Ears ringing from the explosion, I pushed myself onto my knees, my boiling fury brushing all pain aside.
Smoke choked the ballroom, the moans of my people echoing around me. Terror and rage skewered the Heart of All, and my vampiric vision began to peel back the smoke like a clearing wind. It found mortals moving surreptitiously through the garden space, weapons at the ready.
I don’t think so.
Plucking a large shard of glass from my right cheek, I got to my feet.
Filth in my palace.
Filth to be cleansed from existence.
A man and woman lurked at the edge of the smoke, both wearing tinted goggles over their eyes. I recognized thetechnology, instruments used in the war to pick out a vampire’s cool body temperature, an attribute I didn’t share with my kin.
Running hot allowed me to inch closer to these mortals through the smoke.
Excellent.
“Keep still, all of you!” a gruff male voice barked.
Guns cocked, the air crackled with threat, and the hovering warchoppers continued to whir outside.
Incredible distress in the Heart of All told me this wasn’t an isolated case.
Had these mortals attacked my other palaces?
Extra heat under my rage galvanized me onward. These people would die here tonight. I would show no mercy.
Until you do…
I needed to be careful here. Bullets and other weapons would hurt my vampires, but an executioner’s stakeblade through the heart would kill them. And therewereexecutioners here. I sensed them, malicious clouds lurking close by.
As king, I possessed the ability to unravel the lie of the magical potion in their system. First it came as a small skip of electricity over my body, then I smelled the cocktail of different bloods, picking up on murderous vibrations as the cocoon of deceit unwound to reveal the murderer within.
They moved into sight, just behind the man and woman. Ten of them behind the only person who had spoken so far.
I could also hide myself from their heightened senses, allowing me to move closer still.
Your blood will paint my tongue.
“This is how its gonna go,” the gruff male threw out, clearly the mouthpiece of the operation.
I sent more reassurance to my vampires before he continued. Things would be alright, I’d make sure of it.
“The palace is under lockdown,” the mortal filth continued. Why did I recognize that voice? “There’s a shitload of warriors with me, including executioners, along with a whole arsenal of hurt. So don’t piss us around.”
I expected a chortle that didn’t come.
“We want the king,” he added. “Come willingly, Silvanus. I know you’re here somewhere. This doesn’t need to be painful. You can make the right decision. The ultimate sacrifice, if you like.”
I didn’t respond.
“It’s time to end this. You’ve…” He drew a hesitant breath. “I know what you did to him.”
Ah, I realized who this man was now. “Hal.”
Paris’s friend. The one who’d begged for his own life at the expense of his friend’s.
“We meet again,” he answered. “Bit of a role reversal now, eh?”
