I slowly worked my way back to the southern wing, the first hints of sunrise starting to cover the mansion. I hadn’t even managed to finish transcribing the first book, and I was determined to return to the library early and finish it. It was harder than I thought it would be to understand the fading words and I rubbed my temples as I stepped into the courtyard.

The fountain almost seemed to emit a faint glow in the growing sunlight and I paused, walking toward the statue. The courtyard was eerily quiet this time, and I glanced up to examine the craftsmanship. It was indeed a couple, and I quickly noticed the woman was strikingly similar to the queen. The water ran quietly through the carefully carved strands of her long hair and I turned my attention to the man.

I could see aspects of Viktor in his appearance, and I knew it must have been the prince’s father. The look on his face was loving and filled with adoration as he gently placed a kiss on his wife’s hair, his pose gentle but protective. It was clear whoever created the statue understood their love well, and part of me wondered if the house had produced the fountain, its gift to the current heads of the High Court.

I hummed slightly to myself as I turned away, more servants starting to arrive in the courtyard as I walked toward the kitchen. Breakfast already felt so long ago, and I was surprised that I actually felt hungry. Yesterday had been the most I had ever eaten for as long as I could remember, and I shook my head as my stomach growled. It seemed my body had already adjusted to the thought of being full, and I frowned as I adjusted the journal in my hands.

“Hm?” I paused, realizing I was holding the journal and pen in my hands as I stopped next to the kitchen side room. I hadn’t meant to pick them up, intending to leave them in the library to limit how tempted I was to talk to the other wolf. Had I picked them up subconsciously, or had my wolf quietly nudged me into taking them?

He merely whined quietly in my mind and I sighed as I adjusted my hold, ensuring I wouldn’t drop the pen. I wasn’t going to take them back to the library at this point, not with the vampires congregating on that side of the house now. Defeated, I took a deep breath as I opened the door.

Natalie was busy preparing the trays as before, although she immediately glanced to see me as I quietly stepped into the room. She stopped her work promptly, wiping her hands on her apron as she turned to face me.

“Ah, Kira, you already look a bit better,” she beamed and I managed to smile slightly as I shrugged. Being able to eat and sleep without worry could do wonders, I guess. “Well, I better go get your tray. The Masters have informed me you’re a wolf, and we’ll make sure you–”

“Wait, it doesn’t bother you?” I couldn’t help my confusion as I interrupted the head cook, causing her to pause in the door to the kitchen. She shook her head as she smiled, slowly closing the door as she motioned me to come near her. I hesitated for a moment, choosing to set the journal and pen down on the counters as I approached her. She raised her hand before gently touching my shoulder, still smiling softly.

“Dearie, there is no room for prejudice here. Every servant, every member of the court has a story, even the queen,” Natalie revealed, and I felt my curiosity peak. “We stay because she is determined to give us a safe home, and the prince is determined to do the same. You could be a witch of legend, and we would treat you with the same kindness.

“And I have some experience with wolves, and I know your needs are slightly different from humans. It’s my job to make sure you’re fed properly,” Natalie affirmed, patting my shoulder gently as she turned to enter the kitchen, leaving me dumbfounded. The Queen… Alora had said there was a time she had made the court more available to the outside world. Did something happen that made her decide to hide away, to protect those she invited into her home? I found myself pondering the queen’s story as I walked back over to the journal, opening it carefully.

Are you still awake?

Yes. 

The answer came immediately and I almost couldn’t help the chuckle that tried to escape me. Had he waited by the journal, eager for me to write again?

Can you tell me more about the queen? 

I looked up to see if Natalie was returning, but the door to the kitchen remained closed, despite all the noise and hustle I could hear on the other side. I glanced back down to the journal as the words slowly started to appear, carefully reading them over.

Queen Iris… cares a lot about those she chooses to let stay. She sees the whole house as her family, regardless of whether we’re vampires or not. She knows the cruelty of the outside world and she wants to protect us all from it.

Cruelty?

Queen Iris was not always a member of the High Court, nor was she always Queen. Once she was an outcast, even among vampires, until she earned her right to be here. She was determined that no one should have to go through what she did, and changed the laws for banishment and execution. Even the vampires who don’t live here benefit from her kindness.

I touched the pen to the page, not wanting the words to fade if he started writing more. So, the queen had been an outcast… but how long ago was that? How long had she suffered before she became queen, and had the power she does now? I hummed with thought as I wrote out my response, choosing my words carefully.

Why was she outcast?

It is not a story she shares openly. 

I wasn’t surprised by my mate’s answer, but I was disappointed all the same. Before I could stop them, the words faded and were replaced by his next line. You may find it in the library. I do believe it’s written in the archives somewhere.

I see. 

Maybe I could spend some of my time looking at the other books in the library, find some of the information I needed. I wanted to learn more about the human kingdom, and now I was curious to learn more about the Queen. After all, the better I understood her, the easier it would be to convince her to help me reach the humans when the time came. I started to write out another response when I heard the kitchen door start to open, and I quickly closed the journal as Natalie returned with my food.

“Alright, here we are,” She beamed, handing me the tray. I carefully set the journal and pen on top of it as I accepted the food, the smell reminding me of my hunger. “Now, wolves don’t give blood, so you’re free to go.”

“Why don’t wolves give blood?” I asked curiously, watching as Natalie’s smile faded at the edges. My heart immediately began to pound in fear as she sighed, crossing her arms as she looked away from me.

“Wolf blood… it’s not dangerous for the Masters and they can certainly drink some in small amounts,” Natalie started, and I felt my fear start to subside as she met my gaze again. “But it can become addictive, and cause a vampire to frenzy if they drink too much. Virgil and his brothers are the only ones who bother with it, and they know the consequences.”

“Can I ask why it’s addictive?”

“I don’t know dearie, I’m not a vampire,” Natalie huffed as she smiled, shaking her head. “Those Nastases, that’s Virgil’s family, they all say it tastes better than human blood, and gives more power.”

I hummed with thought as I glanced over to the device on the wall, sitting clean and pristine as it waited for its next user. So, did all wolves have important jobs like mine, to justify them staying since we couldn’t give blood? What had my mate been doing in the flower garden?

“Now, go eat and get some rest! Don’t fret over the small things!” Natalie began to shoo me out of the room and I obliged, returning to the hallway with my food in hand. There were a lot more servants walking around now with the sun fully up, and I started toward my room as some went into the side room to get their own trays. I glanced at the green journal as the sunlight caught the gold trimming, unable to help my smile at how it shimmered.

At least this place had a story worth reading, and I was eager to uncover its pages.