Mouse arrived on the scene as the other princesses gathered into a knot. He shoved his way through, pushing them back. “Some room! Room to breathe, please.”

The princesses drew back, revealing a limp form on the floor. Red-orange hair splayed over pale shoulders. Two pitiful white-tipped ears drooped, twitching slightly at the sound of Mouse’s feet. A fluffy orange-to-white tail hung limp from the attendant’s rear.

Mouse frowned, trying to recall the name of Clarita’s attendant. “M… Mari?”

Ochre eyes flickered half open and blinked at him.

He drew her into his arms, to a half-sit. “Mari, what happened?”

She tipped her head, leaning back against his chest. Red ran down her neck from two puncture wounds.

Dammit, another? “Who did this to you?” Mouse asked.

“Milady—” Achlys murmured, gripping Brittany’s shirt.

Brittany pushed past her attendant and burst to the front. “What? Another?”

Mari raised a weak hand. A trembling finger pointed at Brittany.

Mouse stared. How?

“What? It wasn’t me. Hey! Are you sure you aren’t mistaken?” Brittany asked, sidestepping.

Her attendant chased after her, holding her down. Frustrated, she hissed, “Don’t evade it!”

Mari’s finger followed Brittany. All at once, she trembled and went limp.

Afraid, Mouse lifted his fingers to her neck, but her pulse beat against his fingers, still healthy. Alive. Thank the goddess.

Clarita burst through the princesses. At the sight of the collapsed Mari, she shrieked, then rounded on Brittany. “This has gone too far! Much too far. Harass me all you want, but leave my attendants out of it!”

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“I didn’t—I didn’t do anything!” Brittany defended herself.

Clarita lifted her lip in a scowl, half a growl rumbling in her throat. She charged over to Mouse, snatched Mari out of his arms, and hustled off toward the castle.

Brittany turned to Mouse. “You were there! You saw. I was with you the whole time!”

“I was with Spar for a moment…” Mouse muttered, half to himself.

“That’s not long enough to drink someone’s blood! Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I do that, anyways?” Brittany demanded.

The other princesses pulled away from her. She looked left and right. “I—”

“At moments like this, it’s best to remain quiet,” Achlys murmured, pulling Brittany gently away from the other princesses.

Brittany reached out to Mouse. “You believe me, right?”

Mouse hesitated. She was biting people. Why stop now?

But then… why not admit it? She didn’t seem to care earlier.

“Brittany… for everyone’s peace of mind, it’s best if you surrender yourself to the guards for now,” Eleda advised. “If people continue to get bitten, then we’ll know it’s not you.”

Brittany sagged. She stared after Clarita, a defeated expression on her face. “I don’t have a choice, do I.”

“Let me escort you. Spar, if you don’t mind? Just for safety’s sake, there should be two of us,” Eleda said.

Spar nodded and stepped forward to flank Brittany.

No. Something is wrong here. It’s the same as when everyone assumes I’m crazy. There’s something else going on, I just don’t have my finger on it yet. Mouse stood. “Brittany, I—”

She raised a hand. “It’s fine, Mouse. I understand.” Head low, Brittany walked slowly back to the castle, Eleda on one side and Spar on her other.

“Thank goodness. I’m glad to see the back of that filthy creature,” Toni scoffed haughtily.

“Innocent until proven guilty,” Mouse reminded her gently.

Toni laughed and looked down at him. “Of course a border race like you would side with a filthy dark race like the undead. You’re barely any better, drow. Watch yourself. I know your race is riddled with blight, and we all know about your latest exploits. If you blight me, there’ll be hell to pay.”

Mouse stared. His jaw dropped. Is she serious?

Toni narrowed her eyes at him. “What? Am I wrong? You are blighted. And that vampire has been biting people. Everyone knows it. She isn’t even trying to hide it.”

Mouse opened his mouth, then shut it. He shook his head slightly and turned away. There’s no point. I’ll just have to figure it out on my own.

“Well, whatever.” Toni leaped into the air. Her wings snapped out. A massive downdraft sent Mouse’s hair whirling and pulled at his hat. He just barely managed to catch it before it flew off his head. When he looked up again, Toni had become a white dot among the clouds, ascending into heaven.

The sea breeze gusted. Salty air tickled Mouse’s nose and sent his silver hair into a flurry. He turned back to the sea, just once.

Dark surf crashed into the shore. Sea foam bubbled up and slunk down the slope. No Xenozar. No footprints.

He closed his eyes and turned away. Just a vision. Nothing more.