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“He’s nothing like you.”
“We’re more alike than he’d ever care to admit.” He pulled away, an amused smirk playing on his lips.
“I strongly disagree.”
His smile doesn’t waver. “He’s lucky to have someone hold him in such high regard. Even if it is born from naivety.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the doors opened, revealing my father, his new head advisor, Penelope, Kalon, my mother, and Sebastian. Sargon leaned over his desk, digging his nails into the wood. He lifted his head to look at me, green eyes darting from me to Niall, then settling on me. “Sit.”
I swallowed thickly, moving to Sebastian’s side, who clasped his hands behind his back. The scent of his cologne lingered, and when I closed my eyes, I could transport my mind back to last night when his arms were wrapped around me, holding me tight. Then, I’d felt everything in waves; he struggled to withhold his emotions from me while asleep. The guilt, anger, pain, and confusion snuck in between dreams.
“My father will not come here!” Penelope shouted through the chatter, and I blinked twice, realizing I’d missed part of the conversation.
Sebastian didn’t even look at me, as if last night didn’t happen. He seemed calm when he stepped in front of the king, his hands in his pockets. “Your Majesty, may I recommend we move this conversation to a more private location?” He glanced at Penelope. “Where we may not be overheard by the very reason we are in this situation.”
She scoffed, and a curl of hair fell from her perfectly pinned back golden locks. “Whose fault is that? I’m a vampire because you pushed me.”
Sebastian growled under his breath, and before I could catch my breath or Sargon could respond, he was in front of Penelope, his hand on her throat. “Still sticking to that story then, you vicious bitch!”
She grappled at his fingers, but couldn’t pry them from her dainty throat. Kalon moved to stop him, but something changed in the way he looked. Untamed power strained behind his eyes and did not move his glare from her. “Fuck you,” she spluttered.
“Enough!” Sargon barked, but Sebastian didn’t let her go. “Vangard!”
Niall finally walked over to them and patted Sebastian’s shoulder, amusement lightening his chiseled features. “Penelope’s on our side,” he said smoothly, and tugged Sebastian’s arm from her throat. “We areallon the same side.”
My eyebrows furrowed. I didn’t expect Niall, of all people, to play diplomat. I cleared my throat and tilted my head, watching Penelope as she glared after Sebastian. “I’m assuming they found out about her new fangs?” I asked.
Sebastian whipped his head around, half-smiling.
Niall answered. “It was inevitable.”
Sargon’s advisor spun the globe standing behind his desk, his finger landing on the large island I knew as Asland. A hot, exotic kingdom filled with the strangest animals and worshiped a god far older than ours. The king’s voice boomed over all others. “I have invited the King of Asland here.”
My brows raised. “Is that wise?”
My mom’s glare bore into me, and she shook her head.
Sargon's eyelids flickered as the corners twitched. “Seraphina, you are here as a formality as you will be the princess tomorrow. However, seeing as you don’t know our kingdom, or anything about politics, it would benefit you more to keep your mouthshutand earsopen.”
Kalon grinned, and Niall poorly scoffed a chuckle. I sat back in a chair at the side of the room, pressing my lips together to prevent them from trembling. I’d never been good at hiding how I felt.
Sebastian stepped next to the king, turning his back to Penelope and Niall. He leaned against the hundreds of scattered papers and parchment maps covering the mahogany desk. “Speaking about her becoming a princess, I was wondering if it would be more prudent to postpone, at least until we know more about Asland’s plans.”
Sargon nodded, then paused, moving his gaze to the arched, led-crisscrossed window. “We need not postpone. The king will not arrive for three days. I need you and Seraphina with me. Family is important to them, and you will host them. Their declaration of war may yet be remedied with this visit.”
The pieces clicked together. Asland had declared war on Sanmorte. My heart sank a little when I saw Sebastian. He was trying anything to get out of this. While I didn’t want any of this either, I’d at least accepted my fate. However hard it was. I wanted more than anything to keep my powers, even asking my mom if there was a way, but becoming a vampire was inevitable. Immortality waited patiently behind death as the clock ticked down my last hours. I hoped, in my newfound vampirism, I would become more powerful than I ever was with my magic. Still, it ached for me to lose it, and I glanced at my mom, who seemed less than she ever was now, without her powers.
The king continued, and a servant entered the room, handing him a glass. Blood lapped at the edges as he took it in his hand, swirling the crimson liquid before drinking. “Asland has weapons far beyond anything we have.”
Niall spoke up. “We are weapons.”
Kalon nodded in his direction, pride sweeping his lips into something slightly warmer than the standard snide look she wore. “They won’t survive against our numbers. We have speed and strength.”
I stood, placing my hands on my hips. “You’re wrong.” Every head turned in my direction. My heart pounded. “In Baldoria, we have a technology that can track any person. As well as missiles and guns which could destroy entire streets of houses. They wouldn’t even need to come near us to kill us.”
My mom chimed in. “My daughter is right. While Asland, fortunately for us, is further behind Baldoria with their weaponry and military, they still have technology far beyond anything we own. We must bring ourselves into this century if we are to protect Sanmorte.”
Niall shook his head, glaring at my mom. “You haven’t even been here for two decades.”
