The sun started to rise as I walked around with Amelia and Alora, and I couldn’t help myself as I paused, looking out one of the windows. There was a giant lake behind the house, and the soft rays of the sun on the water almost seemed to mesmerize me. It was as if, at that moment, it really hit me that I wasn’t home. That I had managed to escape that oppressive life, and I was seeing the sun for the first time. My new beginning, on my birthday no less.

“Kira?” I jumped when Amelia came up to me again, looking up at me with her curious blue eyes. I did my best to mask my surprise, smiling at her as I turned to face her. “Did you zone out again? Do you usually do that a lot?”

“Amelia, be polite. This is a lot to take in,” Alora reprimanded her sister, and I shook my head, feeling embarrassed.

“No, I was… thinking,” I glanced out the window again, watching the rays dance on the water. “The lake is beautiful.”

“Isn’t it?” Amelia agreed, leaning into the window next to me as she sighed dreamily. Her voice was soft and full of wonder, and I couldn’t help the slight smile it brought to my face. The pair hadn’t told me their ages yet, but I got the sense Amelia was still a teenager. Her head seemed filled with lofty dreams and cares, as if life hadn’t quite hit her yet. “This entire mansion is magical, so we don’t even have to do much other than watch things and tell the house what to do.”

“Magical?” I repeated, and the girl’s usual enthusiasm caused her to leap from the window, turning to face me as she bounced on her feet. She clapped her hands excitedly, as if it was the best part of living here.

“Yes! There is a spell on the house and its grounds, cast long ago by an old Queen who could use magic. Its main purpose is to hide us in these mountains, so that no one can bother the High Court,” Amelia explained, and I started to follow the sisters as Alora motioned for us to continue on the tour of the house. Apparently, I would be staying in the southern wing with the other humans, and it gave them the perfect excuse to show me the house. “The spell only relaxes on the night of the full moon, when the Queen allows an audience with the outside.”

“So, the Queen? She’s the one who maintains the magic?” I asked, intrigued by the thought. Amelia shook her head, frowning slightly as she tapped her lips.

“No, the spell is linked to the house. I think they said it’s her will that supports it?”

“The house obeys the current head and Queen Iris only wishes to be available once a month. Hence the spell only allows us to be found on the night of the full moon,” Alora interjected, opening the doors as we stepped into the courtyard. I finally saw other humans roaming about and I noticed that they mostly seemed to just be relaxing and enjoying the dawn. It was stunningly beautiful and ancient like most of the mansion, and I gave a passing glance to the fountain as we walked around the edge. It seemed to be of a couple, and I made a mental note to try and get a better look at it later. “She tends to be quite protective, although some of the older servants say there was a time when she allowed people in more often.”

“I see,” I nodded, pretending to be interested. All that mattered to me is that if the magic waned on the full moon, when I would be at my strongest, it was the perfect night for me to escape the high court. “So where does the court sleep?”

“Oh, all members of the court sleep on the west side of the house, to keep them away from the sunrise. Some of the Masters like to stay up past dawn,” Alora waved to some of the humans we passed, and I was unable to help my frown.

“Wait, they don’t die at sunrise?”

“Of course not! The court simply sleeps during the day,” Amelia chuckled, amused by my surprise and confusion. “The sun is dangerous for them if they are caught out in it, so they sleep to avoid it. On cloudy days, some of the younger Masters will wake up early and mess with us.”

“Mainly Virgil and Rowan,” Alora sighed, and I could see the annoyance on her face as she opened the doors to the southern wing. “They are the biggest troublemakers in the house and a pain for both the Queen and Prince. I know Virgil saved you and brought you here, but it would be wise to avoid him from now on.”

“Oh?”

“He likes to play with servants, get them to let him drink their blood directly,” Alora scoffed and I was less than surprised by the information. Given how Rowan had treated him when he arrived with me, and his dark warning, it didn’t surprise me he was scum. “It’s a game to him, and he is very vicious in his hunts.”

“I–” I paused in my answer, whipping around to look behind me. My wolf was alerted as well, catching the scent that drifted past me. A wolf! There was another wolf in here!

My eyes scanned the dark hallway, filled with human servants who were walking around. Most were talking and relaxing as they walked, with a few paying attention to areas that needed to be cleaned by the house. I couldn’t sense a wolf among them, but I narrowed my eyes nonetheless. The scent still filled my nose, so I knew they had to be close by. Who was it?!

“Kira?” Amelia’s voice was soft and concerned as I shook my head turning back to face her. Her excitement and joy was gone, replaced by worry as she and her sister stared at me. I chuckled softly, racking my brain for a reasonable lie.

“Sorry, I… thought I smelled food. I haven’t eaten all night.” I muttered sheepishly, and as if to endorse my lie, my stomach growled. Both of the girls chuckled as I clutched my stomach in embarrassment, the tension easing with the sound.

“Then let's go to the kitchen! I’m sure Natalie has started on dinner for us!” I nodded as Amelia began to bounce down the hallway, Alora calling after her to watch where she was going. I glanced over my shoulder again, the smell of the wolf still filling my nose.

‘We are not alone,’ my wolf warned, and I nodded as I followed the girls toward the human kitchen.

No, apparently we weren’t.