We stayed two more days in Sighişoara.

The Mayor and his council kept Vlad busy the whole time, while the Mayor's wife and some other important women of the town accompanied me as I visited the school, the orphanage, and received a few people who asked for an audience.

I enjoyed the evenings the most. Then, while waiting for Vlad to finally join me, I could play with the five children Sorina took as her own. They were adorable... so adorable that soon the sight of them, the sound of their excited voices, the touch of their tiny, curious hands exploring my richly embroidered gowns or my ginger curls, made me feel melancholic. I wished I had my Aurora here with me, and I realised that I longed for another child... You can't have it all. My subconscious kept whispering her opinion, making me feel ungrateful for what I already had.

In the end I was happy when we left the town to continue on our journey to Hunedoara and I had Vlad to myself again, to distract me from my pensiveness. I didn't even mind the endless, dusty roads and the discomfort of the tents; Vlad's proximity was all the comfort I really needed.

We reached Hunedoara, the seat of the great and magnificent Vampire Council in a few days. The impressive building once belonged to Ioan's family, and, as Vlad had told me, was left to Rareş by Florin, Ioan's older brother, just before he died.

As I looked at it from the summit of a low, treeless hill, the huge castle with its tens of turrets and towers, only accessible by a long, wooden bridge suspended over a deep gorge, above a glistening ribbon of a river running in its depths, looked just like...

"A Romanian version of Hogwarts," Lucas chuckled somewhere close behind me, making me burst out in a fit of giggles.

"What was that?" Vlad asked as his horse approached mine, giving me and Lucas a puzzled look.

"I... " I tried to think of a way to explain while catching my breath, then, coming up with nothing better, I finally settled for, "I'll show you when we get home. On my side, I mean."

Vlad only nodded to that. He preceded us on the narrow path, leading our group down the hill, towards the precarious bridge, all seriousness. He's more worried about this meeting than he lets on. I realised, feeling guilty for my unsuitably good mood. But it has been too long since we shared a proper laugh...

"I hate Rareş and his Council." I complained to Lucas sotto voce as we followed Vlad across the bridge, after I released my faithful pack, making the wolves stay hidden in the forest.

Apparently, our approach had been noticed and announced; the castle's courtyard was teeming with people waiting for us. Two of Rareş' vampires stood in front of Vlad the moment he dismounted Midnight, a maid approached me even as my feet touched the cobblestones, several valets appeared to lead our horses to the stables.

We were shown into our chambers situated in one of the wings of the enormous castle, our luggage was brought in moments later, and then we were left to bathe, change and rest before dinner.

"I was hoping we would be given a room in one of the towers, they look more... private," I told Vlad as we left our chamber a couple of hours later to attend Rareş' banquet, trying not to scowl at the infinity of people we met in the corridors. Compared to Bran, this castle felt overcrowded.

"Those towers are prisons, Samara." Vlad said, caressing my hand resting on his arm thoughtfully.

"What, all of them?" I looked at him, unbelieving.

He only nodded in response, leaving me speechless.

We reached the Great Hall and entered. Just like that. No one thought of announcing our presence to those who were already gathered inside. We walked through the open door and only then were shown our seats at the table placed opposite of the one where Rareş would sit, by a valet who walked around the room with a large tray full of golden cups.

I had never seen so many vampires gathered in one room. Even the valets and servants distributing the blood-filled cups among the guests were vampires, their faces as pale and flawless as the marble of which the entire room seemed to be made.

There were marble tiles on the floor, marble statues lined along the walls, the table we sat at was made of marble and so was the balustrade of a balcony I could see running under the tall windows set in the wall across the hall... and the face, staring at me, half-hidden in the shadows as her owner's back was turned to the sun-lit window, leaving my own exposed to her scrutiny. That face could easily be made of marble too, it was so... perfect and expressionless...

I took a sharp intake of breath the moment I recognized the blonde locks-- Jusztyna.

Vlad must have noticed her before me. The moment he realised I saw her, he cupped my face in his hands, made me turn towards him and kissed me, making a few vampires sitting next to us gasp with disapproval.

"You mustn't worry about anything." He whispered in my ear.

I nodded, letting him hold my hand under the table. When I braved another look towards Jusztyna, I found her deep in conversation with... her brother, whom I had not noticed before. Of course Andrei is here too... I shivered and Vlad squeezed my hand tighter.

We watched silently as all the guests finally strolled to their places and when only one free seat was left, the one on Jusztyna's right, Rareş was announced.

More cups were brought in, making me understand that this was our dinner, no food would be served here... Vlad looked at me, his eyes brimming with what looked like, 'I knew I should have left you at home!', so I picked up my cup and sipped at whatever blood it contained before he could say it aloud.

