The enormous ballroom exploded into noises. People were talking all at once. I could see the door now, oh sweet escape, only for strong steel-like arms to wrap around my waist. I should have known that escape was impossible. How could I have thought to run from a vampire?

"Silence." He roared. His voice carried throughout the entire ballroom. Then, he picked me up and dumped me on his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. Every eye, human and vampire, was fixed on Lord Alistair Valerius and me, the unknown girl hidden under a thick veil.

I was shaking, but I forced myself to remain perfectly still. Shane's frantic warnings echoed in my head. Do not draw the Lord's eye. I had done the one thing I was absolutely forbidden to do.

When we reached Lena's parents, he dropped me down.

"Shane Hale," Alistair repeated, his voice deep and demanding. "I asked who this female is. I will not ask a third time."

Shane stammered, sweat beading on his forehead. "My Lord, she is only Lena, a distant cousin who arrived to visit. She is of no consequence. Please, she is not intended for presentation."

"Consequence is determined by me, human," Alistair stated simply. He didn't look angry, he had a completely straight face and I wondered if anything ever really got to him. He reached out and with a singular, fluid motion, lifted the thick lace veil from my face.

The bright, artificial light of the ballroom hit my eyes. I blinked, momentarily blinded. For the first time, I saw Alistair very clearly and the sight was devastating. I was seconds away from swooning in awe. He was more perfectly formed than anyone I had ever seen but that wasn't what was pressing. It was the fierce hunger in his golden eyes. Yes. His eyes were a bright golden colour.

He didn't really look at my face, he looked at my throat again then took another deep whiff, letting out a low growl. I would really like to know why he keeps sniffing me. Do I smell?

"A distant cousin?" Alistair pulled back and scoffed, looking at Shane. "Her blood sings louder than any human I have smelled in four years. You hid her, Hale. Why?"

Irina stepped forward, desperate to save the situation. "My Lord, she was ill as a child. She is fragile. My eldest, Alice, is strong and beautiful. She is the proper offering-"

Alistair silenced her with a look of pure disdain. He turned back to me. His expression changed, softening slightly.

"What is your name, female?" he asked.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

"She does not speak much, My Lord," Shane tried to cover. "She is just a simple girl."

Alistair ignored them all. He placed his hand lightly on my cheek and a shiver went through my body.

"Speak your name," he commanded, his voice low.

"Lena," I managed to whisper, my voice shaking.

He smiled, a slight, slow curve of his lips that was genuinely alarming. "Lena. You are mine now. Your scent... it is unlike anything in this territory."

I finally found my courage, fueled by my previous lifetime of suffering under unfair authority. "I refuse to be claimed, Lord Valerius," I said, my voice barely a squeak, but firm enough to be heard in the deathly quiet room. "I am not property."

The small sound echoed. A few people gasped audibly. I felt Irina seize up next to me, probably terrified on my behalf.

Alistair stared at me. For a moment, I thought I had sealed my fate, that he would strike me down or command the guards to drag me away.

Instead, he threw back his head and laughed. It wasn't a kind laugh. It was a dark and frightening sound.

"Refuse?" he repeated, still laughing. "You are bold, human. But refusal is not an option here. You have appealed to me, female. That means you belong to the Valerius line now."

He signaled to the tall, stern vampire standing beside him.

"Commander Axel," Alistair commanded, his voice returning to its authoritative tone. "Arrange immediately for her transfer to the palace. She will be installed in the Consort's Wing by dawn. She is my new Consort. Ensure she is guarded by a full cadre of loyalists. We wouldn't want her running off now, would we?"

Axel bowed immediately. "No, My Lord."

The news sent a shockwave through the room. A Consort. He had chosen the plain, hidden daughter over the beautiful, presented ones.

Shane fell to his knees. "My Lord, please! We are honored but she is too frail! She is not fit for the role! We beg you, take Alice! Alice would make a better Consort!"

Alistair looked down at Shane like he was gum beneath his shoe. "You hide the one that appeals to me and then offer a substitute? Your foolishness is astonishing, Hale. You will be compensated for your sacrifice and then you will be silent. You will not approach her again unless commanded."

He didn't wait for a response. He looked at me one last time then turned away.

"Axel, ensure all these arrangements are made. Now," he commanded, then he went out of the ballroom. The woman beside him who must be Queen Mother Mira, followed silently behind him after running an appraising eyes all over me.

