Page 116 of No One’s Daughter

This was all for show anyway.

Vampires didn’t need to eat like this.

A glass sat to my right, filled with something deep red.

I didn’t touch it, not a chance in hell.

​Where is Claire?

​What had he done with her?

​The thoughts looped relentlessly, louder than the quiet clink of cutlery, louder than the murmured conversations beginning to rise again.

​My gaze lifted, slowly, taking everything in.

​Valerius sat at the head of the table, composed, untouchable, as though the entire world bent to his will without him needing to lift a finger. He spoke occasionally, voice low, measured, and every person who responded did so with careful attention, like they were being judged on every word.

​Davien sat further down, his posture rigid, his movements controlled to the point of strain. He hadn’t taken his eyes off the room—off me—for more than a second at a time. There was something simmering beneath his calm.

​Leon beside me, played his part well. Relaxed. At ease. Engaging enough to blend in, but I could feel the tension in him through the slight pressure of his arm near mine, the way his attention flickered across the room every so often. It made me wonder if he too wasn’t really with the Ninth.

​And then there were the others.

​Some were human, I could tell by the way they fidgeted slightly, the way their laughter came a fraction too late, the way their eyes darted when they thought no one was looking. Dressed in fine clothes, seated among predators, pretending they weren’t prey.

​Or maybe they didn’t know.

​Maybe that was the worst part.

​Some of them were like Valerius—too perfect, their presence heavy with something ancient and wrong. I recognised the faces of Besian and Zack and for a moment, I wondered what they’d done with Marlette.

​Was she still alive?

​Had she met the same fate as Claire?

​Was there any hope for either of them?

​The atmosphere was suffocating.

​My grip tightened around the fork.

I’d had enough.

I slammed my fist against the table, causing the crockery to shake and those around me fell silent. I felt their eyes on me and the hairs on the back of my neck rose at the attention, but I’d had enough of this damn charade. “Where is she?”

​There was no need to provide further context. He knew what I meant.

At the head of the table, Valerius didn’t even flinch. If anything, the faintest hint of amusement touched his lips. “Safe,” he said smoothly. “So long as you behave.”

Rage flared hot and fast in my chest.

​Beside me, Leon’s hand settled over mine on the table. The gesture was gentle and almost reassuring. I didn’t know whether it was his attempt of comfort, or a reminder that I was trapped.

CHAPTER FORTY TWO

Davien

THIS WAS NOTHING short of a nightmare.