The Daughter of Teragon

By Jayne Kinch

In a land where vampires are rulers and humans are seen as little more than objects, Kata is a slave at Saron Castle, stronghold of Prime Viktor - the sadistic ruler of the Northlands - where each day she is forced to live in fear of becoming a vampire's next victim. Then a stranger from a faraway land arrives at the castle and changes Kata's life forever. But Kata soon learns that freedom comes at a price and she has to decide if it is a price she is willing to pay.

Each book in The Land of the Blood of Allaron Legend series is stand-alone, but for the greatest enjoyment, the following reading order is recommended:

The Daughter of Teragon
The Fair Isle Princess
The Guardsman's Lover
The Duchess of Farrow
The Warrior Queen
The Lady of Saron

Intended for mature readers only.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jayne Kinch
• Release date: Jun 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370386468

Jayne Kinch

Jayne’s debut novel—The Daughter of Teragon—was published in 2016. Since then, she has completed a further seven novels and is currently working on The Cursed Dagger, the final instalment of The Mages of Thiar Trilogy.When she isn’t writing, Jayne likes to take countryside walks, travel the world, collect cacti, and read fiction. She also owns and runs a secondhand bookshop in a historical seaside town on the south-east coast of England. Her reading tastes are quite eclectic, with genres ranging from historical fiction, paranormal romance, sci-fi, fantasy, and crime thrillers to name a few.Jayne is forty-something and lives with her long-suffering husband, a deaf cat with a loud personality, dozens of cacti, and more books than she can count!Follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jaynekinchbooks

Book preview

I came to Prime Viktor’s castle a slave two weeks after I had reached my eighth year, and that was where I thought I would live out the rest of my days.

Until the Stranger came.

The first time I set eyes on the Stranger I was in the Great Hall, replenishing the torches. They were usually Cerise’s responsibility, but that morning she had been summoned to the Prime’s quarters, so Cook had sent me to do them instead.

When I entered the dimly lit Great Hall it was a hive of activity as slaves rushed about preparing the hall for that evening’s Midwinter celebrations. Not that either I or they would get to enjoy their hard work.

As always, the coppery scent of blood filled the air. A remnant of the countless humans who had been drained in the hall over the centuries.

Thankfully, for once, the hall was free of vampires.

‘Where have you been?’ barked the man in charge as I rushed past him, my arms laden with torches. ‘Those torches should’ve been replaced by now.’

Mumbling an apology, I scurried over to the nearest wall, the hall’s stone floor cold against my bare feet. Despite it being the middle of winter, no fires burned in the hall’s many hearths. But at least it was warmer than outside, where all day snow had been falling heavily.

After I had dumped all but one of the torches on the floor, I stood on my tiptoes, using the wall to balance myself, and removed the spent torch from its iron sconce before replacing it with the fresh one, tossing the spent torch on the floor to collect later. I then moved to the next sconce along and did the same to that one.

All about me, slaves were spreading fresh reeds across the floor and washing down the tables from the previous night’s activities, while others were decorating the walls with boughs of holly and evergreens—the traditional Midwinter decorations.

In the gallery above, minstrels practiced the melodies they would be playing that evening—large, dark green banners depicting the red serpent of House Saron hanging down from the ceiling, high above their heads.

Despite there being nearly two dozen people in the hall, we worked in near silence. The Prime didn’t permit slaves to speak in areas where we might be overheard by vampires.

I had just replaced the last of the torches and was about to head back to the landholders’ kitchens, when Lord Berin and another vampire entered the Great Hall, arguing loudly.

One of the crueller vampires—if there was such a thing as a vampire who wasn’t cruel—Lord Berin was one of Prime Viktor’s senior nobles and a regular visitor to Saron Castle. Having no wish to be spotted by him, I stepped into the shadows at the rear of the hall.

Even though I had never seen the vampire with him before, I knew him for what he was by the power that I could feel radiating from his voice. The power that all vampires exuded, especially when angry. Which this one most certainly was. Also, his neck was bare of the tattoos all humans wore, and no human would ever dare speak to Lord Berin in the abrupt manner this vampire was. Not unless they wanted to be beaten and drained by their owner.

If the Stranger caught me staring, I risked a flogging. Even so, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

A head taller than Lord Berin, the Stranger’s skin was dark brown and his long ebony hair was plaited into dozens of individual braids that had red strands woven into them and reached almost to his backside. His leather trousers stopped just shy of his knees and he wasn’t wearing a shirt, giving me an unobstructed view of his broad chest and muscular arms. That he looked to be in the fourth decade of his life was no indication of his true age, of course, the vampire having not aged a day since the day he was Turned, which could have been centuries before.

He was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.

The Stranger must’ve felt my eyes on him, as he suddenly turned his head and looked directly at me, our eyes meeting across the hall.

Scared at being caught staring, I quickly bowed my head and fled the Great Hall, nearly dropping the spent torches in my haste.

‘Go and relieve Lucie on the spit,’ said Head Cook Sarah, when I returned to the bustling kitchens where I and the other kitchen slaves prepared food for visiting landholders. ‘She’s been on it for most of the afternoon.’

I groaned.

Of all the jobs in the kitchens, the spit was the one I enjoyed the least. It was hot and sweaty work, as you were stood right by the fire, and continuously turning the handle made your arms and back ache. Not to mention the calluses on your hands. You also had to ensure you turned it just so, so that the meat cooked evenly. No easy task after you had been at it for two hours or more.

Nonetheless, I knew better than to argue with Sarah, and so obediently trotted over to one of the large fires at the back of the kitchens, where a young girl was standing, turning an entire pig. The pig was almost cooked and smelt heavenly, but I knew better than to filch a piece. Meat wasn’t for the slaves.

Lucie smiled gratefully as I took the spit handle from her and started turning. Up down, up down. The years I had been in the kitchens meant I had got it down to a fine art.

