Delicately, Brittany alighted upon Clarita’s windowsill. She rapped her knuckles against the glass and breathed, “Clarita.”

The windows flew inward. Clarita stood in the window in her nightgown, out of breath. Her wolf ears twitched. She glared at Brittany. “I told you to stop.”

“I won’t stop. Not until you give in.” Brittany reached out and stroked the soft fur of Clarita’s cheek. She tucked a loose lock of dark hair behind Clarita’s jaw.

Clarita flinched away, but belatedly. “You can’t keep biting women! They’ll figure it out, they aren’t all idiots!”

“And then they’ll kick me out, oh, the tragedy! They might even throw me in the dungeon or behead me. If only there was a way to stop me.”

Clarita scowled at Brittany. “I can’t, you know I can’t. You, of all people…”

“I don’t remember any of that. Clarita, you’re so cold. Can’t you let me into your heart again?” Brittany stroked Clarita’s hair delicately with the back of her hand. Her eyes sparkled with dew.

Slapping her hand away, Clarita stepped back. “Brittany, you aren’t her. Don’t do this to me. You know it hurts me.”

“It doesn’t have to hurt,” Brittany purred suggestively.

Clarita shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t, Brittany. It’s wrong.”

“Ah, I can feel the thirst welling up…” Brittany said, wilting dramatically on the windowsill.

Fierce motion. Clarita grabbed her wrist. “Stop it!”

“Give me a chance, Clarita. You’ve never given me a chance.”

“I can’t.”

Cel grabbed Mouse’s arm. He waved her quiet. She sucked in a breath once, twice, then sneezed.

Brittany and Clarita whirled toward them. Cel stiffened.

Nothing I can do now. Mouse stood and brushed off his dress. “Good evening, Princess, Princess.”

“What do we have here? A couple of Peeping Toms?” Brittany mocked.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

A blush burned on Clarita’s cheeks. She shoved Brittany. “Go away!”

Shocked, Brittany toppled backward. She reached out, arms flailing desperately. Her heels slipped off the windowsill, and she fell.

“No!” Clarita jumped after her. Mid-leap, she transformed. Her hair curled wildly. Her muscles swelled. Claws burst from her fingers and toes. She snatched Brittany out of the air and landed on her feet. Her knees bent slightly. Dust rose up around her.

Brittany stared up at Clarita, then smiled. She took a lock of Clarita’s hair between her fingers and pressed it to her lips. “If only I could hold you in my arms so easily.”

Clarita let go. Brittany tumbled to the ground.

Standing over her, chest heaving, her eyes still wide with panic, Clarita shook her head. “Never do that again.”

“Touch your hair? I can’t agree to that,” Brittany wheedled. She rolled over into a suave pose, one leg up, head propped on her arm, and kissed her fingers. “But if I must, I’ll never wash this hand again.”

“Gross,” Mouse muttered.

Clarita stood over Brittany one second longer, then whirled on her heel and stomped off.

Brittany climbed to her feet and dusted herself off. She stared after Clarita and sighed longingly. “I’d kill the two of you for interrupting my time with her, but I did get princess-carried, so I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Thanks,” Mouse said sarcastically.

She turned and took in Mouse, staring at him out of the corner of her eye. “Will you turn us in to the Mage-Emperor?”

He frowned. “Why?”

Brittany gestured. “I’m in love with Clarita, despite being a woman. It’s an executable crime in most countries. Besides, well… being uninterested in the Mage Emperor…”

“Oh,” Mouse said, realizing. He hesitated. Two women… but then, what’s the harm? It’s not as if they’re hurting anyone. And I’m supposed to be competing for the Mage-Emperor, so… Mouse shrugged. “Uh… less competition?”

She grinned. “I knew it.”

“Knew what?” Mouse asked.

Brittany shook her head and put a finger to her lips.

Mouse shook his head. “Confess to her already. Stop biting other women.”

“She doesn’t want me. What’s a pining vampire to do?”

“Give up? Calm down, take a nap…? Anything but bite other women,” Mouse suggested.

Brittany sighed. “I would give up, but I haven’t even been given a chance. It’s too sad to surrender before you’ve even fired the first volley.”

You’ve fired plenty of volleys, as far as I’m aware. “What if I talked to Clarita for you? Got her to sit down and talk with you in the day, maybe over a spot of tea? Would you stop biting women?”

Brittany pressed her lips together. She started to shake her head.

“At least until you and she talk to each other. At least until then,” Mouse added.

“Well, if I only have to wait that long… then fine. But you’d better keep your word. I want tea with Clarita within the week,” Brittany demanded.

Give an inch… “Agreed. Shall I bring her and meet you by the mausoleum?”

“Tea in the graveyard? That’s too obvious. How about the apple orchard?”

“Too obvious? You want to fool her into meeting you?” Mouse grumbled.

“No, no, you have to. She won’t come, if she knows it’s me.”

Mouse held his hand up. “Have faith in me. Clarita will be there. I’ll let you know when.”

Brittany caught his arm. Her eyes flashed, a serious light in them. “Apple orchard. Apple orchard, understand? It’s important.”

Mouse waved, internally sighing. If it really matters to her… I should grab some apples for Spar while I’m there.