When seventeen-year-old Olivia Hawthorne’s mother becomes the American ambassador to a small, old kingdom, Olivia isn’t thrilled about moving there and leaving her old life behind. But at least she has her best friend and president’s daughter, Vanessa Bennett, and their bodyguard, Russell Donahue, to navigate the strange new land. The people of V—on an isolated island in the Indian Ocean—are cryptic, brooding, and secretive. They’ve wanted no contact with other countries for centuries...until now.

As Olivia begins to fall for the handsome, irresistible Prince Christian—and he falls for her just as hard—her intuition tells her something is off about him and his people. And the fact that a young, handsome guard named Dante has been ordered to train her in the art of combat from the King himself with a dagger called the Slayer only makes her more suspicious.

When the new embassy is attacked and the President—who was supposed to arrive days ago—is declared missing, Olivia and her family find themselves embroiled in a game of mystery, lies, and subterfuge. It isn’t until Oliva starts seeing ghosts of the past—warning her to get out—that she finds there’s more to this small island than its people claim. Who are the strange people of V? Are they as harmless as they appear...or is their identity bloodier than Olivia and her mother can possibly imagine? 

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Chapter One
Arrival at V Castle

I clutched the railing of our houseboat, trying not to vomit as we sped toward the lone island in the distance.

I always became seasick whenever we went out on the water. I first found out about that annoying little quirk when I was a kid. Dad had taken me and Mom out on a rented boat for the Fourth of July, and I hurled all over his shoes.

Dad. Oh, how I missed him.

I didn’t want to reek of barf when I met a king, so I took deep breaths and tried not to glance at the water. The boat was over-crowded, carrying me, Mom, Vanessa, and our suitcases across the Indian Ocean. Russell Donahue, though he insisted we call him Russ, was our family’s main bodyguard back home and for this mission. I always had a sinking suspicion he had a crush on Mom, and judging by his longing gaze on the back of her head, I felt pretty sure. Not that he’d ever admit it out loud and risk his job and friendship with her.

“How are you doing, sweetie?” Mom asked, glancing over at me.

“I’ve felt better,” I muttered, closing my eyes. “Really regretting eating all those tacos last night.”

“Well, you’d better keep them down,” Vanessa said. “These are brand new shoes Daddy bought me. If you ruin them, you’re paying for new ones!”

My lids snapped open to roll my eyes at Vanessa. She and I had been best friends since we were kids, growing up together at a private school back in Washington, D.C. Her mother was the one and only President Janet Bennett while her father was Dr. Derek Bennett, the First Gentleman and one of the most renowned surgeons in the United States. My mother and hers were close, with Mom working at the White House as a secretary until the president bumped her up to ambassador for this historic peacekeeping mission. It paid to have friends in high places.

Vanessa and I couldn’t have been more different than night and day. Her with her bright pink dresses, and me in my ripped t-shirt and jeans, she was the only one I trusted with all my secrets. Opposites attracted. The president had sent her on this mission with us in the hopes that she might mature out of the boy-crazy, fashion-obsessed seventeen-year-old that she was. I told the president not to hold her breath.

Mom wasn’t too thrilled I had spoken that way to the president of the United States.

“We’re almost there,” Russell said as he steered the boat, pointing at the kingdom up ahead. “Just hold on a little longer, Olivia.”

“Why couldn’t we have taken an airplane or something?” I asked.

Mom shook her head. “The kingdom’s only accessible by boat. It’s rumored they did that to deter visitors.”

“Then why are they so eager to have us here now?”

Mom shrugged. “I don’t know. President Bennett sent me here to find out. Their people sent us a letter, inviting us to their castle in the hopes of an alliance, so maybe they’ve changed their minds.”

“I hope so,” I muttered. “Good thing you brought Russ just in case.”

As our boat reached the harbor, I breathed a sigh of relief. Solid ground, the thing I missed most since leaving Washington. I was the first one off the boat, grabbing my suitcases and backpack of art supplies. Vanessa followed with her bright pink suitcases as I fell to my knees, relishing the feel of grass on my skin. She whistled at the kingdom.

“This place is beautiful,” Vanessa said. “Maybe I won’t mind spending my summer vacation here after all.”