I don't think I passed her brief appraisal.

I was left standing in the center of the hall feeling exposed and completely doomed. Irina was sobbing, half out of shock and half out of bitter disappointment that Alice had been passed over. Alice, meanwhile, was staring at me with pure envy and anger.

Commander Axel approached me. He was a mountain of muscle and armor. He wasn't smiling. Shocker.

"Lady Lena," he said, his voice flat. "Please accompany me now. Any resistance will be seen as an act of treason against the Valerius Lord and will be dealt with severely."

I knew I couldn't fight him. Logic won out. Survival depended on moving forward. I was just exchanging one prison (the Hale manor) for a far more dangerous one (the Lord's palace).

Axel placed a firm hand on my back and steered me away from the upset Hales.

"Where are we going?" I asked Axel, my voice small.

"To your new life, Lady Lena," he replied, his eyes never leaving the crowd. "The Lord demands you move in by dawn." He paused, looking down at me. "He has never chosen a Consort before. You should be honored. But you should also be very, very careful."

The warning was clear.

The ride to the residential area of the Palace of Eternal Night was a tense affair. I sat facing Commander Axel, the stern-faced vampire who was maintaining a social distance like I was the plague. The strange scent of the palace carriage was overwhelming and it constantly reminded me of the beings who owned this world.

"My duties," I finally asked, cutting through the silence. "What exactly does a Consort do here besides satisfying the Lord's blood needs?"

Axel shifted, adjusting the immaculate collar of his uniform. "The Lord Alistair Valerius requires stability. You will be trained to be his official human representative. You will receive petitions, attend minor diplomatic functions with him, and maintain the affairs of the Consort's Wing. Mostly, you are a political symbol. You represent his interest in the human territories. This is the vampires way of showing the cordial relationship between us and humans. That the humans aren't just food."

Oh.

"And the blood?" I pressed. My paranoid mind needed to quantify the risk.

Axel frowned slightly, a flicker of discomfort on his usually straight face. "That is the Lord's private matter. However, the Lord is known to be... particularly sensitive to blood requirements. He must feed twice a week to maintain his peak strength. He can go without for longer but it comes at a great cost to him."

The information landed like a punch. Twice a week. Alistair would drink from me twice a week?! Do I even have enough blood in my body to sustain that kind of lifestyle?

"What is this great cost?"

"Irritability, weakness, and eventually, uncontrolled bloodlust," Axel stated flatly. "He has managed for years without a permanent Consort but it has strained him. Your presence is meant to end that discomfort."

We have arrived at where we were going. Axel led me into the Consort's Wing which was a massive, neat suite designed more for a queen than a mere human. It had high ceilings, intricate silver scrollwork, and a ridiculous amount of silk. It felt like a carefully organized antique display.

A single elderly vampire was waiting, her face covered with ancient disapproval.

"This is Helen," Axel introduced. "She has served the Valerius line for centuries. She is in charge of your personal care and adherence to protocol."

Then he turned without warning and left the room.

Centuries?! Just how old was she?

Helen gave me a brief, stiff nod that barely counted as a welcome. "Lady Lena. The rules of this wing are strict. You are never to leave without a guard. You are never to address the Lord unless spoken to first. You will be provided for and you are here for one reason which is to ease the Lord's burden."

What an important responsibility, I remarked sarcastically internally while rolling my eyes.

Then some questions occurred to me suddenly. Why am I really here in the Palace? Why did I get picked? Why did Rue fall sick suddenly? Why did I wake up as Lena at such a time as this?

"Helen, I require the Human Presentation Laws," I stated, using the formal tone I had perfected as Sarah when addressing difficult teachers. "I also require verification of Rue Hale's illness. I need to know which Royal Physician diagnosed her and the exact cause."

Helen hesitated. She was clearly not used to the people placed in her care making such demands. "Such documents are private, Lady Lena. And the girl Rue's illness is not your concern."

"It is my concern," I countered, meeting her gaze. "I was forced to take her place. My presence here is a result of that absence. Any threat to the integrity of the Hale presentation is a threat to the accuracy of the Lord's choice."

Helen's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that the Lord made a mistake when he chose you?"

Jeez. This wasn't going according to plan.

"Nope. No, I am not saying that. I am only saying that I deserve to know what happened. Also, I would like to know how she is doing now."

That seemed to reassure her.

