The next day I wake up with a smile on my face and anticipation filling me, making my blood seem to hum in my veins. I've never been more excited for something. I know mom and dad are worried, but I know I can handle it. I try to remember that mom has her reasons for her reluctance, but I also have to keep reminding her that I'm not the same as her. Going there is something I need, something that is so deep rooted in my very soul that it would be wrong to keep me away from that world.

Plus, as much as she doesn't want to admit it, she's had to know this day was coming. She said it herself, I've always been bored in my life. The same monotonous days coming and going. I need excitement, a thrill, adventure. I crave it. I need to see how my kind lives, not this fake pretend life that my family has set up for me. If I'm going to become like them one day soon, I want to know what it really means.

I roll out of the bed, scrunching my toes in the carpet before I quickly get ready for the day. I slide on a pair of comfy shorts and wrap myself in my favorite Cubs sweatshirt, ignoring my shoe closet all together and actually skip down to find my family.

"Good morning." I chime as I walk in, even though it's well after midnight. Once I graduated high school I adopted their hours since it was just easier. Also, if I want to eat, I've got to be up when Logan is. He comes up behind me from the kitchen, carrying a plate of French toast for me with extra strawberries on the side.

"Someone is in a good mood." He smiles, passing me the plate.

Pedro and mom are laughing about something, mom's eyes watering as she tries to catch her breath and I catch dad staring at her again. She doesn't usually seem to notice, but he's always been that way. For as long as I can remember.

Logan goes to sit on the loveseat with Octavia, kissing her cheek sweetly as she cuddles to his side.

It was hard, for about the billionth time, watching all of these happy couples.

Mom and Dad, Logan and Octavia...I know their relationships inside and out, and I know I have never had anything even remotely close to what they have. I've barely managed to keep a boyfriend for more than a few months, much less find someone who wants to be with me for literally, forever.

"Morning, sunshine." Dad waves me over to sit at the table with him, mom, and Pedro.

Their plates are already cleaned, hardly any crumbs left behind. I glance slowly to their large white bottles of Synthablood. The fridge is always fully stocked. The one and only time I had a sleep over one of my friends wondered into the kitchen without me noticing and she almost took a sip. It was mortifying. I didn't have people over after that.

Mom catches my stare and I see the uncomfortable look that crosses her face. Again I try to sympathize with how she must be feeling about this. Her only daughter at the age now where I could change everything. I still can't understand why she wouldn't want me to be like her though.

"Excited?" She asks.

I nod. "Like you wouldn't believe." I admit.

"Oh, I can tell." She smiles before taking a sip of her drink. "I don't think we've seen you be so pleasant in months."

I roll my eyes and kick my foot at her under the table playfully. "I know." I frown. "I'm sorry about that."

"I understand." Her voice is so honest it takes me back for a second. "I know you're not a little girl anymore, and I know I don't treat you that way enough, so I'm the one who is sorry."

We both smile, me with dimples, her with glittering eyes. I'm instantly taken back to all of the fun and laughter we've shared. For most of my life, mom was my best friend. I regret letting our differences slide a wedge between us, and I resolve to do better from now on. I know in my heart she only has my best interest in mind.

I eat and listen quietly while Pedro and dad go on about the factories and I pretend to show an interest although there's only one thing I'm actually interested in.

When I finish eating we all move into the living room and dad watches me as I trace circles in the carpet with my finger where I sit on the floor beside the couch. He smiles, looking over at Pedro. "So now, I guess we better get to the important stuff before Miss Rosie over there gets bored with our business talk."

I giggle as I pull up my legs and grin at Pedro.

"Yes," He nods. "Like your father mentioned last night, we have a program that's been going for years and years. It's for prospective vampires. When a human discovers us, or is born into it, or however they come to knowing," He waves his hand dismissively. "They come and stay in one of our cities and see how we live, learn the rules, the mechanics, the boring everyday things. After a certain amount of time, and once this person is of age, they can petition to be turned." He explains. "It's all very uniform." He turns to mom to smile reassuringly. "That's where you'll be."

"Wait, so she'll have to stay with the other...humans?" Mom sounds surprised.

Pedro nods and dad holds her hand. "Yes, to be sure she doesn't raise any red flags. We want her coming to stay to be just as usual and mundane as whenever anyone else does it. Showing too much special treatment or breaking protocol would be a bad idea."

"He's right." Dad tells mom and Octavia nods in agreement.

"I stayed there when I came." She tells her. "It's very nice, well protected, and the handlers are all very professional and have been doing this for centuries."

Mom seems to settle a little, but I chew my lip.