‘I was beginning to think I would be on it all afternoon,’ Lucie said as she stepped back and stretched, her bones audibly cracking. Her face glistened with sweat and her grey tunic was soaked through.

‘Sarah sent me to change the torches.’

Lucie’s smile faded and she lowered her gaze. ‘Cerise,’ she whispered sadly. ‘She was a good friend.’

‘That she was.’

‘Lucie, I need help with the bread,’ hollered another slave from the other side of the kitchens, her voice barely audible over the din.

‘Coming,’ Lucie called over her shoulder. And with a last sad smile in my direction, she rushed away.

I watched her go sadly.

Cerise was just one of many friends we had witnessed being sent to the Prime during our time at the castle.

‘Kata, watch that spit!’

‘Yes, Cook,’ I responded, turning the handle furiously, trying to ignore the sweat that was already beginning to trickle into my eyes. Up down, up down.

For the rest of my turn in the kitchens I was rushed off my feet. Once the pig was completely cooked, two male slaves carried it upstairs to the landholders’ hall, while I moved on to peeling vegetables before plucking and gutting the chickens for the stew.

I soon forgot all about the Stranger.

***

Two days later, I had gone to collect water from the well next to the stables, and was walking back to the kitchens—the wide courtyard a bustle of activity as always with both human and vampire going about their daily business—when I suddenly spotted the Stranger up ahead.

He was striding straight towards me; humans scuttling out of his path. This time he was alone.

At the sight of him, I felt a jolt of fear.

He’s going to bring me up for staring at him, I thought. But I knew better than to run. He would just come after me and give me an even bigger thrashing. Not to mention the scolding I would get from Sarah for spilling her water.

As he drew near, I bowed my head and stared at the ground—the proper position for a human when in the presence of a vampire—convinced I was about to receive a beating.

But when he reached me, the Stranger walked straight past without comment.

Relieved, I continued to lug the heavy pail across the courtyard, my bare legs and feet numb from trudging through the ankle-deep snow which covered the ground.

I was near enough at the kitchen doors when a sudden scream echoed around the courtyard.

Glancing over my shoulder towards the sound, I saw that, over by the castle’s main entrance, a vampire had grabbed hold of a slave and was forcibly feeding from him, the man flailing about violently as he tried to break free from his attacker.

No one was going to his aid.

Instead, those humans nearby simply bowed their heads and rushed past the hapless man, thankful it wasn’t them.

Once he’d had his fill, the vampire threw the man to the ground. He then turned on his heel and casually walked away, leaving his victim lying motionless on the snow-covered cobblestones.

I knew the man wasn’t dead. No vampire would dare drain one of the Prime’s own slaves.

I turned away from the fallen man and continued towards the kitchens, eager to get inside where it was marginally safer. I had just reached the kitchen doors when I suddenly felt eyes on me, making me glance over my shoulder.

The Stranger was standing in the centre of the courtyard, staring straight at me.

With a terrified yelp, I turned and fled into the kitchens, spilling half the contents of the bucket as I went.

It was never good to attract the attentions of a vampire.

***

That evening, once I had finished my turn in the kitchens, I slipped out the kitchen’s rear door and set off in the dark, across the castle grounds, towards the slaves’ quarters.

Usually, I walked with Lucie and Becka, but they had been in the middle of cleaning the pans, and eager to get fed, having not eaten since my bowl of gruel that morning, I had decided not to wait for them and instead walk back alone.

The slaves’ quarters were two large stone buildings—one for the male and the other for the female slaves—situated in the far corner of the castle’s vast grounds. They were hidden by a high wall—the Prime didn’t want his honoured guests setting eyes on the slaves doing such human things as eating and shitting—and was reached by a narrow and overgrown path behind the stables.

I hurried towards the hall. It had started snowing again and I was eager to get inside.

My head was bowed to ward off the freezing wind blowing in my face, meaning I didn’t notice the two boys until I was near enough on top of them.

They were leaning against the stable wall, but as I went to walk by, one of the boys suddenly stepped out in front of me and blocked my way.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he demanded, his arm held out to prevent me passing.

The torch on the stable wall next to us enabled me to see the small mace tattooed on either side of his neck which indicated he belonged to Lord Berin. As the tattoos were green, he was of landholder rank; most likely one of Lord Berin’s stableboys, seeing he was loitering around the stables. Although ranked above a slave, a landholder was still subordinate to vampires.

The term landholder was actually a misnomer, as they didn’t own the land they worked, but rather tended it for their vampire owner.

‘To my quarters, sir,’ I said, giving the proper address to someone of landholder rank. A quick glance told me his younger companion wore the same marks.

‘Well, to pass, you have to give us payment.’

‘I have no money, sir, I am but a slave.’

I made to walk around him, but the second boy stepped in front of me, his dark eyes cold flints as he regarded me disdainfully. ‘We’re not after money,’ he said, while next to him, his companion had grabbed his crotch and was making thrusting motions.

I was suddenly scared, knowing exactly what the boys were after. I also knew there was nothing I could do to stop it. Slaves didn’t dare stand up to landholders, not unless they wanted to be sucked dry by their owner. And no vampire would come to my aid. My only hope was that someone else of landholder rank, such as Josef—the Prime’s stablemaster—saw what they were up to. But, even then, it was unlikely they would intervene. What was another slave bastard?

‘Please, sir. Let me pass,’ I mumbled as I bowed my head and made to walk around them once more.

I let out a scream as the elder boy grabbed my arm and shoved me against the stable wall, the stone wall cold against my back. He then forced his hands under my tunic, and grabbing my knees, tried to prise my legs apart, his fingernails digging painfully into my thighs.

I clamped my legs together with all my might. I may not be able to stop what was going to happen, but I could at least make it difficult for them.

