Qui êtes-vous? (question) Who are you?

Once Bastien had left my room, frustration and confusion flooded out of me in heavy sobs that shook my shoulders.

I had so many questions that needed answering, but most importantly was how could a witch blessed with the powers of Diana forsake her people and give herself to a Witch of the Darkness? Willingly and happily. Sighing and gasping with pleasure as he moved inside her.

I was a ruin.

I had no magick.

I was an embarrassment.

But Tansy wasn't. She had white hair which meant she had power.

My sobs continued, and I leaned against the cold glass just to steady myself.

My desire to know what it meant to be close to a man had kept me watching their joining, but somewhere along the way, it became less about my curiosity and more about disbelief.

If Tansy could be with him without remorse, it made me question everything I knew about the world.

Wiping my tears, I took a few deep breaths to slow my crying down.

Were some families not at war with the darkness? Did Tansy's family not have cemeteries filled with the bones of witches who died by horrific demonic curses?

It seemed impossible, but maybe it could be true. But that didn't account for how evil dark witches were. How could anyone trust them?

I recalled Shreesa and her family of witches and how they seemed. Bastien insisted that they practiced their craft within the bounds of the law, and I'd seen no reason to doubt that.

He'd also insisted that the creatures I was raised to fear weren't as bad as I thought, and Tansy seemed to agree.

Coldness seeped through the glass, leaving a burning chill against my skin, but it wasn't the cold that made me shiver or raised an army of goosebumps.

No.

It was my next question.

What if I'd been wrong the whole time? What if I'd been the one who'd been lied to?

Sickness rose in my throat, and I swallowed hard, forcing the sour taste back down.

No. No, that couldn't be true. It couldn't.

Catching sight of a gilded floor-length mirror, I wandered toward it on unsteady legs to look upon the lace choker Mama fitted around my neck.

Slowly, I pulled back my long silver lilac hair and tilted my head to inspect it, which I hadn't had the chance to do since we left the inn.

The scabs beneath the lace were almost healed, but I'd never forget the sickening pain of the barbs as they pierced my skin.

Nor would I ever forget the way the vampire prince sought to save me from the necklace by cutting it off, even before it was his obligation to do so.

His first instinct had been to save me from the harm my family would inflict.

Sniffling, I let my hair fall back around my shoulders and I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

Who was I?

Dressed in the black and gold of House Allard, standing in a room that dripped with elegance, my femininity awakened by the touch of a vampire, I didn't recognize myself.

The only thing I'd ever truly known about myself was that I was a witch devoid of magickal powers. I was cursed with hair the color of pale purple orchids, as if to show everyone in my family how different I was.

How alone I was.

I knew I wasn't the eldest daughter Mama had hoped for, not by a long shot, but she wouldn't have sent me into a vampire stronghold to discover the location of the demonic relics if the circumstances weren't dire.

I touched the black lace as a question rose to my mind. My lip quivering.

Could she have sent me on this mission just to rid herself of me?

My breath caught on something painful and sharp, and tears flooded my vision all over again.

No. She wouldn't. I had to believe that.

I was her blood, and she mine.

Even if I'd met a few witches along the way who were different than Mama described, I couldn't doubt my loyalty to my family and to my sister.

Sera could be the first leader of Proctor Family who didn't need to worry about dark magick as long as I did my job: learn what I could about the whereabouts of the demonic relics and then kill Bastien so he couldn't replace the ones we destroyed.

That's what I needed to do.

There was a knock at the door, and I startled, hoping it wasn't the vampire. I didn't want him to see me like this. I didn't want him to believe he had this effect on me.

Wiping my eyes and taking a few deep breaths, I cracked open the door to find an older woman with kind eyes and a round face staring back at me.

"Can I help you?" I asked a little rudely, not wanting any company at the moment.

She let out a titter of laughter. "No, my dear. My name is Lena, and I'm here to help you."

She turned, revealing a host of people lined up behind her. Two were carrying a long table, others silver trays laden with food. Sweet and savory scents drifted into the room, making my stomach twist with hunger.

Lena took advantage of my open surprise and muscled her way through the door, fluttering into the room and directing everyone where to place the table and how to arrange the dishes.

I followed after her with slow steps, not knowing what to do as two men with instruments bristled past me and setting up beside the hearth.

What in Diana's name was going on?

Those who weren't carrying trays were wearing robes. Black silk robes. Just like they'd done this morning.

Except, they'd multiplied.

None bore red hair, save for Devlinn. He and Tansy weren't wearing plain black robes but beautifully tailored clothes. A dress for her made of gold silk that offset her deep bronze skin and white hair, and a smart pair of black trousers and a gold tunic for him that fit his muscled frame.

They came to stand beside me, Tansy linking her arm with mine, as we watched the buzz of people swarm around my room.

"What is going on?" I asked her.

She offered me a wicked smile. "His lordship has permitted a second offering of suitors for your harem, seeing as how only Devlinn and I caught your eye the first go round."

My mouth fell open. "He-he is?"

She nodded. "His lordship is most kind, isn't he?"

Kind wasn't the word I'd use to describe him, but I couldn't help but be surprised at this turn of events.

Tansy fitted her hand under my jaw and urged me to close my mouth, then rubbed a soothing hand down my back.

"You're a sanguine partner, Mademoiselle. You have been chosen to be the life source of one of the most powerful vampires in this land. Step into your power."

Step into my power.

The words drifted into my head and settled there as we continued to watch what appeared to be a party take shape in my room.

Musicians began to play. The silver trays were arranged in a beautiful display on a long table. People filled the room.

I might not recognize myself anymore or know quite who I was, but I wanted to step into my power. To be the woman I so badly wanted to be. Confident and poised. Not someone who swooned at the mention of blood or questioned every move she made.

