Page 26 of Haunted Nightmares
A young male, less than one hundred years old is standing slightly to the right of me with a pencil and pad in hand, smiling awkwardly while he asks for my order and from what I can tell, he’s about to piss his drawers.
So, I tear my gaze from the blonde and her companion long enough to say, “Coffee, black.”
He blinks big doe eyes at me before scribbling on the paper trembling in his hand. “Any, anything else?”
“I’ll also be placing a bulk order to go. Tell Ester I’d like my usual.” Not that I want to bring a fuckton of AB+ to Declan’s butLorna said I need to stay stocked in order toimprove my mood,and telling this lad I’m only here to stalk a couple of strangers won’t go over well. “And throw in the same size request of A-.”Now Declan won’t be able to abandon me for a blood run.
“Yes, your majesty,” the boy says as he bows and starts to back away but stops abruptly when I snort.
“Do I look like a king to you?”
He nods. And probably considers shitting a brick.
“Why?”
“Pardon?” He blinks again, the color draining from his face while his pulse skyrockets, and I have to put him at ease as soon as possible or else this will go very badly for everyone here.
I relax in my seat a bit, splaying my legs and slouching some before forcing a touch of a smile on my face. “I’m curious, that’s all. I’ve been absent these past several months, did nothing to campaign for my new position and after the way things ended for the previousruler, I’m a little surprised by how quickly you threw that title out.”
The male’s jaw drops then quickly lifts as if he’s trying to form the words but I raise my hand to stop him.
“It’s fine.” I pause, drowning out his racing thoughts in search of his name. “Thaddeus.I’m simply asking if I looked the part, no need to get your knickers in a twist.”
“Right.” He nods with a sigh then takes a deep breath. “My family, we’ve kept up to date with the royal family for as long as I can remember. My grandmother used to wait outside the castle for hours just to try to get a peek at the queen or one of the…” Thaddeus’s eyes dart around the room nervously but I hear him loud and clear.
“Princesses?” My brow arches as I fold my arms against my chest. “I haven’t had anyone mention my sisters in ages.”
“Like I said, my family, we, well you know. We, uh?—“
“You’re fine, lad. No reason to fret.”
“But the law…”
“Bah.” Another wave of my hand. “I am the law now and if I decide mentioning anyone of Kadoc’s bloodline—him included—is no longer taboo, it isn’t, right?”
Thaddeus nods slowly. “Right…”
“Right.” I look him over head to toe, his sandy brown hair, his tan complexion, the baby face I expect he’ll have for the rest of time, then tilt my head to the side when I ask, “Are you in favor of the old laws?”
Instead of the fear or panic I was expecting, the lad takes a step closer to my table, leans toward me and with balls the size of boulders whispers, “No, not at all. Atticus banished my grandmother from the castle grounds shortly before everyone migrated here because he thought she was trying to get into his harem. He laughed at her, said she’d never make the cut, then he got mad when she explained what she was really doing there.”
“Because your grandmother supported Spectra and I, and that’s who she was really hoping to see.” I don’t need his thoughts to confirm that, the outcome did all on its own.
“The princess showed her kindness one time, just once, and our family has been devoted to the Uprising ever since.” Thaddeus straightens up and takes a deep breath. “The majesty stuff? I was more or less fangirling before. My Nanna is gonna lose her mind when I tell her I served you.”
For the first time in longer than I can remember, I bark out a laugh. “Yeah? Nanna is a Purist at heart then?”
“We all are. Grandad wouldn’t let any of us officially join because of… theformer high elder, but we’ve always supported from afar.”
Movement off to my left draws my attention briefly but even as the blonde and her douchey escort get up from their table and begin to leave, I stay focused on the male for a few more seconds. “You be sure to give Nanna my warmest regards. Andif any of you feel the need to join…” I get to my feet once they’re out of sight and straighten my jacket. “Do it. I’m getting down to business soon and since I’ve made a bit of a mess of things, extra help is welcome.”
Extending my hand, I try my first real attempt at getting to know my people but freeze the second the boy takes it.
“Be careful, my lord,” Thaddeus whispers. “You have many friends out here now that you killed the late king, but you have just as many enemies and they are taking drastic measures to see you meet that same fate.”
I stare at him for a few beats, hand in hand, black eyes locked with deep brown while I sort through his thoughts but the only thing coming through clearly enough to make sense of ishollow.
Hollow.
