“From what I’ve seen, they’ve only taken thesmall break they were granted when you arrived,” Maverick repliedand downed another glass of champagne.
He’d consumed more alcohol than she’d everseen anyone drink, but his gait remained steady, his eyes wereclear, and his words didn’t slur. She was curious if he had ahollow leg or something.
However, he was the largest man she’d everseen. It would probably take awholelot to get him drunkand fill him up, but despite his overbearing appearance, and thelycans’ reputation for being brusque, he was kind to her.
She liked his robust laugh and the way hiseyes twinkled when he saw Cole, even though there was little joyhere. He couldn’t hide his love for his nephew; that only made herlike him more.
When she turned to face the dancers, her eyestraveled back to the dragons behind the Lord’s throne. The blue onewas now awake and watchful while the red one dozed.
Lexi’s fingers twitched as she imaginedwalking up and resting her hand on one of their noses. She wasdesperate to touch one, but she liked her hand far too much to riskit.
Besides, they’d shown no interest in herwhile she had to keep reminding herself to look away from them.Just because she felt a new, strong pull to them didn’t mean theyreturned it.
A striking woman in a blue dress distractedher from the dragons as she stopped to offer her congratulations.Lexi sipped her champagne while Cole and Maverick made small talkwith the woman.
They knew the woman, so she let them handleit. By now, she was pretty sure they’d talked to everyone in theroom as they offered their congratulations, and she could barelyremember any of them.
There weren’t as many immortals here as theball Cole’s father held where she first met him, but after hours ofhearing so many new names, she forgot them almost as soon as theimmortal turned away. If she ever claimed the arach throne, shewould need cheat sheets to help her remember everyone.
Becca and Malakai didn’t come to congratulatethem, and for that, she was glad. She was more than happy to keepher distance from them.
As the evening progressed and more food anddrinks circulated, she expected the immortals in the room to startrelaxing. If anything, the tension ratcheted up.
Another one of the musicians started cryingas his blood stained the strings of his lute. Her heart ached forthem.
She twirled her glass between her fingers asshe considered asking the Lord to give them a break. After all, itwas a party in her honor, but she imagined he would only use itagainst her, or worse… the musicians.
As much as she hated it, silence was her bestoption. If the Lord knew how much this bothered her, he wouldrelish that knowledge.
As the moon rose and its softer radiancereplaced the sun, vampires arrived. There weren’t many of them, butthe arrival of night made it possible for them to be here withoutbursting into flame.
Deep lines etched the Lord’s forehead and thecorners of his pinched mouth as he leaned forward. His knucklesturned white on the ends of his throne, and his eyes burned a morevibrant shade of red.
The displeasure he exuded was nearlypalpable. And as his displeasure mounted, so did the tension in theroom.
The fake laughter ebbed, the smiles becamemore grim than happy, and more than a few immortals tugged at thecollars of their shirts and dresses. It was impossible to pretendto have fun when a murderous psychopath was glowering down atthem.
“He’s going to lose it soon,” Maverickmurmured.
“He is,” Cole agreed.
“You’ll be his target, nephew.”
“I know.”
“What is your plan?”
“To survive.”
It took everything Lexi had not to tug at thecollar of her dress as beads of sweat slid down her nape. Thetemperature of the room hadn’t changed and suddenly feltsuffocating. She wouldn’t let the Lord see her discomfort,though.
They were like a bunch of unhappy sardinesall crammed into the room as they jittered around the floor.Thankfully, they didn’t smell like sardines, but they weren’t muchbetter as the aromas of sweat, body odor, and perfume permeated theair.
Her stomach churned, a dull throb started inher temples, and everything in her screamed it was time to run.
“Cole,” she whispered.
He slid his arm around her waist and drew hercloser. “It’s going to be okay.”
