After thanking the president and promising an in-person meeting soon, I made more calls to the lords of the other palaces. They were well on their way to fixing the damage, each one suffering from a missile attack but with no losses. And all the executioners were dead, with some mortal prisoners in their dungeons undergoing torture.
With that done, I returned to my task at hand.
“Come with me,” I told Lord Vaughn. “There’s something I need to give you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
PARIS
Man, there were several springs in my step tonight.
And they came from sleeping with the vampire king.
Whoa, multiplied by a billion!
Still, I couldn’t stop myself from whistling as I showered and dressed, slipping on some fresh jeans and a T-shirt, finishing up with the black leather jacket.
Check me out, feeling all relaxed.
A fresh breeze blew through the bedroom, the drapes rippling gently. What a difference a night made. No storm, everything calm.
Yeah. For how long?
A scanhawk flew past the balcony, the beating of its mechanical wings making me flinch. Damn golden robot birds and their green beams scanning for executioners and escaped frostbrood.
This one didn’t stop, heading west toward the mainland.
Yeah, fucking see ya!
Once it flew out of sight, I stepped out onto the balcony to chill for a bit, allowing myself a calm-before-the-next-storm moment.
I smelledhimon me. That citrussy aroma cutting through the scent of the cherry shower gel. Awesome. I liked it there, wanted it to linger for as long as possible.
Amazingly, I didn’t hate myself as much tonight. Weird, sure, but a relief. The executioners being knocked out by Suspending Gas helped.
So, what about this king thing?
Ugh. Like I had any sort of clue outside of things being complicated.
Okay, so I was attracted to him. Fine. I accepted that.
I liked sleeping beside him, and kind of hoped for more action. The sweaty kind, to show him my thanks for showing mercy again, to send our minds into the stars for a taste of respite.
But that didn’t mean anything would happen again.
We weren’t right for each other in any shape or form.
Medusa showed up with caramel shortbread, a steaming mug of coffee, and a fresh pack of mistrock cigs.
Hell to the yes!
We sat together on the balcony after she grabbed a couple of folding chairs from a cupboard near the bathroom, keeping the chitchat as light as strawberry flan.
Pearl’s favorite dessert.
“I’ve heard there’s an incredible bakery in Glimmer City selling the most delectable baked goods,” Medusa said. “Thought I’d share that with you.”
I nodded enthusiastically, since I couldn’t say anything because my mouth was full of sugary goodness.
