Chapter 19

Selene’s pov

I was pacing my room just to keep myself from staying still for too long when a polite knock sounded at my door. I stopped in my tracks.

"Come in," I called.

I groaned when I saw that it was just Daisy balancing a tray in her hands. "Good morning, mistress," she greeted.

"Good morning," I replied, moving towards her as she set it on the bedside table. 

"Which blood is this that you brought for me this time?" I wondered aloud.

"I don't know," she said uncertainly, stepping away from me. I picked up the cup from the tray and sniffed at it. Animal blood. I curled my lips back in a snarl.

Ever since I had been here, they had been feeding me with animal blood, and I absolutely hated how fake it tasted. If only I were allowed to step out of here and find a way to hunt down some humans like a real vampire should.

I glanced to the side and noticed that she was still standing there. "What's up? What do you want?"

She shifted on her feet. "I have a message to pass across to you."

I frowned. The last time I checked, nobody ever checked up on me or delivered messages. "Is it a letter?" I asked.

"No," she replied. I could sense her hesitation from here—this was my problem with her, she always seemed too timid for my liking.

"The Alpha has requested your presence in the courtyard."

I blinked slowly. "Oh, my presence. Now that is odd. Did he tell you why?"

"No, mistress. He just said I should get you."

I imagined his words and his tone as he gave her the orders. "Get me Solen. Now," he must have said. The thought made me smile.

I toyed with the idea of defying his orders. After all, what was my life here without a little adventure? It was already boring enough as it was.

What would he do if I did? Perhaps he would storm up to my room and grab me by the collar, dragging me off to the courtyard. Or maybe he would send a battalion of guards to bring me instead.

Whatever it would be, I knew that he would not let me go scot-free. I liked the way it annoyed him whenever I refused his orders, and even though it usually put me in a bad position—just like when I first got here and was unconscious for days—I still missed the thrill.

I shook the thought out of my head. I really didn't feel like any drama today. It was just three days after my little escapade, and I needed a bit more time before I became rebellious again. Else he would get used to it, and it would become boring for both of us.

"Well, you can go now," I said to her. "You delivered the message."

"Please tell me you're coming," she said, her voice barely audible above a whisper.

"I don't need to tell you what I decide, do I?" I began.

"Please," she pleaded. "The Alpha will be terribly angry if you refuse."

I figured she thought that her words would make me want to obey him more, but they only stoked the rebellious fire in me.

"Don't worry, you won't get into any trouble," I assured her, knowing that was the reason why she was so keen on making sure I would be there.

I brought the cup up to my lips. If I weren't so ravenous these days, I would have rejected it as an insult.

Some minutes later, I stepped in front of the mirror, checking out the cream-colored dress I decided to wear. It was a nice fit, stopping just above my knee. I slipped into my knee-length boots—one of the few things I had left of my former life—and gave myself a thumbs up. I looked very nice compared to how I had looked these past days.

I was going through all the possible reasons Lucian sent for me in my mind as I stepped out of the room. I took a step back in shock.

There was a dark-haired lady standing right beside my door, grinning maniacally and giving me the creeps. "What the hell? Who are you?" I demanded immediately.

"I am Ira," she said. Her voice sounded too chirpy and too childish—it did not match her tall athletic frame at all.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion. I should have knocked and come in, or let you know that I was waiting for you somehow, but I just couldn't help myself!"

"Okay," I managed to say, staring at her. "What do you want? Why are you here?"

"I was sent by Alpha Lucian to escort you to the courtyard. You probably wouldn't know where it is, and he's already busy talking with the rest of the Elders, so I volunteered when he mentioned it."

A lot of things in that statement made me cringe inside. "Did you just mention elders? As in, like, pack elders?"

She nodded, and I face-palmed. Did I ever mention that I hated people? They were manipulative, just like Lucian and Darius had shown me, and lying cheats like the members of my coven had proven. I tried to minimize my relations with them as much as I could, sticking more to the wild and lonely places.

Suddenly here I was in the leader of a whole pack estate, and as if that was not enough, he wanted me to meet with him in the midst of even more people. And now I really wished I could say no.

Come to think of it, I probably could. What would he do to me? I toyed with the idea in my mind.

"Well, I've been excited to meet you" she squealed. "I've never actually seen a real-life vampire before—the only ones I know about are from movies or books!"

To my great surprise, she reached out and grabbed my hand. "I'd love to know how you work. We should get going."

"Is this meeting really compulsory? Can't I sit it out?" I asked.

"Oh no," she replied. "The Elders just want to know who their alpha’s mate is!" She smiled at me again.

In stunned silence, I let her lead me out to the courtyard.