‘Don’t be coy,’ the boy hissed. ‘I know what you slaves are like. You’re always giving it out to the vampires. How about letting us in on the fun.’

Behind him, his companion was shouting obscenities as he egged him on.

‘No.’ I struggled against him, desperate to get away. My heart was thudding so loudly, I was sure he must hear it. ‘Get off me!’

Drawing back his fist, the boy punched me in the face, and I tasted blood as my lip exploded under the force of his blow.

‘You dare say no to me, slave!’ he roared right in my face, the smell of his stale breath filling my nostrils.

He thumped me again, this time in the nose, and the force of it knocked me to the ground. I let out a cry of pain as he grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. He raised his fist to strike again. I closed my eyes, waiting for his blow.

‘Leave her!’

Even though I knew it couldn’t possibly be true, I knew it had to be a vampire from the wave of power that hit me at his shout.

The painful grip on my hair was suddenly released, and I heard footsteps as the boys fled, leaving me sobbing in the snow. My nose felt twice its normal size, and when I touched it and looked down at my fingers, I saw blood. It wasn’t good to be bleeding in front of a vampire.

Without looking, I knew my saviour was the Stranger.

Sure enough, when I raised my eyes, it was he standing in the stable doorway.

‘Are you alright?’ he asked.

I was surprised he was concerned for my welfare. Most vampires would have stood by and laughed as the boys raped me, or shoved them out of the way so they could have a go instead. I was even more surprised when he walked over to where I was huddled in the snow and held out his hand.

Who is this strange vampire who would offer me, a mere slave, his hand?

Knowing I couldn’t refuse him, I took the Stranger’s hand, and he hauled me to my feet.

‘The boys here need more manners,’ he said, straightening my tunic, which had rolled up my thighs during the boys’ attack. I could tell by the inflection of his speech that the language of the Northlands wasn’t his native tongue. ‘Those of my land would never act in such a way, for fear of a good flogging.’ He turned on his heel and started towards the castle. ‘Come, we will go to my quarters so that I can clean the blood from your face.’

I didn’t want to go with him, knowing he was going to do to me what the boys had just tried, most likely feeding from me, too, but I couldn’t refuse him. Not unless I wanted to be hauled in front of the Prime. And no slave wanted that.

So, with my head down, I fell into step behind him, wishing wholeheartedly that I had stayed behind to help Becka and Lucie with the pans.

As I followed him across the courtyard, towards the stone steps leading to the entrance hall of the castle, I could feel the eyes of everyone we passed. Given my bleeding face and the fact I was trailing a vampire, they probably thought I was in for a good beating.

They were probably right.

As always, the massive wooden doors at the top of the steps were standing wide open, and as we walked through them, into the gloomy confines of the castle building, the Stranger ordered a passing slave to get someone to bring a bowl of warm water and food to his quarters. Again, I felt the power behind his voice.

The man shot off at once, flinging a dirty look in my direction as he passed. He was obviously wondering why the Stranger wasn’t getting me to do it.

I wordlessly followed the Stranger as he made his way up a narrow flight of steps to the second floor of the castle’s east wing. Although I had never been up there before, I knew they were the more desirable quarters in the castle and weren’t far from the royal apartments. Whoever this stranger was, he was important. And important normally meant cruel.

He opened a heavy oak door about halfway down the wide passageway and gestured that I enter. With growing trepidation, I stepped past him, into the room.

Coming to a stop just inside the door, I stared open-mouthed as I took in the thick rugs and opulently upholstered chairs, the intricately carved cedar chests and wide wardrobes. At one end of the room stood a large desk piled high with books and scrolls. Heavy curtains hung at the windows, blocking out the worst of the harsh Northlands winter winds. Despite there being no fire in the hearth, the room wasn’t cold.

This chamber was certainly grander than the dingy hall I shared with the other female slaves.

I tried not to look at the immense bed with its fat pillows and feather mattress, knowing what happened in it. What would soon be happening to me.

‘Sit,’ the Stranger ordered abruptly as he closed the door, pointing at the chair standing in front of the desk.

I obediently did as he said. Then watched nervously as he wordlessly unbuckled his sword.

Unlike the broadsword, the weapon worn by the vampires of the Northlands, the Stranger’s sword had a slightly curved blade that was long and narrow, its dark-leather sheath decorated with small beads which were the same colour as the strands woven into his hair.

Once he had placed the sword on the narrow table that was standing under the window, the Stranger pulled off his calf-high leather boots and placed them neatly under the same table. That done, the Stranger grabbed the wooden chair standing next to the table and walked across the room towards where I was sitting. Like all vampires, he made almost no sound as he moved.

As he drew near, I lowered my gaze and stared at the floor. I was petrified, knowing what he was going to expect from me.

‘What is your name?’ he asked, after he had set the chair next to me and sat down.

‘Kata, my lord,’ I mumbled, my eyes never leaving the floor.

‘Those boys, have they bothered you before?’

Before I had chance to tell him no, there was a knock at the door and a boy entered the room with a wooden tray. On the tray was a plate of food and a bowl of water, along with a small pile of cloths.

‘Here,’ the Stranger said, pointing towards the bureau in front of us.

The boy waited until the Stranger had shoved the piles of scrolls and books to one side, then dumped the tray in the space he had created. The boy shot a sympathetic look in my direction, knowing as well as I what was about to happen to me, then turned and fled the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Staring at the closed door, I tried not to feel trapped.

Once the boy had gone, the Stranger picked up one of the cloths, and after soaking it in the water, wordlessly took hold of my chin and started to carefully clean the blood from my face. I was surprised a vampire’s hand could be so gentle.

