Chapter 10

Walking out of our parents' house, I felt close to tears. I would probably never see my daughter again.

I closed my eyes as we walked back to the hotel.

"Samantha, are you okay?" Larten asked.

I nodded. "I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" he asked softly.

I nodded again. "I'll be fine. It's just…it's been a long night. I just want to get back in my coffin."

He put his arm around my shoulders. "You will see her again, Samantha."

"I hope so." I whispered.

"This will not be our last visit here, I assure you of this."

"How can you be so sure of that?" I asked.

"I just can, Samantha." He said.

I sighed. "I don't know, Larten. Mika doesn't like me away from him for too long. And I don't like being away from him."

"I realize that, Samantha." He said.

I sighed again as we entered the hotel. I knew for a fact that Larten could not know for sure if we would ever return here.

I climbed into my coffin, and shut the lid.

I hadn't wanted to say this to him, but how did he know that he and Darren would even make it out of the mountain alive? I could not guarantee that I could save them if the princes decided that they should be killed for their actions. Of course, I would try my hardest, but I couldn't guarantee such a thing to Larten. When the princes made up their minds that was that. There was barely ever any room for debate. No matter whom it was disagreeing with them.

Even if I went up against Mika, after he decided to kill them, he wouldn't change his mind. No matter how much he loved me, he wouldn't change his mind. I could try to convince him in any way possible, but I knew it wouldn't work.

I couldn't imagine arguing with Mika on something so huge. I didn't even want to think about the consequences of our fight. If I had to fight with him about it, what would that mean for our relationship? I knew we were mates of course, and the bond between two mates is stronger than any other bond in the entire world, but could something so huge result in us hating each other? If he was the reason for my brother and his assistant to be killed, would I ever be able to forgive him, no matter how strong our love for each other was? Could Mika still find it in himself to love me, if I had to fight with him to save Larten and Darren?

I knew I would go up against any one of the princes if needed, but how could I go up against my mate? How could I even begin to imagine fighting against him?

But, if what I was fighting for was something as precious as my brother's life, I would have to do everything I could to help him. There was absolutely no choice in the matter. Family is the most important thing in the world.

How could I abandon my family over my mate? How could I abandon my mate?

Would Mika side with Larten and me over his fellow princes? Could he do that? If majority of the princes sided with Larten and me, everything would be perfectly fine.

But, if Mika was the only one who sided with us, then we would be forced to deal with the consequences of Larten's actions.

I sighed and rolled over, deep in thought.

I knew I probably wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight. I was too nervous. I was excited about seeing Mika again, but I was nervous about the possible consequences.

I rolled onto my back, stared up at the dark lid of my coffin, thinking about what I would have to face once back at the mountain.

Also, I had the problem of Desmond Tiny stalking us at every moment. And the fact that the vampaneze lord had been found and awakened.

Somehow I fell asleep, once I could feel that dawn had arrived, it completely made my body shut down for the day.

When I woke up, I flung my coffin open, and changed out of my old clothes. I walked out into the main living room, where Larten, Darren, and Evra waited, looking somber.

"Hey, it's okay." I said softly. "You both will see each other again."

"It's not that." Darren said.

"What?" I asked, looking at Larten. He looked away.

Fear bubbled in the pit of my stomach. What the hell had happened?

At that point, Gavner Purl, vampire general and Larten's old friend, came into the living room from the kitchen.

"Gavner!" I yelled happily.

"Samantha?" he said in surprise, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket, and blowing his nose. "How have you been? How's Mika?"

"He's fine thank you, and I'm quite well myself." I smiled. "What…er…brings you here? You aren't at the mountain?"

"I wanted to catch up with my dear old friend Larten." He laughed, then sobered. "Until I realized what he has created."

I bit my lip. "I am well aware of Larten's current…predicament. And I assure you, I do everything in my power to ensure that they will both be perfectly fine."

"Samantha, unfortunately you cannot assure anyone of that." He said quietly. "The consequence for blooding a child, as you know, is very steep. Larten is one of my closest friends, and of course I will fight as hard as I can to keep him alive, but once the princes rule, it's final."

A growl erupted from my chest. "Gavner, being a prince's mate, and one of the only female vampires in the world I have higher authority than you do!"

Darren and Evra looked a bit surprised at my growl, but I kept my glare on Gavner.

He didn't say anything. A pregnant pause filled the room.

"If I have to go up against every single one of the princes to save their lives I will." I snarled.

He held his hands up in surrender. "I give up, Sam. No need to bite my head off."

I ground my teeth together. "Don't fight with me, Gavner."

"We must begin to get going." Larten interrupted. "Samantha, you will probably have to spend tomorrow at the Cirque. I will be sending Mr. Tall our coffins right away."

I nodded. "You ready, Evra?"

He nodded. I went into my room to grab my things, and went back out to the living room to find Evra with his bag slung over his shoulder.

"Okay, bye guys. See you tomorrow night?" I said. They nodded. "Well, maybe later than that. It'll be a race to who can get into the mountain first." I grinned wickedly as each of the vampires rolled their eyes.

Evra and I walked out of the hotel and began walking for about twenty minutes until we were definitely out of sight.

Once in a clearing of the forest surrounding the town, Evra hopped onto my back and I flitted to where Larten had told me the Cirque was now.

Once there, it was close to dawn, and I was tired and exhausted. The snake boy wasn't heavy in the slightest, but running long distances carrying anything could put a strain on even the strongest vampires.

"Hello Evra!" Boomed Mr. Tall. "Samantha! What a pleasure to see you again."

I smiled tiredly. "Hello, Mr. Tall. How have you been?"

"Quite good, actually. How about yourself?" he asked.

"Very good, thank you." I said. "If you don't mind, I've had a very long night; I would like nothing more than to sleep the day away. I have a long night ahead of me tomorrow."

"Of course, of course!" he said. "You can sleep where Larten normally would. There are extra coffins there."

I nodded. "Thank you. Oh, and Evra?" he turned to look at me. "Good luck. We'll see you soon…hopefully."

He nodded. "Thanks, Sam. Good luck to you too…and thanks for bringing me back here."

"It was my pleasure." I smiled.

He waved and went to his tent to go and take care of his snake.

Mr. Tall led me to where Larten would normally sleep, and I slid into a coffin.

I fell right to sleep, not thinking about the trek ahead of me to the mountain, and what dangers I could face.

Right now, I was safe.