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“She, well, when I was a boy, she would touch me. Make me do things I didn’t want to. She lives with her husband now, but whenever she would see me, she’d mock me. My mom did nothing when I told her. They brushed it under the rug, acting as if I was telling lies.” His face reddened, and he averted his gaze.
I grabbed his chin, bringing his stare to mine. “Never feel ashamed for someone else’s actions. You will have your vengeance. This is your chance, brother, to tip the scales of power. We will all help you in your vengeance. A wrong done to one of us is done to all.”
The others nodded along, and I glanced back at Adrian, who was smiling. “You are with us now, but we only ask for certain small things in return. You will be our eyes and ears, and once you’ve proven yourself, you will become a vampire. With it, you can return home and burn your entire house to the ground if you wish. Now—” Adrian pointed at the double doors leading into the room we’d prepared with long futons, the tastiest, most beautiful mortals ready to feed on privacy tents, and a fully stocked bar. “—we have a welcome party for you through those doors. Please, indulge. We only have the best for you.”
They all stood, pouring through the doors. Once the music started, Adrian turned to me in a hushed whisper. “The mortals know what to do?”
“They’ll report back any spilled secrets. Let’s see how loose their tongues are with their guards down.”
***
By the time I reached the throne room, I was already buzzing from the bottle of whiskey and Alana’s blood. I took my seat on the steps, and Penelope tried to sit in my lap. I rolled her off.
She tucked a coil of golden hair behind her ear and pouted her lips. “We’re getting married,” she snapped. “Can you at least look like you want to? People are watching.”
With a huff, I pulled her close, placing my hand on her waist. “That better?”
Her pupils dilated. “Much better.”
My gaze slid over to the other side of the room, as Gwen walked in with Astor, his arm around her shoulders. The monster growled in my chest, envy searing my veins. They were back together, and she was clinging to him. Then she saw me.
My heart stopped as she pinned me from across the room with those sapphire eyes, a seductive smile against her thick lips. She grazed a kiss against Astor’s neck, glancing in my direction as she stuck out her tongue, gliding up to the bottom of his ear. He closed his eyes against her touch, and she pulled back, lips puckered.
She glanced at me again, this time walking her fingers up the front of his shirt. He saw me watching, his face paling under the yellow light. I squinted, shooting him a sadistic grin at the memory of how close I’d come to killing him.
“I’m going to the feeding room,” I told Penelope, leaving her side before she could say another word. I needed to get out of here. Everywhere I went, Gwen was there, haunting me like a ghost of the thing always just out of my grasp.
My goal was not her. It was Seraphina and the crown. I repeated that as I walked into the foyer, heading to the feeding room, breathing in the scent of blood.
“Niall,” a familiar voice called behind me, and I groaned, turning. Sebastian grinned, wearing an obsidian crown encrusted with diamonds as he approached me from across the foyer. “I heard the Blood Brothers are back. Save the invite, I’m still not interested in your little club.”
I tilted my head, sending my waves farther down my shoulder. “I’ll admit I was wrong. When we offered you to be a Blood Brother, I thought you were ambitious and clever.”
He placed his hand on his chest, amusement in his smirk. “I’m flattered.”
“We all make mistakes.”
“Oh, come now, Niall.” He gestured to the thrones. “We’re about to be family. How is darling Penelope? I can’t imagine ever having to fuck someone who whored themselves to my dad, but to each their own I guess.”
“No, but then you wouldn’t need to be concerned about that, with your father dead.”
His smile fell into a frown, and he moved closer to me. “It was my idea, you know. To have you become a prince so you could marry Penelope.” He paused. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
I stared at his chest, daydreaming of ripping out his ribcage and painting the walls with his blood. “It seems we’ve both found ourselves being forced into marriage. The only difference between us is I won’t mope around like a little bitch about it.”
“Oh, hey.” He glanced over my shoulder. “Gwen’s heading this way. I heard she broke you, and you ran away.” He showed his teeth, enjoying himself far too much.
When the time was right and I killed him, I would spend my time picking him apart piece by piece until there was nothing left.
He tapped a finger against his chin. “You gave up everything for her.” He laughed. “And I heard you didn’t even fuck her. But, don’t worry, I’ve sampled her pussy. You’re not missing much.”
“Careful,” I growled, “prince or not, I will rip your spine out through your mouth.”
He tutted with a shrug. “That’s anatomically impossible, but good try.” He patted me on the arm. “You need to control that anger, Niall. You’re about to become a royal—a lesser one, but still one regardless.”
I refused to bite. The asshole always tried to get a rise out of me, and unlike most here, he knew what buttons to press. “Don’t you have anything better to do than talk to me? Some brooding perhaps?”
He chuckled softly. “It’s always a blast talking with you. See you at the next family meeting.” With that, he sped away.