While he was occupied, I took the opportunity to study his face and saw that a light dusting of freckles covered his cheeks and nose. That he was clean shaven enabled me to see the jagged scar which ran from just underneath his right earlobe to his nose. He must’ve sustained the injury before he was Turned, as any wounds he received as a vampire would’ve healed without a trace.

He seemed oddly familiar, which I knew was impossible. I would remember if I had met this striking creature before.

Once he had wiped the blood from my face, the Stranger tossed the now blood-soaked cloth on the table. He then reached over and felt my nose, an act that made me wince with pain.

‘Not broken,’ he informed me as he moved his hand away. He pointed at the plate of food. ‘Eat.’

The plate was piled with meat slices soaked in gravy. Definitely not food for the slaves.

‘I cannot, my lord. For it is food for the landholders.’ I knew this because I had prepared the meat myself that very afternoon.

The Stranger grinned, revealing the long and sharp points that were his eye-teeth. I looked away, finding the sight rather disconcerting.

‘Consider it an apology from the boys for mistreating you,’ he said, pushing the plate towards me.

I hesitated, thinking it was some sort of vampire trick and he was going to snatch the plate from me the moment I went for it, then tentatively reached over and picked up a slice of meat.

The Stranger made no move or comment as I lifted the meat to my mouth and took a small bite.

I started chewing, and sighed despite myself. Juicy and tender, it was the most delicious thing I had ever eaten. So much more appetising than the meagre offerings waiting for me back at the slaves’ quarters.

Soon the first slice was gone, and after I had licked my fingers clean of the juices and gravy, I reached for a second.

As I ate, the Stranger asked me how I came to be a slave at the Prime’s castle.

I told him that I had been sent there from the orphan house twelve years previously. ‘My parents were landholders to a yellow jade mine in the central Lowlands,’ I explained, surprised a vampire would be interested in such things. ‘I had just turned four when Prime Mykael stormed their holding during a battle with Prime Viktor’s army and drained them in a Blood Frenzy.’

Sometimes a vampire could get so angry or caught up in the heat of battle that the mere taste of blood made them lose all control and they would drain anyone in sight. Vampire or human. Thankfully, I had never witnessed a vampire going into a Blood Frenzy, but according to the slaves who had, it was terrifying.

‘I survived when one of my parents’ workers fled with me and took me to an orphan house not far from the Southern Fortress. It was hoped, as a landholder’s daughter, I would be fostered by another landholder family to work on their land. But when I turned eight, still without having been fostered, I was deemed too hold to stay at the orphan house, so I received my slave marks and was sent to Saron Castle.’ As I said this, my fingers brushed one of the red serpents tattooed on either side of my neck. The marks which told the world I belonged to the Prime.

‘And your family, do you remember their name?’

I told him I didn’t. ‘The woman who took me to the orphan house didn’t tell the sisters the name of the holding she had rescued me from. Only that my name was Kata and both my parents were dead.’

The vampire nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Although I had taken my time with the meat and gravy, knowing exactly what he was going to expect from me once I had eaten, eventually the plate was clear.

Once I had finished eating, I placed the plate on the tray, then bowed my head, waiting for what I knew would be coming next.

Much to my surprise, the Stranger told me to go. ‘The boys will not bother you again,’ he added, as I stood up from the chair.

I mumbled a thanks and fled from the room, mystified by the entire encounter.

***

For the next three days I saw no sign of the Stranger.

As Cerise hadn’t returned from the Prime’s quarters—and never would—it became my responsibility to go into the Great Hall each day and replace the torches.

Even during the day, it was common for vampires to be hanging around the hall. Each time I had to venture inside its gloomy confines I would keep my head down and flit about the hall at top speed, eager to be out of there and back to the relative safety of the kitchens before any of them spotted me. I didn’t want done to me what I had witness happen to the male slave.

As I went from one sconce to the next, I eyed the vampires through the matted hair which hung in front of my eyes to conceal my face, hoping to catch sight of the Stranger. But he was never among them.

I was surprised at the disappointment I felt each time I didn’t see him. He was a vampire. One of the most feared beings in the land and not someone you wanted to encounter. But there was something different about him. I could never imagine Lord Berin treating me the way the Stranger had. Perhaps they treated humans differently in his land.

On the fourth day, I hadn’t long been in the Great Hall when there came a sudden shout from the opposite end of the hall. I looked towards the sound, and the terror I felt when I saw the towering vampire with white-blonde hair striding through the doorway caused me to nearly drop the torch I was in the middle of changing.

It was Prime Viktor. My owner. Ruler of the Northlands and the most powerful and ruthless of all the vampire, his cruelty eclipsed only by that of his brother; Prime Mykael of Dornia.

The Primes were different from others of their kind, in that they had been born vampire and couldn’t die. It was said that all vampires could trace their vampire lineage back to one or the other of the brothers.

No one knew exactly how old Prime Viktor and his brother were, but they were said to be hundreds, even thousands, of years old. They also hated each other and had spent most of their existence at war. Wars which, over the centuries, had cost the lives of countless innocent humans. Innocent humans like my parents.

As ever, the Prime was bare-chested, enabling me to see the blue markings adorning the top half of his muscular body. Nobody knew for certain what the markings meant, only that both he and his brother had them and it was they what gave the Primes their power.

Laying the torch on the floor, I dropped to my knees and bowed my head. All about the hall, other slaves did the same. We all knew better than to be caught standing by the Prime.

Trembling with fear, I watched the Northlander Prime through my hair as he strode across the hall towards a female vampire sitting alone three tables over from me, nursing a tankard of beer, praying he wouldn’t notice me.

‘Kerina!’

The power behind the Prime’s voice hit me like a physical blow, making me gasp. Of all the vampire, the power possessed by the Primes was greatest.

Dropping her tankard, its contents spilling across the table and onto the rushes covering the stone floor, the vampire leapt up from the wooden bench she was sitting on. ‘Your Grace?’ she stammered, her terrified eyes fixed on the floor. Even vampires feared the Prime.

