*Rafe*
“Do you want me to explain the rules?” Kris is asking, standing next to me in front of the crowd of young people who have been brought here to represent their villages in the culling.
I want to tell him yes, that I would rather let him stand up here and tell these people the list of elaborate rules we’ve put in place to keep them from ever regaining their freedom again, but I find myself shaking my head. I’ll do it. I’m the soon-to-be king. It’s my responsibility.
Just as I start to speak, I feel the weight of an intense gaze on my face and turn toward Ainslee. I’ve been trying to avoid her. It’s easier to pretend she’s at home with her family where she belongs if she’s not directly in my line of sight.
But there she is, staring at me with those ocean eyes. I expect to see fear there, but that’s not what I see at all. Confusion. Irritation. Maybe even a little bit of rage. Could it be she’s just so use to always feeling angry at everyone all the time that she can’t help but look that way?
I clear my throat and rip my eyes away from her. Lots of other people stand before me, wanting me to get on with it already, so I can’t concentrate on her. Besides, if things go according to my plans, and they usually do, I’ll be speaking with her soon enough, whether it’s for the better or not.
You can’t let her crawl under your skin, I remind myself. Or into your bed.
Those sorts of ideas are bad for everyone, so I shove them aside and begin my explanation. “Ladies and gentlemen,” I greet them, giving these people more grace than anyone else probably would under the circumstances, “thank you for being here. I know that none of you have chosen this path for yourselves. No one wakes up one day and says I’d like to leave my family behind and go live at the castle, all alone, having my blood drawn from me regularly to feed my rulers of another species. I get that, and I want you to know that your sacrifices are appreciated. I am Prince Rafe, and I am in charge of this culling. I am also newly in charge of the feeders back at Castle Shadowmanor, along with Dr. Jerim Strawn.” I gesture at Jerim, who is standing behind a bunch of guards and other advisors because the limelight is as uncomfortable for him as it is for me. He raises a hand, and a few of the people standing in front of us nod in acknowledgement, but no one smiles, and I can’t blame them. They may hear my words, but that doesn’t mean they trust me or think that their futures are bright.
“In a few minutes, you will get the command to begin the culling. These guards will step aside, and you will have the ability to run as fast as you can through these woods and out the other side. If you’re able to shift, you may do so. It doesn’t matter which direction you go as long as you run through the forest behind me—and not the one in front of me.”
Some of them turn to look at the much less terrifying forest of trees to their rear. I wouldn’t blame them if they wanted to go that direction. It looked a lot less treacherous, but those weren’t rules I could change. King Axel had chosen Forte Inglesia Malefique, and until I am actually king, it’s the location we are stuck with.
“The rules are fairly simple. Get out of the forest on either the south, west, or east side before the sun rises, and you are free to go home. We will transport you there.” I hear gasps at that change. It never made sense to me that we forced these people to walk home after winning this contest. “Hide in the woods until the sun comes up, and you are also free to go home in the morning.” Again, nods of understanding liter the crowd of fearsome listeners. “But if you are captured by a vampire before the sun rises, unfortunately, you will be escorted to Shadowmanor tomorrow where we will do our best to make you comfortable as you help feed our population.”
The nodding stops as the anguished expressions return to their faces. A girl in front of me begins to sob, and a young man wraps his arm around her.
“Some who have gone home from this experience may speak of terrifying creatures leaping out at you from behind the trees, tearing your throats open, and draining you right away. I can assure you that will not happen. I’ve hand selected the guards who are participating tonight because I trust them to keep you as safe as possible. Any guard caught feeding on a participant will be severely punished.” I look over my selected servants, and they all nod. I’ve already had the conversation with my advisors, and they know the same to be true for them, so I don’t repeat myself here and show them disrespect in their stations.
“This will be scary, though. The woods are thick. There are thorns and tree roots to watch out for. It’s very dark in there. Be careful. If you do encounter one of my guards, it’s best not to struggle. Please, don’t try to fight it. You could end up getting hurt, and we don’t want any injuries.” I look at Jerim, who nods. He is an expert in treating wounded and sick wolf shifters, and that’s why I brought him with me, but I don’t want him to have a thing to do tonight.
“All right. One last thing. To make things more fair, you will have three hours to start your journey before I release my soldiers. I will tell you that some of them are still stationed on the perimeter of the forest, so they will be coming at you from all directions once released. That is the way of it. Take care. We do need your assistance, so I can’t let you all go, but I do hope that the path you end up on is the best one for you.” With those final words, I find myself looking at Ainslee, and for some reason I cannot guess, she is glaring at me, as if to say she just wants to go home, as if this is my fault.
Does she think I have something to do with her being here?
I don’t, but I will make sure she is safe and cannot fall within the clutches of those evil Black brothers ever again.
Breaking my gaze from hers, I take a few steps backward toward the dark forest, handing control of the ceremony over to Kris.
I’ve given my guardds explicit directions that they may not step foot in this forest until Zeke tells them to go. That order will come exactly three hours after Kris tells the participants to go. But I have to break that rule myself. I’m not happy about it, but in this situation, I will do what I must do. As Kris demands their attention, I sneak off into the woods, hoping my plan works.