"Wake up!!" I hear the tapping of a walking stick on the floor.

I don't remember falling asleep.

"Who are you?" An elderly woman sits on my bed with an ethereal presence.

"Comfy. You summoned me. Why are you on the floor?" She looks a little like me if I were 100 years-old. "It's rude to stare you know. I might be old and dead but I can still see clearly." I get the feeling she doesn't mean just your normal vision.

Summoned? My spell worked?! "I'm sorry. I did that spell days ago. Why now? How did it work? Holyfuckingshit it worked!" I stutter excitedly as I try to collect myself. I sit myself up against the door so no one will bother us. "Thank you for being here."

"Didn't have much of a choice, now did I? You summoned me. For such a young lady I'm surprised you did this. You must need something dear, so enlighten me: why am I here?"

It was a spell in a more advanced book but I was getting bored with scrying, tea leaves, and runes. I assume I had a little help from the one who asked me to summon her as well.

"Danu. She said you were the ancestor to connect with regarding Maggie."

"My daughter?" She balked, "Dear child, as much as I respect the goddess who carried our bloodline in her own womb, I haven't seen or heard from Margaret since before she was murdered."

Murdered?

Why would someone murder her?

How could they with all of her power and the protection of Oisin and his family?

"Well there has to be something or the goddess wouldn't have led me to you," I huff out as I stand to walk over to the bed. I wince when my feet are flat on the floor holding me up; each step toward her is excruciating. But when I manage to get there I sit right next to here. "How about this: I tell you what I know of her and you tell me what you remember. Deal?"

"Diplomatic. Hmm, yes I see it now, you are a much better fit for either of them." I quirk my eyebrow at her and stiffen when I hear their names. "Oisin and Rian my dear. You gotta keep up, we don't have all night. Chop chop!!"

"Yeah I know them. I thought I mated with Oisin but now I'm not so sure..."

"You aren't a vampire so no, you haven't completed the mating process with him. And it will stay that way if my brat of a daughter has anything to do with it. She never was good at sharing, unless it was someone sharing her." She rolls her ghostly eyes and surprisingly makes me laugh.

"Why didn't she end up mating with Oisin or even Rian?"

"She tried. She manipulated them to gain power over others. At first Margaret had good intentions, she wanted to get our family line out of debt to a bunch of vampires. She had the gift of sight, mediumship, and alchemy. She would call upon me often at first but then the summonings became less frequent. When I checked in on her I saw the fine silks, the lingerie, the jewelry and knew she fell in love the material world and the power, not either of them. She was playing them both because she sought immortality and a crown. Such a shame to see a woman ruin a brotherly bond like theirs. She masked her scent trying to lure them in and become more than an oracle paying off family debts, but a truly irresistible and powerful sorceress."

And they fell for it. The rest is history.

"So we are still under her spell aren't we?"

"Curse. Not spell." She tsked her finger wagging at me as she leaned on her walking stick. "The spell has been broken but the curse remains. Instead of breaking our family from our debt to those vampires, she made deals to owe them even more. But there's a loophole and I guess if I tell you it won't break any of the rules. Danu was right in sending you to me." She sighs and looks me directly in the eyes. Her eyes are clouded and white, almost something out of a horror film. "You must find your one true love and mate fully with only him to break the curse she put those vampires under. And you must do it without the help of the mate bond. Just like the mortal realm, you will date and have to take a leap of faith." Her lips press into a firm line. "I see Margaret let her jealousy overrule her original intention."

"Truly the road to hell is paved with good intentions." I sigh and push the soft part of my palms into my eyes trying to rub the sleep away and remember all of this.

"No, it's paved with skulls. Who told you it was good intentions?" She laughs, "And people think we're the crazy old hags. Pfft!" She rolls her eyes.

"Ok, so how to we break the curse if I can't be positive that I'll find my soulmate?"

The old lady winks, "You've already met him. I saw you with him at the ball."

My heart skips a beat. Oisin.

But why is it that Rian's face pops into my head when she says that?

"Which one? Can you describe him to me?" OMG I CAN GO HOME AND BE WITH OISIN NOW!

"That's called cheating and it's something my Maggie would do. You aren't her and don't need to stoop to her level. My only advice is to follow your instincts. And of course your heart and all that sentimental mumbo jumbo bullshit." She waves her hands in the air which makes me laugh.

"You are such a joy to be around, you know that? Maggie was lucky to have you as her mom." I turn my head and go to put my arms out to pull her in for a hug but she was gone.

