Page 48 of Vampire Visions

“Yes,” I interrupted. “You do know what she’s talking about, Kadence.”

Dominic stepped forward, an air of authority following him. He didn’t beat around the bush. Being my father's second in command, Dom was used to being a dick, and he played that part so very well.

“As of,” he looked down at the watch on his left wrist, addressing Kadence and no one else, “9:45 pm on Saturday, May 23rd, your position on the council of Vampyre has been terminated. You will be judged for your crimes by a jury of your peers. Should you be found guilty, your punishment will fit your crimes. I don’t even need to mention not guilty, because there’s 200 people in attendance tonight that have witnessed a small portion of your crimes. Those alone are enough to ban you from our territory and label you as a rogue.” Dom sighed. “Once labeled a rogue, you will have seventy-two hours to find a coven willing to claim you or you forfeit your life. Those are the laws, Kadence, as you well know, and you are not above them.”

There was only one thing left to get out in the open. I knew it would be the topic that kept her from being able to join any of the smaller covens and cause her to challenge me. It had to be done, though.

So, I raised my voice, making it carry through the room, loud and commanding. “I’m sure by now you’ve all heard about the drug that’s hit the shifter community. We have enough evidence to prove that Kadence Moore has been administering the magic injections to vampires for over four weeks now.”

I gave the crowd time to think about that before I carried on. “She also wanted to take over and then publicly out the vampires to the human world.” I pitched my voice even higher as I strode forward into the crowd. “We will not stand for that!”

It took a split second for me to realize the mistake I’d made. I had taken my attention off of her, given her my back. And Kadence, never the rational thinker, acted on it.

She flashed forward, grabbing me by the throat. A dagger's tip aligned against the exposed skin over the left side of my chest. With my back pressed to her front, she spoke to me and me alone, though I’m sure every vampire in the room heard her.

“You’re quick and smart, I’ll give you that.” Her alcohol soaked breath tickled my cheek. “It’s how you win your fights.” She chuckled, pushing the tip of her dagger past the first layers of my skin. “You’re also brash and lacking the centuries of experience that some of us have. You’ve never fought an opponent above your skill level, only below. Remember that before you start picking fights with the wrong supes, Little King. You’re just a baby.”

This. This was my element. The talking was gods-awful and boring. The fighting, though? I could do it in my sleep. It was no sweat off my tits. I grinned widely, showing my fangs. She’d given me the reaction I’d been wanting after all. A public challenge.

“If you're going to try to stab me in the heart, you should maybe know where my heart is first,” I said conversationally.

Kadence snarled behind me. “Everyone has a weakness.” And she pushed the dagger a little deeper.

I winked at my guys, watching York shake his head with a smirk on his lips. “You’re right,” I conceded, my hands lifted where she could see them. “But my weaknesses aren’t a part of my body.”

I stepped forward in one quick motion, feeling the knife slice through muscle and slide in between my bones. The gasps that traversed through the room were music to my aching ears.

“And my heart is on the right side. It’s a whole ass defect, bitch.”

20

Stone

Saturday Late Night

Sloane didn’t surprise me at all when she forced the vampire cunt’s hand. My Kitten didn’t even flinch as the dagger pierced her chest, but the bitch behind her winced. Kadence had realized her own mistake just a little too late. She’d acted impulsively and wordlessly challenged Sloane in front of the entire crowd. Her chest heaved, her panting audible for everyone in the now silent room to hear.

Kadence glanced from one onlooker to the next as Sloane twisted her body, pulling herself off the blade end of the dagger. The wound sealed up almost immediately, leaving a thin pink line at the curve of her left breast. Kadence’s hands dropped limply to her sides, Sloane’s blood splattering on the floor as the dagger hit the ground.

“Well, Dominic.” Sam’s voice held the gravelly tone of his demon, but he appeared in control on the outside. The Devil was surely pissed, though. “I’d say it’s time for you to step up and make the call. I’ve never seen a more blatant challenge.”

The second in command nodded his head respectfully, stepping up and clearing his throat. “You all witnessed the threat to the heir. As Vampyre law dictates, that action is to be considered a challenge. The challenger has no privilege to back out. Should the heir choose to accept, a fight will take place. Should she decline-”

“I won’t be declining,” Sloane cut in, affirming her position. With her face blank and her shoulders squared, she looked like she was ready to take on the world.

My demon thrashed violently under the surface of my skin. Sensing the temperature rising around me, Vaughn placed his hand between my shoulder blades. The dose of his icy magic was soothing, but the patience I normally possessed was shot.

Knowing I had to stick to the plan, I forced my attention away from Sloane and Kadence. I watched the rest of the vampires instead. All the Heads of Vampyre were either agitated or angry. I focused on the nervous ones. We knew some would side with Sloane and some would side with Kadence, but this was my time to pick them out.

After finding several that I was sure were on Kadence’s side, I whispered my findings to the tiny bat hanging from the handkerchief in my tux pocket. At first, I didn’t know if he’d heard me, but when his little head swung up, eyes focused on mine, I had my answer. He could hear me, which meant Sloane had heard my suspicions, and she’d relay the message.

We were just a few in a massive crowd. Things could get ugly quicker than we could react. One of us needed to be able to grab Novak if we had to slip through the Void. I wasn’t sure he could push into it on his own, but now that he was fully bonded with Sloane, maybe we could teach him.

It seemed Novak and York had made plans of their own. No sooner than I’d thought about one of us being able to get Novak out, the vampire stepped forward, just out of reach. “Gideon!” He bellowed, his voice rushing through the crowd.

The male from the bar, who I suspected was Gideon, was shoved forward, a group of people parting as he stumbled. A petite, dark haired vampire came strolling behind Gideon with a feral look in her swirling golden eyes. It was a look I recognized as one of Novak’s own. There was no mistaking the resemblance between him and his older sister, Blaire.

She had forcefully relocated Gideon to the center of the room for her brother. When she strode forward putting her hand on Novak’s shoulder, he leaned down and she spoke so softly in his ear that I knew no one but him could hear her words. Whatever she said to him… Yeah, it pissed him right the fuck off.