When he reached her, the Prime grabbed the vampire by her blonde hair and wrenched her head back, exposing her neck.

‘You have displeased me for the last time, Kerina.’

‘Please, Your Grace. I’m sorry,’ Kerina wailed, her voice high with terror as she realised what was coming next.

Completely ignoring her pleas, the Prime yanked Kerina towards him. He then bit savagely into her neck and started feeding, the vampire’s agonised screams sending a shiver down my spine.

Once he’d had his fill, the Prime shoved Kerina away from him and plunged his fist into her chest. A loud crack echoed around the silent Great Hall as he broke through her rib cage.

‘Please, Your Grace. No,’ Kerina sobbed. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry!’

There was a strange, ripping noise as the Prime pulled his hand back, tearing the vampire’s heart from her chest.

Kerina fell to the floor; dead.

The Prime then threw the heart across the room. It hit a male slave square in the chest with a loud splat, covering his grey tunic in blood.

‘Clear it up!’

The slave leapt to his feet and scuttled towards the remains of the vampire. His path took him near the Prime, and as he ran past, Prime Viktor gave the slave a savage kick, sending the man sprawling to the floor.

The Prime laughed. ‘Stupid fucking slave,’ he spat.

He turned away from the slave and started towards where I was kneeling. I prayed he would pass me by.

To my horror, the Prime came to a stop directly in front of me. I kept my eyes down, quaking in terror.

‘Well, well, what do we have here?’ As he spoke, the power behind his voice wrapped itself around me, threatening to choke me. ‘On your feet, slave.’

Even though it was the last thing I wanted to do, I did as he ordered. The Prime didn’t tolerate disobedience.

I muffled a shriek as he grabbed hold of my face and viciously pulled it towards him, smearing my face with the blood of the dead vampire.

‘Look at me!’ he commanded.

I lifted my eyes and stared into hell.

The Prime smiled, revealing red-streaked fangs. ‘The one I am using is such a disappointment,’ he said, his face inches from mine. His breath reeked of blood, making me gag. ‘Maybe I should drain her and use you instead.’

I jumped violently as he grabbed my breast and squeezed it viciously, his fingernails digging into my skin through my tunic.

‘Or, I could just take you right here and now. And once I’ve had my fun with you, my vampires can have a go.’ The Prime lowered his head so that his mouth was right by my ear. ‘Or perhaps you would prefer my brother,’ he whispered. ‘I’m told he also enjoys the slaves.’

The thought of being sent to Prime Mykael caused my bladder to relieve itself, and there was a sudden splashing sound as urine hit the stone floor of the silent Great Hall.

The Prime let out a laugh and shoved me away, sending me sprawling. A sharp pain wracked through me as my bum hit the floor and I tasted blood as I bit my tongue, but I stopped myself from crying out as I knew he would enjoy it.

‘Maybe next time,’ the Prime said as he turned away from me and started walking towards the back of the hall.

As soon as his back was turned, I leapt to my feet and quickly gathered up the torches before starting towards the door. There were still several torches which needed replacing, but I didn’t care. I wanted out of there before he changed his mind.

I stopped dead when I caught sight of the Stranger standing in the centre of the Great Hall, staring after the Prime with a furious expression on his face. His eyes went to me. Bowing my head, I fled the hall.

I was beginning to attract the attentions of far too many vampires.

Chapter Two

The Stranger was waiting for me when I left the kitchens that evening.

After the incident in the Great Hall, I hadn’t left the kitchens once. Although, even there, you were never safe, as the Prime could come visiting at any time, searching for his latest victim.

I had been terrified Derry, the man in charge of the Great Hall, would complain to Sarah that the torches hadn’t been changed, but, thankfully, there had been no sign of him.

‘Come with me,’ the Stranger said, then set off across the courtyard without waiting to see if I was following.

I said a quick goodbye to Lucie and Becka, and then started after him, trying not to think that the last time he had seen me I had been sitting in a puddle of my own piss.

When I had returned to the kitchens after my encounter with the Prime, Sarah had taken one look at my tears and sodden clothes and led me to her quarters next to the kitchens so that I could wash and change into a clean tunic. She hadn’t said anything, but I could tell from her expression she had already been told of the incident. Nothing stayed secret for long.

I had never felt so humiliated in my life. I had actually pissed myself. Pissed myself! And not only that, it had been in front of everyone in the Great Hall, including the Stranger. If I hadn’t hated Prime Viktor before, I certainly hated him now.

When we entered his quarters, the Stranger gestured for me to sit on the chair next to the desk.

Resting on the desk was a plate of cold meats and cheese, plus a bowl laden with fruit, and he told me to help myself. Unlike my previous visit to his quarters, a fire was burning in the large hearth, making the room blissfully warm after the biting conditions outside.

‘I saw what Viktor did to you,’ he said, as I picked up an apple and took a bite. It was slightly wrinkled from being winter-stored, but it was tasty just the same. ‘We are not all like that.’

I didn’t respond.

Despite the fact the vampire had been nothing but nice to me so far, I knew it wouldn’t take much to anger him, especially as my response would be that I didn’t believe him in the slightest. I was surprised at his casual use of the Prime’s name. Even vampires referred to him as His Grace.

‘Have the boys bothered you again?’

‘No, my lord. I haven’t seen them.’

The Stranger grinned toothily. ‘They obviously took to heart my threat to drain them if I caught them terrorising the slaves again.’ I didn’t know how to respond to that.

As I ploughed my way through the meat and cheese, the Stranger once again asked questions about my life at the castle. I was confused at his apparent interest in me. I knew it wasn’t normal for vampires to invite slaves back to their quarters to feed them and ask their life story.