"What's wrong?" Pedro asks, tilting his head.

I shrug. "Nothing, I was just hoping I'd get to stay where mom did is all."

"Don't fret over the sleeping arrangements." He exhales, smiling at mom a little. I guess they didn't expect that I was feeling so sentimental about the trip. "I'll take you and show you everything." He promises. "Anyway, even though I fully have faith in the handlers and her safety with the other humans down in the spectator's wings, I still have a girl I am going to place with you. She's never been to Castrum before, and she is newly turned, but she is a great young girl. I think the two of you will get along great and it'll give you the little extra protection. Everyone will be under the impression that you are my great niece, daughter of Octavia's brother, Joseph."

I nod, trying to keep all of the information straight and my face calm like I wasn't beginning to feel a little overwhelmed the more and more real this all became. "Ok."

Pedro glances around, seeking approval on his plans and when no one objects he moves on, unbuttoning the jacket of his blue suit, leaning back into the couch. "Whenever you are not in your wing of Castrum, you will be accompanied by my two appointed bodyguards. No exceptions. You are not to be alone at any time during your stay."

"I promise." I laugh, looking over at mom. "I will learn from the mistakes of my mother." I wink and she rolls her eyes. "I'll follow the rules."

Dad sits forward. "And the guards are?"

"Not regular guards." Pedro assures him. "One you know well, Lance, Cromley's nephew and the leader of my royal guard will be one of her bodyguards," He turns back to me. "Which he is thrilled about." He smiles.

Dad and mom smile happily. "Good choice." Dad says.

"And the other?" Logan presses.

Pedro sighs. "The other is my second in command, freshly appointed hand of the king." He looks to dad. "Calvin, you and I have discussed him before." He looks back at me. "His name is Dalton and he is my most trusted man in my service. Technically you met him a few years ago, but you may not remember."

"You're sure we can trust him?" Dad asks, stroking his chin. Pedro doesn't waiver for a second. He just nods firmly.

"I trust him with my life. He's the right man for the job, not only because of his loyalties to me, but also he has got to be the most skilled fighter I've ever met in my long life. If anyone can protect her, it's him." Pedro stands, readjusting his jacket. "Knowing though that you would want to meet him for yourself, I've brought him with me...shall I retrieve him?" Pedro smiles smugly, proud of himself until he gets the glare from mom.

"Oh, so you knew before you even came that this was going to be the outcome? You just knew we were going to let her come away with you?" She huffs, crossing her arms.

He just smiles and taps her nose and I giggle as her glare becomes more intense. "I hopped you would." He shrugs. "I've already made all of the arrangements at home and her spot in with the spectators is already saved."

"Well go get him then." Mom sighs in defeat.

Pedro starts to go, then quickly steps back. "One thing, Dalton isn't aware yet of Rosie's parentage." He admits. "I didn't want to spill all of her darkest secrets just in case you did decide to keep Rose here." He shrugs and dad helps mom up and pulls her into the back room where they can wait.

When Pedro goes out the door I realize I'm about to meet this person and I'm wearing a ratty old sweatshirt, didn't bother running the brush through my light auburn hair, and skipped the makeup. What kind of princess is he going to think I am? I'm like the first half of the Princess Diaries right now, still waiting on my makeover.

Pedro is back, a dark figure behind him before I've even gotten out of the floor yet.

I get to my feet clumsily, Logan and Octavia flanking me at either side as Pedro and Dalton walk in. I remember him instantly. He'd come to town with Pedro one time a few years back. I was probably fifteen then. We hadn't officially met, he'd just hung back, watching Pedro and I while we were at the arcade that night. Pedro had only been able to come in for one night to spend my birthday with me and the arcade was all we had time for.

Dalton follows one step behind Pedro, coming out to his side when Pedro stops in front of us. I stop breathing for a second and quickly remind myself to get my shit together. Everyone in this room can hear how fast my heart is beating.

He looks a little different from the last time, older somehow and my god he looks strong. He's so dark. His jet black hair swept back, his dark looming eyebrows over his shadowed deep set dark honey brown eyes, his lashes long and striking. Everything about him was like a sharp edge. He was like a storm. Dark and brooding, possibly dangerous, but I couldn't look away. Just like when a real storm rolls in, I can't help but stare, hoping to catch another glimpse of it's dark power in the flash of the lightning.

I watch in awe as he extends his arm, dark tan and wrapped in coiling muscles, to shake hands with Logan, then Octavia. "Pleasure, I'm Dalton." He dips his head to the both of them, the muscles around his neck tensing and then releasing.

