Whispers in the Shadows

CAROLINE

Anthony was moving around his so-called safe house, which was nothing more than an old mine nestled in the French countryside. It was a place so remote, it felt like the middle of nowhere.

Before we could even settle in, we had to shoo away the rats and bats that had claimed it as their home.

The walls were made of mud, rusted rails lined the floor, and a hidden iron chest lay beneath decaying tarps. There wasn’t even a bed in sight.

Anthony, however, seemed quite pleased with himself, lifting the iron chest with a satisfied grin and placing it in the center of the room. I was still trying to adjust to the overpowering smell of rats.

We had traveled quite a distance, moving inland from the Mediterranean coast and deep into the province. I was aware that we were just a few nights away from reaching Tours.

I watched Anthony, my nerves making me fidgety, as he rummaged through his hidden stash of weapons, chuckling at the memories they brought back.

“This one,” he said, his grin widening as he pulled out an old rifle. “I used this during the War of Independence. This baby is as smooth as silk.”

“She’s lovely,” I responded, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

His grin only grew wider. “She sure is.”

He looked up at me. “Stop making that face and get comfortable, Princess. We’re going to be here all day.”

“I told you, I don’t need your help,” I retorted.

He simply shook his head and returned his attention to his weapons. “Those men would have killed you. You need me. You can’t fight for shit.”

“I’m a pureblood. I’m stronger than you are!” I argued.

“You’re strong,” he agreed, nodding. “But completely untrained. I could rip your head off in a thousand different ways—and you wouldn’t see it coming.”

He didn’t even bother to look at me. I found myself instinctively touching my throat, shooting daggers at his broad back with my eyes.

After a moment of silence, he turned to face me, his towering figure casting a shadow over me. His green eyes locked onto mine. “I’m serious, Princess. This is reckless and stupid.”

“Fuck you,” I spat out.

“Sure.” He shrugged. “Push away the only person on this planet who will protect you.”

He moved closer, backing me against the wall. “It’s not too late. We can turn back. Turn yourself into the Mcnoxnoctis guards.”

“The queen will have me killed,” I protested, shaking my head.

“I doubt it. She’s much more forgiving than your family. She’ll put you back in banishment—maybe extend your punishment.”

I shook my head again, stubbornly. “No. I won’t go back. I didn’t deserve that. I’m innocent. I hurt no one, and I was punished.”

“That’s the way of royalty, Princess,” he chuckled. “Have you not seen it over and over again in human history? Children and babies were murdered so they couldn’t reclaim the throne. You are being punished for your family’s crimes. Someone has to pay. And you’re playing a losing hand, coming back for the throne.”

I glared at him as he arched a brow pointedly at me.

“I’m a princess,” I declared, lifting my chin. “I will fight for my throne.”

He stared back at me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “I vowed that I would protect you, Princess. I vowed to protect you with my life.”

Before I could respond, he lifted a finger, pressing it against my lips to silence me. The rough touch of his skin took me by surprise.

“I know I made no promise to you, but I promised your grandfather.”

“Then you failed,” I snapped. “We got hurt. We lost everything. We were alone in that mansion. You abandoned us. You’re a stupid failure!”

He stiffened, his eyes flashing red as he stepped closer.

“Call me all the names you wish, Princess,” he whispered. “But never insult my work. You are alive. You, your sister, and your brother—you’re alive.”

“We lost everything! Alex got his throat ripped out.”

“He deserved it,” he retorted. “And he didn’t die.”

I was seething with anger. This guard was supposed to protect us. That was his only job, and here he was, condescending and brushing off the worst thing that had ever happened to us.

“Were you there? Did you see the revolution?” I demanded.

“I was there,” he confirmed, nodding.

“Why didn’t you fight back? Why didn’t you stop them from killing Grandfather?”

He tilted his head to one side. “My mission was always to keep you safe, no matter how your grandfather judged that. Never to keep him safe. I wasn’t his guard.”

“Then how come I never noticed you?”

He let out a dry chuckle. “Because you never noticed anyone you considered below your station, Princess. But I was always there—guarding you.”

I took in his towering figure, the muscles that strained against his cotton shirt, and those intense green eyes. How had I overlooked him? He was a giant. Was I really that oblivious to turned vampires? What else had I failed to notice?

My mind wandered to Alexander’s girl, the first one he’d ever turned. I hadn’t witnessed what he’d done to her. Initially, I was intrigued when they arrived, but she was so timid and quiet that I quickly lost interest. Had I overlooked something important? Had he seen something that I hadn’t?

My attention snapped back to Anthony. He was watching me with a suspicious gaze.

“Life has always been easy for you, Princess,” he said softly. “You’ve never had to struggle. One unfortunate event—you lost your social status, you were shunned.” He shook his head. “There are worse things.”

“I lost everything,” I retorted.

“You were given a chance to redeem yourself. A hundred years in your lifetime?” He scoffed. “That’s generous.”

“I didn’t deserve it! I didn’t do anything!”

“Maybe,” he conceded. “But your family did. Your grandfather. Your mother—ruthless. Your brother…” He shrugged.

“It’s not fair,” I protested.

He moved closer, backing me against the cave wall.

I glared at him. “Back off,” I growled.

He only scoffed, moving closer until I was pressed against the damp earth. His hand was placed above my head, trapping me.

“What are you going to do about it, Princess? What can you possibly do against me? Against the queen?”

“I can kill you,” I threatened, my fingers curling into tight fists.

He laughed loudly. “Not before I kill you, Princess. You should try to enjoy this. The pressure is off. Embrace your new status—relish the rebellion.”

His thick fingers gripped my chin, tilting my face up to his.

“Channel that anger and frustration into something else, Princess. This mission will only get you killed. It’s already endangering your life—mine and your brother’s.”

“I didn’t ask you to be here,” I retorted, pulling away from his grip, my head hitting the dirt. I winced. “I didn’t ask Alex to come, either. He shouldn’t have.”

Anthony’s eyes flashed with anger again. I saw his jaw muscles tighten.

“How self-centered can you be, Princess? If I’m here, risking my life, it’s for you. If your brother is risking his, crossing this continent, it’s for you. You broke your banishment. The laws are crystal clear in pureblood society, and you know this. Every single vampire—turned or pureblood—has a right and a duty to take you down. To kill you or capture you, to be delivered to the queen for recompense. Trust me, Princess, most will want to kill you.”

I tried to move away from him, but he trapped me with his other arm. I fumed.

“Give it up, Princess. Go home. I’ll take you home,” his voice dropped an octave, his green eyes locked on mine.

I lifted my chin defiantly.

“Make me,” I challenged.

The sudden crimson flash in his eyes startled me. His lips pulled back, revealing his fangs.

I gripped the dirt wall behind me as he towered over me, his chest brushing against mine.

Only then did I fully realize that I was alone with him.