He assumed she expected him to hold it over her head, so he did. She continued to walk, as if his holding it over her were the most natural thing in the world. He was starting to feel like he was her servant.
“To answer your question,” she said slowly, in a dignified voice, “yes. I am of the royal family. I am Marie’s cousin. Younger than her, obviously, but still, we practically grew up together,” she said. “In fact, all things being equal, I am as entitled to the crown as she. But because of legitimacy questions, she retains the glory.”
Sam looked at her in a whole new light. A would-be Queen. That explained it. She certainly carried herself like one.
But even if he didn’t know this, even if she wasn’t a royal, he still would have felt equally attracted to her.
“Life here can be very dull,” she added, with a sigh. “Yes, there are the parties and balls and visitors and dignitaries. But there are also endless formalities, etiquettes, mind-numbing dinners, ceremonies. I’d much prefer to be elsewhere. Horseback riding, like the men do. Archery was something I liked as a child, but which is forbidden for me now. Life here is restrictive for a woman. Our best hope is to find a man. That is the sum of all our ambition. Quite boring, if you ask me. In fact, I think it should be reversed. I think the sum of all ambition should be for a man to find a woman. And that she should be free to do as she wishes.”
Sam marveled at her strange combination of total silence, then opening up in a long, detailed monologue. He wondered if she had opened up to him because she felt close to him in some way, or if she was just like this with everybody.
“Well, at least you’re not opinionated,” he said with a smile.
She turned and gave him a cold look, and he realized he fumbled. Clearly, sarcasm wasn’t her thing.
“Just kidding,” Sam said, trying to ease the tension.
“That is apparent,” she said, coldly.
They walked down a long row of perfectly trimmed hedges, workers all around them, hard at work trimming and pruning, tending to an endless row of roses.
“The only thing that brings life to our party is your kind,” she said, as they turned down yet another trail, and passed a huge bubbling fountain.
So, Sam realized. At least she knew he was a vampire. That was a relief. It meant less explaining for him.
“You bring an element of unpredictability to the equation,” she added. “An element of freedom. I like to watch your kind train. I like to see the battles. The techniques. Your kind keeps our kind on edge. If truth be told, it is the only thing that keeps the Royals in their place.”
They walked for a while in silence, as Sam thought over their conversation, everything she said.
“So, what about you?” he asked finally, without really thinking in advance. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
He realized right away it was a mistake. He was too blunt, as always. He should have been more subtle.
She turned and stared right through him, looking appalled.
“I beg your pardon?” she said. “You’re very forward. And rude.”
“Just asking,” he said quietly, feeling dejected.
“I don’t see what business that is of yours,” she added.
They continued to walk in silence, the tension increasingly awkward between them, and they finally came to another immaculate palace. Sam was confused. He had always thought that Versailles was just one palace. He hadn’t realize that there were several palaces on the property. Each one seemed grander than the next.
As they reached the front door, several servants rushed to open the door for her. Sam returned her parasol, and she stopped, and faced him. He was surprised she had stopped; he had assumed that she didn’t like him, that he had messed up, and that she would just walk away.
She looked at him, and once again, her eyes struck him, held him in place as if hypnotized.
Sam felt his heart beat faster, as her eyes locked onto his. He was certain this time that she was giving him a message.
“You’re different than the others,” she said quietly, out of earshot of the guards. “The others are ancient. They’ve been around forever. They’re more predictable. You’re younger. More naïve. That’s a good thing.”
Sam didn’t know what to say to that.
“Well,” he said, smiling, “I guess you’re not half bad yourself.”
Once again, his sarcasm fell flat. She stared back coldly, and he thought that he blew it for sure this time.
But suddenly, she added: “To answer your question: No. I don’t. But maybe, quite soon, I will.”
Then, without another word, she turned and walked away.
Sam stood there staring after her, speechless.
Chapter Thirteen
Caitlin sat there, her heart pounding, as Caleb sat across from her, reading the scroll with concern on his face.
She couldn’t believe it. It had been such a magical moment, one of the peak moments of their relationship, and she had felt that she and Caleb were on the brink of getting so much closer. And then that stupid bird had to appear, out of nowhere, diving down like a messenger of death.
Whatever the letter had to say, she couldn’t stand the suspense anymore. Her heart now pounded, not with love and excitement, but with fear and dread.
With love, it had been signed. That could only mean one thing. It was from Sera. Who else would sign it that way?
Caitlin’s body shook with anger. Always, at every turn, Sera somehow managed to be a thorn in her side.
“Well?” Caitlin finally asked, with more anger in her voice than she would have liked. But she couldn’t stand waiting anymore.
Caleb finally looked up, a mix of concern and sorrow across his face.
“It is from Sera,” Caleb said. “It says that Jade is alive. That she has managed to resurrect him, and to bring him back in time. That he is here, now. That he wants to see me.”
Caitlin’s heart plummeted. She felt as if she’d been stabbed with a knife. She could see already, from the look on Caleb’s face, that an offer to see Jade was something he could not refuse. And that if she tried to get in the way, he would resent her forever, would always view her as the person who prevented him from seeing his son.
“How is that possible?” Caitlin asked. “How could she possibly resurrect him?”
Caleb looked down at the letter again, shaking his head, looking puzzled himself. “I don’t know,” he answered. “I really don’t.”
He looked at her with sorrow and guilt.
“Caitlin,” he said, and she could hear the grief and longing in his voice. “I’m so sorry. I would never ever want to leave you. And I never would. But this is different. It is my son.”
Caitlin suddenly stood, overwhelmed with anger. Caleb stood, too.
“You have to understand,” he said, reaching out and grabbing her as she turned to walk away. He turned her to face him. “He is my son. And this is a chance for me to see him alive again. How can I walk away from that?”
“You love her,” Caitlin said. “You still do.”
“No,” he insisted. “I promise you, I do not. This has nothing to do with Sera. It is only about Jade.”
Despite herself, Caitlin burst into tears.
“How can I prove it to you?” he asked. “You met Jade. You know what a special human being he is. How can I turn my back on him? How can I never see him again?”
Caitlin stood there, crying, not knowing what to say.
“You can accompany me,” Caleb said. “I will prove it to you. I will prove to you that this is not about Sera. We can go together. We will see Jade. And then we can bring him back here, to live with us.”
“And you think Sera would allow that?” Caitlin asked. “Allow us to take her son away from her?”
Caleb furrowed his brow.