Only Grayson was waiting when Cora and Penelope stepped outside the house with their bags. Penelope sighed in relief to see that no more furious glares were waiting for her or her daughter like were there previously. Whatever Grayson had said to those three who were reluctant to leave had obviously been effective.
The prince could certainly be smooth and persuasive when he needed to be. He had lied so easily to cover for Cora's mistake, and Penelope was grateful for it in this case. But that was also what made her nervous—how would they ever be able to tell when the members of the royal family were being genuine with them? It was just not possible. They were much too intelligent and cunning.
When they had moved here, Penelope prepared herself to enter this vampire world with her eyes wide open. She was skeptical of everything. She didn't take anything at face value.
When she was told that she and her children would be safe and protected, she was wary of it. When she was told that the citizens would never go against a royal decree to leave her children untouched, she was wary of it. And now that they were moving into the palace where Cora would allegedly be safer… she could not help but also be wary of it.
No decision made by the royals was ever selfless, and that included this decision to bring them to the palace. The queen and her two sons would always be getting something out of whatever they offered. And the more they offered, the more they were likely getting in return.
"Are you all set to go?" Grayson asked, his black eyes evaluating them both.
Whereas Cora had been in a hurry to see her brother before, now both women seemed hesitant to leave. They stood just outside the door with their bags held in front of themselves like barriers to the awaiting unknown. He couldn't blame them. Who knew what his mother had in store? Especially if she was requesting Rayth's assistance. But at least the palace would be safer than staying here.
If Grayson knew the citizens of Gray Vale as well as he believed, this house would be in flames before dusk. Regardless of what he had told those who were gathered about Cora's alleged practice session, they would still choose to see the vibrant green life in their midst as a grave threat.
And they were right.
Cora had been ready to take him out last night or any other vampire who stood between her and her brother. It was impressive and even a little bit terrifying. A smile threatened to curve on his lips as he remembered the fierce look in her eyes right alongside the moon's reflection.
"We are ready your highness," Penelope replied, her lips pressed firmly together like someone who facing the gallows.
A servant approached to take the women's bags and secure them in the boot of the palace's coach.
"Ah, allow me to help you, Eddie," Grayson took a bag from Cora's hands and followed the coachman.
Penelope's eyes darted around the tall white trees with their ghostly silhouettes in case there was a lingering wolf somewhere among them, but she didn't see one. There was no way the heartbeat of another creature would have escaped Grayson's attention anyway. Hopefully the lycan was long gone for now. Goddess knows what would happen if he returned.
Once the bags were put away, Grayson offered Penelope his hand. She took it with a stiff smile and stepped up into the luxurious golden coach with its plush red interior. Once she was seated, she realized Cora was out front admiring the horses rather than climbing in after her. That poor child was so deprived of the living that she stood in awe whenever she was near those horses. She could only imagine what it must have been like for her daughter last night to see the wolf.
"Miss Cora," Grayson cleared his throat.
The mysterious female who puzzled so many and had quite honestly turned the vampire world upside down with her existence ran her hand down the horse's side without answering him. She was captivated.
"I miss animals," she said softly, her fingertips lingering on the horse's warmth. It was so beautiful, and it was trapped here with these unliving, undead creatures. Did it even realize where it was? Did it understand?
"I can't imagine how different it is here than what you have known," Grayson said.
"My brother…" she trailed off, admiring the long pale eyelashes of the horse that so patiently allowed her touch. "He is going to be entirely different now, isn't he?"
"He may be a little different," Grayson offered.
He heard a chuckle escape her lips. It surprised him.
"A little different?" she repeated. "That is an understatement if I have every heard one, your highness."
When she turned with a teasing smile, he returned it as naturally as he knew how.
"Who knows? After he has gotten used to things, perhaps he will be just as you recall," he told her. "We are not all the monsters you imagine us to be."
"Aren't you?" She asked.
Her smile fell down, and he could see her scrutinizing him—seeking the truth in his words. There was something unnerving about it, and he found himself looking away, his eyes finding the coach as an excuse for his attention.
"Your carriage awaits, my lady," he offered her his hand.
With her question unanswered, she sighed heavily and walked past him, ignoring the royal hand that was extended to her. It was an offense that Rayth and Ambrosia would have bristled at, but he chuckled to himself and turned to see her climbing into the coach on her own and sitting next to her mother.
That's when he noticed Penelope's gaze on him. There was something uneasy and questioning in her eyes. Zagan must have truly despised his own kind if his mate hated them all this much. She didn't bother to hide it. Hopefully she would do a better job of disguising her feelings when she was staying in the palace… for her own sake.