*Ainslee*
“Why are you in my room?” I try not to sound rude, but where I come from, a person doesn’t just invite herself into someone else’s home, and this is the closest I have to that at the moment.
Princess Sophia turns to look at me. “Beg your pardon, Princess Ainslee. Zoey let me in. I didn’t think you’d mind.” Her smile is pleasant, and I recall that she is the one that helped Rafe with all of my clothes. Maybe she’s not mean like her sister.
“It’s all right,” I decide, crossing to the windows. I sit in a chair near where she’s standing and offer her the other. “How can I help you?” I’m on edge still, just in case.
Sophia spreads her long red skirt out as she takes a seat. Her alabaster skin glimmers in the morning light filtering in through the thin lace curtains Zoey has left covering the window, the thicker green ones framing our view out to the garden. “I just wanted to check on you, to see how you’re getting along. None of this can be easy for you. Do you need anything?”
My mind rapidly runs through all the things that I need, all the people I need. My mom. My little sister, Sinead. My little brother, Brock. Lenny. While I don’t miss my house itself, I do miss the scent of the homemade soap Mom uses to clean with. I take a deep breath and realize that’s not what Sophia is asking me. She doesn’t have the power to make any of those people appear.
She wants to know if she can help me with anything here. Can she make it so that her sister isn’t engaged to Rafe or so that the prince tells me the truth every once in a while? I would like help with those topics as well. I think she probably can’t.
I wonder if she can help me with any of the political problems Rafe has explained to me and again think that’s probably not what Sophia is getting at, though I assume she is an intelligent woman who could probably handle them as well, if not better than me.
I shake my head. “I think I’m fine, thank you. I do appreciate all of your help in getting me settled. The clothes are amazing, and I love all the soaps and things.”
Her face brightens in a wide smile. I note her fangs are not showing. “Oh, good. It was my pleasure. Rafe asked me to help, though, I have to admit that he did some of itself.” She leans slightly toward me when she adds, “He’s quite fond of you.”
I arch an eyebrow. What in the world would make her say that? Surely, she means in the same way I’m quite fond of Lenny. Or Zeke. Zeke is a good guy. I’m quite fond of him. I do not want to rip his clothes off and toss him down on my bed, but he’s a good dude.
Clearing my throat, I adjust in my chair, uncomfortable. Does she know what her sister just said to me? Probably not if she’s been in my room the whole time. Does she know that her sister is set to marry the prince?
Yes, of course she knows that.
So what difference does it make how the prince is fond of me? If anything, it makes my life more dangerous to have a vampire prince who is pledged to marry a vampire princess even remotely fond of me.
Deciding now is not the time to launch into all of that, I try to say something nice. “He’s… interesting.”
Interesting? The best word I can come up with is interesting? I might as well have said, “He is a person.” Or, “He exists.”
Now, it’s her turn to arch an eyebrow at me. “Very. The prince is very interesting.” Seeing that I don’t want to discuss the prince, Sophia uncrosses her legs and recrosses them with the other one on top. “Well, I’m sure you’re tired. You probably have a lot to do to get settled in.”
Looking around the room, I see absolutely nothing that I have to do. The idea that I might read a book comes to mind. That’s something I haven’t had time for in years, other than the littles’ one bedtime story we had left from when I was a child, that is.
Or I could take a nap. If I fall asleep, I might dream that Rafe isn’t engaged to Riley.
“Yep. I’ve got a lot to do,” I tell her.
Sophia stands, so I do, too. “Well, if you do need anything, feel free to ask.”
“I appreciate your kindness.” I mean it. I’m caught off guard, not expecting her to be in my room, and still rattled from the run in with her sister, but I do believe Sophia is a kind person, and I’m glad she’s done what she has to make this transition better for me.
She smiles and heads to the door. I notice then that Zoey is gone, and I have no idea where she’s gone. Maybe she went to find one of Rafe’s attendants to tell him I need to speak with him.
I open the door, and Sophia steps out into the hallway. I look both ways, not sure if I’m looking for Zoey, Rafe—or Riley.
Sophia turns, and in a whisper, she says, “Oh, and about my sister. Don’t mind her. She likes to try to be intimidating, but she’s harmless.”
I want to ask her if she’s sure about that, but then, I’d be forced to relay the entire story of what happened with Riley to Sophia, and I decide it’s just not worth the effort. I’m sure her sister will tell her some warped version of what happened where I am the aggressor. Maybe Sophia will not want to help me again after that.
“Good to know,” I say. Then, we tell each other goodbye, and I return to my room, closing the door and locking it because I can imagine Riley would barge in here and go for round two once she’s licked her wounds, if she can get in. Would a lock even stop a vampire? Probably not.
Mentally exhausted, I let out a sigh as I fall backward onto my bed in one giant flop. I love how soft and bouncy the mattress is, but lying here in this position, I am reminded of the last time I fell backward onto this bed. I imagine Rafe’s face hovering above me like it was last night. He’d kissed me….
Well, I’d kissed him. But he’d kissed me back. No one twisted his arm. He could’ve pushed me away. He could’ve shoved me off and told me that was inappropriate or disgusting.
He could’ve told me he has a fiancé.
“Lying bastard,” I mutter and let my eyes fall closed. I want to go to sleep so badly now that I’m lying down. The activities of the last few days are catching up with me. I figure Zoey has a key, so it’s fine if the door is locked but she needs in.
She’ll find a way.
One thing I’m learning about vampires is that if they want in badly enough, they’ll manage.
My eyes fall closed, and I drift off to a world where not only does Rafe want to kiss me, he’s not a lying bastard who is engaged to the biggest bitch I’ve ever met.