Despite this, as I continued to eat the food and answer his questions, I found myself slowly becoming more at ease. Surely if he was going to hurt me, he would have done so by now?

He suddenly stood up from his chair and went over to the sideboard. ‘Do you like wine?’

‘I’ve never tried it, my lord.’

‘I am no lord,’ he said, pouring white wine into two glasses. ‘In my land, my kind are addressed by their name by vampire and human alike. When we are alone you may call me Sebastian.’

I was startled at this. No human would ever dare address a vampire by their name in the Northlands. He really did come from a strange land.

He walked over to where I was sitting and held out one of the glasses. I took the glass from him. ‘Thank you, my lord.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Sorry. I mean. Thank you, Sebastian.’ I stumbled slightly on the unfamiliar name.

Sebastian grinned at me, then gestured that I try the wine.

I took a small sip and wrinkled my nose. It was very sour. I saw the grimace on Sebastian’s face as he, too, tried the wine. ‘Viktor calls that wine?’ he exclaimed. ‘My horse could piss better wine than that!’

His outburst, coupled with the look on his face, made me forget myself and I burst out laughing.

The vampire looked at me, and I abruptly stopped. Such a blatant show of insubordination was going to get me a beating for sure.

But Sebastian didn’t look angry.

‘You look pretty when you laugh,’ he told me, much to my surprise.

Sebastian took the wine glass from my hand and set both glasses on the desk before turning back to me. He then lifted his hand, and after pushing my matted hair back from my face, slowly brushed his fingers down my cheek.

I froze.

This was it. This was what he had been building up to all along. The food and conversation had just been a distraction to lull me into a false sense of security.

‘I will not hurt you,’ he said softly as he stroked my lips with the pad of his thumb.

I found that doubtful.

Sebastian slowly traced his fingers along my jawline and down my neck. They then trailed across my collarbone and down my arm, leaving goose bumps in their wake. Taking my hands, he pulled me to my feet so that I was standing in front of him. He towered over me, his bare chest filling my field of vision. I felt a sudden, insane urge to run my fingers down his stomach but resisted, knowing it would anger him, and instead kept my hands firmly at my sides.

Sebastian cupped my chin and urged my face up. Looking into his black-brown eyes, I saw no cruelty in them. He lowered his head and pressed his mouth against mine. I gasped. I had never been kissed before. Sebastian took advantage of my open mouth and his tongue darted in. His tongue then wrapped itself around mine, caressing it. He tasted not of blood, as I would expect a vampire to, but of the wine he had just consumed.

Getting over my initial shock, I started to tentatively move my tongue with his. Sebastian obviously liked my reaction as he made a low, wild sound deep in his throat. I felt his hand move up my side and brush against my breast. I tensed, remembering the Prime’s treatment of it, then relaxed when, instead of gripping it viciously, Sebastian started to gently knead my breast over my tunic, his thumb rubbing my nipple. I moaned into his mouth. Almost as though they had a life of their own, my hands slipped around his shoulders, pulling him closer to me. I tried to remind myself that I shouldn’t be doing this, he was a vampire, but the passion building up inside me pushed these thoughts from my mind, and I lost myself in the kiss.

Suddenly, Sebastian pulled away, leaving me gasping. He stared at me without moving or speaking and I wondered what he was waiting for. Then I realised.

With trembling hands, I started to pull my tunic off my shoulders.

Sebastian smiled.

Both arms free, the tunic fell to the floor. I was naked underneath. Suddenly shy, I tried to cover my body with my hands, but Sebastian took hold of them and gently, but firmly, pulled them away. He then stood there for the longest time, staring at my naked body. I watched him with a mixture of fear and desire.

Without saying a word, Sebastian lifted his hand and started to knead my breast, pulling and rolling my nipple between his finger and thumb, making it ache. An ache that was echoed between my legs. He ducked his head towards my other breast and gently kissed the red marks left by Prime Viktor’s nails, before his lips captured my nipple and started to suck, his tongue lightly brushing my nipple. While I could feel his teeth against my skin, he made no attempt to bite me.

His hand leaving my breast, Sebastian slowly traced his fingers down my stomach. A low moan escaped my lips when they finally found their way to the wetness between my legs.

Sebastian stopped a second time.

‘Do you wish to leave?’ he asked breathlessly.

‘No,’ I answered honestly.

His arousal was straining against his leather trousers, and with a boldness I didn’t realise I possessed, I reached over and tugged at his laces. His trousers dropped to the floor. Sebastian kicked free of them, then took my hand and led me towards the bed. I kept my eyes averted, too shy to look at his naked body.

When we reached the bed, he gently pushed me down onto the fur blankets, and I stared up at him as he climbed on top of me. My heart was thudding so hard, I was sure it was going to burst right out of my chest.

Sebastian had removed the thong holding back his braids and they were cascading over his shoulders.

‘I will not hurt you,’ he said again, as he positioned himself against me. I nodded, too nervous to speak.

I let out a sharp cry of pain as he pushed through my barrier, hearing Sebastian’s surprised grunt in response. I could understand his shock. It was rare indeed for a female slave my age to be untouched by either vampire or human.

He started to slowly move. At first, the movement made me wince, but the discomfort soon passed and was replaced by an altogether different sensation. The feeling steadily grew as he moved faster and faster, making me cry out in pleasure. My body started to move with his, and Sebastian let out a growl of excitement as my fingernails dug into the flesh of his back hard enough to draw blood. His teeth grazed my shoulder, and even though I knew he would do it anyway, I angled my neck towards him.

‘Yes,’ I gasped.

***

Much later, I sneaked into the female slaves’ hall.

Even though it was the middle of the night, the door wasn’t latched, as female slaves came and went at all hours of the day and night.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I glanced towards the house mistress’s bedchamber. To my relief, the door was closed. The last thing I wanted was Kveta’s prying questions.

