Karmen came out, dressed in a shirtwaist dress garment with short sleeves, a modest neckline, and a skirt that fell below the knee. The bust was rounded but not particularly emphasized, and the waistline was belted. The shirt dress had decorative pockets and buttons down the front of the dress. “With the jacket or without?” Karmen asked, holding out a coat that coordinates the dress that was made out of contrasting fabric but lined with the dress fabric. The jacket was boxy fashioned and had wide lapels, wide shoulders, and numerous pockets. “The speed we will be going at might be a bit chilly so with the jacket,” Phoebe said, wondering why a woman that stays in the middle of nowhere would have the need for a two-piece, ‘her dress, yes, but the jacket?’ “Did your guardian take you out often?” Phoebe asked. “We went to the Dinner in town on Sundays after church,” Karmen said. “Church?” Phoebe asked, wondering why supernaturals will want to go to church. “Yes, church,” Karmen said
“Phoebe?” Jeanette confirmed, opening her bedroom door. “I am leaving for a few days, but I will be back before the end of the week,” Phoebe said, following Jeanette to her bed, which was a four-poster bed like the rest of the beds at the castle. “I hope it is to sort that out,” Jeanette pointed at Phoebe’s head, swinging her finger. “Yes, it is. Remember to not let your father or your grandparents' mind link with you,” Phoebe warned. “But what if they force it?” Jeanette asked, worried. “Then you will have to go, rogue, before they can see anything in your head,” Phoebe suggested. “If I go rogue with my mind, they will know I am up to something,” Jeanette pointed out worriedly. “Then don’t give them a reason to force themself onto you. You are a smart girl, you will figure it out,” Phoebe said, giving her a hug. “Spent time with your cousin. Try to win her trust and get information on her life, but keep it to yourself,” Phoebe said. “Like what kind of information, and why?” Je
This staircase leads them up to another door and through the door another, followed by another, all with several locks. ‘I don’t remember a tower from the outside,’ the woman thought, quietly following King Thorvald and Shysie up the wide stone spiral staircase. The difference between the final door and all the other doors was that not only did it have locks, but also a guard. King Thorvald whispered a few words to the guard that Shysie can not hear, even with her vampire hearing, but it does not matter as she knew the words as King Thorvald has trusted her to feed his pet before. “Please turn around and look the other way,” the guard asked, and even King Thorvald obeyed. King Thorvald set it up this way so that if he was under attack that the information as to where the guard kept the keys can not even be extracted from him. The guard will end his own life if he felt threatened. King Thorvald’s enchantress is the only one besides the guard that knew the spell to reveal the keys
“Where is Emily?” Phoebe asked when she saw her grandmother, Queen Zuberi, Gabriella, the enchantress, and Princess Freda. “She, well, um, she” Princess Freda struggled to find the words. “She came with us but went in a different direction when she caught a familiar scent,” Queen Zuberi explained. “She thinks she caught Prince Deacon’s scent, so she went to get her revenge,” Gabriella said, rolling her eyes. “Why did you allow her to go?” Phoebe asked, shocked. “Let her have him. You have grown way too fond of this royal family,” Queen Zuberi said. “You seem to forget that they brought me up,” Phoebe reminded her, stubbornly. “And you seem to forget that they killed your parents,” Queen Zuberi reminded her. “And Emily’s whole family, along with my mother,” Princess Freda added. “The royal brothers had nothing to do with it,” Phoebe defended them, concerned mainly for Prince Mano. “I know them way longer than you do and trust me, they are not innocent. If it was not for them,
Phoebe set off right away to go get Karmen before anyone realized what was going on but when she got back to the castle Prince Mano intersected her again, “out for a night walk in the garden?” “Yes, need some fresh air,” Phoebe lied, laughing nervously. “You said you will be quick this afternoon, but then I didn’t see you again until dinner,” Prince Mano reminded her. “Let’s go talk in your room,” Phoebe said, having an idea as to how she can at least save Prince Mano, not caring what her grandmother said about him. Inside his room, she immediately started to kiss him, but he pulled her off him. “what are you doing?” Phoebe ripped his shirt open, making the buttons fly. ‘Great he is not wearing a shaman neckless,’ she thought, relieved. “Go outside, block your mind from everyone, and shift into your wolf form. Run until you can’t run no more, and where you rest, stay for five sunsets before returning,” Phoebe compelled him. Prince Mano looked confused at her for a moment before
‘At least it seems to be an improvement from the dungeons,’ she thought as they walked through the dungeons and came to a door. Through the door, they walked down a wide stone spiral staircase before entering an empty space lit by two dim wall lights. At first, Phoebe thought that it was nothing but walls, but King Thorvald walked up to one of the wall lights and pulled it forward. The wall moves, revealing the secret entrance to another stone spiral staircase. “Why don’t I know about this area of the castle?” Phoebe asked, following King Thorvald on the staircase that lead them up to another door and through the door another, followed by another, all with several locks. “Because you never cared to come to the Vampire wing,” King Thorvald said. “So, you are just going to lock us up? I thought you said you are helping us?” Phoebe questioned, looking at the guard and the door with several locks. King Torvald walked over to the guard and whispered to him before focusing his attention
“I, I,” he started, but was at a loss for words. He has given up a long time ago any hope of ever getting out of there, but having found his fated mate, he wanted to get out, if only for her sake. King Lowe moved forward to the middle again, frightening Princess Freda. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, looking up. “What are you doing?” Princess Freda asked, looking at him, confused. “The tower walls are thin enough for you to walk your way out of here. I can throw you up. I have the strength,” King Lowe said. “I can just jump up. I am a hybrid,” Princess Freda said, standing up. “I hate hybrids,” King Lowe said, looking at her but unable to hate her. “I can’t find the moment you became a hybrid,” he said, searching her mind. “I was born one. My father is Wyn,” Princess Freda said. “Oh, is that why Wicked is in your memories?” King Lowe stated. “He is not Wicked anymore,” Princess Freda rolled her eyes at him. “I don’t know of any hybrids fathering children after
King Thorvald went back to the castle and straight to the tower to give Princess Freda the bad news. “Someone is coming. You have to leave now,” King Lowe pleaded with Princess Freda. “What if this time they notice you are not chained to the wall?” King Lowe asked. “What does it matter? I can still break my chains,” Princess Freda said. "Besides, I am compelled not to try and escape. That is why I have to wait for my friend so that she can bring me a shaman necklace,” Princess Freda said. The door opened and King Thorvald walked in with a big smile on his face. “Bad news. I have found Phoebe.” Princess Freda hung her head in defeat with no response. King Thorvald walked over to her and took her arm, bringing her palm to his mouth before sinking his teeth into her. After drinking his fill, he ripped her dress off her and wiped his mouth with it before turning to King Lowe, “Perhaps now you won't be able to resist her.” “He can not even reach me, you moron,” Princess Freda spat, n