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Pus exploded everywhere as it hissed louder than she was and gave her an idea of what it contained. At the same time, the creature lunged once more, a study of vibrating, mangled skin and horrible menace headed right for her. She leaped, too, braced for the acid to hit her skin even while determination pulsed to protect the king no matter what.
“Guards!” Matthew bellowed, stepping in front of her with a table in tow to catch the spray. One swing was all it took for the creature to fly back with a loud banging sound before it crashed to the ground, dizzy from the intensity of the knockdown. The next sound came from the doors pushed open and half a dozen vampires spilling in, taking in the scene, and snapping to wrestle the creature into submission.
“It’s not harmless,” she blurted out, then glared when one guard got careless and reached out with bare hands. “Killian!”
The young vampire corrected himself, tightening his robes and crawling on top of the creature instead.
“I can see that,” Matthew murmured. She glanced at him and made a surprised sound at the broken claw he plucked out of his shoulder, which was bleeding profusely.
Green formed a webbed streak around his flesh but didn’t spread further. He turned the claw over as they stared at the markings at the bottom, more jagged than most would have been. Recognition flared, and her heart dropped.
“Skull,” she said flatly.
“A pirate’s symbol. This is a unique one…sharply triangular with a gold outline. But it could very well be a cover-up.”
She bit her tongue to keep from arguing, noting that the fully subdued creature was placed inside a cage that the guards had somehow managed to get hastily into the room.
“I didn’t think of using a piece of furniture,” she admitted. “That was a good call.”
“That’s because vampires are inclined to think they will always have the upper hand with their fangs, nails, and strength. My wife taught me otherwise—in this case, using whatever little advantage there is.”
The brimming adoration increased tenfold as Rebekah Chatterley strode in with the grace of someone who had either practiced it to perfection, or just naturally possessed it since birth. Considering she was a human before Matthew had turned her like them, it was impressive.
“Are you hurt? I heard about the commotion. Didn’t I already tell you not to underestimate the…oh, no, you are hurt!”
“It’s a flesh wound, my dear.” But he let the woman fuss over him, kissing the top of Rebekah’s head before he drew her closer. “I do feel bad that the creature lost a claw over it, and I’m angrier at whoever orchestrated this whole thing.”
“Pirates,” Nicola muttered under her breath.
Rebekah glanced at her, then tilted her head and studied the two.
“Or is it an assassination attempt from one of the houses?”
Matthew shrugged. “I don’t think so, but it’s worth looking at. I’m thinking it’s more of an assassination attempt from an outsider.”
“I beg your pardon, your highness, but that doesn’t make sense,” someone stepped in as soon as the cage was taken away and one guard remained. Maddox, once of House Hendricks and her good brother’s most loyal follower, shook his head. “We have monitored outsider relations to the houses, and there are no suspicious activities.”
“So, it has to come from some other source. A diversion. The humans…”
“Begging your pardon again, your highness, but the humans have been at peace and treated justly ever since you have taken over. There is no reason for them to make contact with outsiders unless they plan on leaving, an activity which is closely monitored and recorded, too.”
“I didn’t mean it came from them to attack me directly.” Matthew sighed. Maddox stayed lurking in a corner, dressed in all black. Rebekah worried her lips, contemplating hard. “The skull. It’s a pirate’s symbol.”
“I can investigate them.”
Nicola didn’t mean for the words to interrupt their discussion, but suddenly three heads had swiveled her way and were staring. She ogled back, taken aback, then rushed on when the silence stretched.
“I can be your spy. I have experience out on the field, and no one knows who I am or who I was once connected to. You can use a different spy to investigate the other houses or anyone on this island, but I’m the best candidate for an external venture.”
“I didn’t mean it came from them, either,” Matthew protested. But Rebekah didn’t pipe in, already considering it.
“How many houses did you get in trouble with in the past few months?”
“None,” Rebekah replied promptly.
“And how many scuffles have there been again when that last pirate ship attempted to kidnap a few of the humans peacefully living here?”
Silence.
