The laughter stopped. Everything went dead. Even the wind outside the broken windows held its breath. Serenity helped Riven to his feet. The black veins on his chest were disappearing, but he still looked pale.
"What's coming?" she whispered to Elder Thalia. Before the old woman could answer, the temperature dropped twenty degrees in one second. Ice crystals formed on the walls. Everyone's breath came out in white puffs.
"Well, well, well," a smooth voice said from the darkness. "What do we have here?"
A figure stepped through the broken doorway. He was tall and fluid, moving like a dancer. His skin was white as snow. His hair was black as midnight. And his eyes... His eyes were the color of fresh blood.
"Prince Veyric," Elder Thalia breathed.
The vampire smiled, showing perfect white teeth. Two of them were slightly longer than the others.
"Hello, Thalia. Still playing with predictions, I see."
Behind him came more figures. Six vampire troops in black armor. Their eyes glowed red in the darkness. Serenity felt Riven tense beside her. Kael growled low in his throat.
"Stay calm," she whispered. "We don't know what he wants."
"I know exactly what he wants," Sable said with a bitter laugh. "He wants you, sister."
Prince Veyric's red eyes fixed on Serenity. "Smart girl."
He walked closer, his boots making no sound on the stone floor. "Though I prefer to think of it as offering protection."
"From what?" Serenity asked.
"From them." Veyric pointed at the cracks in the walls. "Your shadow sisters are gathering. Soon they'll break through completely."
"How do you know about the shadow sisters?" Kael demanded.
"Because I've been watching." Veyric's pale fingers traced the air. "I felt the moment they were made. Dark magic calls to dark magic."
"You're dark magic?" Serenity asked.
"Child, I'm over one hundred fifty years old. I've seen nations rise and fall. Watched species go extinct. Fed on the blood of kings and poor alike." His smile was beautiful and terrible. "Of course I'm dark magic."
Riven raised his crossbow. "Stay back."
"Peace, assassin." Veyric didn't even look at him. "I'm not here to fight."
"Then why are you here?" Serenity stepped forward. She felt power humming under her skin like lightning.
"To save you."
"From who?"
"From making the wrong choice." Veyric's red eyes dug into hers. "Three guys want your help now. The cursed Alpha who needs you to break his ties. The assassin who remembers childhood vows. And me."
"What do you want from me?"
"Everything." His voice was soft as silk. "Your power. Your loyalty. Your presence in my court."
"In exchange for what?"
"Safety. Knowledge. The chance to become what you were meant to be."
Serenity felt something stir in her chest. Not desire exactly, but... curiosity. There was something familiar about this vampire prince.
"Have we met before?" she asked.
Veyric's perfect face showed a flicker of feeling. "Not exactly. But I knew your mother." The words hit like a physical blow.
Serenity stumbled backward. "My mother is dead."
"Yes. And I failed to save her."
Silence filled the hall. Even the dying wolves stopped whining.
"You loved her," Serenity whispered.
"I did." Veyric's voice cracked slightly. "More than my own existence."
"Then why didn't you protect her?"
"Because she chose your father instead." Pain flashed across his face. "A Nightborn Wolf over a vampire prince. Love over power."
"And now you want me because I look like her?"
"You look exactly like her." Veyric took another step closer. "Same silver eyes. Same black hair. Same stubborn tilt to your chin when you're angry."
"I'm not my mother."
"No. You're better. She had wolf blood and fae power. But you..." His eyes burned brighter. "You have something else. Something new."
"What?"
"The power to choose your own destiny."
Behind them, Kael made a sound of disgust. "Pretty words. But you're still trying to use her."
"Am I?" Veyric turned to face the Alpha. "Tell me, wolf. What happens when Serenity breaks your curse? Do you set her free? Or do you keep her as your mate forever?"
Kael's gray eyes flashed with anger. "That's not—"
"Answer the question."
"The curse binds us together. If she breaks it, we'll be bonded for life."
"So you're using her too."
"It's different."
"Is it?" Veyric looked at Riven next. "And you, assassin? What's your plan? Protect her out of guilt? Make up for lost time?"
"I just want to keep her safe," Riven said softly.
"Noble. But still selfish." Veyric's smile was sharp as a blade. "You all want something from her. At least I'm honest about it."
"What exactly are you offering?" Serenity asked
"A place in my court. Vampires don't mate like dogs. We choose our partners freely. No curses. No fate. Just choice."
"And if I say no?"
"Then you're free to go. But consider this—your shadow sisters are coming. They're stronger than the one you just faced. And they have help."
"What kind of help?" "The kind that wants to see the supernatural world burn."
Thunder rumbled outside. But it wasn't a storm.
"They're here," Elder Thalia whispered. Through the broken windows came a sound like breaking glass. Then screaming. Then silence.
"My soldiers won't hold them long," Veyric said calmly. "We need to leave. Now."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Serenity said.
"Then you'll die here. Along with everyone you care about."
More sounds came from outside. Fighting. Shouting. Something that might have been laughing.
"How many are there?" Kael asked.
"Seven shadow sisters. Plus their master."
"Master?" Serenity's blood went cold. "The shadow creature had a master?"
"Did you think something that powerful just appeared by accident?" Veyric's voice was grim. "Someone made them. Someone who wants you dead or controlled."
"Who?" "I'll tell you if you come with me."
"That's blackmail."
"That's survival."
The castle shook again. Dust fell from the roof.
"Decide quickly," Veyric said. "My offer won't last much longer."
Serenity looked around the wrecked hall. At Kael, whose curse was still killing him slowly. At Riven, who'd risked his life to save her. At Sable, who was watching everything with cunning eyes. Three powerful guys wanted her help. Each offered something different. Each wanted something in return. But the shadow sisters were coming. And she was running out of time.
"If I go with you," she said to Veyric, "what happens to them?"
"They can come too. My castle has room for guests."
"All of them?"
"Even the traitor." Veyric glanced at Sable. "Though I make no promises about her safety."
"And if I choose to break Kael's curse instead?"
"Then we all die here. Tonight."
The walls shook harder. Cracks spread across the floor.
"Choose," Veyric said quickly. "Now."
Serenity closed her eyes. Three men. Three different worlds. Three different kinds of bondage. When she opened them again, her choice was made.
"I'll come with you," she said. "But I have conditions."
"Name them."
"Everyone comes. Everyone stays safe. And you tell me the truth about who's controlling the shadow sisters."
"Agreed."
"Then let's go."
Veyric smiled. "Excellent choice." He whistled sharply. His vampire guards appeared in the doorway. "Escort our guests to the carriages," he ordered.
As they moved toward the exit, Serenity felt Riven's hand touch her arm. "Are you sure about this?" he whispered.
"No. But it's better than death."
"Is it?" Before she could answer, a new voice spoke from the darkness.
"Going somewhere, little sister?" Everyone froze. Standing in the broken doorway was another person. Tall, pale, with silver eyes and black hair.
But this wasn't a shadow thing. This was real. "Hello, Serenity," the figure said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
Serenity stared in shock. Because the voice was recognizable. The face was familiar. It was her own face.
"Surprised?" the other Serenity asked. "You shouldn't be. After all..." She pulled back her hood, showing hair that was dyed blood red instead of black.
"We're twins." Behind her stepped six more figures. All female. All with Serenity's face. All smiling with similar, terrible grins. "Did you miss me?" asked the twin with red hair. "Because I certainly missed you."
The ghost sisters had arrived. And they'd brought their boss with them.