I gaped at him, suddenly remembering my first night on the island. That night, when he had been standing in my doorway watching me sleep.

Sleep well, my queen.

Guess I didn't imagine it, after all.

"But why me?" I found myself asking. "I've got to be, what, seven years younger than you. Not to mention, you're cultured, successful..." Handsome. I paused, blushing at the thought. "Surely you could find a more suitable candidate to be your 'queen' than me."

Dean Lachlan studied me for a moment, pale fingers twiddling with the base of his goblet, when he replied with a smirk, "I am afraid the age difference between us is a bit more vast than just seven years."

I eyed him suspiciously. "Just how vast are we talking? Decades? Centuries?"

How old could Dean Lachlan be?

"It doesn't matter." He said with a wave of his hand. "What matters is that you're here now, and--"

An abrupt knock on the door cut him off.

"Enter," he called, a bit impatiently, before downing the contents of his cup.

The door creaked open, and Lucius stepped inside, a grave look marring his olive-toned face. His dark eyes widened fractionally when he spotted me, then softened.

"Miss Ridley," he gave me a light bow. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, thanks." I smiled shyly. "How are you?"

Whatever it was that Nero had done to him, when he was writhing in agony on the cave floor, didn't seem to have had any long-term effects. Thankfully.

"Better, now that I've seen you."

His remark made me blush, and caused the Dean to stand up. "Is there something you wished to discuss, Lucius?"

"Right, apologies." Lucius muttered, embarrassed. "There is a private matter that needs your attention."

Dean Lachlan glanced back at me wistfully.

"It's fine," I spoke before he could. "I don't want to keep you from anything. I'll just go."

Sure, I wanted, no, I deserved answers. But in that moment, I just wanted to be alone. So much had happened since I got to Lachlan Island, and I needed time to process.

Plus I really needed to go to class.

"No," Dean Lachlan almost shouted, alarmed. "No, please, stay." He added in a calmer tone. "At least have breakfast. This won't take but a moment."

I hadn't realized I was standing until I sat back down. Shooting me a grateful smile, the Dean followed Lucius out, pulling the door together so that it was slightly ajar.

Jeez, what was that about?

I glanced down at my plate, at the waffles and eggs and bacon; it all looked delicious, but I just couldn't bring myself to eat.

"You are going to waste away if you don't start eating properly."

My eyes shot up with a gasp. Standing on a balcony I hadn't noticed at the back of the room was Aiden, wearing an impish smirk.

At first, I was relieved to see that he was okay, then I remembered he was the one who'd picked out my clothes.

"I don't know whether to slap you or kiss you." I hissed after approaching him.

His grin broadened, turquoise eyes alight with mirth. "Why not do both?"

"Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" His good mood was infectious, and I found myself fighting a smirk.

"Audrey, you could spit in my mouth and I'd enjoy it."

"Eww!" Smiling like a fool, I gave him a playful smack on his arm. He was too fun, too easy to forgive.

"Alright, there's a slap." He chuckled. Then, his voice turned darker, all traces of humor gone. "Now, about that kiss."

I took a step back, my smile evaporating, as Aiden leaned in. Is he really going to kiss me?

Before I could blink, Aiden planted a swift kiss on my forehead. His lips were soft, cool, gentle. They made my heart skip a beat.

"I'm so glad you're okay." He whispered, closing his eyes while pressing his forehead to mine. "Please, don't leave us. Please,"

His sincerity moved me, and I allowed him to pull me into his arms. Oh, Aiden.

Suddenly, the door squeaked open, and Aiden let me go.

"I was never here." He whispered, shooting me a wink before jumping over the balcony railing.

I rushed over, alarmed, only to let out a quiet sigh of relief when I saw him run off into the trees.

"What are you doing out here?"

The Dean came up beside me, placing a hand at the small of my back. "Your hair is still damp, you could fall ill."

"Oh, just admiring the view." I lied smoothly, gesturing to the early morning light peeking up from behind the furs. "It's really beautiful here."

That wasn't a lie. With fog settling over calm water out in the distance, a warm sunrise blazing a pale streak across the sky, it really was beautiful.

"I agree," the Dean mumbled, pulling my attention to him. "The view is exquisite."

He wasn't looking at the horizon. Instead, was gazing at me, blue eyes hooded and earnest.

I felt myself blush, and clutched the oversized robe closer to my chest, making sure I wasn't exposed.

"Come on, let's get you inside." Dean Lachlan steered me back into the room, and turned to close the French doors that led to the balcony.

He shifted to face me again, his eyes drifting to my neck for a moment. "Now, where were we?"

His tone sounded civil, polite. But the way he was staring at me, at my throat, was absolutely feral.

It reminded me of the day before yesterday--the day I was attacked.

"What happened to you?" My voice was barely above a whisper. Dean Lachlan cocked his head to one side, confused, so I elaborated. "That day when I was attacked--after you tasted my blood-- you kind of went nuts. Does that always happen when you..?"

I couldn't finish; I didn't know how to put it in words.

"Sort of," he replied with a sigh, sitting down on the bed. He patted the spot next to him, and I quietly sat down.

"When we feed, we feel a rush. All of our senses reignite in a blur, reminding us of what we were like before we were turned. And with you..." He paused, reaching out to slowly skim his finger tip along the hollow of my cheekbone. "That feeling is magnified one-hundred fold."

He was watching where his finger now rested; on the bandage around my neck. But I wasn't afraid he might try to feed from me, no. I was aroused. My heart thrummed a lazy, yet profound rhythm, thumping in tune to the sudden throb between my legs.

I crossed my legs, a vain attempt to dampen my desire, and asked, "what makes my blood so special? Is it because I'm not human?"

I recalled the discussion Aiden, Duke, and Lucius had in the cave, how they argued about my being there.

"How the hell did she get in here?"

Lucius asked, his footfalls halting.

"You tell me," Duke said, the muscles in his chest pressing against my cheek. "You were the one who was supposed to have the entrance warded."

"It was warded." Lucius snapped back. "No human should have been able to come in."

"Guess that proves it, then," Aiden said with a sigh. "She isn't human."

I didn't know if it was because the experience was traumatic, or because it had been less than twenty-four hours since it happened, but the events of yesterday were crystal clear.

I had just forgotten about them for a moment.

The Dean gazed at me, cupping my cheek in his cool hand, and whispered, "yes, it is."

My heart stopped. "But, if I'm not human," I could hardly get the words out. "Then, what am I?"

The Dean closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "A Royal," his voice was barely audible, but the awe in it was evident. "The very last one."