Vampire Girl (Vampire Girl #1)(31)

There are small creatures we could hunt, but I need something larger. Something that will put up a fight. So we go deeper into the woods, running so fast, so far, that I can no longer see Stonehill. It is then that I smell what I'm after. A black bear.

Baron backs away, uncertain, but he knows I'll watch his back, so he follows. I tear through the trees until I see the bear emerging from a cave. It shouldn't be so close to the village. It's a risk to my people. These are my justifications as I throw myself at the beast, teeth extended, power surging, and end its life.

After my blood lust is quenched—as quenched as it can be on animal blood and not human—I sit on a rock in the sun as Baron hunts smaller prey. He's content with his rabbit for breakfast, and then we return to Stonehill.

***

Ari is already sitting at the dining table when we arrive. Baron rushes to lie at her feet, and she pets his head with affection. I sit across from her.

She's dressed for a day of training in pants and a form-fitting tunic. Her hair is pulled back in braids.

Once I'm sitting, Olga, the cook, brings in plates for us both. She's been in my service for many years and knows the routine of this house instinctually. Though she looks to be in her early 30s, she is actually an immortal Fae. Her pointed ears attest to that, which at the moment are prominently displayed over the white hair that is pulled back in a bun.

"Thank you, Olga," Ari says. "This looks delicious."

Olga smiles. "You're welcome. I added extra apple dumpling since you seemed so taken with it."

When Ari smiles her whole face lights up. "Wonderful. I can't wait to learn how to prepare it myself."

Olga pats her hand. "Not that you should ever need to, Your Highness."

When Olga leaves, I stare at the girl across from me. "What was that about?"

She shrugs, spooning the porridge and apple dumpling into her mouth and taking her time to chew before answering. "I got bored waiting for you, so I introduced myself to the kitchen staff and offered to help. Actually, I had to insist since they wouldn't let me. I'm afraid I created quite a scandal, but I do plan on repeating the experience." She raises a spoon with more apple dumpling. "I must learn how to make this. It's amazing."

I shake my head as I take my own spoonful. It's odd, seeing someone ranked so high take such a personal interest in the servants. She definitely does not behave the way royalty here are used to. "I've a feeling you'll be creating quite a few scandals while you're here."

She grins. "Here's hoping."

***

I take her to the outside training arena after breakfast and hand her a wooden sword. "We start with this."

She frowns at it. "Seriously? I'm not a child. This looks like a toy."

There are others out here training. Some are my soldiers staying in battle shape. Others are children just learning their sword. I whistle to one of the soldiers. "Mario, come."

Mario jogs over. He's about my height, with slightly less bulk, but he's strong and trained well. I trained him myself, so I should know. I toss him a wooden sword and take up one myself. "The Princess here thinks these are toys. Care to help me demonstrate what they can do?"

Mario grins. "Yes, sir."

I don't hold back. Much. If I put my full power into the fight I'd break both swords and probably Mario as well. He throws himself into the fight, though. Ari watches wide-eyed as we circle one another in the yard, parrying blows and attempting to strike each other. A few others stop to watch, so we put on a show. In the end, I disarm Mario and pin him to the ground with my sword. I look over at Ari. "If I was trying to hurt him, I could kill him with this thing you call a toy. It just wouldn't kill as easily or as fast as one made of metal, which is the point. Until you learn control and technique, I can't risk you using a sharpened steel sword. But once you're ready, we'll have one made for you."

Her eyes light up at that. "Okay, I get it. Teach me."

I nod to Mario. "Pick one of your best men. I'm putting you and him on guard duty for the moment, until the threat to the Princess's life passes."

Mario nods sharply, sparing a glance for Arianna, who is studying the practice swords. "Yes, sir. We won't let any harm come to the Princess."

A low growl forms in my throat. "See that you don't."

He is dismissed, and I begin training Ari.

We move through basic stance positions, strikes and defenses. I show her the proper way to hold a sword. She learns fast.

"Widen your stance," I say.

She does.

"Spin your torso when you strike. No. Like this." I stand behind her and lay my hands on her hips. I twist them back, then forward.

She smiles, her cheeks red. "I think I got it. How do you—"

"Your Highness," someone yells. A kid, no older than ten and four years. He can barely speak when he approaches me, so out of breath is he. "I... I have a message... I—"

"Calm yourself, boy. The words won't come if sharing space with so much air."

He nods, takes a few deep, slow breaths, and speaks again. "Sir, you're needed at the southern lumber mill. One of Prince Ace's contraptions malfunctioned. A man was injured. The rest are refusing to work."

"Bloody hell. Can't Henrick handle this?"