expensive clothes and jewelry, laughing and chatting as if they’d come to watch a performance. Some were already placing bets on who would survive. One pointed at me, whispering something to his companion before they both laughed.

My hands curled into fists.

We were fighting for our lives, and they were treating it like a game.

“Look at these bloodsucking fuckers,” a girl beside me muttered. “They look like they haven’t worked a day in their miserable lives.”

I turned to her. She had ginger hair, freckles across her nose, and an expression that suggested she wasn’t impressed by any of this.

I already liked her.

“Probably because they haven’t,” I replied.

She grinned. “I’m Debby, by the way. My real name is Debra, but I hate it. Call me Debby.”

“Veronica.”

“Nice to meet you, Veronica. Hopefully, we both survive long enough to celebrate.”

“Hopefully,” I agreed, though I wasn’t sure there would be much celebrating if we actually made it out alive.

Before I could say anything else, a loud chime rang through the arena. A man in an elegant black suit stepped onto the platform. He carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew everyone present was waiting for him to speak.

“Welcome to this season’s royal hunting games!” he announced.

The vampires cheered.

“The rules are simple. No weapons are permitted inside the hunting grounds. Any contestant caught carrying one will be disqualified. That means instant death!”

He grinned at the last part.

I stared at him, wondering whether he enjoyed his job or was simply as cruel as the audience he entertained.

A guard began checking the contestants and collecting their weapons. I held my breath as he approached, silently hoping he wouldn’t discover the daggers hidden beneath my clothes.

Thankfully, he moved on without finding them.

I released a quiet breath and tried to look innocent.

“Second, there are no shortcuts,” the host continued. “You will enter the hunting grounds, where elite teams from the great vampire houses will hunt you down. Once a hunter chooses you, you become their prey. The team that captures you will decide your fate.”

He paused, smiling at the crowd.

“If you’re fortunate, you’ll become a slave. If you’re not, death awaits you.”

The vampires laughed.

I swallowed hard. I knew how these games usually ended. Some contestants were taken as slaves, but others were killed simply for their captors’ amusement.

I couldn’t let that happen to me. Emma was waiting for me at home.

The host raised his hand, and several groups of vampires entered the field. Each wore the colors of their respective houses, and the crowd grew louder as they appeared.

The first group wore deep red uniforms trimmed in black, with a flame-shaped crest embroidered over their hearts. They represented the House of Blood and Fire, a family known for producing some of the most brutal fighters among the vampires.

Their leader had broad shoulders, red eyes, and a scar running from his temple to his jaw. He looked as though he would happily tear someone apart just to relieve his boredom.

I decided immediately that I wanted nothing to do with him.

The next group wore rich violet uniforms decorated with silver. Their crest was a crescent moon surrounded by thorns, and their movements were smooth and controlled. They belonged to the House of Nightbloom, whose hunters were famous for their tracking skills and their habit of toying with their prey before making the final move.

One of them smiled at the contestants as he passed.

For some reason, that smile was worse than an outright threat.

Then came the green house, dressed in dark green coats bearing the image of a black serpent coiled around a tree. The House of Thornvale was known for its knowledge of poisons, traps, and the forests surrounding the hunting grounds. Their hunters understood the wilderness better than most humans ever could.

Looking at them, I wondered whether they would even need to chase us. They might simply leave a few traps in our path and wait for us to make a mistake.

The House of Frostmere followed in white uniforms with silver detailing. A white raven spread its wings across each vampire’s chest. Their pale clothing made them stand out against the darker uniforms around them, but their expressions were anything but welcoming.

Frostmere was known for its cold discipline and merciless punishments. Its members rarely showed emotion, and the few who glanced at us did so without the slightest hint of interest.

I couldn’t decide whether that was better or worse than the violet house’s smiles.

Next came the royal blue house, their uniforms decorated with silver waves and a crown. The House of Stormcrown had a reputation for discipline and powerful warriors, many of whom served as commanders in the vampire forces. They marched in perfect formation, never breaking rank or turning to acknowledge the cheering crowd.

