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"You have nothing to worry about. Should anyone make a move against your position, I will personally ensure that they are eradicated on your behalf when the time comes. We have not always seen eye-to-eye, but when it comes to business, you have an eye unlike anyone else. You earned your role and shall keep it until I deem you unworthy." Dominick smirked. "And considering what a mind you have, I do not foresee that happening any time soon."
Rosalie's shoulders relaxed a bit, but the motion seemed forced. "Perhaps, but you have to remember, I'm human. Regardless of the title, I don't automatically have the respect your kind does. The business might be intact, but everything I've built will be lost."
"You wouldn't have to trouble yourself with the politics of being human if—"
"No!" Rosalie shouted and shot up from her seat. "We've been over this before and will not discuss it again. I willneverbecome a vampire."
Dominick sighed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't understand why you're so against it. Becoming one of us would solve so many of your problems."
"I could never be content as a vampire. My humanity means too much to me."
"You say that now, but you've only ever experienced human life," Dominick countered. "You have no idea what it's like to be immortal, have the world at your fingertips, never to worry about money or death or any of the other concerns that plague mortals. You're free to bask in life's pleasures and have eternity to experience them all."
"Immortality doesn't appeal to me, and seeing what it's done to you, and my brother has only solidified my desire to never be like you."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I'm not content totakefrom this world, forever. I also want to be able togiveto it, as well."
Dominick scoffed. "That's rich, coming from the woman who's more than happy to champion the slave trade of her own species in this region. You take far more than the average vampire every day, sitting on piles of gold like a queen and wiping your tears with diamonds and jewels. You know what happens to the people your trade condemns, yet you do it anyway. You're just a hypocrite, believing that your humanity makes you any different from us vampires."
"Fuck you," Rosalie hissed, visibly shaking. All the cool she'd expressed moments before evaporated in an instant. "You have no idea what the fuck you're talking about. You've been alive for centuries, yet you still don't know what it means to be alive! You have no idea what it's like to be human anymore."
Maybe he didn't, but for how much Rosalie complained about it, he thought that only made the strengths and advantages of being a vampire even more apparent. Clearly, she disagreed.
She stormed toward the door, but Dominick rushed to intercept her. "Where do you think you're going?"
"We're done here, Dominick. You haven't changed one bit, and nothing I can say to you will change that."
"I'm not the only one who needs to reflect on my actions," he sneered, unable to help himself from getting ticked off at how she was talking to him. "Use your manners, or did you forget that you're still in the presence of a king?"
"Not for long I won't be."
"And what if you are? What if you're stuck in here with me forever?"
Rosalie didn't answer, but he could see the fear flicker in her eyes before she turned away from him and placed her hand on the doorknob. "Then surely my humanity will be a benefit to me then, for I would only have to suffer so many years before I die of natural causes or starve from your neglect."
She yanked the door open, and Dominick didn't stop her from storming down the hall. From the other side of the threshold, two guards peeked in, prepared for Dominick to demand that they drag her back to him. He'd done it before, after their arguments, just because he could.
Because if he did, he didn't think he could stop himself from using the erection stiffening under his pants. Gods, she was hot when she was angry. When fury got her blood boiling, nothing was off limits.
She was scarier than an elder vampire when that happened. More dangerous, too, and it drove Dominick crazy.
Instead of dragging her back, he told the guards to fetch her brother, Roland. Rosalie's fury might have distracted him from punishing her for being late today, but it was far from enough for him to forget about how she was lying to him. While everything that came out of Rosalie's pretty little lips might have been the truth, she was using it to mask a bigger lie.
But for the life of him, Dominick couldn't figure out what it was, and that concerned him more than anything.
A few minutes later, Roland arrived wearing a smug grin. "Having trouble with my sister still, are you?"
"I need you to spy on Rosalie and figure out what she's been hiding from me."
"I'm sorry to say that woman has more secrets than the fae. You're going to have to be more specific about what you're looking for."
"I don't know!" Dominick snapped. "Whatever it is, it's big."
"She was just late for the party. Why is this suddenly a sign that she's up to no good? She always is, you know. Up to no good."
"I haven't stayed king this long by ignoring my instincts. Now enough questions, do as I say, and report back as soon as you know more."
