I walk across the throne room to the table and take a seat. The entire family is late, per usual. They always have to be. Evelyn once said it was because everyone else must wait on royalty, not the other way around. I hear their footsteps before I see them. As human as I am, I was lucky enough to get great hearing which is more useful than these fangs are.

Evelyn, Lucedio, and Victor all stroll in together and I instantly notice Victor’s smirk. He looks a little too happy for my taste. Whatever this family meeting was called for, it can’t be good. Victor’s eyes never leave me as he makes his way to his seat and sits down.

Finally, Elijah comes in. I slide my eyes to his, keeping my expression neutral. His cold blue orbs barely stop on me before continuing to pass over his family. He sits down and stares at his mother, still stoic.

“What did you call us here for?” He asks, bored.

“We have news.” Evelyn says with a smile.

“Did you kill a group of innocent people?” I ask, sarcasm dripping off every word.

“No, Guinevere, it is happy news.” Lucedio tells me.

“Oh, sorry, was it two groups of innocent people?” I reiterate.

“No.” Victor hisses before regaining his composure. I smile slightly, enjoying his slip up. “We are to be married.”

I roll my eyes and lean back in my chair. “I know that, Victor. I’m just ever so excited about it. It’s all I think about, day and night. This year just can’t go by fast enough.” I reply flatly.

“Glad to hear, since we’ve moved the wedding to next weekend.” He smirks.

Shock, sharp and cold as ice shoots through my veins. “I’m sorry?”

“Next weekend, we are getting married. You and I, in the courtyard. After our marriage you will be given a procreation elixir and I will take you as my wife.” His eyes gleam with sadistic pleasure and my stomach curls.

My eyes dart to Evelyn, who’s smiling from ear to ear. I flick to Lucedio who’s staring at me like a cat who finally caught the mouse. The ice cold shock turns to an angry liquid fire pumping through my veins. I stand up and glare at them.

“No. You said a year. I have a whole year!” I shout at them.

Victor chuckles and I glare at him, reaching for my wand.

“Guinevere.” Elijah’s voice cuts through the room. “Stop. This behavior is not becoming of a royal family member. As Princess and eventually, Queen, you must keep your cool at all times. Anything less would be a disgrace to this family. I suggest you start acting more like royalty and less like a spoiled human brat.”

I turn my glare to him to find his eyes boring into mine. I want to shout at them all, I want to burn them all. No…not all. I don’t want to burn Elijah. I wish I wanted to burn him though. How I wish. Instead I just turn around and storm from the room, throwing the front door open. I take the stairs down into the catacombs two at a time.