Page 28 of Dhampira

Black eyes and a taunting smile appeared in my mind. “Why is he called prince? Is he related to the king?”

Delphine’s brushstrokes faltered. “No,” she murmured, “the prince is of no relation to the king.”

I turned on the stool so I could see her face. “We don’t have to talk about it.” Maybe she served Lorcan in some way. Or maybe she didn’t want to be accused of gossiping. She’d only just met me. She had no idea where my loyalties lay.

She lowered the brush, and her chest swelled as she drew a deep breath. “It’s all right, Your Highness.”

“Please, call me Corinthe. Even if it’s just in private.”

Her eyes widened. “Are you certain?”

I insist, Rasimir’s voice echoed in my mind. If I lived the rest of my days as a royal princess, I could never force someone to address me in a way that made them uncomfortable.

I touched Delphine’s arm. “Only if you want to.”

She bit her lip as she seemed to struggle with the decision. Then she nodded. “Maybe in private, then.” We smiled at each other for a moment and then she spoke in a hushed voice. “Prince Lorcan wasn’t always a prince. He was King of the Drachvi, an independent sect of vampires within Nocta.” Delphine blanched. “Well, they used to be independent. The prince realized his people were better off under King Rasimir’s rule. It was a wise decision. All of Nocta prospers under your father, Your Highness.”

An unsettled feeling drifted through me. Mama had made certain I knew my history. Kings, whether human or Noctan, weren’t known for allowing themselves to be demoted.

“So Prince Lorcan serves Rasimir now?” I asked.

“All of Nocta serves the king.”

Around the room, flowers in vases bowed their heads. Delphine stared at the floor, her lashes resting against her pale cheeks. She held the brush at her side, clearly awaiting my next order. The same as Alon. The same as Vander.

Vander. Where was he now? And what did his title of “captain” mean? Why had he lied to Lorcan about the werewolf attack? The vampire knight had been a likable force of nature on the journey from Ghedda. But he’d faded into the background once we met Rasimir. Would I ever get a chance to speak to Vander again?

I opened my mouth.

Delphine flinched. She recovered quickly and then stepped back. “It’s very late, Your Highness.”

The unsettled feeling intensified. But maybe I was just tired. And clearly, Delphine wished to seek her own bed.

“You’re right,” I said, rising from the stool. “I definitely need sleep. The king invited me to participate in a hunt tomorrow.”

“Yes, of course.” Delphine moved to the canopied bed and turned down the quilt. When she faced me again, she hesitated.

“What is it?”

“The dragonstone gown is too fine to wear hunting. You’ll need a riding dress. Most of the court prefers to wear black, but I can bring a different color if you wish.”

“Black will be lovely.” I went to the bed and climbed in. Half a dozen pillows lined the headboard, which was carved with the same design that adorned the banners outside the fortress. A serpent with a skull in its mouth. The carving was so labyrinthine, the snake’s body seemed to writhe.

“Is everything all right, Your Highness?”

I’d frozen on my knees while I examined the headboard. I turned from it and leaned against the pillows. “Yes. I’m fine.”

Delphine pulled the blankets to my shoulders and stepped back. “If you need anything in the night, just speak my name. I’ll hear you.”

“You will?”

She nodded. “I have better hearing than most.”

Curiosity tugged at me. Just what manner of creature was she? Before I could decide if it was rude to ask, she curtsied. “Pleasant dreams, Your Highness.” She rounded the bed. I waited for her to melt into the wall or shift into another form, but she left through the door in a rustle of skirts.

And finally, I was alone.

Maybe.