I finally looked up, taking it all in. The spire of the castle was the first thing I noticed. A flock of crows circled it, then disappeared into the clear blue sky. The castle was the tallest building in the kingdom, gleaming black under the sunlight. A pathway of white brick trailed through the city, leading to hundreds of little shops and homes in the village. A string of lanterns hanging from the trees gave everything an otherworldly glow. Behind the castle, I spotted more trees that led to a lush forest. I could smell the sweet flowers and hear birds chirping.

If I believed in Heaven, I was pretty sure I’d found it. The kingdom was like something out of the 1800s, Victorian and elegant, untouched by the passage of time.

“Not bad for a first job,” Mom said, helping Russell grab the rest of the suitcases. “I want this visit to go well. First contact is exciting, but tricky. Promise me you two will be on your best behavior.”

“We promise,” me and Vanessa said at the same time.

Mom scoffed. “I’ve heard that before all your shenanigans, so I hope you mean it this time. Remember, obey all their rules and be respectful…”

As Mom prattled on about etiquette, we spotted several figures walking toward us. They looked like servants with smiles on their faces, accompanied by a tall, dark-haired man in silver armor. He didn’t smile. The guards in similar armor didn’t, either. They wore shades of red and black which mirrored their kingdom’s flag that billowed in the distance.

“King Dominic’s asked me to show you the way to the castle,” the dark-haired man said. “I take it you’re the ambassador we were expecting?”

Mom nodded. “Yes, my name is Linda Hawthorne, and this is my daughter, Olivia. I also have the president’s daughter with me, Vanessa Bennett, and our bodyguard, Russell Donahue.”

“I’m General Ezra Alucard, leader of the militia,” he replied. “Did the president not come with you?”

Mom shook her head. “President Bennett is very busy with other matters. She’ll be here next week with her husband. She sent me in her place to begin the peace talks in the meantime.”

“I see. Too bad about the president. We were looking forward to meeting her today,” General Ezra replied. “We need to check your bags. Can’t be too careful with security.”

“Go ahead,” Mom said. “Girls, open your suitcases.”

Me and Vanessa both obliged—reluctantly. As one of the militia guards went through my backpack, tossing around my art supplies with the gracefulness of a bull in a China shop, I stepped forward. “Hey, be careful with that! Paint and easels don’t come cheap, you know.”

The guard looked up at me, hissing in anger. I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. Russell stepped forward immediately, ready to attack if the guard tried to hurt me, but Mom placed a hand on his arm to hold him back.

“Forgive my daughter’s outburst,” Mom said. “We’re all a little on edge. The boat ride was long and stressful.”

“We understand,” General Ezra said, glaring at his guard. “They clearly don’t have any weapons. Stop touching their things.”

The guard backed off, but his gaze remained on me. I found it creepy. Vanessa’s gaze briefly flitted to mine, and I knew she was thinking the same thing.

“Come,” General Ezra said. “I’ll show you to your rooms. After that, you can meet the king and our family in the dining hall. I’m sure you’re all starving.”

As General Ezra began walking away, his guards and servants in tow, we picked up our suitcases and followed. As we took the brick path to the castle, I finally noticed the people on the streets. They also wore dark colors with long dresses and jackets that seemed old-fashioned and stared at us as we passed.

“These people need a serious makeover,” Vanessa whispered to me. “Looks like their closet is stuck in the medieval ages...”

“You said our family before,” Mom said, glancing at the general. “What did you mean?”

“King Dominic is my brother,” General Ezra said, without emotion.

“Well, it’s an honor to meet someone in the royal family,” Mom said. “Should we have bowed?”

“No. My brother is royalty, not me,” General Ezra said. “I’m a fighter, always have been, always will be. My place is in the militia.”

Mom didn’t try to ask him any more questions after that. The general didn’t seem too interested in answering them, anyway. I hoped the king would be friendlier.

General Ezra opened the chamber doors to the castle, and we walked into the foyer. It seemed much larger on the inside with dozens of hallways like mazes and black-and-white checkered flooring. The walls were a deep red and held paintings of another dark-haired man in a crown who I assumed was King Dominic. The resemblance of him and Ezra was striking, except the king was smiling.

