Page 46 of When Night Falls

“I need you to free your schedule to take Lucynda dress shopping.”

“Dress shopping? Really?” The look on her face insults me as she turns to face me.

“Is there something wrong with that?”

“Yeah. You won’t even propose to the girl, yet you want her to actually go and pick out a wedding dress?” She pauses to roll her eyes at me, something I recognize she loves doing to me. “As if you care.” Her arms fold over her chest once more, and I’m starting to hate the way disappointment from Troian feels even if it is all in good fun.

“You know it’s tradition to-” She holds her hand up to interrupt me.

“I get it, Rivian. I just-” Troy takes a deep breath. “I just want to see you happy. You know I love my mom, but I don’t wantwhat happened toyourmom to happen to Lucynda and . . .you’re wearing maroon.” She lowers her voice on the last three words. I don’t miss the way her eyes look at me with sadness. But I don’t understand where this sudden wish-me-well has come from. Troy has never really cared to take more than a few seconds to catch up on life, let alone to want happiness for someone else. Not that she’s self-centered. It’s just not who she is. Call it a trauma response.

When the former queen ran away, she lost a mother. Someone who didn’t even care to come back for her, considering she isn’t actually dead.

"I do not have feelings for Lucynda, Troy. So, get that idea out of your thick skull. Didn't we just discuss-"

“Yeah, but you never know if-"

"I do not plan to fall in love with her. I'm simply following our lore and the color of my tux is for my mother. It was her favorite, after all." My voiceboomsa little louder than I intended it to, but as I grow tired of this game of back and forth with my little sister, I think it serves her right to not argue with me over minor things. It’s my wedding, not hers. Though I do find myself a little frustrated with her for bringing out a vulnerability in me, something I refuse to show.

"Right. I'm sorry." She rubs the back of her neck as she looks down on the ground.

Silence surges between us, almost so loud it causes ringing in my ears.

"Have you visited her lately?" Troy’s voice softens, a sweet sympathetic tone hand in hand with the look in her eyes.

"No. It wouldn't do anyone any good. She does not remember me and I-" I cut myself off. I am not a man of many emotions, but when it comes to my mother, it’s something I simply wish to avoid.

"Riv, I know it's hard. I really do. I'm sorry for what my father did to her. If I had been born and old enough to stand up to him for you, I would have. Just as you've done for me. But that doesn't mean you have to stop visiting her because it's hard. And maybe, just maybe, you should at leasttrywith Lucynda. I know your mom would have wanted you to and-"

"That's enough, Troy! You don't know the first thing about my mother. My father made sure of that!” This time, I let my anger soar. It shocks Troy so hard that she flinches as I throw my fist up against the hallway wall.

I have never raised my voice to Troian, only never to her. I blame it on thesanguis maledictumthis time around.It’s raging inside of me, the hunger stronger than ever. The last time I fed was from that girl in the display hallways at the party, which doesn’t seem that long ago but for a vampire…

When Lucynda watched, her eyes burned with desire. I heard her heartbeat drum faster and faster. I have been trying to deny a feed until our blood bind, but even if my plans for this wedding are on schedule, that won’t be for five more days. I doubt I’ll make it that long and if I am getting this angry with my sweet little sister, then I will definitely need to remedy my hunger.

I bring my attention back to the present situation where I find Troy staring at me with so much disgust that it makes me furious with myself, but I’ve already apologized one time too many today, so I let this one slide.

“I have things to do, Troian. Did you need anything else from me?"

"No. I guess not."

“Tomorrow at noon, don’t be late,” I warn her before letting her turn back around and disappearing around the corner.

18

when darkness falls

Lucynda

October 15th

It’s nearing total nightfall. The song of the wind plays harshly against the windows as rain threatens to break from the sky. It’s the perfect October night. I was feeling hopeful about my new start of life but as soon as Rivian came for me and my poor excuse of a packed bag—nearly hours after he had promised me—we came straight to the castle without so much as a single word spoken between us.

I felt insecure in the back of his car as his driver drove us the short drive, but I feel even more so now that he just dropped me off in this ridiculously large bedroom, leaving me here without reassurance or direction. Just silence.

"If you need anything at all, please let me know, Miss Claire. All you have to do is ring this bell," the old lady with gray hair and smile lines nods her head at me as she points to a red button next to the door of the bedroom, "and I'll be here in a jiffy." I smile at her and give her a polite nod.

She followed behind Rivian and I shortly after he disposed of me in this room. The old lady seems so small and too sweet for a place like this, but I don't question her presence as a more pressing question slinks into my mind.

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