I cocked my head, and my mind began to spin. I didn’t know much of theotherrealm. Few fae did, so all I could do was stare blankly at him. “I’m afraid I’m ignorant of the creatures there.”
“As am I, but he said the Goddess of Light is believed to be the original creator of a creature called avampire.”
I ran the tip of my tongue over my upper lip. “A vampire? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Nathaniel watched my tongue, his aura heating. “Me neither, but he said that vampires sometimes visit the Nolus capital when they cross over from theotherrealm.”
“Truly?” My mind began to buzz.
“Indeed, and even more interesting, he said that vampires all have fangs, but those fangs only appear after they’ve been changed, which correlates with the verse you found.”
I gaped. “They have fangs? Stars and galaxy. And how does one become a vampire?”
“Commonly from another vampire bite. It’s said those bitten become infected from that bite, but he said it’s a process and the bite must be done in a certain way.”
Infected.My mind began to stir, and I berated myself for all the champagne I’d drunk. I needed a clear head for this. If that was even possible at this point. “So they turn into vampires from a bite and not a potion?”
“Correct.”
“Did he tell you anything else?”
“He said vampires are no different than you and me in how dangerous they are, although he did say that the reason they have those wicked fangs is so they can drink blood from others.” He shuddered.
I made a face. “Are you jesting? Theydrink blood,and they’re consideredharmless?”
“Perhaps not harmless.” He shrugged. “But apparently, they’re clearheaded and not raving murderers. They only drink blood for sustenance.”
I frowned. “That doesn’t align with the creatures after me. They’re dangerous.” But maybe it aligned with what Timith hadbeen becoming. I tapped my finger to my chin. “But what of the God of Night? And what about the other things that lore suggested?”
“He’s still looking into that, and he said he’ll get back to me.”
I mulled everything over and thought again of what Timith had been turning into. Perhaps it was this so-called vampire since the only things that had ultimately changed in my uncle were his pale skin and the fangs. And since he’d never fully changed, we didn’t actually know what his temperament would have been or if he still would have beenTimithversus a monster like the creatures who’d infiltrated the maze. And if what Nathaniel’s colleague said was true, it was possible Timith wouldn’t have been dangerous at all. But he still would have been somethingother. Something not inherently him.
I nibbled on my lip more. “But that still doesn’t explain the other creatures, the ones after me,” I said more to myself than Nathaniel.
“What was that?”
I shook my head. “Just thinking aloud.” My forehead furrowed as I tried to understand what vampires could have to do with me or any of this, especially if they lived in theotherrealm. That was a realm the Silten fae had nothing to do with.
Cocking my head, I asked, “Does your friend have any pictures of vampires? Or perhaps additional details of what traits and characteristics they have?”
Nathaniel grinned. “You and I think very similarly, Primelle. I’ve already asked him to send me all of that information, and he’s promised to courier it to me this coming week, along with what he finds on the God of Night.”
I clapped my hands. “Oh, that’s wonderful news! Thank you so much, Nathaniel.”
He chuckled. “You’re very welcome, but seeing as we can’t learn anything further until then, will you dance with me in the meantime?” He held his arm out.
Once again, the feel of Kole pulsed toward me, but he was far enough away that I didn’t know if he’d heard what Nathaniel had said. He could have been thinking that my delight in the lordling’s company was simply because I was enjoying him and not because he’d just provided more information than Kole, Ree, and I had learned all week.
But I was so over the moons by all that I’d learned that I ignored my grumpy warrior and gladly took the lordling’s arm. “I’d love to.”
The evening woreon with more dancing and drinking. Koraline and Neb gave several speeches, all inside thankfully, and our parents and Neb’s parents did the same. It was a festive party, fun and light, and I allowed myself to get swept up in it, especially since we’d finally made some progress on finding answers.
Nathaniel also asked me to dance so many times I lost count, but he wasn’t the only one. Word seemed to have spread that I wasn’t someone to fear, and more than a few lordlings had begun to look at me differently.
Every time a new male asked me onto the dance floor, I accepted their offer since it was expected of me, and I was still trying to win fae over. Acting sullen, reclusive, and avoiding all males who spoke to me wasn’t going to make that happen. Although I would have bet rulibs Kole preferred that. When that thought hit me, I snorted.
I was still a little tipsy by the time midnight came. I’d stopped drinking champagne following the information Nathaniel had given me, but I still stumbled slightly toward the sitting area near the musicians.
