“Not a chance,” I reply, then crouch next to Vaughn’s head and slide my arms under his pits so I can lift him to a sitting position.
“We should have asked Igor to come along. How are you going to carry him?” Tish asks.
“You told me not to bring Igor,” I retort.
“Well… how was I supposed to know we would require his brawny services?”
“Just leave him here,” Madeleine insists.
“Will you quit annoying me?” I snap.
“Insolent girl!”
I sense she’s about to unleash her wrath on me, so I raise the crystal hanging around my neck, which glows brighter when I recite the ancient spell to ward off malevolent spirits.
Madeleine shrieks before retreating to her chamber.
“Are you sure that was the best way to deal with your old auntie? She’ll be so pissed when you return.”
“It had to be done. She needs to know she’ll have to answer to me when she’s free.”
“You’d better find a way to bind her to you before you break that psycho out of jail.”
“Yeah, I know. Tonight was only a recon mission. I didn’t even think I’d find the secret chamber.”
“Or bump into this hottie here.”
Ugh. I don’t want to be reminded of Vaughn’s good looks. It was bad enough that I tasted a drop of his blood and now I have a craving for it, and not for nurturing purposes.
I lift him up to a sitting position, but hell, he’s heavy. Damn all these muscles.
“Can you even carry him out of here?” Tish asks.
“We shall see.”
I take a deep breath, then use my quads and unfurl my legs, lifting Vaughn off the ground fast so I have momentum to be able to throw him over my shoulder.
“Damn, girl. Those workout sessions with Igor have paid off. I honestly didn’t think you’d be able to do it.”
“Your confidence in me is heartwarming. Let’s get out of here. The catacombs are a little too busy tonight for my liking.”
“No kidding. It’s like Grand Central Station here. Are you taking the hottie to your father?”
“No.”
“Ooooh, so we’re bringing him home with us?”
“Yes. Don’t get too excited. He’s our prisoner, not a new thirst trap.”
“I don’t see why he can’t be both.”
I keep my mouth shut. I can’t think about him in any other terms besides the fact that he’s my prisoner who may very well be connected to the usurper king. I need answers, and I’ll get them by any means.
VAUGHN
My face is wet when I finally come to. I try to move, but my hands are bound behind me. I’m strapped to a chair in the middle of a cozy and girlie living room. The walls are painted lavender, and one of them has striking wallpaper with huge flowers. The second detail that catches my eye is the violin case propped against the wall. Sophie is a musician, then. It gives me little comfort, though. I’m still her captive, and that just confirms what I already suspected: She’s not on my side in thiswar. I try to break free, but she used something strong that I can’t tear.
A black cat jumps onto the coffee table in front of me and says, “Oh, look who’s awake.”