I try to be cool and poised as I extend my hand to him when his eyes finally land on mine. I'm a little surprised by the utter lack of interest in them. Like a robot saying his line and sticking out his hand, looking at me like I'm nothing.

"I-I'm Rose." I bow my head and then bite my cheek at myself. Why the hell had I done that? I'm not supposed to do that. I'm supposed to curtsy or something, but I save myself the further embarrassment and just take his hand.

The second my hand meets his, it all goes black.

My eyes open and it's still Dalton in front of me, but he's younger, much younger. Maybe eleven or twelve. He's lying in a tiny bed, barely covered by the holey sheet on top of him, just like the dozens of other little boys lying on tiny beds just like his in this big room. There's a large crucifix on the wall, "Boy's Home" written beneath it.

An orphanage I realize.

Dalton rolls over in his bed, a dark bruise down his back. I catch my breath, wanting to make the poor little boy feel better, but there isn't anything I can do.

The door opens to the room and Dalton sits up fast, his eyes afraid until a beautiful black haired woman walks into the room slowly, looking out over the beds until she sees Dalton watching her. She appears before him in a flash, making him jump.

"Do you want to get away from this place?" She whispers to him.

"You want to adopt me?" His little voice shakes, nothing like the deep, smooth, confident voice he has now.

"In a way." She smiles and he takes her hand as she pulls him from the bed and then covers his mouth with a white piece of cloth and he falls limp in her arms.

The room sweeps away, and suddenly images and short snippets cross in front of me, some so short I hardly can get my bearings before it's gone.

Dalton scrubbing floors as a teen in a strange place.

Dalton as a teen fighting off three grown men on his own.

Dalton being fed on, his face crippled in pain and disgust.

Dalton being beaten.

Dalton being bitten, the blood flowing from him, but the man who did it doesn't drink...He watches, laughing as Dalton screams.

Dalton crying.

"Rosie?" Pedro's voice pierces through and I see Dalton standing in front of me again, this time in real life. "Rose, are you ok?"

I look passed Pedro and right at Dalton, my heart aching for him and the things I'd just seen. My hand was still in his, shaking slightly. "I am so sorry." I whispered, meaning it deeply. No one should go through what I'd seen him endure. I expected to see him looking back at me, but he slowly dropped my hand, his eyes looking past me and behind me to where my mom and dad were coming slowly out of the back room.

They both looked concerned for me but I nod to them that I'm ok.

Dalton though can't even blink.

He takes a step backwards, glancing at Pedro.

Pedro puts a hand on his shoulder, nodding twice slowly.

Dalton's eyes widen and then he drops into a bow. "Majesty." He addresses my father.

Dad only shakes his head. "Stand." He says with authority and I can see it. The king from the book. My dad the monarch. It's weird to think of, but I see it now and I'm not sure how I ever missed it. "Speak freely, you're among friends here, son."

Dalton rises, still looking confused and awed at the same time. "Your highness." He ducks his chin to mom and she smiles at him.

"Come," Pedro waves him over to sit on the couch. "We have much to discuss."

Pedro and dad go back and forth, telling Dalton all about the competition that brought my parents together, the dangers, and the decision that my dad had made.

"So the rumors that you let the queen go are true then?" He clarifies.

Dad nods, and I move closer to mom, seeing the sadness in her eyes as she thinks about it. "I did what I thought was right at the time." Dad explains to him. "I know you understand that I didn't want this life for her, but then we had Rose." Dalton takes his first glance at me, but it doesn't look happy. "She is our daughter and Rachel only came back all those years ago so that we could protect her. She was in danger at the time, and once that was taken care of, it still left me with two women that I loved very much and no way to keep us all together. That's when Pedro came up with the idea of faking a coupe."

Dalton nodded. "So you've all been just living normal lives here?"

"Normal as possible." Dad smiles.

He turns to Pedro. "So that's why you said you needed me to look after her?" He asks. "Because you're bringing the heir back?"

Pedro nods, then shrugs. "Well, though she is coming, we can't let anyone know who she really is. She'll be under yours and Lance's protection for the duration of her stay."

He raises his eyebrows. "And exactly how long will that be?" He asks, an edge to his voice.

Pedro sighs, looking over to mom.

"I was thinking the summer for now." She says, looking at me.

I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. "Are you serious?" I nearly jumped up. "All summer?"

"As long as there aren't any issues." She adds.

"There won't be." Pedro and I say in unison.

Dalton looks less than excited as he stands, walking out when Pedro nods to him.

Once he's gone dad leans in closer. "You're sure you trust him?" He asks. "He isn't too ambitious? Did you see how he looked at her when he realized who she was?"

