Rebecca and Daniel sniffled in unison. They did a lot together and were Layla’s favorites. The three of them had shared a bed every night, until my friend lost her life to Paris’s crystal blade.
Before my inner voice could remind me of that clear and painful fact, I spottedhimin the crowd. Elio, his imploring hazel eyes glistening with sadness, a dark cloud over his head.
He’d been so dedicated to my happiness and my pleasure. Even his decision to shoot at Paris should have been considered honorable. Only, Medusa had been in the firing line too, so no.
Elio. A master of sex, a beautiful elf.
As beautiful as Paris?
I tore my gaze away from him, done with this mental pontification.
“Back to your seats,” I gently instructed Rebecca and Daniel.
They obeyed, appearing lighter for having hugged me.
A pity I didn’t feel the same. Only Paris provided me such comfort now.
I beg your pardon?
Vaughn signaled we were ready.
And so, I began my address.
“My dear ones, I stand before you to offer my sincerest apologies for the hell you have experienced. For being so absent in your sorrow.” I hesitated, afraid, ashamed to admit my failings. “I was preoccupied with Paris Raine.”
My statement was followed by a pause, a heavy silence, every eye drilling into me.
But I had to confess everything, to explain what I’d been doing. They were my subjects, and they deserved the truth.
I left no stone unturned, I was an open book.
Why do you have to explain yourself?an angry voice countered.
Lucius wouldn’t capitulate like this, his hand heavier. But I couldn’t be like that.
Could I?
After a pause for my people to process the information, I continued. “Aidan will fall. We will find a means to kill him and free Quintrealm from his rot. Mark my words. There is hope here, and answers waiting for us to unpack.”
It was meant to be rousing yet seemed like a pathetic puff of air against a hurricane.
There were nods, gentle applause, but spirits were dim.
Tilly, one of the rebel vampires freed from the dungeons, spoke up. “What about the mortal attack?”
There were bloody tear stains down her pale alabaster cheeks. She’d been close to Gilbert, his death another thing to be used against me.
I stared at her for a few beats, not one inch of her afraid of me.
She would be if I drove my hand into her chest and crushed her heart.
Maybe you should…
“I am considering our options,” I answered.
She rolled her scarlet eyes. “Right.”
Trapping the executioners wasn’t enough for her? Did my single-handed destruction of those warchoppers mean nothing?
