Vivian

"You're both needed in the ballroom. Head down there and search for Luke, he has something for you."

I heard Elijah's voice outside the door after a few minutes, just as I expected. A sigh of relief escaped my throat before I began to hear the guards stepping away from the throne room and away. It was that easy for him to convince the guards to leave. After all, he was the prince, the only heir to the throne after Alexandria's departure.

It was something I had always forgotten—that Elijah was a prince.

I stepped back as he opened the door and came inside. "What are you doing here?" He asked, still sounding a bit frustrated, but his voice was low, barely a whisper.

"I found the way to break the spell—"

Before I could finish telling him everything, he shut the door behind and cut me off. "Did anyone see you coming inside? Do you even know the trouble you could get into if my mother got aware that you were here? Especially here."

"I—no one saw me," I stated, folding my arms across my chest. "I'm not an idiot. I wouldn't come here if it wasn't safe to."

"Why did you?" He cocked a brow and waited.

My hands went to the bottom of the dress and I lifted it slightly, showing him the goblet of gold that I had tied around my thigh using the cloth of the stocking I wore. "This is what we need to break the curse. All we need to do now is to fill it up with blood that's in your house," I paused to catch my break. "You need to take me there."

"How are you so sure?" I could see the doubt in his eyes as he considered the information I had just shared with him.

"One of the spirits told me. Fill the cup with the blood of the cursed ones and the curse will be lifted. You've to trust me on this. I'm not making it up. I know what I'm doing, Elijah." I tried to convince him, I really wanted to.

"And what if this is another one of your failed attempts at whatever you're doing?"

"It's not," I shook my head. "It's going to work." I was sure about it. Why wouldn't he just believe me? Something had surely changed after that night we spend in the garden.

"And if it doesn't?"

My lips lined straight into a frown. "If you don't want to believe me, don't. I don't care. I'll just have Callan take me to your house. Enjoy your night." I said before walking past him and leaving the throne room.

He grabbed my hand just as I made my way out and pulled me back. The coast was clear. There was no one around the hallway, not even a single guard.

"Wait. I'll take you."

I pulled my hand away from him hold and gave him a smile. "Good."

"Meet me outside in ten minutes. It's better to go separate," He paused and closed the door of the throne room. "I'll also have to see my mother before leaving."

"Take your time."

I left first, heading down the stairs and then outside in the garden with my mask still on my face. No one could see me. The weight of the goblet felt heavy on my thigh. I didn't move around much. Instead, I closed near a large tree and remained there while watching everyone. There were a few people leaving the castle and some more already in the garden, chattering and going on with their nights.

A part of me was on the edge. I couldn't wait to go back to the house and bring this all to an end. Every minute felt like an eternity, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. What if someone had seen me? What if Alexandria was going to get to me before I had the chance to leave? There were plenty of possibilities.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. Just as I did, my eyes met with a familiar pair of eyes. Even behind the mask, I quickly recognized the woman entering the garden with a man.

It was Claudia, my father's sister.

Fuck.

There was an arrest order out for me for killing my father. Everyone knew it now. One single word from her and everything would be ruined.

I quickly turned around and began walking further deeper into the garden while praying she hadn't recognized me with the mask. My footsteps became quicker and my heart pounded hard in my chest. I had to get out of here, but where was Elijah?

What was taking him so long?

A crow flew past me and I nearly screamed at the sudden sight of the bird. Pausing on my steps, I stood still and looked around. This part of the garden was empty, covered in lush trees and bushes that provided me with cover. Inhaling deeply, I let my racing nerves calm down. Only a few minutes more and this all was going to be over.

Just as I thought everything was over, I heard a low growl behind me. Turning around, I found a pair of wolves standing side by side with Claudia and two more approaching from behind her. I took a quick step back, realizing the danger I was surrounded in.

"Do you really think you can hide from me?" A low, rumbling chuckle escaped from her throat as a smile widened over her face. "You can suppress your smell as much as you want, but I can recognize you from far away, Vivian."

I remained quiet, still keeping my cover.

Her wolves advanced towards me, their eyes fixed on me like a prey. Claudia stayed where she stood, her expression darkening by every second.

"As much as I'd have you thrown away in the dungeons and tormented for the rest of your life, I'd rather prefer you were torn into pieces just in the same way as you killed my dear brother," At her words and threats, I moved further back, knowing well I couldn't take four wolves on my own. I didn't have the strength to do so. "You can scream all you want. But there's nothing anyone can do to save you from being ripped apart."

No distance was enough to save myself from the wolves or runaway. Just as I turned around, I found four more wolves approaching me. Their eyes were glowing with a ferric hunger, and I knew that I was doomed.

I stood still, trembling in fear.

"Rip her, but I want her head. Unmasked."

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