Pedro waved off his worry. "I assure you, he isn't a problem. Also, Lance will be working with him as well so you have nothing to worry about."

"How old is he?" I blurt out and everyone gives me strange looks.

Mom narrows her eyes. "Older than you."

"Well, duh." I roll my eyes. "But like how much?"

Pedro shakes his head. "Well his body is twenty six, but in mind he's more like twenty eight or so."

I nod, pretending to have lost interest, but really all I wanted to do was go find him and apologize for being so weird earlier. It wasn't exactly how I wanted to start out our new...friendship? Working relationship? I don't really know, but if we are going to be around each other I should at least know who he is.

I wait a few minutes, then excuse myself to get some air.

I look all around the house and out on the porch but I can't find Dalton anywhere.

I start to head back inside but then I catch a glimpse of the barn in the distance and I decide to go check on Kingsly. I feel bad as I walk over that due to my new sleeping schedule I haven't been out to ride him lately. On my way I grab a few carrots from the garden that Logan and Octavia started and then go into the barn.

When I walk in I stop when I see Dalton whispering quietly to Kingsly, stroking his long grey mane.

"He loves that." I whisper and Kingsly neighs, looking over at me and the carrots in my hand. Dalton backs away and shoves his hands into the pockets of his dark grey jeans while I kiss Kingsly's nose and feed him. "Hey, haven't we met before?" I ask him, already knowing the answer. I remember his looming in the distance like he's doing now. When he doesn't answer I sigh. "I remember you anyway, but I think you were..."

"Human." He mutters lowly, not meeting my eyes. "Not anymore."

I nod awkwardly, the silence engulfing us.

"Hey, so I wanted to apologize about earlier, I know that was weird."

"Yep." He kicks the dirt. "Pedro mentioned..." He didn't know how to describe it either. "What exactly did you see?" He asks, his expression hard as he looks up at me.

I bite my lip, unsure how exactly to describe it since I saw so many different things at once. "Your past I guess." I finally say.

He looks angry, his dark thick brows furrowing. "Stay out of my head from now on, got it?"

"I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...I mean I don't control..." I'm at a loss of what to even say. I hadn't expected such a hostile response. I rack my brain trying to think of something to say to diffuse the awkwardness. "So, you know Lance?" I ask, trying to sound friendly since he was clearly not good at it.

He scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Of course you'd be his friend."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I demand. "Have I done something to offend you or what?" I cross my arms over my chest, my face hot.

"No." He grunts, then stomps towards the door.

"Then what is your problem?" I turn on my heels, following after him. "Hey, I asked you a question." I snap.

He whips back around, bowing sarcastically. "Oh, I'm so sorry, your royal highness." He stands back straight, looking at me like I'm an annoyance. "I guess I'm just not too thrilled to have been demoted to glorified babysitter when I could be training, or...literally anything else."

He turns to leave again but I'm not letting him off with the last word.

"Yeah well we will be spending a lot of time together this summer so I guess you'll just have to get over yourself." I purse my lips until he flashes back and he's right in front of me, looking down at me angrily.

"If you knew what was good for you, or even had half a brain, you'd stay home."

I lift my chin, refusing to let him see how much he intimidates me. "Thanks a lot for the advice," I smile sourly. "But since I'm the one who is the heir here, and you're just the guy in charge of keeping me safe, you'll have to forgive me if I just ignore it."

He leans in further, his face inches from mine. "My god, you are seriously one spoiled litt-."

"Princess." Pedro interrupts him, appearing in the doorway, crossing his arms in disapproval. "She is your princess and you will show her the same respect that you show to me." He scolds him.

Dalton backs away from me, going to Pedro.

My face was flaming hot. I was embarrassed that we were fighting, I was embarrassed that Pedro had to get in the middle and I was even more embarrassed that I was having to stand here and watch Pedro discipline him.

Pedro leans in closer to Dalton. "You are one of her subjects."

Dalton bristles at his words, his muscles rippling. "I never asked to be-."

"I'm well aware of that." Pedro cuts him off. "But this is where we are now." Pedro sighs, softening a little. "Now I believe you have something to say to Rosie."

I didn't think I could be more mortified but Pedro saying that actually pushed me over to literally wishing I was anywhere but right here.

Dalton walked back over to me, a fire in his eyes. "My deepest and more sincere apologies for my behavior, your highness." He said in a rush. "I look forward to being in your service this summer." I knew every bit was a lie.

As soon as they were gone I hid my face in the side of Kingsly's neck.

"Oh, buddy." I whispered to him. "This is going to be one long, weird summer."