Page 117 of Clash of Kingdoms

My parents had an old cottage in the village, a place they’d used when they’d first gotten together. They never stayed in it anymore because they occupied the castle when they visited, so it was mine to use whenever I wished.

That was where I stayed, knowing Aurelias would never find me. Even if he asked my father, he wouldn’t get the answer he wanted. No matter how much my father cared for Aurelias, he would always be loyal to me first.

I sat in front of the fire with a broken heart, knowing I was wasting what precious little time we had left by avoiding him. But knowing he was leaving the next day made it impossible not to think about it, to put that out of my mind and live in the moment with him. Our endless nights together were long gone.

It was over.

I didn’t want it to be over.

I knew I was young and would find someone else in the years to come, but I also knew that he wouldn’t be Aurelias. That no matter how old I was, I would think about the vampire across the sea…the man who would always have a piece of my heart.

I didn’t want that to happen.

I didn’t want to settle for someone else.

I left the cottage and headed for the castle.

Kingsnake opened the door, Fang wrapped around his shoulders. He was clearly surprised. “Harlow?” His eyes shifted behind me, expecting to see Aurelias there, but it was just me. He turned to Fang on his shoulder. “Not now.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry, Fang wanted to know if you were here to play with him.”

“Oh.” I smiled at him. “Maybe later.”

“Everything alright?” Kingsnake asked.

“Actually…can I talk to you for a second?”

“Um, sure.” He opened the door wider and allowed me inside his chambers. He was dressed casually, and when I walked farther inside, I saw Larisa was dressed similarly, wearing a long-sleeved dress.

The fire roared in the fireplace, and the curtains were drawn closed, even though it was a beautiful day. I watched Fang leave Kingsnake’s shoulders and take a spot on the couch. His tail patted the empty seat beside him.

“Everything alright?” Larisa asked, joining us in the entryway.

“I’m not sure.” Kingsnake crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at me. “What is it, Harlow?”

I’d made my decision, and there was no turning back. “I want you to make me into a vampire.” It wasn’t my first choice for how to be with Aurelias. I’d rather live one human life with him than forever, childless with my family deceased. But if this was the only way…then so be it.

Kingsnake stared at me blankly for several seconds.

Larisa did the same thing.

Even Fang seemed to tense.

“I’ve thought about it…and this is what I want.” I continued to look at Kingsnake.

Kingsnake exchanged a look with Larisa. “But this isn’t what Aurelias wants. Otherwise, you wouldn’t need to ask me.”

“I asked him to be human for me, but he won’t. This is the only way.”

His eyes softened. “Harlow?—”

“Please.”

Kingsnake looked at Larisa again.

“I know he won’t turn me because of what happened with Renee. He’s afraid of…you know. But if you do it?—”

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