After some interminable minutes Rareş started to call out names. Apparently it wasn't just Vlad who was here to discuss something with the Vampire Council. Several different people were called and their cases introduced and discussed, then approved or refused by the Council, before Rareş turned to us.

"Your Majesty? Would you please tell us to what do we owe the honour of your presence?" Rareş asked.

Like those before him, Vlad stood up and bowed to the Council.

"I'm here to inform you about the coronation of my son." He said, loud and clear.

I glanced at Jusztyna. She was staring at Vlad, trying to catch his eye, I was sure about it, but the moment she noticed me looking at her, she turned to her brother. I could feel Andrei's piercing gaze on me but I avoided looking at him, letting my eyes rest on Rareş instead, even as he asked Vlad, "Why your son? Any of us should have the right to the throne in this realm. The laws concerning the succession to the crown are too ancient, they should no longer apply..."

"But they are still valid. My son is my rightful heir and I'm still your ruler, whether you like it or not." Vlad said, bowing slightly to each member of the Council. "As I said before, I'm not asking your permission. I'm simply announcing to you my intention."

He sat back down, leaving Rareş, a mirthless smile plastered to his lips, to call another case. Rareş didn't seem shocked or surprised... just displeased. He knows about the weddings and was expecting Vlad to say exactly this... I thought as Vlad took my hand in his again.

He shook his head infinitesimally when I looked at him; we would talk later.

It took an hour at least before all the cases were introduced, the golden cups refilled, and music started to play.

"Yes, we have to, at least one dance." Vlad replied to my groan, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You like to dance..."

"I'm only dancing with you!" I whisper-shouted as he led me among the other couples.

It was too easy to forget about the rest of the world when I danced with him so his whispered, "Sorry... " startled me back to reality as the music changed.

He was looking over my shoulder at someone approaching us, and I knew that it was too late to bolt... You'll have to dance with whoever that is... I turned around, coming face to face with Rareş.

I knew that I couldn't refuse, not even Vlad could save me right now.

"I'll be close, Samara." Vlad whispered as he kissed my hand before he left me with Rareş, and walked towards the nearest wall.

I could feel his eyes on me for a while, making me relax enough to be able to reply to Rareş' questions politely, but when I caught a glimpse of him as we turned, I noticed Andrei approaching him from the crowd.

Then I could not concentrate on Rareş' chatter any longer, my eyes and thoughts kept skipping to Andrei and Vlad. As we continued to dance I saw Andrei's grin widen even as Vlad's hands balled into fists at his sides...

I curtsied to Rareş even before the song was completely finished and pushed my way through the dancers towards the two men, shoving those who did not move out of my path fast enough to the sides unceremoniously.

I didn't even look into Andrei's face as I reached them. I simply grabbed Vlad's hand in mine and dragged him out of the room, forcing myself to ignore Andrei's laughter; the knife, his knife which I kept hidden in my bodice reminding me of what I went through in Poenari tempting me, whispering that neither I nor Vlad would find peace until I dealt with Andrei...

This is not the right moment, my subconscious whispered and I kept repeating those words in my mind like a mantra as I led Vlad out of the Great Hall.

I did not stop until we reached our chamber, but the moment Vlad closed the door behind us I leaned against the cool stone wall and let myself slip to the floor.

I stared at Vlad speechless as he said, "Thank you, Samara. I... I would have challenged him to a duel had you not dragged me away... He keeps provoking me, talking about you..."

His words got through the mist enveloping my mind, forcing me to collect my scattered wits. That awful, disgusting...

"I don't want you to listen to him, please don't let him get to you," I said, cupping Vlad's face in my hands as he kneeled in front of me, making him look in my eyes. "It's over. It doesn't matter any longer..." I'll deal with him myself...

"I wish I could..."

"You mustn't fight him. That's what he wants, so they can arrest you. Promise you'll ignore him." I begged as Vlad stood up and pulled me to my feet.

"I... I'll try. Let's go to bed, it's late. We are leaving early tomorrow morning, there's nothing more we can do here."

"What about the coronation?" I asked, letting him lead me to the bed, then stand behind me to untie the laces on the back of my gown.

"We will do it, as soon as everything is ready. I don't care about what Rareş thinks." He said, bringing his lips to my bare shoulder the moment the dress pooled at my feet, making my breath hitch.

There were so many important things I meant to ask him, about Andrei, and Rareş, and Jusztyna, but, somehow, everything started to fade away as I felt the gentle touch of his lips and hands... The world can surely go on without me worrying about it for a while, I mused, letting him lay me on the bed.