If they hunted the way they marched, we were in trouble.

The last group wore dark brown uniforms with bronze clasps, each bearing a black mountain emblem. These were the hunters of the House of Ironwood, known for their strength, endurance, and ability to survive in the harshest conditions.

They were built like warriors, with thick arms and powerful frames. One of them rolled his shoulders as he entered the field, looking almost eager to get started.

I studied all six houses carefully, trying to remember their colors and symbols. If I could identify the hunters quickly, perhaps I could use their reputations to my advantage.

Then the arena fell into a different kind of excitement.

The royal house had arrived.

Their uniforms were brilliant gold with black detailing, and their crest showed a crowned dragon clutching a sword. They were the descendants of Count Dracula himself, and their bloodline had ruled the vampires for generations.

Their power was beyond anything ordinary humans could imagine. Even the other vampire houses treated them with respect, giving way as their members passed.

Their wealth was obvious in everything, from the gold thread sewn into their uniforms to the jewels set into their rings. They didn’t need to announce who they were. Everyone in the arena already knew.

I recognized the golden uniforms immediately.

And then I saw him.

The Demon Prince was standing among the royal hunters.

His face was everywhere in town, from newspapers to posters, so I recognized him immediately. But seeing him in person was different.

He was striking, with dark hair, sharp features, and an effortless confidence that made him stand out from everyone around him. His black-and-gold uniform fitted him perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders and tall frame. He didn’t need to shout or demand attention. The way the others positioned themselves around him made it clear that he was accustomed to receiving it.

He looked like one of the Greek gods I’d read about in my father’s old books.

Except he was a vampire, and I doubted any Greek god had ever looked at a crowd of terrified humans as if their lives meant absolutely nothing.

I quickly looked away, annoyed with myself for staring.

Why was I even looking at him? He was a prince, and I was a human about to be hunted for sport. There was no reason for him to notice me, and I had no intention of giving him one.

Then the host’s voice rose with excitement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this season’s games are about to become more historic than ever before! For the first time in centuries, the Demon Prince himself, of House Vladimir, descendant of Count Dracula, has decided to join the hunt, representing the royal house!”

The arena erupted.

Vampires jumped to their feet, cheering and clapping. Some shouted his name, while others leaned over the railings to get a better look at him.

The noise was almost deafening.

I stared in disbelief as the prince’s hunter stepped forward, bowed, and left the field. The prince was taking his place.

I blinked.

Was he serious?

Why would someone like him join the hunt when he could simply sit back and watch us fight for our lives? He had wealth, power, and an entire royal house at his command. Surely there were more entertaining ways to spend his time than chasing frightened humans through a forest.

Then again, perhaps hunting people was exactly what he considered entertaining.

I watched as he made his way down toward the contestants.

He moved without hurry, his expression unreadable. The other hunters seemed careful not to get in his way, and even the members of the royal house gave him space.

For a moment, I wondered what it would be like to have that kind of power. To walk into a room and know that everyone would move aside. To never have to worry about where the next meal would come from or whether someone you loved would go hungry.

Then I remembered what that power had done to people like us.

I didn’t want his life. I wanted mine back.

I wanted to go home to Emma, make her something decent to eat, and listen to her complain about whatever had upset her that day. I wanted to stop counting the days until our food ran out. I wanted to live without worrying that a vampire might decide my life was worth less than his entertainment.

A million coins could give us that chance.

I only had to survive the games.

I lifted my gaze again, intending to study the hunters and memorize their positions.

Instead, I found the prince looking directly at me.

My breath caught.

He wasn’t looking at the crowd in general. He wasn’t scanning the contestants or listening to the host. His golden eyes were fixed on me.

I glanced over my shoulder, wondering whether someone was standing behind me.There was no one.When I looked back, he was still watching.A strange chill ran down my spine.I couldn’t tell what I saw in his expression.

Curiosity, perhaps.

Or amusement.

Whatever it was, it made my heart race.