I opened the door to the large dormitory I shared with around three dozen other slaves and tiptoed across the darkened room. All about me, female slaves of all ages were snoring and murmuring in their sleep.

Reaching the pallet that I shared with Becka and Kim, I laid down, and huddling up to a sleeping Becka’s back in a bid to get warm, pulled my threadbare blanket over me and closed my eyes.

I fell asleep thinking of Sebastian.

Kveta was waiting for me in the dining hall the following morning.

Becka and I had just gone to sit at one of the tables when she came over with a large pan. Kveta always served the slaves so that we didn’t take more than what we were entitled to.

‘Don’t think I didn’t hear you sneaking in last night,’ she said as she leaned across the table and slopped a ladleful of gruel into my bowl.

In addition to green serpents, Kveta had green owls tattooed on her neck from her previous owner. The owls had a black line running through them, indicating she was no longer that vampire’s property.

‘Finally got one of the vampires to notice you, eh? About time. Most slaves your age have had two dozen or more.’

I bowed my head and didn’t respond. Kveta may be short in stature, but it would be a fool who thought that meant she wasn’t dangerous. Even the male slaves feared her tongue. And her cane. All the slaves bore scars from her beatings. Myself included.

‘Pello told me he saw her going into the dark stranger’s quarters,’ said a smug voice from further down the table.

I cursed inwardly.

Of all the people Pello could’ve told, it had to be big-mouth Chrissy.

I glared at the older woman, who smiled in response before taking a bite of her crust of bread.

Kveta slammed the pan down on the table, making me jump. Before I had chance to react, she grabbed me viciously by the hair and yanked my head to the side. She then pulled back the hair I had arranged to cover my neck, revealing the twin wounds left by Sebastian’s fangs.

Kveta snorted. ‘A vampire finally takes you and you don’t even get his Band. You’ll never pay for your freedom that way, my girl.’

I didn’t respond.

Everyone knew your Freedom Price was set so high it was virtually impossible to pay off.

Kveta grabbed the pan of gruel, and as she started down the table, added spitefully, ‘Don’t let His Grace find out you’re giving it away for nothing.’

‘Ignore Kveta,’ Becka said a short while later as we made our way through the snow towards the kitchens. ‘She’s just being nasty because her owner sold her to His Grace rather than allowing her to stay with her family and wed a landholder.’

In landholder families, only the older children could wed or inherit the right to work on their owner’s lands. Those younger ones who weren’t needed to help their parents or older siblings were sent to work at their owner’s castle, or, like Kveta, were sold to another vampire. While still above slaves, they were considered lower down the ranks than other landholders.

I sighed. ‘No, Kveta’s right. I should’ve received at least one Band by now.’ I was secretly glad—I had no wish to be a vampire’s whore—but, at the same time, I didn’t want to remain a slave forever.

My mind went back to the previous evening.

After the first time, Sebastian had taken me again. Although I felt sore between my legs and there was some bleeding, given that I had been a maiden, it hadn’t been the horrific experience the others had described. I had enjoyed it. More than enjoyed it, in actual fact. I didn’t think I would mind if Sebastian gave me his Band.

That day, during my turn in the kitchens, I couldn’t stop thinking about the previous evening. I ended up getting shouted at by Sarah on three separate occasions for nearly letting the meat burn, so distracted was I. Luckily, Sarah was fond of me, so I didn’t get a beating for my lapse.

The moment Sarah dismissed us, I raced from the kitchens, eager to see Sebastian again. I even made Becka and Lucie walk the long way to the slaves’ hall, just in case he was waiting in the courtyard. They rolled their eyes and moaned about it but agreed to come with me. I was glad. Despite Sebastian’s assurances he had frightened off the landholder boys, I wasn’t convinced they wouldn’t try again if given the opportunity. And of course, they weren’t the only danger.

Sebastian was nowhere in sight.

Trying to swallow my disappointment, I returned to the slaves’ hall with the others. There, I spent the evening having to endure Kveta and Chrissy’s jibes.

For the next week, I saw no sign of Sebastian anywhere about the castle, and in the end came to the realisation that he had returned to his land. I was disappointed as I would’ve liked to have seen him again. I was surprised to feel that way about a vampire. But Sebastian had been like no other vampire I had met before. He had been kind. Strange, I would never have believed the words vampire and kind could be in the same sentence.

Lord Berin returned to his castle the morning following my evening with Sebastian, taking with him his landholders, so I no longer had to worry about the boys. Well, those ones at least. A slave was never completely safe.

I continued to go to the Great Hall each morning. Thankfully, the Prime was never there at the same time as me and the vampires left me alone.

After a few days, Kveta and Chrissy grew tired of taunting me and things returned to normal.

Still, I found myself unable to forget the dark stranger from a faraway land.

Chapter Three

It was the ninth day since I had last seen Sebastian and I was heading to the slaves’ hall with Becka and Kim. Kim was Becka’s elder sister, and although she worked in the landholders’ feasting hall, she would often walk back with us.

It had been blowing a blizzard all day and we were running towards the hall, eager to get in the dry, the icy slush which carpeted the ground splashing against our frozen legs as we went.

We had reached as far as the stables when I suddenly felt eyes on me. I knew at once who it was.

My heart fluttering with excitement, I looked over and, sure enough, Sebastian was standing outside the stable doors with his arms folded.

Like previous times I had seen him, he was wearing just trousers and boots, totally unconcerned with the freezing conditions. I could tell he had been standing there for some time as his hair was almost white with snow.

When he saw me looking, Sebastian jerked his chin, gesturing for me to come over.

‘I’ll catch up with you later,’ I told the others and started to walk towards Sebastian, ignoring Kim’s whisper that I better get his Band this time or Kveta would give me a beating before sending me to the Prime.

