The room was dark, barely any light shone through the huge windows even though the moon was perfectly aligned with them. Lord Seraphino sat in the middle of the room, his back to the window, and a young female vampire sat on his lap.
Otis stood facing Seraphino. The moonlight from the window reflected on his face, and it was clear that whatever news he had wasn't pleasant. Seraphino mirrored his expression, but with an added hint of anger.
"Go on, Otis. You're interrupting my leisure ti."
Otis nodded and cleared his throat, hating that he had to be the one to deliver this ssage. Anyone else would be dead before they finished speaking, so by default, he was the chosen one—the least likely to die.
"I apologize," he bowed again. "I have so—" he paused for a second, searching for a way to hint at the bad news without using the word 'bad.'
"So what?" Seraphino asked, his patience clearly running thin.
"Bad news," Otis muttered. There was no point in stalling.
Silence filled the room; not even breathing could be heard. "What bad news?" Seraphino said slowly. The girl on his lap fidgeted as Seraphino's grip on her arm tightened.
"Well," Otis shifted his weight onto one foot. "I heard so strange news."
"Strange?" Seraphino frowned, leaning back. Sohow, 'strange' didn't sound so bad. "How strange?"
He doubted it could be stranger than the news he had received that Mauve wasn't dead and was roaming the castle as though she hadn't drunk his poison. He wanted to punch sothing every ti he thought about it.
Of course, the servant who had given Mauve the drink had been killed as soon as he found out. The servant had insisted he'd done what was asked, but if that were true, there was no way Mauve would have survived this long.
"Well," Otis cleared his throat again, the sound grating on Seraphino's nerves. "The Primus picked a mate."
Seraphino threw his head back and laughed. "He did?" he asked, still laughing. "I would have sworn he wouldn't pick anyone over that human, but I should have known. He has a duty to his people, after all."
"No," Otis interrupted.
"No?" Seraphino froze and lifted his head. "What do you an, no?"
"He picked the human as his ma—" Otis grabbed his neck as blood spilled out the side of it. The knife had moved so fast he didn't even realize Seraphino was holding a weapon, let alone throwing it, until it sliced his neck.
"Get out!" Seraphino yelled, just as a scream from the girl on his lap filled the room.
Otis didn't need to be told twice. He didn't care about the screaming girl; his life was more important, and he knew better than to anger Seraphino any further. Otis had known Seraphino would take the news hard, but if he had withheld it, the consequences would have been much worse. At least now, all he had to deal with was a cut to his neck that would heal soon enough.
***
Mauve woke up early, and even after last night's activity, she didn't feel the least bit tired. Giddy, she made her way to the dining hall for the first al. She had spent a few minutes with Louis afterward, but before she could dive into any conversation with him, Jael interrupted and took her away.
Now, it was almost ti for the second al, and Mill was helping her get ready. Suddenly, Mill froze, and Mauve heard a sound. She lifted her head to look at the vampire, who was now looking at the door.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I think we have guests," Mill said.
"Guests?" Mauve asked, glancing at the door. "Do you know who?"
Mill shook her head and returned to her work. "It's hard to tell from here."
Mauve nodded and turned her attention away from the door. Jael would be here any mont now. She could ask him then, or she would find out when she went downstairs for the second al.
Mill stepped away when she was done, and Mauve wondered if she should break the news to her. If there was anyone she wanted to tell, it would be Mill, but there was barely enough ti now. Jael would be here soon, and it hadn't felt appropriate to announce it while she was in the bath after she woke up.
"What's the matter, my lady?" Mill asked, and Mauve frowned a little. The title still took so getting used to. "I can tell there's sothing on your mind. It can't be bad news, since you seem to be in a better mood than ever." Mill laughed.
"Is it that obvious?" Mauve asked, touching her cheeks.
"Yes," Mill laughed again. "Did sothing happen?"
"Well," Mauve shifted in her seat. "I'm pregnant."
The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Mauve held her breath as she waited for Mill's reaction, suddenly worried.
"Did you say you're pregnant?" Mill asked.
Mauve nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" she squealed.
"Oh, heavens," Mill gasped, tears welling in her eyes. "That's wonderful news! And you're sure?" she repeated, her disbelief evident.
Mauve nodded again.
"Does the Primus know?" she asked, glancing at the door.
"He's the one who told ," Mauve replied.
"Then it's definitely true," Mill said, rushing closer to Mauve. "How do you feel? Any different?" Her eyes strayed to Mauve's stomach.
Mauve shook her head. "No, I don't feel any different. I definitely don't feel pregnant, but I trust Jael. He wouldn't lie about sothing like this." She smiled at Mill. It felt so good to tell her, and she wanted to spend the rest of the night talking about it.
The door suddenly opened, and both of their heads turned. Jael had entered through the main door, which was unusual. He paused with the door slightly open.
"Am I interrupting sothing?" he asked.
"No," Mill said, stepping away as Mauve stood up and walked over to Jael.
"What happened?" she asked. "I heard noises downstairs."
His jaw tightened. "Oh, that. Lord Levaton is here."
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