Page 96 of Sold to the Dark Vampire Prince

“Oh, they’re definitely ours. The formation of magical artifacts of this sort is very dangerous and also highly restricted. While most fae can manipulate simple magic like setting up a personal ward or glamouring their appearance, this is very rare magic.”

“So you would theoretically be able to trace who might have made them?” Sera said.

“This most certainly did not originate from one of our registered artifact makers. All their work is highly regulated. Very few of these class of shackles are created and they’re used only for holding the most dangerous among our race, those who have been unwilling to adjust to modern-day norms and see no problem with things like, say, kidnapping and eating a human or two every month if it suits their appetites.”

Alex grimaced. “Remind me not to wander around your meadows after dark.”

“We have our share of problematic citizens, just as you do,” Finneas acknowledged. “But our artifacts are not for sale, and certainly not to vampires, which means this is likely the work of someone with unregistered dark abilities, selling their wares on the black market.”

One of the fae seated beside the king murmured something in Elvish. Alex vaguely recognized every third or fourth word despite having studied the language for several years in school. Finneas nodded.

“We need a little more time to work on a solution.”

“Please hurry,” Sera said quietly. “People are dying down there, innocents our father has stolen off the streets. Perhaps that means nothing to you, but I feel responsible for them.”

The table fell silent.

Finneas looked down, mouth pressed in a thin line. “One day, Serafina, perhaps you won’t always assume the very worst of me.” As his advisors rose, he turned to Alex. “Give us two days.”

And with that, they were gone.

The moment Dani opened the door to her apartment, Alex could see from her red-rimmed eyes and pale complexion that something was very wrong.

“What happened?” When she stepped back to let him inside, he followed, quietly closing the door.

“There was a text this morning announcing that my worksite will be partially reopening next week. They wanted everyone to call in to get shift assignments.”

“That’s good news, right?”

“Well, it would be.” Dani folded her arms, leaning back against the kitchen counter. “Except when I called in, I was told I was being let go.”

Alex swore. Why hadn’t he seen this coming? “I’m sorry, Daniela.”

“And then, when I tried to call around this morning to a few job postings that said they were looking for workers, as soon as I gave them my name, they hung up on me.”

“There’s been a lot of biased coverage in the press the past few days. Lara hates that you made her look bad the day of the bombing and she’s doing everything she can to even the score.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Dani’s eyes flashed with anger. “She did that to herself.”

“You’re right.” He held up both hands. “It was a poor choice of words.”

“Now that she and her father have intimidated every business in the sector, it will be next to impossible for me and Evan to find work.” Dani was pacing now, blinking back tears. “Lara Cavalieri won’t be satisfied until we’re thrown out onto the streets, and then she’ll be all too happy to arrange a terrible accident.”

He drew her into his arms, pressing his forehead to hers. “Tell me what I can do.”

She slid her hands to his waist, letting him draw her close. After a moment, she pulled back, lifting a hand between them. Alex frowned when he saw her fingers were shaking.

“It started the other day. At first, I dismissed it. I thought I was tired. When it got worse, I assumed I was shaken up after Lara’s thugs abducted me. But last night after we got home from the borderlands, nothing I tried would get it to stop.”

Alex shook his head. “We don’t know that it’s blood addiction.”

“What else could it be?”

“I don’t know. We need to ask Sera.”

Dani pressed her lips together. “Evan said you’d deny it.”

“That’s not what I’m doing. I’m saying we need more information. Like to talk to my sister who happens to be a doctor, before listening to your sister, whose only qualification on this subject is that she hates me.”