When I reached Sebastian, he didn’t speak. Instead, he turned on his heel and started to walk towards the castle entrance. I fell into step behind him, almost bursting with anticipation.

At the same time I was scared, knowing Kim was right.

‘Go and get warm,’ Sebastian said, once we were in his quarters, nodding towards the fire burning in the hearth.

I sat down on the couch that was standing in front of the fire and let out a contented sigh as the heat from the flames started to work its way into my frozen bones.

After Sebastian had removed his sword and boots, he came and sat next to me. ‘I wish to give you this,’ he said, holding out a small wooden box decorated with carvings.

When I saw it, I knew at once what it was.

When Kveta had spoken about a vampire’s Band, what she had meant was the choker a vampire gave a slave when they wanted to use them during their stay at Saron Castle to run errands, clean their quarters, feed from them, and such. It also allowed the slave to go on errands to the nearby town. Normally, slaves were forbidden from leaving the castle grounds.

It wasn’t all one-sided, as being in the possession of a Band entitled the slave to extra food rations, including a small slice of meat with each meal. Apparently, it improved the taste of their blood. Usually, slaves weren’t allowed meat at all.

Also, for the time they were wearing the Band, no other vampire or human could touch them, for fear of the Band owner’s wrath. The exception to this was Prime Viktor, of course, as the slave remained his property throughout the time that they were wearing the Band, the vampire was just paying the Prime to use them.

While they were wearing the Band, the vampire could treat the slave as they wished. Although some were nicer, many were cruel to the slave—abusing them and feeding from them almost to the point of death—although no vampire would kill a slave, because to do so meant paying the Prime for the loss of his chattel.

Despite this, and the fact they were exhausted as they were still required to carry out their normal duties throughout the time that they were wearing the Band, many slaves were happy to receive Bands. Some, including Chrissy, even went out of their way to be noticed by the vampires, as each Band brought them one step closer to their Freedom Price. Although rare, I had known slaves to buy their freedom.

On paying their Freedom Price, a slave received their freedom marks; the green lines tattooed through their slave marks to show they had earned their freedom from slavery and been awarded the rank of landholder. Although, truth be told, landholders were just as much slaves as the slaves were. The only difference being, they received better food and clothes, including footwear, and weren’t generally used as a food source by the vampires. They could also work in shops and on market stalls, or even become minstrels and apprentices; all of which were forbidden to slaves. Freedom also meant they could be turned into vampires, the only way out of the Northlands. Also, with the exception of those working in their owner’s castle, they could wed and have children. Not that I knew why anyone would choose to have children in a land ruled by vampires.

With shaking fingers, I took the box from Sebastian and opened it. Each Band was unique to a particular vampire. Sebastian’s was a strange, pink material carved into a rearing horse that was attached to a narrow leather choker about the width of my little finger.

‘The horse is made from pink quartz,’ Sebastian informed me. ‘It is found in the land of my people.’

‘It’s pretty,’ I said, taking the Band from the box so that I could look more closely at the horse.

The carving was about the size of my thumb and was so beautifully crafted it almost looked real.

‘I could not give it to you when I saw you last, as I had not had chance to see Viktor, then I was required to return with Berin to the Southern Fortress.’

That was why I hadn’t seen him about the castle.

Sebastian went to add more, but before he could, there was a knock at the door.

‘Enter,’ he said abruptly, clearly annoyed at being interrupted.

The door opened and Chrissy walked in with a tray of food.

Those who worked in the kitchens weren’t supposed to bring food to the quarters, as it was the job of the serving slaves, so it was obvious Chrissy was doing it in a bid to get Sebastian to notice her. She had overheard me telling Becka and Kim how he had saved me from the landholder boys and that he hadn’t treated me cruelly when he took me to his bed, so was probably hoping he would give her his Band. She was playing with fire. If Sarah caught her bringing food to a vampire’s quarters, she would get a flogging.

Chrissy was smiling as she entered the room, but when she saw me sitting on the couch, her smile turned into a scowl. A scowl which deepened when she saw what I was holding.

Lucky for her, Sebastian was sitting with his back to her, so wouldn’t see her expression.

‘Your food, my lord,’ she said, glowering at me.

Chrissy knew the food was for me, seeing as vampires didn’t eat. In her warped mind, she probably thought Sebastian had ordered the food with the plan to seduce the server.

‘The desk,’ Sebastian said, his gaze never leaving my face. Chrissy did as he asked, nearly slamming the tray down in her anger. ‘Now go.’

‘Yes, my lord.’ And, with a final glare in my direction, Chrissy left the room.

‘That one will get herself in trouble if she carries on acting the way she does,’ Sebastian said, after Chrissy had closed the door.

I wondered what he meant by that but was too afraid to ask in case I angered him. Perhaps it wasn’t the first time she had come to his quarters in a bid to get him to notice her.

Sebastian took the Band from me, then gestured that I sat forward so he could place it around my neck.

‘In my land, we do not follow the practice of giving Bands, as we only feed from those who allow us to,’ he said, once it was safely in place. ‘But Viktor does things differently.’ I could tell by Sebastian’s expression that he wasn’t happy with the Prime’s way of doing things. He looked me straight in the eye as he added, ‘I will not be cruel to you, or make you do anything you do not wish to do.’

He would only do to me what I allowed him to? That had to be some sort of vampire trick. Vampires didn’t require permission; they just took what they wanted. Like he had done the other night when he fed from me.

Then I remembered that he hadn’t fed from me until, in the throes of passion, I had given him permission. And I would be lying if I said Sebastian feeding from me had been an unpleasant experience.

He truly was different.

‘I will be at the castle for just under two months,’ Sebastian continued, ‘and I wish for you to wear my Band for the whole of that time. You can stay here in my quarters, including your rest day, and also bathe and eat here. I have seen the slops Viktor expects the slaves to eat and would not give it to