Nathanial did not think much of the loud crack as he imagined one of the butlers dropped a tray. Even the loud gasps that echoed through the crowd seemed normal for the situation of a clumsy waiter, but his blood ran cold when he heard Samuel shout out that someone was trying to kill his Queen. Nathanial pushed away the redheaded hanging on his arm and began shoving his way through the thongs of people. When he reached the patio doors, a disheveled Isabella stood in front of the cracked French door holding her shoulder. Nathanial pulled the men’s coat off her shoulders discarding it onto the floor.

“It’s just a scratch.” Isabella commented as Nathanial removed her hand from the wound. Breathing a sigh of relief, he confirmed the injury was only minor as his attention turned to the weapon of choice. Embedded in the door was a steel tipped arrow that splintered the thick pane instead of shattering it upon impact. Moving closer to the door, he wrapped his hand around the arrow and fueled by anger he forcefully removed it. Under his applied pressure the remaining glass fell and shattered onto the floor. Nathanial brought the steel tipped arrow up to his face to inspect it at a closer angle.

Nathanial observed the leaf-shaped metal arrowhead was polished iron meaning it had to be crafted by a blacksmith. The shaft of the arrow was wooden with the fletching at the end of the arrow consisting of four brown feathers. He estimated it was a bob-tailed arrow with the weight being heavier at the head of the arrow signifying this was a hunting arrow. An arrow designed to kill its intended target which in this instance was his wife. If the shooter had adjusted his shot a few inches to the side, he would be mourning his Queen. Nathanial became infuriated with the thought that one of his enemies tried to strike a blow against him.

Several palace guards came into Nathanial’s sight from within the ballroom and outside on the balcony. He grabbed the closest guard and in a gruff manner he demanded. “Find the shooter, NOW!” The vampire king placed his hands on his hips as he watched his men rush past him and out the patio door. Samuel hovered at the door and asked Nathanial. “Should I go with them Sir?” Shaking his head from side-to-side, he stated. “No, stay.” He could trust in Samuel and his intentions to protect Isabella from harm. He gazed over at the witch still with one hand on her shoulder. His sister Brianna and her husband were standing beside the black-haired woman talking with her.

He motioned with his finger. “Edward, come here.” As the aged vampire strode towards him, Nathanial held up the arrow and demanded. “Find out where this arrow is from.” Edward took the arrow from him. “Yes sir.” Nathanial heard whispers begin in the crowd discussing what had happened within the ballroom. He figured he should take Isabella back to her room and away from the prying members of the royal court. Nathanial approached his sister and wife. “I should get Isabella back to her room for her own safety.” The curly brunette nodded and gave Isabella a hug. Nathanial with his hand on the middle of Isabella’s back stated. “Let’s go.”

With his hand, he motioned to Samuel to come with them as they began making their exit out of the ballroom. Isabella walked beside him as the crowd cleared a path for them. As they passed, women began to curtsy as the men bowed their head. Nathanial’s chest rose as this showed a level of respect from the members of the royal court. He was thrilled Isabella had been accepted by the royal court as their Queen. But the attempt on her life meant not everybody had gotten on board, something he would rectify soon enough. Once he found out who had shot the arrow, Nathanial would rip them to shreds.

Attempting to assassinate his new bride during her introduction to the royal court was a bold and audacious move. Nathanial believed the act was a direct challenge to his authority sent by a traitor. A traitor to his kingdom that he needed to quickly silence. The culprits could be a resentful Malagi or from one of the disgruntled Vilkros clans. Those supernatural species never hid their disdain of the sheer dominance of the Dulra. Nathanial reckoned those species held the vampires responsible for their dwindling population. But in nature it was the survival of the fittest and he just knew that the Dulra were the strongest of the species.

They weaved through the hallways void of people as Nathanial was deep in thought. He heard Isabella shyly state. “Sir, I am sorry, but you are hurting me.” The vampire king looked down at his hand clenching her arm with his fingernails digging into her skin. He automatically released his grip. “Pardon me dear. I am furious with what happened tonight.” Nathanial watched as her black hair cascaded down her shoulders as she slightly nodded. He must admit he cared for his Queen in ways he never thought possible. Isabella, such a young shy woman who devoted herself to him and the kingdom. And above all he prized her obedience as she always followed his instructions and never questioned him.

