I tapped the pen against the desk as I tried to focus on my work, but I was finding the task nearly impossible. Viktor was sitting across from me, ignoring my anxiety as he casually read his own book. I knew there was no way he had calmed down so quickly, but he was better at hiding his emotions than I was.

By the time Amelia and I had walked out of the store, only Rowan and the unnamed vampire were left to escort us back to the mansion. Viktor had immediately left with Virgil and from the whispers between Iaton and Wylen on the ride back, Virgil had a ghastly punishment awaiting him. The queen didn’t take his antics well, but at least previously, all of his feedings had been with permission. It was permission given under false pretenses, but permission nonetheless. This time he had taken blood by force, and she had no tolerance for such an act, especially against one of her handmaids.

We had been called before the Queen as soon as we returned to the house, and poor Amelia had been too shocked to speak. Despite my own fear and panic, I managed to tell the Queen what Virgil had done and said in the dressing room, and her anger was palpable in the air. She had dismissed us as soon as I finished with my story, and I sorrowfully handed Amelia to her older sister. Alora had given me the faintest smile and nod before cradling her sister in her arms, taking Amelia to have her bite dealt with. I had done my best to bandage it, but I had only ever dressed my own wounds and I was not used to dealing with others.

I sighed as I finally gave up my task, leaning my head on the table as I glanced at the green journal. I hadn’t written to my mate since our return to the castle, and with Viktor watching me, I didn’t want him to ask why I was writing in it when I was supposed to be working. 

The prince was quick to deduce that Virgil had been driven to his impulsive acts due to finding out I was a wolf, and his desperation to drink wolf blood. The queen and prince then decided that until Virgil was dealt with, and the rest of his family properly examined, Viktor would shadow me while I did my work. I appreciated the extra protection, but it also limited what I could do in the library. There were so many things I wanted to look up, and I didn’t dare do so in front of the prince.

“Do you need something?” I sat up as Viktor spoke, surprised to find that he was looking in my direction. His green eyes seemed confused, and I sighed as I looked back to the book I was supposed to be copying. Despite having worked for three days now, I still was only on the second book in the pile, and I was frustrated by my own lack of progress. “You don’t have to work tonight.”

“I’d rather work than sit in my room, thinking about what Virgil did,” I muttered, absently bringing my hand up to my neck. I shuddered as I remembered how he had tried to violate me, and I whined softly as I tried to shake away the memory. “It’s just hard to focus.”

I looked up again as the prince sighed, carefully marking his book as he stood. He looked at me with a tired smile, and I watched him with confusion as he shook his head.

“You were telling Amelia you like mysteries, right?”

“Yeah,” I answered cautiously, my wolf suddenly interested as his smile grew, a soft look entering his eyes.

“Then I’ll go pick out some books, and you can take them back to your room,” he offered, turning to walk deeper into the library. “It’ll let you relax and distract you from what that creature did.”

“Aren’t you a creature like him?” I muttered under my breath, but I almost immediately regretted my hasty words as Viktor paused, his hand gripping the shelf tightly. My heart pounded as I watched him slowly relax his hold, sighing as he refused to look at me again.

“No, but I can’t blame you for seeing me that way,” he finally whispered, and I frowned as he continued deeper into the library.

‘That was uncalled for,’ my wolf chastised and I rolled my eyes as I laid my head on the table again. ‘We don’t need to make him mad.’

“I know, I know, it just slipped out,” I murmured, glancing at the green journal again as I thought about my mate. How would he react if I told him about what happened at Amber Sky? Realistically, I wouldn’t have too; Virgil’s actions would likely be the talk of the mansion for the next few days, and I had no doubt he would likely hear it from someone else as soon as he woke up for the day. “I didn’t mean it.”

‘Then why say it?’

“I don’t know! It just popped in my head,” I moaned, closing my eyes as I felt my chest twist in knots. I knew better than to say something like that, especially to the prince! He was the one who had immediately taken Virgil away from me and Amelia, ensuring we didn’t have to see him anymore. He had made sure his mother knew about what the vampire had done before Virgil could hide it, and he allowed me and Amelia to get the protection we deserved. Heck, he was even trying to make sure I didn’t overwork!

I moaned again as I buried my head in my arms, frustrated with myself. Viktor was nothing like Virgil and I shouldn’t have compared them just because they were both vampires. The thought had been careless and impulsive, and the more I thought about it, the more I hated myself for saying it.

“I’m sorry,” I finally whispered, and my wolf whined in my mind.

‘Tell him,’ he insisted, and I sat up again as I heard the prince returning. He had two different books in his hand, and I watched as he set them on the table instead of handing them to me directly. He walked back over to his seat to retrieve his book, standing next to the table as he waited for me to pick up his offering. I slowly stood, picking up the green journal as I added the other two books to my arms.

“I’m sorry,” I managed to whisper, too embarrassed to look up to see his face as I clutched the small stack to my chest. He said nothing and I shifted nervously, still staring at the floor. “I don’t think you’re like Virgil at all.”

Viktor remained silent, and the pain in my chest increased as it filled the space between us. After a moment, I heard him start to walk around the table and at first, I thought he was just going to leave the library. Instead, I was startled as I watched his feet pause in front of mine, and I felt his hand on my head as I kept my gaze down.

“What Virgil did to you and Amelia is inexcusable, and he is an example of the monster that a vampire can be. I never should have let him out of my sight,” he spoke quietly, and I sighed with the regret in his voice. I felt as he lifted his hand from my hair, and I looked up just as he continued to walk past me, not allowing me to see his face. “If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me.”

“Viktor–”

“You should get some rest, Kira,” the prince interrupted me, and I turned as he held the door open, still keeping his face turned away as he spoke. “I will walk you to your room, and I’ll pick you up at sunset. Alora will bring you your meals.”

“Okay,” I resigned, unable to hide my own regret as I walked toward the door. As the prince escorted me quietly to my room, I moaned softly with my own impulsive words. I understood that there was nothing I could do to make up for it tonight, but I quietly promised myself that I would find a way to show Viktor my remorse and gratitude.