“Inform the king our guests have arrived,” General Ezra said, and the servants nodded before scurrying away. He glanced back at us. “This way.”

We continued to follow the general, taking a right down a long corridor. There were a number of private rooms waiting for us. I prayed I wouldn’t have to share one with Mom or Vanessa.

“Let the servants know if you need anything,” General Ezra said. “Since there are only four of you, you’ll have your own private quarters. Each comes with an adjoining bathroom.”

“Thank God,” I muttered, turning to Vanessa. “You take eight years to do your hair in the morning.”

“Being this beautiful comes with a price, Liv. You’d know that if you weren’t such a tomboy,” Vanessa said, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder. “With the right make-up and hairspray, I could make you look this fabulous, too.”

I scoffed. “Never in a million years, Ness.”

“Girls, stop bickering,” Mom whispered, glancing nervously at the general. “It’s not polite.”

“In half an hour, we’ll be meeting for breakfast in the dining hall,” General Ezra said, ignoring us. His blank expression made it hard to read his emotions. “The king eagerly awaits your presence.”

As the general walked away, his loud boots clunking down the hallway, Vanessa turned to me. “Not very friendly. And what’s with that guard’s weird hissing? Are they cat people or something?”

“The kingdom of V has been isolated from the world for centuries,” Mom said. “You can’t expect them to be completely trusting of us. For now, we’ll have to earn their friendship and their respect. Unpack your things and get to the dining hall. And please, no more bickering, at least, not in front of our hosts.”

Mom chose the room on the far left while Vanessa took the one on the right. As Russell disappeared inside his room, I sighed and entered mine, leaving the door open. It was smaller than my bedroom at home, with a single bed, an armoire, and a door that led into the bathroom. A tiny window sat above my bed, but the dark curtains kept out the sunlight.

As I unpacked my clothes and set up my easel, I realized there wasn’t a television, phone, or computer. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen any kind of technology. I turned on my smartphone but couldn’t get a signal and didn’t see a plug anywhere.

Did they not like the sunlight? And how did they live without technology? I was right before. This kingdom was trapped in the 1800s. I groaned, realizing it was going to be a long vacation.

I checked my watch. I still had a few minutes to spare, and seeing the beauty of the kingdom had given me a sudden burst of inspiration, so I decided to start a new painting. Before I knew it, I was completely sucked into it and had lost all concept of time. When I heard footsteps entering my room behind me, I sighed.

“I’m coming, Mom,” I muttered, putting the paintbrush down. “No need to fetch me like a child—”

As I spun around, I realized it wasn’t Mom at all. A boy stood in front of me who couldn’t have been any older than I was. He had dark hair like General Ezra with brown eyes and flecks of gold in them. He wore black pants with a leather jacket, and I noticed the ripple of muscles in his arms. He glanced at me and then back at the painting, his expression unreadable.

“Sorry,” I muttered, trying to stay friendly for Mom’s sake. “Thought you were someone else.”

He glanced down at the paint on my hands. “Are you an artist?”

I shrugged. “I like to paint. Not sure if I’m good enough to be called an artist yet.”

He stepped closer to the painting, admiring it. Then he smiled. “You’re very good. You should have more confidence in yourself. We don’t have any artists here. Their skills aren’t needed.”

“Uh, thanks, I guess. Too bad about your lack of artists,” I said. “Who are you?”

“Christian,” he replied, stepping back to look at me. “And you?”

“Olivia. Olivia Hawthorne,” I replied. “I’m Linda Hawthorne’s daughter. You know, the American ambassador?”

He nodded. “I know. I watched you get off the boat. I also saw your altercation with one of the guards.”

“It wasn’t really an altercation. I just don’t like people touching my stuff, that’s all,” I said. “Sorry if I—”

“Don’t apologize. The guards here are trained well, but sometimes, they can get out of line. If it happens again, tell me and I’ll handle it,” Christian said, much to my surprise. “Anyway, I should apologize for barging into your room uninvited. But when I walked by and saw you painting...well, I couldn’t resist. As I said, we have no artists around here. You should be proud of your talent.”

I didn’t know what to say. I usually wasn’t the one to get speechless and giddy around boys. That was more Vanessa’s thing, but Christian was handsome, and no one had taken an interest in me or my art in a long time.

