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“A show of power,” she said nonchalantly. “What did you expect when you send them behind my back?”
“I didn’t realize you cared so much about us finding Sebastian.” I baited. “Worried what we’d find?”
She finally met my gaze. “I don’t want you sticking your nose into matters that don’t concern you.”
The corner of her lip twitched, and I smiled. I rose to my feet, cautiously making my way to the desk. “Since when did you care about Vangard?”
“I don’t,” she blurted, but I didn’t believe her. “He’s still royalty.”
“Not if the princess is dead.”
She stiffened, and my heart pounded.
If she is dead.
I studied her face, and she finally let out a forced laugh. “You’re right. He’s not royalty anymore. But he’s still Master of Travel, or whatever ridiculous title Sargon gave him.”
I glanced at the paintings. “What will you do if the gods choose to come back here too? It wouldn’t be the first time.” I tilted my head and spotted a glimmer of fear in her eyes.
She composed herself, then clicked her tongue. “There are ways to stop that from happening. Besides, I know how to handle my siblings.”
“Clearly you don’t,” I said casually. “You were trapped down there, all this time.”
Her laugh tinkled around the room. I glimpsed her fangs as her mouth twisted into a sadistic grin. “You would believe that, wouldn’t you?”
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” I said, slamming my hands on the desk, looking deep into her eyes. “How long have you really been back?”
Flickers of anxiety ran across her expression, her stare not leaving mine. Strands of her blonde hair framed her face, and her thick lips pressed together until they paled. “I want you to attend a party with me,” she said, evading my question. “Once you kill the mortal, I will keep to our agreement, that you will gain the crown.” She watched me carefully, and my throat tightened at the thought of killing Elizabeth. “It’s time you get back to your old self. You’ve become a bore as of late.”
“Since when do you care about that?”
“Since now.” She didn’t elaborate and waved me to the door. “It’s time to feed.”
I blew out a long exhale, hesitating by the door. I peered back at the desk, noticing Azia’s seal on one letter. A letter meant for me.
“Now, Niall.” Her voice shrieked in my ears, and I begrudgingly followed her down the corridor. Midnight approached, and I’d planned on meeting Adrian in the grounds, a plan we’d set in motion when Salenia had called us down to the throne room.
Music beat in the low thrum of drums, mixed with an orchestra of violins building the melody into a crescendo as we approached what was the main room belonging to the Blood Brothers.
“Is this just to add insult to injury?”
“You don’t need the Blood Brothers. You’re going to be king. You only need me.”
I shuddered, grimacing as she opened the door.
She gestured her hand over the room, smiling. “I know you, Niall. Tell me you haven’t missed this. Prove to me you’re the same ruthless asshole as before. I know it’s still in there.” She turned, then walked her fingers up my chest. It took all my restraint not to break them. “The obsessions. The darkness. Let it out. You’re not meant to be a hero, my darling.”
“I never wanted to be a hero,” I said with a low growl, wanting nothing more than to rip her throat out.
“Good.” She removed her touch, then stepped further into the room.
I breathed in the smoky incense mixed with the coppery tinge of blood. Candles flickered, casting shadows onto the mortals laying over red, leather sofas. On the ground, small canopies had been created from red and black lace, over blankets and pillows.
I walked to the center of the room, watching as the large, circular swing suspended from the ceiling held two mortal women in the center, laying out over cushions, their legs spread, their smiles lost to a venom haze.
The darkness came to life, vampires moving under the seductive flickers of candlelight, smoke spiraling in illusory swirls from candles and incense; a room where the lines of pleasure and pain blurred, and the forbidden was the mortals’ only escape.
If they behaved, then they might make it out of there alive. Without an aniccipere in sight, I recognized only the castle's elite in attendance. Amid it all, Salenia stood, her blonde waves in loose curls around her chest, her gaze softening as she dragged her thumb against her bottom lip.
