Page 68 of Midwinter Night's Prince

"I'm here," Gwen said, rushing to his side. "It happened so fast. They had her, and we couldn't—"

"I don't care. Freeze her now."

Wisely,Gwen nodded, obeying the command without question. She entombed Greer's body in ice, covering every inch of her. "What now?"

Eirikr was silent, lifting the crystalline casket in his arms before disappearing.

Seth didn't know who was the first to cry. All he knew was that whatever they might have gained today, they'd lost this war.

35

THE WALLS

One year later

No one celebrated Aveka's death, or the end of this senseless war. Not that day, not the next week. One year later, Blair still reeled each time she thought of everything they'd lost because of one power-hungry witch, and because of fear.

"Mrs. Eirikrson, please!"

Chloe smiled at the reporter holding his hand up. "Yes, Denis?"

Since the walls of Oldcrest had been destroyed, they'd replaced them with gates of silver and iron, but there had been other changes. Fear went hand in hand with ignorance. Chloe wasn't allowing the world to remain ignorant any longer.

She'd held her first press conference on the hill ten months ago. She told the entire world everything that had ever happened to her. Some vampires were still terrified of her, but to most, Chloe was a sweetheart. The vampire everyone wanted as their best friend.

Too bad for them. She was Blair's.

"You have to admit that the entrance requirements to the Institute are unfair to humans. What if a brilliant but regular mortal wanted in, and didn't have two supernatural acquaintances to vouch for him?"

"Well, my husband and I take no role in the selection process of the school, but that's a fair critique. I'll report it to the board. Anything else?"

"There are rumors of Eirikr being seen in Russia. Can you confirm?"

Pain flashed across her features. Chloe had lost most of her family members. Those she still had had deserted her for one reason or another.

"I'm afraid I have no idea. If he resurfaces, I'll be sure to call on all of you. I know many of you guys are salivating over his autobiography."

The reporters chuckled.

"We only have five more minutes before graduation starts," Blair whispered.

She was only standing next to Chloe because she looked good on video. Wholesome.

"One last question?" Chloe offered.

"With the European vampire election coming up, many wonder if you'll postulate for queen."

She chuckled. "Maybe in five hundred years or so. I don't have the experience, to be entirely honest with you."

"But you're one of the strongest vampires alive, right? What if the European clans don't respect the authority of the upcoming monarch?"

She shrugged. "Well, then, I suppose the monarch will have to deal with it. Now if you'll excuse me, I can't miss my own graduation.”

The journalists took pictures as she got up and walked down the hill toward the Institute.

One year, to the day, and each time they passed Greer's memorial, both Blair and Chloe stopped, pressing their hands on the golden statue.

Greer should have been here. She should have been in the crowd, clapping for them.

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