My room was still dark but the start of the sun rising would begin soon.

It's a new day. I need a copy of the approved men my father had me dance with last night and their room numbers. I can only hope they all stayed at the castle. Sniffing the air I cringe knowing that the bad smell is coming from me and not the dead ancestor that just disappeared into thin in. Shower first then the list.

And a salacious outfit that to play my part as the princess trying to seduce her knight and shining armor.

***

Even though I want to live in this spa I now have for a bathroom, I have my mission: find my soulmate and look good while doing it.

The castle is relatively quiet as I walk around.

"A princess as beautiful as you should not be wondering the halls unescorted."

"And why is that?" I turn to see the wolf from the night before in a gray workout shirt and bright highlighter yellow basketball shorts. "Afraid I might get blinded by your choice of clothing?" I try to hold back my laugh but he is serious.

"No. Not that my clothing options should matter to you. Not yet anyway." He mumbles the last part under his breath. "But there are still drunkards on the premises and men who would do anything to bed you. And of course the envious women who might want to harm you." He catches up to me. His sweat glistening and he doesn't smell like wet dog like I assumed he would. His scent is earthy and warm.

"Well, I guess you'll have to escort me then." I pretend to look annoyed but he smiles catching onto my coy act.

"It would be my pleasure, Princess Evelyn."

"Should I be wary of your intentions, Alpha?"

He winks at me, "very."

Wow. He's like a taller, broader Timothee Chalamet with a southern accent. Kill me now.

His nostrils flare and his eyes darken. Uh oh, the big bad wolf can smell my arousal. His lip ticks up. "Mmm. Tell me to stop princess." He turns into me and backs me up against the wall, his hands beside my head, trapping me.

I can't help me lick my lips as his dark brown hair falls over his eyes that are lowered, looking at my lips. "Princess. You are waking my wolf and I'm trying to hold him back." He takes a deep breath. "Tell me to leave you alone." The tension in the air continues to grow as I breathe erratically. I can't think. "Fucking hell."

He bends down and his hands are on my face as his lips crash into mine. His body pins me to the wall, his excitement evident. My mind has no idea what to do but my body seems to have it's own agenda as my hands fist his shirt and my body grinds into him. I gasp when he moves one of his hands down to my hip settling there for a moment but when his tongue finally tangles with mine his hand softens and moves down, teasing the hem of my dress.

"Well, what do we have here?" We jump apart at my mother's words. "You must have been very enamored with my daughter to not have heard me Alpha Knox."

He bows, "Yes, I was. Umm" He pushes his hair back and both my mom and I sigh at the sight of him. "Please call me Jackson. I apologize for my inappropriate behavior with your daughter, but my wolf seems to be...infatuated with the princess ever since our dance last night." Jackson turns to me and bows before apologizing to me.

I cover my puckered lips to hide the gigantic smile spreading across my face. Apologize? I want him to do that again!

"Princess, before I go, would you like to take a walk this evening." Turning to my mother, "If that is okay with the King and Queen of course. And my Beta will tag along as a chaperone, maybe you'd like someone else to join from your inner circle?" Damn he is charming.

"Violet." I say all too quickly.

"We will discuss and have a page let you know before dinner Alpha Jackson." My mother cuts in. She's right to play it cool but she's not my favorite person and he has no idea he's leaving me in very poor company. "You are dismissed."

He walks down the hall and looks back and me before turning the corner. His smile is breathtaking; I want to run to him and taste those lips again.

"Time to meet with your father and get something to eat." She pulls me along in the opposite direction of Alpha Jackson Knox. His name alone turns me on. "So it seems the vampires aren't the only ones in the running for your...heart." Her pause and side-eye puts me on edge. We are not gossiping like any other mother daughter relationships or girlfriends. "Fine. Don't talk to me. Your father will be happy to know that it isn't just bloodsuckers vying for your hand. Let's go find him and get you some food. It seems like you worked up quiet the appetite." I roll my eyes are her but can't help but let out a laugh.

"Lead the way. Oh and I need a list of all of the suitors I danced with last night and their room numbers." I almost forgot my mission.

"Well I think we can make that happen but your father will not be happy to hear you are asking for their room numbers so let's keep this request between us and Violet, hmm?"

"Thanks, mom." I finally take her arm and walk in step with her.

I still don't trust her but I need to break this curse for those that are my true family: Fiona, Oisin, and Rian.