The path ahead grew rough and treacherous, littered with fallen trees that forced them to climb, and weave their way through.
Alexander stopped, then turned to Blade.
“I’ll see you inside,” he said.
Before Blade could respond, Alexander vanished.
One moment he stood on the mountainside, the next he appeared in the grand foyer of Blanc Castle at the base of the mountain.
Home.
Tall stone columns rose toward the vaulted ceiling, and soft golden light spilled from chandeliers overhead, glinting across marble floors.
Alexander began climbing the wide staircase that curved toward the second floor.
As he walked, a smile slowly pulled at his lips, drawn out by the hum of voices and the steady thump of music drifting through the halls. It sounded as though the celebration hadn’t ended, his vampires were still reveling in his return. Their laughter and chatter spilling into the hallway, filling the space with warmth.
Blade suddenly appeared beside him. His dark hair was windblown, and his eyes were bright with excitement.
“Did you go to the spires?” Alexander asked, glancing sideways at him.
Blade had always loved climbing up there to watch the snow fall over the mountains. Every time he came back, he looked the same way—bright-eyed and happy, like a child.
Alexander chuckled softly and threw an arm around his shoulders.
Leaning down, he brushed his nose playfully against Blade’s cold cheek the same way he used to when Blade was small.
“Oh stop,” Blade protested immediately, laughing as he shoved him away. “I’m not a little kid anymore.”
“You’ll always be a little kid to me,” Alexander said with a chuckle, pulling him into another quick hug.
Blade squirmed out of his arms.
His laughter echoed down the long hallway as he darted away. Alexander stood there watching him go, warmth spreading through his chest, grateful to be alive.
“Come back here,” Alexander called after him playfully.
Blade stopped halfway down the hallway and turned, straightening dramatically before giving him an exaggerated bow.
“Goodnight, Your Majesty,” he said with mock formality. “I’ll send someone to take care of you.”
Then he turned and disappeared around the corner.
Alexander shook his head with a laugh before continuing down the hall toward his chambers.
A while later, after a long soak in the bath, the tightness in Alexander’s muscles finally began to loosen.
Now he sat in a large recliner near the window, wrapped in a thick, fluffy robe, finally feeling like himself since waking up.
Across the room, a young vampire named Slove—someone Blade had sent to assist him—moved around quietly, adjusting objects Alexander had never seen before.
He was currently setting up a strange flat box he had called atelevision.According to him, it would help him “acclimate.”
Slove pressed something, and the dark screen suddenly flared to life with a bright light.
Alexander leaned forward immediately.
Images began moving across the surface—people walking, speaking, riding in fascinating metal contraptions that roared across wide roads.