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“She’splayingagame,”I disclosed as Elizabeth hung onto my arm, and we descended the stairs, thoughts of my earlier conversation with her running through my mind. “Salenia won’t kill you. I believe she plans on me doing it, although she hasn’t said this yet.” My chest tightened as I recalled all the sick, twisted games she’d played over the years. Not just with me, but others too. It was a torture Salenia knew well.
Rarely did she get her painted nails bloody. Velda had killed Kalon on her orders, which was more like a compulsion. But Elizabeth, she was mortal and through jealousy or boredom, Salenia wanted her gone, but on her terms. I could bide us time, as long as I proved I harbored no feelings for her. I held her closer. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I know, but what about my sister?” she spluttered as we walked slower. “You’re sure she’s with her?”
“Salenia’s adopted her as some kind of…servant,” I said, not wanting to say the word pet and amp Elizabeth up anymore. The dagger, which she’d insisted on bringing, remained sheathed under her silk dress. The smell of wine and blood traveled up the staircase, the chatter building as we neared. “Remember, don’t show there’s anything between us.”
She chuckled, then shot me a look. “That’s easy, because there isn’t.”
I rolled my eyes, a ghost of a smile on my lips as I looked at her, my little warrior. My heart hammered as the foyer came into view.
Ivy had wound its way up the walls, filling each crevice and reaching the top of the stairs as we stepped off the final one. Torches lined the wall of the foyer, providing just enough illumination to make out our surroundings. The chill breeze of night blew through the open doorways, causing the flames to flicker and dance against the stone walls and giving off an ambient atmosphere.
I inhaled deeply as a chill gust of air ran across my cheeks, lifting my hair off my forehead. Elizabeth took my hand in her gloved one, the smoothness of the silk a sharp contrast to the roughness of my skin. My heart thumped in my chest as I looked upon her beauty—the gown of thick crimson cascading from her ample bosom, lace creating a pattern of delicate flowers around her neck and along her bare shoulders. Her corset was cinched tightly, emphasizing the curve of her waist, and I had to clench my fists to keep from grabbing her and carrying her away to devour her back in my room.
Elizabeth's gaze met mine, and she briefly smiled before biting her bottom lip, an unconscious gesture that had my stomach in knots. I forced myself to look away, not wanting her to sense my feelings for her, especially when Salenia would have a trained eye on our interactions tonight.
We continued down the winding steps, my eyes drawn to the gargoyles at the end of the staircase. They were carved from ancient stone, their intricate details showing their age.
Elizabeth's eyes widened in awe as we reached the bottom of the staircase, her fingertips lightly brushing the roses that climbed up the banister, intertwined with ivy. Salenia had outdone herself with the decorations for the ball. She'd gone to great lengths to create an aura of ethereal royalty and convey that their goddess had returned and was taking her place as queen.
The foyer echoed with the chatter of vampires as they drifted in, their gowns and tuxedos shimmering in the candlelight. They swirled through the doors into the ballroom as if some invisible force were guiding them. We stepped into the noisy crowd, faces hidden by masks, some delicate designs, other loud, dramatic designs, an attempt at bringing a sense of anonymity to the evening.
We stepped through the double doors, and I took in the scene. Noblemen talked to one another, dressed in their finest tailored waistcoats, the ladies in their most daring gowns, and a small orchestra which had taken up residence in one corner of the room. The violinists, dressed in black and white, matched their instruments. Their bows danced over the strings as if they were enchanted, and the pianist's ivory keys clinked with a haunting melody that echoed in the hall.
Above, the chandeliers glittered with crystal droplets of light that glimmered on the polished marble floors. Elizabeth tightened her grip on my arm as one of the nobleman's eyes glanced at her neckline. I put my hand on her shoulder. “Stay close,” I whispered. “You'll be fine.”
Each heavy, velvet-textured tapestry was illuminated by wall lanterns depicting scenes from the depths of the underworld. The illustrations of century old vampiric tales came to life on the fabric, bringing a sense of familiarity with them.
Trickles of light from hanging white orbs hung, like fireflies, had been strung up around the walls. The floor hummed with laughter, while bodies twirled in graceful circles beneath the white-gold chandeliers.
Beyond a few dancing couples, their movements ethereal as they waltzed early into the festivities, the adjoining feeding rooms were draped in crimson velvet, accentuating the blood-filled goblets next to half-drained mortals against the tables. I noticed there was no aniccipere in attendance, despite our supposed alliance with them, then realized Salenia must have had them all on duty, guarding the castle from intruders.
The dining hall was grand and ornately decorated for the evening. Long mahogany tables, polished to a glossy sheen, stretched from one end of the room to the other. Satin-covered chairs held mortal women wearing gowns of black and crimson, and men wearing suits lined with a white rose pinned to their breast pocket. The tables displayed stunning bouquets of roses and lilies, surrounded by flickering candles.
Elizabeth humphed. “She’s really showing off.”
“With Salenia, if it isn’t dripping in decadence, then what’s the point in holding a ball at all?”
She grimaced as we watched someone drag a dead body, as discreetly as was possible, at a party this big, out of the double doors. Elizabeth sighed. “I wish that was her.” Her fingers inched closer to the dagger, but she quickly composed herself.
My eyes widened. I knew she hated Salenia, for keeping her sister from her, threatening her life, and the spiteful comment about her figure when they’d first met, something I hadn’t forgotten. But I didn’t realize how much she seethed with rage until I glimpsed the hate in her stare. She didn’t even look that angry when I kept her captive and had her sister put in the Blood Brother’s room.
We continued walking. Servers glided gracefully through the crowd, wearing crisp white uniforms that seemed to shimmer in the low-light atmosphere. As they moved in perfect synchronization, each carried a tray of crystal glasses with fluted edges that contained an array of ruby-red wines and golden-hued liqueurs.
My eyes moved along the tight rows of tents, each one a midnight black but with subtle differences in height. Behind the lace curtains that filled the entrance of each one, I could make out velvet cushions strewn across the makeshift beds built from blankets.
My attention was grabbed by the sight of a human, the smell of blood luring me closer. A trickle of crimson traveled down her neck and down her shoulder, and the vampire hovering over her dragged her tongue over her blood-slathered lips. The vampire's hair was like a curtain of white silk cascading down to the demure night-blue dress, which clung to her curvy body as she straddled the mortal against the wall. Her lips quivering, losing herself to the blood-high, and my stomach growled in response.
“Hungry?” Elizabeth asked. “Or thirsty should I say.”
“I’m not leaving your side,” I stated, and looked around. My eyes found Salenia across the room, her blue eyes boring into me with a swiftness that could only come from a feeling of possession. Bowing my head in her direction, I saw the familiar smirk that she always wore when she was pleased. But the smirk quickly transformed into a scowl when her gaze moved to Elizabeth. Her icy glare filled me with fear, and I could practically feel the venom seeping through the air. Without thinking, I stepped in front of Elizabeth, shielding her from view. “I need to feed on you,” I whispered, regret aching in my chest. “She thinks I care about you,” I whispered, grateful for the loud chatter and music around us. “I’m sorry.”
She nodded, inhaling deeply. “I trust you.” Her fingers inched toward the dagger. “Plus, you infused the dagger with those spelled herbs, so I can always stab you if you get carried away.”
My lips curled into an amused smile. “I don’t doubt it, little warrior.”
She smiled, and my heart sank. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to make it look like I don’t care….”
