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The vast room is more of what I expected to see from her queen and ancient coven. The walls and ceiling are covered in ornate designs. Breathing in deep, I take in the scent of minerals. Gold. It’s painted in gold. A closer look at the rough rock walls reveals luxury and decadence beyond belief. The masterful artistry on display must have taken decades to create. I have to squint to make out the hundreds of small fires blending together across the expansive space to make a literal wall of fire. The tone-on-tone metallic paint reflects the flames to the point where it nearly pains my eyes to stare straight ahead. Most of the furniture in the room appears ancient; the seats are intricately carved pieces lined with bloodred velvet fabric. It’s completely at odds with the modern, clear acrylic table in the very center of the room.
The seat at the head of the table is taken by a tall, pale woman with smooth skin and black silky hair down to her small waist. Her sharp red nail pierces into her lip as her dark eyes find us. She rises in a blur of motion but then takes a small, slow step forward, making the black jewels adorning her dress clink together as she walks. She reeks of wealth and power. Her nearly black eyes have a youthful shine although I know better.
The other vampires in the room hardly take notice of our entry. But the humans, all wearing the same pants or halter dresses of white linen, take an obvious interest in our presence. All look to us but a single woman lying still on a plush white hide off to the right side of the room. For a moment I tense, thinking the human is dead. But the air carries no scent of decay. I watch her chest gently rise and fall. Fresh, open wounds on her neck indicate someone drank from her recently, but she’s alone on the floor. My gut twists with the thought that the humans are here against their will, present only to satisfy the thirst of the vamps. The delight evident in the sets of eyes following our movement begs to differ with my assumption. I would quietly ask Veronica for confirmation, but vampires are known for their ability to hear at great distances.
My curiosity will have to wait.
The seductive voice of the black-eyed queen echoes gently off of the walls. “Veronica, my darling. You’ve brought a guest?”
A devious smile brightens Veronica’s crimson lips. The firelight illuminates her tan skin. She’s breathtaking in this lighting, glowing with a golden sheen. My pulse races and desire threatens to consume me. My gorgeous mate is in her element and she thrives here. I can feel her strength through our bond; I practically see her transform into the fierce warrior I met in the alley.
Before I claimed her.
Before I broke her. I shake off the thought. No, I’m healing her. She’s hurting. Her ability to hide her pain is extraordinary. My eyes travel along her beautiful face, alight with mischief and seduction.
“A guest, or a snack?” a pale man with the same dark eyes says. In less time than it takes to blink, he makes his way across the room to stand in front of me. I swallow thickly, not letting their speed and number cause any more alarm than the initial shock. His clothes and the way his short blond hair is styled nearly make him look human. But his eyes give away his dependency on consuming blood.
“Braeden, you know I don’t share.” Veronica’s voice is playful as she turns her back on her coven to pat the center of my chest. Her head tilts up at me and I don’t waste a second to bend down and give her a small kiss on the lips. I keep my eyes closed longer than necessary, sending a clear sign to them that I don’t fear their presence. They’re no threat to me. At least that’s what my actions suggest.
She waits until I open my eyes and I’m caught in her gaze for only a moment as she peers back up at me. There’s something there, something between us, but it’s quickly forgotten.
Veronica spins to face them, causing her leather skirt to flare around her. “I’ve found a mate, Adreana. I’ll be staying with him for a while.” A tic in my jaw spasms and my eyes harden on her back. A while? My stomach sinks as I realize the full weight of her words. My life span will be a blip in her existence.
“Of course, darling. Of course.” The queen’s eyes travel down my body with appreciation. I don’t care for it. “So he’s yours alone?”
Veronica nods her head slightly before walking past the table to a chaise longue in the corner of the room, extremely close to the wall of fire. “Funny that fate should give me a mate. Don’t you think so, my queen?”
“It’s odd. It’s not completely unheard of, although I thought they were just rumors before.”
Braeden appears by Veronica’s side, but sits on the ground and stares at the fire with his knees pulled into his chest. He’s so motionless he looks like he’s made of stone. Veronica shifts her long legs onto the sofa in a very seductive move and pats the seat between her legs. I move deliberately with a casual pace and take my seat, a smirk begging to form on my lips. Her right calf rests on my thigh as her queen stalks toward us.
“What are the rumors, Adreana? I’ve no memory of a pairing like ours.” My thumb rubs small circles on the inside of my mate’s knee. She’s relaxed and at peace, although it seems false. My eyes linger on her face, her expression one of disinterest; however, she’s obviously curious. Her queen sits to my left and I lean back to give the two women an easy view of each other. I feel very much out of place in the quiet room, but I continue to follow Veronica’s lead. I’d much rather have her queen’s approval as quickly as possible to go to Still Waters and stake out the blood bank, but Veronica doesn’t appear to be in any rush.
“I couldn’t tell you, my dear. There was word that a vampire had mated with a wolf, and that was all to be said. I’m not sure he ever returned.” Adreana’s eyes focus on my fingers stroking the inside of Veronica’s knee before traveling to her neck. “And you let him claim you, I see. Rather barbaric, wouldn’t you agree.” I don’t let her words affect me in the least as I hold the queen’s gaze. Veronica lets out a huff of a small laugh.
“It was quite primitive, but it suited my taste.”
“If you say so. And what of the Alpha, is he willing to negotiate? I’m hoping this mating benefited us.” Her voice rises toward the end.
“It did, my queen. Devin is willing to give us the bank and allow our control without any interference.”
The queen laughs in obvious amusement, then says, “You toy with me, darling?”
Veronica’s eyes spark with delight at her queen’s approval. “I’d never. He of course desires a plan and would like my mate to receive information from a successful territory. He chose Still Waters. We’re planning on taking our leave this evening, I believe.”
“I see.” The queen sighs and leans deep into the chaise, beckoning an onlooking human to come to her. The man smiles and rises slowly, kneeling in front of her, waiting for her next command. She gently runs her fingers through his thick brown hair.
We sit in silence for a moment. Braeden seems to grow bored and stands, walking to the young woman lying on the plush rug. He squats in front of her and runs his fingers down her chin. “Come, pet.”
“I’m tired … You drank so much.” She barely breathes the words as she leans into his touch. He chuckles deep and low.
“You need to sleep; would you prefer the floor to my bed?” His voice is full of humor.
“Your bed, please.”
He lifts her in his arms as though she weighs nothing and saunters easily out of the room.
“And what do the Alpha and his pack think of the law? Are you expected to only drink from your mate?” The queen’s alluring voice brings my eyes to hers, although she’s not looking in our direction whatsoever. Her focus is on the man waiting patiently on his knees in front of her.
