🩸 THE VAMPIRE FORBIDDEN BRIDE

Chapter 5

By noon, everyone in the palace knew.

The king had spoken to a servant.

Not just any servant.

Me.

I didn't understand why that mattered.

I had spent the entire morning trying to forget the embarrassment of discovering that the stranger from the library was actually King Lucien Draven.

But the servants wouldn't let me forget.

Everywhere I went, conversations stopped.

People stared.

Some whispered behind their hands.

I kept my eyes down and continued working.

I was carrying a stack of folded linens toward the eastern wing when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Elena."

I stopped.

Mara's voice came from behind me.

She looked unusually nervous.

"What?"

"Come with me."

"Why?"

"You've been summoned."

My stomach tightened.

"By whom?"

Mara hesitated.

"Lady Seraphina."

I frowned.

I knew the name.

Everyone did.

Lady Seraphina was one of the most powerful vampire women in the kingdom.

Her family had served the royal bloodline for centuries.

And according to the servants, the entire vampire court expected her to become the next queen.

I had never met her.

Until now.

Mara led me into the eastern drawing room.

The moment I stepped inside, I understood why everyone feared her.

She was beautiful.

Not beautiful in the soft way human women were beautiful.

There was something almost unreal about her.

Long dark hair fell over her shoulders, and a deep crimson gown swept across the marble floor.

Several vampire nobles stood around the room.

But Seraphina didn't look at them.

She was looking at me.

Her eyes traveled slowly from my face to my servant's dress.

Then back again.

"You must be Elena."

I lowered my head.

"No, my lady. I have served here for eight years."

Silence.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Eight years?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Interesting."

She stepped closer.

"And yet, I've never noticed you."

I didn't know what to say.

Seraphina smiled.

It was a beautiful smile.

But somehow, it didn't reach her eyes.

"Perhaps His Majesty has."

My fingers tightened around the linens.

I couldn't tell whether she was asking a question or making a statement.

"I don't understand, my lady."

"Oh, I'm sure you don't."

She walked around me slowly.

Like someone examining an object in a shop.

"Tell me, Elena."

I looked at her.

"Yes?"

"How long have you known the king?"

My heart skipped.

"Only since yesterday."

Her smile disappeared.

"Yesterday?"

"Yes, my lady."

"And where did you meet him?"

"In the library."

Seraphina went still.

"The library."

"Yes."

"And what did you discuss?"

"Nothing important."

"Nothing?"

I shook my head.

"He asked my name."

Seraphina's expression hardened.

"He asked your name."

I nodded.

A silence settled over the room.

Then Seraphina laughed softly.

"How curious."

She turned away.

I thought the conversation was over.

Then she looked back.

"Elena."

"Yes, my lady?"

"Do you know what happens to servants who become too familiar with the royal family?"

My throat tightened.

"No, my lady."

Her smile returned.

"They often forget their place."

I lowered my eyes.

"I understand."

"Good."

She stepped closer.

"Then perhaps you will remember it."

I bowed.

"Yes, my lady."

"Leave."

I turned toward the door.

As I walked away, I heard her voice behind me.

"Mirella."

Another woman stepped forward.

She had been standing silently in the corner throughout the conversation.

Unlike Seraphina, she wasn't dressed like nobility.

She wore a simple black servant's gown.

But her eyes were sharp.

Very sharp.

"Yes, my lady?"

"Do you know anything about her?"

Mirella glanced toward the door Elena had just disappeared through.

"Not yet."

Seraphina's expression darkened.

"Find out."

Mirella bowed.

"Of course."

Seraphina moved toward the window.

Below, Elena was crossing the courtyard.

A simple human servant.

A nobody.

And yet the king had remembered her name.

Seraphina's fingers tightened around the edge of the curtain.

For years, everyone had told her the same thing.

You will be queen.

Her family had already made alliances.

The elders supported the match.

The court expected it.

She had stood beside Lucien for years.

She had waited.

And now—

A human slave had appeared.

Seraphina's eyes followed Elena until she disappeared around the corner.

"I won't lose everything because of a servant."

Mirella remained silent.

Then she stepped closer.

"You won't."

Seraphina looked at her.

Mirella's lips curved into a faint smile.

"Unless you allow her to become important."

Seraphina's expression changed.

"What are you suggesting?"

"Nothing."

Mirella lowered her head.

"Not yet."

Seraphina stared at her.

There was something unsettling about the woman's calmness.

"Then find out everything about Elena."

Mirella smiled.

"Everything?"

"Everything."

"Her family?"

"Yes."

"Her past?"

"Yes."

Mirella's eyes darkened.

"And if we find something useful?"

Seraphina turned back toward the window.

"Then we'll decide what to do with it."

Neither woman noticed the servant standing outside the half-open door.

She had heard nothing.

She knew nothing.

And Elena certainly didn't know that, while she continued working quietly through the palace, someone had already begun digging into the secrets of her past.

But Mirella would soon discover something that even Elena didn't know.

Something that would change the way Seraphina looked at her forever.