He felt a familiar craving creep in as him and Isabella continued down the hallways. Nathanial waited until he turned a corner and halted his steps. She gazed up at him with a questioning look as he could feel his fangs elongate in his mouth. Opening his mouth by a margin, Isabella must have read his intention as she stated. “Nathanial, I am so tired.” The platinum blonde vampire answered her. “Just a little my dear. I could use your powers as I am going to hunt down the bastard who shot at you.” Nathanial placed his head down to touch his face against her forehead. She smelled of wildflowers as his head lowered further down her face. Isabella gave in when she spoke. “Alright my King.”

She stretched her head to the side exposing her neck to Nathanial. He opened his mouth and gently bit her neck. As he began to drink her blood, he swore her blood tasted of berries. He brought her closer to him as he tightly wrapped his arms around her waist. Nathanial knew he could drink only so long as not to drain her of her blood, but she tasted so sweet. His eyes closed as he could feel her magical powers begin to flow through him. Hairs on his arms raised as he could tell his senses where sharpening. He could hear behind them someone clear their throat. Nathanial’s eyes opened to view Samuel watching him drink Isabella’s blood. The look of horror was written over the palace guard’s face as Nathanial pulled away from her neck.

He wiped the blood around his mouth on his sleeve, as he noticed the red liquid running down her neck and staining her dress. “Oh crap.” He stated about the stain on her gown. Nathanial could feel Isabella go limp in his arms as she lapsed into unconsciousness. He bent down and lifted her up in his arms as he worried, he may have drunk too much of her blood. Nathanial carried Isabella as he deliberately ignored Samuel walking behind him. He did not have to justify himself to a mere guard about his arrangement with Isabella. Nathanial was a King, and he needed to protect the kingdom. How he gained his powers was nobody’s business but his own.

The platinum blonde vampire gazed down at her fragile figure as he confidently carried her. He recalled when his guards found her from the village. A tiny mouse of a woman in need of rescue, helpless and alone, as he was the only one to see the potential in her. Nathanial was in desperate search for a witch he could make a bride to satisfy the Golden Oracle Council. And there she was, wild black hair and dirty clothes, unsure of herself and cast aside by her family. She was unsure of her powers and her purpose in the world. Nathanial knew that once he gave her shelter and care, she would forever be grateful and indebted to him.

Nathanial reached her wooden door and it opened with a nudge of his foot. Her handmaiden, Shaylee was at the foot of the bed scrubbing her boots when he entered the room. He crossed around to the side of the bed, gently laying Isabella down into the bed. Her annoying handmaiden rushed to her mistress’s side and exclaimed. “Oh no, there is a blood stain on her dress.” Nathanial gently adjusted her head down onto the pillow as the senior woman kept complaining to him. “I told you to leave her alone for tonight, but no – you did not want to listen.” He tried his best to ignore her as he wanted to scream about the attempt on his Queen’s life. Nathanial’s temper began to flare up again as the handmaiden pressed on.

“Look at what a mess you have made.” Nathanial walked back around the side of the bed to exit out the door. “What kind of King does this to his Queen?” He bristled at the statement as he felt she questioned his authority. Nathanial wrapped a hand around Shaylee’s neck and dragged her across the room and up against a wall. “Now you have gone too far.” Nathanial’s eyes shined blue as he saw fear register on the woman’s face. His fangs grew as he did not need to be gentle with her as he did with Isabella. Placing a hand on her mouth, he ripped at her neck with his teeth. The handmaiden struggled as his teeth ripped more flesh gratified at the destruction he was causing. This time he did not hold back and kept sucking blood until there was no more. Nathanial released Shaylee and the petite woman fell on the floor dead. He gazed up to see Samuel, the annoying palace guard once more. He walked by the shocked man and stated. “Samuel, be a good boy and clean that up.”