Morning After

My head feels like I've been kicked and I have the sudden urge to retch. I roll over falling face-first into the plush carpet.

"Have fun?" a husky voice asks.

I push myself up locking eyes with Thorn before I can puke all over him, he shoves a trash bin in front of me. I heave into the bin several times, "I'm never drinking again."

"I'll take that as a no," the voice I realize doesn't belong to Thorn.

"You should have seen them," Thorn rises from his crouching position taking in his surroundings at the same time I realize this is not my room, "relax you slept in Violet's room."

I nod regretting it instantaneously my head spinning with the notion. A male with violet eyes leans against the vanity table.

"Get out," Violet's sneers.

"Nope," Thorn says, "up you go, come on Uncle Fie is here."

So, that's his name, it only takes Violet a second to jump up. She runs a hand through her hair and straightens her clothes.

"Uncle Fie," she pulls me motioning to incline my head.

Are all their relatives this attractive? The male chuckles as he walks towards us. He taps our heads. I look up and regret it, it's like he can look into my soul.

"That's because I can," Uncle Fie says.

"What?"

"You don't have your shields up," he says, "not only can I look into your soul I can read your thoughts with little effort."

"Shields?" I look at Violet for guidance but her eyes are fixed on something only she can see.

"I'm Fie your cousin's mate," the male extends his hand.

I shake his hand and ask, "what cousin?"

He looks at Thorn, "your works cut out for you," then he looks at me, "your real family, Camilla is your cousin on your father's side. Her mother and your father are siblings."

Figuring Violet won't be of any help I look at Thorn, "Is he serious?"

"Can someone else train her?" Thorn ask.

His Uncle laughs, "No," then turn serious again, "I'm quite serious, now get yourself cleaned up, you can't go to the palace looking like you crawled out of a gutter can we."

"They almost did," Thorn gives me a predatory smile, "they danced inside the fountain of Celeste. Oh, and stole various goods from the merchants."

"We did not," Violet finally breaks out of whatever trans she was in, "how dare you, say such things in front of Uncle."

"So, you're telling me you own all the jewels your wearing along with the silks?" Thorn asks.

We look down my eyes go wide at the sight of the ruby necklace I'm wearing. Oh, what have I done? There's even a white shawl with blue moons on it wrapped around my neck. Then a crimson and violet shawl wrapped around my waist. An emerald ring and a jade bangle.

Violet's no better she has a cyan silk scarf falling down her shoulders, a magenta scarf wrapped around her throat, and layers of gold and silver chains. Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires adorn her fingers.

Flashes from last night filter through my foggy memory making my head hurt. We stumbled through the streets singing a song Violet taught me. Stopping here and there trying on random things.

An image filter through of licking Thorn's face when Violet left me dancing in the fountain to get food. Oh no, I look at Thorn, whose smile is anything but kind, "I didn't mean too," I say, bringing my hands up to cover my face.

"And yet," he says, "you did."

His Uncle just shakes his head, "ah, too be young," he turns away, "you'll bring her to the palace."

"Yes Uncle," Thorn gives Fie a small nod.

"You took care of their mess, right?" Fie asks.

"Every last one."

"Good," Fie says before vanishing.

"How?" Not even Vamps move that fast.

"It's called winnowing," Violet says giving her brother the finger she walks past him, "traitor."

"Next time I'll let the town folk claim you," Thorn says, "besides, you think he didn't already know; that one doesn't have any mental shields he saw everything she's ever done and said."

"We need to work on that," Violet says turning towards me, "wait here I'll shower then you can clean up."

Violet steps into the bathroom leaving me alone with Thorn. He takes a step towards me and I take one back bumping into the bedpost my nails snagging on the sheer curtains.

"Not so brave now are we," Thorn leans down our face's inches apart, "do you remember what you said to me last night?"

I'm too flustered to speak so I shake my head wishing the damned bedpost wasn't there. Thorn shrugs taking a step back I try to move forward only to stumble onto Violet's bed somehow bring him down with me. He raises a brow rolling off me right before Violet walks out.

"I forgot... can you not," Violet gives Thorn a deadly stair, "this is my room my bed, Hawthorn."

"I wasn't," Thorn says defensively, "she pulled me onto the bed," he points at me but I just look at the ground wishing I could become one with the bed.

Violet stalks over, takes Thorn's arm and starts dragging him towards the door, "sure she did," she opens the door and tosses her brother out, "you'll wait out here."

"Violeta!" Thorn growls as she slams the door on his face.

Violet turns to look at me a smile on her face. She laughs in silence shaking her head as she walks back into the bathroom.

Something tells me Thorn's not going to let this one go. As promised Violet lets me shower and even gives me some of her clothes to wear. We find the best option for me is a black corset with red flowers and a flowy black skirt.

"The palace is a bit cold," Violet says handing me a red cloak with black fur lining.

"Why is it cold?" I ask while combing my hair. I opt to wear it down letting it fall down my left shoulder like onyx waves.

"The Dark Realm borders the Winter Realm," she says opting for a lavender skirt and black corset with lace sleeves, her cloak is red with a lavender pattern and white fur lining, "let's go met your family."

"About that," I reach out stopping her from opening the door, "how do you know they're my family?"

Violet smiles taping my nose she says, "you'll see."