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I stared at her. She was beautiful in a frightening way, so pulled together, so confident. But then, she was thousands of years old and Emissary to the Crimson Queen. And she was far more ruthless than her brother. Even I knew that. Lannan was a creature of impulse. Regina was calculating.
“One of these days, I’m going to tell Lannan to drain you dry and make you one of us. Or maybe we should do it together, become your joint sires. Because what my brother wants, I make sure he gets. And your attitude begs for an adjustment, which you would so very much get if you were sprawled prone at our feet.”
She pressed against me again and I flattened myself against the wall, wincing at the pain from the lacerations on my back.
“I like little girls like you, Cicely. I eat them out for breakfast and fuck them for lunch. You remember the party a couple of weeks ago? I can make that look like a play date at the park. I could strap you down and fill every orifice in your body with my toys . . . I have my own harem, you know. I like watching them ravage limpid young women. Do you understand me?”
I nodded, breathless. She was stunning and her charm was working its way through my body, but I still had sense enough to be terrified. I also knew she was referring to her retinue of lesser vamps as a bunch of toys, which told me just how far up the food chain she was in the Crimson Court.
“Yes. I understand. I’m sorry.” When in doubt, apologize.
“One of these days an ‘I’m sorry’ won’t be enough. But perhaps you’ll learn and won’t disparage my brother in public again. And you’ll think twice about your demeanor when he arrives. You’ll enjoy his company. You’ll laugh at his jokes and flirt with him when he winks at you.”
I nodded, silent.
She snorted. “Yes, I’m sure you’ll do your best. You’re smart enough to listen to me. But perhaps not wise enough? Think on this: Leo knows his place, and he is properly subservient to Geoffrey. You have not learned the manners you need with which to survive vampire society. Let us hope that you take etiquette lessons as soon as possible. It would be a shame to lose your services and see you become just . . . one of the throng.”
And with that not-so-veiled warning, Regina turned and smartly strode out of the bathroom, her heels clipping on the tile with precise rhythm. I peeled myself off the wall, leaving a trail of salve and blood, and straightened my dress. Breathless, turned on, and yet petrified, I decided I’d better toe the line and followed her out.
“Lannan! Darling, you’re here.” Regina’s voice filtered through the crowd first, and by the time I squeezed through the throng of vampires surrounding her, her tongue was deep in his throat. His hands were cupping her butt and I watched, both fascinated and repelled, as the brother-sister team were all over each other like puppies in heat.
Leo and Rhiannon found their way to my side and gave me a questioning look. I shook my head and smiled nervously. A waiter came by, stopping to serve us. His tray held goblets of both blood and white wine. He offered us our choice, and we all quietly accepted the wine. He gazed at us for a long time before moving on.
Rhiannon moved closer to Leo, but as I watched him, he seemed to take on a different demeanor. I’d noticed it before. Leo, when he was in Geoffrey’s presence, seemed more imposing, a little more threatening and controloriented. And dressed in the zoot suit, he made the perfect addition to the scene. He blended in, which scared me. I still hadn’t figured out how much he was in Geoffrey’s back pocket.
A sudden movement behind me and hands wrapped around my waist as a low voice whispered in my ear. “Oh, my Cicely. How wonderful of you to dress for me tonight. You remembered my request.”
Lannan. I glanced over my shoulder. Dressed in jeans and a tuxedo jacket with tails, juxtaposed against the formal background, he stood out. The golden tumble of his hair down his back made him even more eye-catching.
I shuddered but, remembering Regina’s admonishments, stood still. I swallowed my desire to spit out some nasty remark and instead slowly smiled. Lannan’s face was inches from mine. His eyes—the purest jet—gleamed, fixated on me, and the tips of his fangs sparkled as he gave me a sinuous smile. My stomach lurched as my body reacted to the sight. Even I couldn’t deny that the vampire was gorgeous, but I hated the loss of control when he was around. I had no ability to keep my body from responding.
“Did you miss me, wherever you disappeared to?” he murmured. “Or did you just decide to vex me, to not answer my call? Hmmm?” He cocked his head, showing a bit more of his fangs, as he pressed against me. I could feel him, straining at his jeans, hard and rigid and waiting for the slightest provocation.
“I’m sorry I didn’t answer.” It took everything I had to keep my voice civil. “I had an errand to do . . . one assigned by Lainule. There was no time to tell anyone where I was going.”
He perked up, his smile growing by a fraction of an inch. “Lainule? An errand, you say? I wonder what this errand was? Did it have anything to do with your wolfen lover, perhaps?”
As I shook my head, he crowded closer and, in a tender voice, said, “Tell me, have you ever fucked Grieve when he was in wolf form? If so, I want to know every detail. And I’ll know if you lie. Remember that, Cicely. I’ll always know if you lie to me. And I’ll punish you.”
Horrified, I whirled around, only to find myself fully in his arms. “No,” I said hoarsely. “No, and I never will—I am not of the wolfen Cambyra.”
He laughed. “You’re blushing! How delightful. What a little priss you are. I’ll just have to find the perfect way to corrupt you. And what fun that will be. Now, be a good little slave and kiss me, Cicely. Give me enough reason not to drink you down tonight.”
I could see Rhiannon and Leo watching from the side. Rhia looked on the verge of tears, and Leo—it was impossible to read his expression. He’d donned a pair of sunglasses and I couldn’t see his eyes. A glance to their right showed Regina watching with a triumphant look. A sick feeling in my stomach, I allowed Lannan to lean in for a kiss.
My wolf began to whimper as Lannan pressed his lips against mine. The taste of the grave, of dust and old embers and bonfires long dead, of death and silk and apple brandy filtered into my mouth along with his tongue. A heat began to burn in my legs, working slowly up my body as I shifted against him. Against my heart, I was kissing him back, rubbing against him as his hands cupped my back and ass. He was intoxicating, passion incarnate, and my body lapped up the feel of his energy like kittens lapping cream.
And then he rubbed his hand along my back and the pain broke through the haze. I let out a little cry and he let go.
“You didn’t resist me. I rather miss that,” he whispered. “But what’s this?” He pulled my shawl away and peeked at my back. “What—who did this to you? What happened?”
I stumbled for words. “I don’t know. It was . . . a magical attack.”
“You’re lying.” His voice was flat, warning me.
“I . . . someone attacked Grieve and his pain became mine.”
Lannan stared at me for a moment, then let out a harsh laugh. “You are so very linked to him that you take on his pain? How brilliant. How utterly precious. Perhaps we can put a stop to that. I will not have you marred by someone other than myself. It’s not becoming.”
