Page 42 of Blood Curse

The young vampire looked across at her. His face was still grey, but his voice held.

“You stopped it.”

“We stopped it,” Bryony said.

“You could have bitten me.”

“I know.”

“You didn’t.”

She looked at the red mark on his neck. “Could you hear us?”

“Every word.”

“Could you slow yourself down?”

“I tried.” He swallowed. “My body didn’t care.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologise for fighting it.”

“I gave the order with my mouth.”

“And you took it back with the same mouth.” He managed a weak smile. “I’d call that a fair result, except I nearly wet myself in front of the king.”

“I won’t record it in the court history,” I said.

“You keep a court history?”

“We will once I find someone I dislike enough to write it.”

Something shifted in the room. The fear remained, but it wasn’t the only thing there. They had seen the Crown take their queen. They had also seen her take herself back.

Bryony straightened in my arms.

“Is everyone still sure they want to live here?” she asked.

The silver-haired guard folded her arms. “You haven’t seen what rent costs in London.”

Laughter cracked across the hall, shaky but real.

Bryony met my eyes. She was pale and furious, with her body pressed against mine and her hand fisted over my heart.

She had never looked more like my queen.

Then the Crown smiled with her mouth.

“Now we have something worth ruling.”

9

BRYONY

The Crown’s smile held my mouth after the words ended.

I shoved against the cold pressure in my face until my lips moved for me.