"Commander Axel had all information regarding the Hale presentation verified before the ball," Helen admitted grudgingly. "It was confirmed that the girl Rue was incapacitated by a sudden, severe fever that broke just this morning. She is still recovering at the Hale estate."

"And the specific diagnosis?"

Helen sighed, clearly annoyed. "A sudden, high-grade viral fever, likely triggered by stress. The Royal Physician Dr. Varkos signed the confirmation."

The information was delivered with certainty but my internal alarm bells were still ringing. Rue had been perfectly healthy until the night before the day of the ball. A sudden, severe fever that conveniently passes the morning after the next? It felt too neat. I might be over thinking this though.

I thanked Helen and dismissed the servants who had been laying out gowns. Their beautiful colours and designs would appeal to me if only they didn't look so damn heavy. Is this what it meant to be Royal?

I walked the length of the massive bedroom then sat on the bed. My mind went to James, my brother. Even though he didn't treat me so well, he was still my brother and I missed him. I wonder what day it was currently in my former life. By now, they must know I am missing. Did they find my body? Am I dead or alive over there? Why did I leave that world and come to this? How did it even happen?

I must find out more about this world. Is this planet even called Earth?

This whole situation is really confusing and I have so many unanswered questions.

The original plan had been for Alice and Rue to be presented. What if Rue's illness wasn't random? What if it was self-inflicted, or caused by a third party with an agenda? What would be their gain in making Lena a Consort? Even more confusing was how did they know the Lord would choose her?

The Hales hated Lena but they feared Alistair more. They would never risk treason by lying about a requirement. But if Rue or Alice, fueled by ambition or resentment, had orchestrated the illness, the entire family was in danger.

I stood up from the bed and sat down at a grand writing desk. I needed a plan.

First, survive the first week. Alistair would be hungry. I had to manage his expectations without directly challenging his authority again. I should see how long I can avoid his vampiric teeth piercing my precious skin.

Second, acquire intelligence: I needed the Human Presentation Laws, any information about the Valerius lineage and the history of this land. What other characteristics do the Vampires have? What is this planet called and what does this world look like? How does it operate? Are there other supernatural beings like werewolves and I don't know, dragons?

The difficulty of these tasks should have overwhelmed me but my years of stressful, high-pressure studying had trained me well. This was just another test I gotta ace although this time, what is at stake is my life.

I stood up, adjusting my gown. I am Lena Hale, Consort to a Vampire Lord. Despite how unbelievable it is to my mind, I really have to start thinking it this seeing as I couldn't possibly run from the palace.

I should sleep now so I can be well rested before the Vampire Lord comes for my blood.

When I woke up the next morning, I was already exhausted just hours later. Helen watched my every move like a hawk. She corrected my clothing, my posture, my tone. She explained that my role was to be a political symbol. I knew that already duh.

"You represent the Lord's choice, Lady Lena," she instructed, her voice flat. "You must reflect his status. Your preferences are unimportant now."

I realized that fighting her on such minor points, like the color or style of a dress, was pointless. I needed to pick battles that yielded information. I spent the morning trying to pry things out of her.

"Tell me about the Valerius history," I asked while she was organizing a tray of glittering stones.

"The Valerius line is ancient, spanning thousands of years," she replied, her eyes focused on the jewels. "What specific part interests you?"

"The King's death," I stated directly. "What happened? It wasn't due to old age I presume."

Helen stopped and slowly placed a heavy silver piece back onto the table. The sorrow and anger on her face were clear.

"It wasn't. Vampires can live up to 400 years. Four years ago, the late King Valerius was killed," she confirmed. "It was not an attack from outside, it was an internal act of betrayal. He was poisoned. The perpetrators were caught but not the mastermind. That is why Lord Alistair is so careful and why the court lives in fear. The pain of the loss is still sharp. The late King was a good man."

"And the Queen?"

"She is withdrawn," Helen said. "A wise and respected Queen, but the loss broke her. She rarely leaves her rooms."

I then turned to the most critical subject which was my blood.

"Why has the Lord resisted choosing a consort for four years if he requires regular feeding?"

"It is law to hold the Ball, but the Lord does not choose lightly," Helen explained. "Normally, vampires need a blood mate for stability and strength. Coupled with the fact that he is royalty, he needs it more but he found it unpleasant to drink directly from strangers, even when he was desperate. Also some unpleasant things have happened in the process in the past. The fact that he chose you means your blood is perfect for him. Some vampires are lucky enough to have their fated mate be their blood mate, but for the basics, the Lord just needs a compatible blood mate."