“You should get to the dining hall,” Christian said, turning around. He looked back at me and smiled. “But it was nice to meet you, and your art. See you later, Olivia.”

As he left, I quickly washed the paint off my hands and threw on a dress I had brought. Mom’s idea, not mine. It was simple and black. Something that would fit in well. After I looked presentable, I stepped outside my room. Mom, Vanessa, and Russell were already waiting for me. They had changed into nicer clothes for our meeting with the king. As always, Vanessa looked like a million bucks in her pink chiffon gown.

“Nice dress. But hey, I heard voices coming from your room. Thin walls,” Vanessa said. “You talking to your paintings again?”

“Come on, I only did that once,” I said, my cheeks reddening in embarrassment. “I had a...guest.”

“Oh, really?” Vanessa asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

“Not like that,” I said, rolling my eyes. “His name was Christian. He saw me painting and wanted to introduce himself.”

“Good. You two should try to make friends,” Mom said. “If all goes well, the president’s hoping to open a permanent embassy. That would mean we’d get to live here.”

“What?” I asked. “You said this was only a summer trip!”

“I know what I said,” Mom spat, “and keep your voice down, Olivia. This is my dream job and a wonderful opportunity to expand trade for the United States. If there’s a chance to stay here, I’m taking it.”

“But what about my friends back home? Or our house? We can’t sell it—it has too many memories of Dad,” I said. “We can’t just move to another place, especially in my last year of high school—”

“That’s enough,” Mom interrupted. “We’ll talk about this later.”

As she stormed off down the hallway, Russell trailing behind, I turned to Vanessa. “Can you believe that? Living here, permanently?”

“I know. It sucks. Long-distance friendships just don’t turn out, either,” Vanessa said. “But hey, you’ll be eighteen soon. Maybe you could come back to Washington, and we could get an apartment together?”

I didn’t know which was worse, living with high-maintenance Vanessa or getting stranded in a foreign country. I said nothing, chasing after Mom down the hallway. Vanessa trailed behind as we followed her into the large dining hall.

As we entered, I noticed the rows of tables with red cloths. Because of the lack of windows and electricity, they had a candelabra burning to light the room. Servants stood nearby with platters of food and drinks, waiting on the King’s orders to serve them. He stood next to them in his golden cape and crown. A woman stood next to him with a similar-looking crown, and I assumed she was his wife. She had blond hair, green eyes, and wore a red gown that flowed to the floor.

“Ah, the American ambassador,” King Dominic said, shaking Mom’s hand with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Linda. My name is King Dominic Alucard, and this is my wife, Vivienne.”

“A pleasure,” Vivienne said, bowing.

“This is my personal bodyguard, Dante Draven,” the King added, gesturing at the man standing next to him that I hadn’t noticed. He looked to be in his early twenties with blond hair, hazel eyes, and a sculpted body. He carried a sword on his belt and dressed similarly to the guards.

Dante nodded at us but didn’t speak, his gaze lingering on me. Vanessa noticed and smiled, and I knew I’d get taunted for that later. Dante continued to stare at me as Mom introduced Russell.

“Our son should be here with us, too,” King Dominic said, frowning, “but he likes to be fashionably late, no matter how much I insist otherwise. Teenagers can be so stubborn sometimes…”

“Oh, I understand completely,” Mom said, glancing in my direction. “Introduce yourselves, girls.”

I faked a smile for Mom’s sake. “I’m Olivia Hawthorne, and this is my best friend, Vanessa Bennett.”

“The president’s daughter,” King Dominic said, his eyes twinkling at her. “General Ezra told me your mother won’t be joining us until next week. Disappointing, but we look forward to her arrival. Anyway, I’m sure you’re starving—”

A loud tremor shook underneath our feet. I glanced at Mom, fearfully. “What was that? An earthquake?”

“We don’t have earthquakes here,” King Dominic said. “I don’t know what that was, but I’m sure it was nothing serious—”

General Ezra rushed into the room, several guards following him. “There’s been an explosion.”

“Was anyone injured?” King Dominic asked.

General Ezra shook his head. “No, but you should see what’s happened for yourself.”

 

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