It had been a couple hours since coming to the castle and not much had happened. I was still sitting by the window looking at the view watching the sun set, and Zayne was doing work at his desk.

This experience so far has been way different than I expected. I thought I would be getting bitten into every hour and beaten for doing the littlest of things. But that was the total opposite. He hasn't bitten me once nor beaten me. He doesn't even have a cage or whips in his room. Instead, he has let me sit down on his own couch to stare out into the distance.

As I was staring out the window watching the birds fly into the sky, something from the corner of my eye. Something red sitting on a table to the left of the couch. I turned my head to see something I haven't seen in a decade.

Roses

My heart skipped a beat when I saw them. I rose from my seat and walked over to them. I don't know how I missed them when I first came in, they were bright red. I lifted my hand to touch them and when I felt the soft petals, it felt like home. It brought me back to when I would go fetch flowers for my mom almost every week. I would bring extra roses because they were my favorite. I smiled at the thought.

"You like roses?" Zayne said, taking me out of my thoughts.

I jumped a little but enough for him to notice. I turned my head towards him to see him still working. I turned back to the roses and answered,

"Yes. My middle name is Rose" I said while rubbing my fingers along the petals.

"So you like them because you are named after them?" He questioned.

"Not just that." I answered back

"Then what else?" He asked

"Because from when they are at their brightest, to when they are dying and turning brown they don't lose their beauty." I said turning my head back to him only to find him staring at me.

I tore my haze away from him and lowered my hand from the petals and started to walk back to the couch.

"I have to go down for dinner, you can stay here and the servants will bring you dinner. Just make sure you look out the peephole before you open the door." Zayne said, standing from his desk and putting on his jacket.

"Ok" I responded sitting down.

He then shut the door behind him and I was then left alone with nothing to do.

~~~

Zayne's POV

I hate coming to dinner sometimes. It is either so boring or too much for me to handle with everyone drinking from their pets at the table. I don't think I will ever bring Emberlynn to dinner, it is too much for her so see people being drunk from.

I hate drinking from humans. It makes me feel awful for the people who are having to sacrifice their life for a greedy creature.

I also hate drinking from humans because I can't control myself. The last time I drank fresh blood from the neck I killed 10 people. It is too much for me. Instead I drink animal blood, it isn't as amazing as human blood but it can hold me over.

"So Zayne, I heard you bought a pet?" My friend Zach said to me as he was eating and holding his pet on his lap.

I turned my head to the right and gave him a glare. "Yes I did, why do you care?" I was annoyed by his question.

"What's her name?" He asked

"Emberlynn"

"Oooo" he said in a high pitch voice. "When will we meet, Emberlynn?" He asked

"Hopefully never" I responded

"You can't hide her forever."

"I know," I said in an angry tone.

"Have you drank from her yet?" He asked. I knew this would come up.

I just glared at him, not in the mood for his lecture.

"Oh my god you haven't. Dude you know your dad is going to kill you if you don't." He told me

I rolled my eyes, "He can do what he wants, I am not doing it."

"But-"

"I said I am not doing it!" I said, pounding my fist on the table. Everyone went silent and looked at me.

"Ok, it's not my funeral," he said, going back to eating.

"Give me your wrist." Zach commanded his pet. She gave him her wrist and he bit into it sucking out her blood enjoying the taste.

I rolled my eyes and looked away. Sometimes I want to punch him in the face sometimes. He can really get on my nerves.

I took a sip from my chalice and from the corner of my eye I could see a servant standing to my left. I lowered my chalice and gave him an approving look to speak.

"Your father wishes to see you." He whispered in my ear.

I tensed up. What could he want? It better have nothing to do with Emberlynn. I dismissed him and stood up from my seat.

"Where are you going?" Zach asked.

"My father wants to see me."

"Have fun" he said in a sarcastic tone.

I rolled my eyes and started walking to the throne room where he would be talking to the council. Every step I made getting closer to the room, my heartbeat got stronger fearing what he could want. I never had a good relationship with my father. Especially when I stopped drinking human blood. He has always been too hard on me for me being the next heir to the throne.

Once I reached the door, I stopped in front of it and took a deep breath, brushed a hand through my hair, and tugged my jacket.

I nodded at the servants to open the door. The doors opened and revealed a large room with stairs leading up to the throne. My father made eye contact.

He then smiled and said, "Zayne, come in."

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