Once through, I was surprised to see another blond vampire, almost as handsome as the first. They introduced themselves as the sons of Mistral. Even better. He was my mother’s lieutenant; even though I didn’t like him much, I figured I could trust his sons. So I went with them. And it was fun, at first. They took turns whirling me around the dancefloor, so fast at times I could barely see. Then they each took my hand and pulled me through the crowd, blocking me from sight with their tall, powerful bodies. I laughed and went along with it, enjoying myself for the first time that evening.
Then somehow it was just the three of us, among the tumbled boulders that bounded the meadow. I tried to go back, but they held on to me. Not too hard, but hard enough. Moving too fast as I tried to get away, blocking my path.
‘Your mother used to be with our father,’ Oliver said, smiling. His fangs were dropped, though, and he was too close to me.
‘Imagine that,’ Jacques said, again too close, his cool breath sliding across the back of my neck. ‘We could be siblings.’
‘Though that might make this awkward.’ Oliver moved closer, his teeth grazing my neck while Jacques pushed at me from behind.
‘Let me go!’ I struggled, but Oliver held me in place, effortless, all the while both of them touching me, their hands roaming across my body.
‘I suggest you do as my lady asks.’ The voice came from behind us, calm and quiet. ‘I would hate to have to get her parents involved.’
Oliver snarled, but pulled away, his hands finally leaving me. Jacques did the same. And then I was in strong arms, being borne back through the crowd.
‘Bertrand.’ I clung to him, shaking, horror threading through me at my narrow escape. ‘Oh, thank darkness you?—’
‘You should not have left your seat, my lady. Those boys are much older than you, despite how they look.’ Vampire adolescence lasts far longer than it does for humans. I should have known, but how could I? I never got to meet anyone my age. I huddled against Bertrand, my cheeks burning at my stupidity.
He returned me to the silver-grey canopy, entering the way I left. The guards still stood there, their backs to us. And I was never so glad to be behind that wall of silver and black once more.
Bertrand sat me gently on the throne, then knelt in front of me. His hand came to mine. ‘Do you need a drink, or to feed?’
‘No.’ What I wanted, more than anything, was to go home. ‘Thank you,’ I breathed, tears filling my eyes despite my efforts.
Bertrand frowned, then bit his finger, releasing a drop of blood. ‘If I may, my lady.’ He bent forward and pressed it to my throat, and I felt the faint tingle of healing. Then he wiped the remnants of blood from me. ‘Now you are perfect once more.’
I found it so hard not to cry at the gentle concern on his face. ‘Please don’t tell them.’
He studied me for a moment, then his mouth curved. ‘I think that wise, my lady.’
As far as I know, he never did. Dear Bertrand.
‘So, Father is practising because he thinks Oliver and Jacques are better fighters than he is?’ I scoff, lightly. My father is a legendary swordsman. I hope he kills them both.
‘Oliver is the one making the Challenge. He holds the Mistral title now. After what happened to their father, they feel justified, I suppose.’
‘You mean how he started a rebellion, tried to kill Father, kidnapped me and would have had me killed if I hadn’t escaped? I think he got off lightly.’
My mother grins, a brief flash of light. ‘I thought you weren’t bloodthirsty.’
‘Motherrrr. Tell me what this means.’
‘Mistral was also a fine swordsman and trained his sons well. Your father is making sure there’s no margin for error, if the challenge proceeds.’
‘If?’
‘There is … you have to understand, when we sent Mistral into the light, even though the family heads outwardly supported our right to do so, not everyone agreed with that decision. There are also those who are not sure a human should rule Raven. His sons are trying to build on that dissent.’
I feel sick. My humanity, once again, is a fucking liability. ‘Shouldn’t I have been told about this sooner?’
‘It’s not really been a problem until this week, when the Challenge was made. They need the approval of six noble families for it to go ahead.’
‘How many do they have?’
‘Four.’
Four?God and darkness. ‘No wonder Father was having me go over the twelve families and their armies. Let me guess. Ravenna is one of them?’