Hmmm.

Blood mate and fated mate.

I spent the afternoon in the private library, going over ancient texts on vampire bloodlines and court law. The library texts detailing the Valerius bloodline referred to the strength, sanity and composure a blood mate gives a ruler.

Alistair's resistance to feeding for years meant he was likely currently suffering a lot of internal strain and hunger. He needed his blood mate. Although I don't know if I was ready to be needed.

As the sun went down, I felt the need to get out of the wing. Waiting for the Lord to arrive was making me restless. My instinct for survival demanded I understand the layout of my new prison.

I changed into a simple, dark underdress and approached the guard outside the main door.

"I need to walk," I stated simply. "I will walk the inner court gardens."

The guard, a stern man I didn't recognize, checked his device. "You cannot leave this wing alone, Lady Lena."

"Then you will accompany me," I replied, forcing a confident tone.

He called for assistance. After a short wait, a man who must be the Captain of the Guard, arrived. He looked professional and watchful.

"Captain Kael," he said, bowing quickly. "I will escort you, Lady Lena. We must stay on the designated route."

As we walked through the huge, silent palace halls, I decided to use the opportunity to gain some more info.

"I found out that having a blood mate is good for vampires and particularly for the Lord because of his bloodline," I said quietly, referencing the texts I had just read. "That must put him under great pressure, especially since his father's murder. He must be surrounded by enemies but he is in a weakened state seeing as he isn't feeding well."

Captain Kael looked at me, surprised by my knowledge.

"That is true, Lady Lena," He admitted. "He carries the burden of the crown but he has always resisted his hunger, suffering the weakness and irritability of blood-starvation for years."

He slowed his pace and lowered his voice. "Understand this, Lady Lena. You are not just a supply of blood for the Lord, anybody could provide blood, you are a blood mate. A blood mate is not all that common although a person could have more than one across their lifespan. This means that you are a necessity. And that necessity makes you a target. If his enemies cannot defeat Alistair, they will surely target his blood mate."

The seriousness of his words hit me hard.

"What really is a blood mate anyway? Does every vampire need one?" I asked curiously.

He took a deep breath. "Most vampires want one because the blood of the blood mate gives deep satisfaction, strength and soundness of mind to them as opposed to the plain satisfaction of hunger that regular blood gives. Also, a blood mate could be any species. It's the closest thing to a fated mate which is the ultimate desire. Although, not all vampires are lucky to meet their fated mate."

Ohh I see.

"Do you have a blood mate?" I wondered. Surprisingly, his cheeks reddened and he stuttered.

"N..no, I..I don't. I don't go out much." He was trying hard to stop blushing. I chuckled.

"Thank you, Captain Kael," I said, looking directly at him. "I understand things more now."

He nodded his head and looked pleased to end the conversation. I couldn't understand why it was embarrassing though so we continued the walk. The palace was massive and beautiful. I could say I felt trapped in it but it wasn't like there was that much of a better life for me outside the palace. Neither do I know how to go back to my former life... if I even still had one.

We arrived back at the Consort wing then Captain Kael left. I used my quiet evening and the ones following it to continue studying the texts I had requested. I discovered that this really was some sort of alternate world where beings other than humans exist. The planet was still called Earth, thank goodness, and we were in the Nocturne Territories which is ruled by the Valerius family. The primary challenge comes from the eastern border, controlled by the powerful House of Drakos. They were watching the instability here closely.

It also appears that for a Valerius heir to be crowned king, he must fulfill two things. First is to expose and eliminate those responsible for his father's death (if murdered) and second is to secure a blood mate. They don't want an unstable, unpredictable and dangerous king. No wonder Alistair is still called Lord.

On the third evening, Commander Axel arrived at my door, looking stressed and agitated.

"The Lord wishes to see you, Lady Lena. Now," Axel stated, his voice tight. It was clear the stress of Alistair resisting his blood need was affecting everyone around him. I didn't know why he was but a part of me was glad nonetheless.

I followed Axel down to Alistair's private study. The room was large but dimly lit, filled with the smell of old paper and dust. Alistair sat behind his desk. He looked as devastating as always but he also looked tired, his eyes shadowed, and his usual sharpness masked by pain. He was fighting hard.

Axel bowed briefly and left, closing the heavy doors and leaving me with the starved vampire Lord.

Oh my God.