But how did I do that?

Tansy playfully bumped her hip against mine, and I met her gaze, which was gentle and warm. "Come, let me introduce you to my friends."

By friends, she meant the men and women wearing black robes. Any of which would willingly make love to me the way Devlinn had made love to her.

Something inside my stomach tightened. Everyone's attention was on me, just as it had been the night of the Sanguination Ball when Bastien had led me onstage and spun me into a dip so low my hair fanned out across the wood floor.

Rolling my shoulder back, I told myself I could do this. One of these people might be just who I was looking for—someone who could help me spy.

For the next hour, Tansy and Devlinn led me around the room, stopping to chat with each person wearing a black robe.

Some were flirts. Some made my cheeks burn with nervous heat. Some were a little too self-involved for my taste. But they all seemed to have two things in common: great respect for their prince and a passion for their job as a trained pillow whisperer.

I didn't think any of them would be a willing spy for me, they were too loyal.

All, except one. Alec.

He'd confessed his love of Bastien and his commitment to all his harem mates to my face, but now I watched him glare at Devlinn from across the room.

With how I was kept out of most conversations at Proctor Hill, I'd become very good at reading body language and ghosting around the outskirts of whispered conversations.

And because of that talent, I knew this man was one that I wanted to speak more with. I knew I had to be very careful with what I said, which caused nervous sweat to blossom under my gown.

That, and this man's obvious good looks. His skin was as tan as Tansy's, and his eyes were the warm reddish brown of bitter tea. His soft black hair was cropped short at the sides. And he wore a gold chain around his neck.

Step into your power.

Excusing myself from Tansy's company, I snatched two bite sized tarts from a silver tray and made my way over to where he stood off to the side, alone, but near enough to the musicians.

I offered him a tart and a smile.

He grinned back at me then leaned in, taking the sweet from my fingers with his lips. I had to hide my surprise.

"You grace me with your presence, Mademoiselle," he said once he'd swallowed the tart.

Then he kissed the back of my hand. I knew I was blushing, but I pretended like I wasn't. The woman I wanted to be had her hand kissed all the time and didn't bat an eye.

"Please call me Claire," I instructed him, then added, "Would you care to dance?"

I didn't really want to dance, I just wanted an excuse to talk closely.

The man bowed, and said, "Again, you honor me."

I let Alec take my waist, and I set my hand on his shoulder as we gently swayed to the music.

"I don't remember seeing you here earlier," I said.

"That's because I'd passed on the opportunity for selection into your harem."

He twirled me in a circle, and it made me giggle. But I had to keep my head on straight. Being around Alec didn't give me the same feeling as being around Bastien, but he was attractive nonetheless.

"May I ask why?"

His smile shrank and he pulled me in close. So close that my body was flush against his and I could feel his breath against my skin.

"Forgive me for being so bold, miss," he breathed into my ear, just barely audible over the music, "but I wasn't about to dye my hair red for anyone."

Dye his hair red?

I didn't respond for a moment as I glanced around the room and realizing I recognized some of these faces.

The vampire hadn't brought nine dark witches into my room, he'd only brought one. He'd just wanted me to think they'd all been dark witches. I wasn't sure if this fact made me more angry with him or less.

But I was thinking about him all the same. He was frustrating. Infuriating. A creature that was cold and heartless. Even if there were times when he warmed me from the inside out.

My thoughts drifted to our quiet nights together in the tent, when we'd talked late into the night before he laid me over a pile of furs and sank his teeth into my thigh, licking and tasting my skin like I was the only thing in the world that could satisfy him.

He'd looked at me the same way Tansy looked at Devlinn.

I shouldn't be thinking about Bastien right now. Especially not like this. I needed to focus.

"I'm sorry if my comment upset you," Alec whispered. "I don't mean to say you aren't worth dying my hair for. It's just..."

Whatever he was going to say died on his lips.

I wanted more information.

"There is nothing to apologize for," I reassured him. "I understand. There are many that have no love for those with...red hair."

I was trying to be coy, but I wasn't sure it was working. Alec spun me in another circle, but this time, when we came back together, he wasn't being the flirt he'd been before.

"This is true. There are those who despise the dark craft."

Was he one?

I couldn't ask, it would seem too suspicious, but everything inside me told me yes, he was.

This was my ally, the one I'd been looking for, but I needed more time with Alec. Alone.

I swallowed hard. There was one way I could make that happen. I thought back to Tansy and Devlinn, and the need that this man was suppose to fill. If I wanted to, I could excuse everyone here and no one would think anything of it except that we wanted to be alone.

But I didn't think I was ready to be alone with him...like that.

I realized I'd stopped moving, and so had he. He was staring down at me with those dark eyes of his.

Slowly, Alec's hand rose up my back until he was cupping the back of my head. His fingers twisting into the strands of my hair. His other hand came to rest on the side of my cheek.

I drew in a stuttering breath which made him smile.

"You are very beautiful."

His comment warmed my cheeks. He was very handsome, that was hard to deny, but I knew this was his job, and he had to say things like that.

"Are you just saying that to make me happy?"

I'd never been kissed before, even though the heavy sense that Bastien's lips had been on mine once before lingered with me, but I had a tingling suspicion that Alec was about to do just that. Kiss me.

Did I want him to kiss me?

My thoughts drifted back to Bastien. For whatever reason, I couldn't stop thinking of him.

"No. I'm not," he said, his head canting to one side. His lips angling closer. So close. "But if hearing the truth makes you happy, then I'll say it again. You, Claire, are painfully beautiful."

I closed my eyes, not knowing what else to do, when the sound of a door slamming against a wall had me opening them.

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Who could it be?!? 🤣🤣🤣

Any guesses?