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“Seems that way.”
Typical. There’s a reason my brother had ruled this coven instead of me. But Alberich was gone, and I had a duty to uphold. I owed him that much at least.
I felt River stiffen beside me, her nails digging into the table hard enough to splinter the mahogany. Her eyes blanked, jaw slackening as she viewed whatever terrible future awaited us.
I gripped her shoulder, shaking her violently. “River, talk to me. What do you see?”
The room fell silent as members began to notice my adviser’s swaying figure. All eyes turned to me, waiting for whatever glimpse of the future River had to offer. I shook her again, willing her back to the present.
“Sky.” River’s eyes cleared and she turned her stricken gaze on me. “She’s in danger.”
That was all I needed to know. Standing up abruptly, fast enough to tip my chair, I bolted out of the meeting room, already tracking my mate’s potent scent.
The hall outside was packed with vampires, all members of our coven who could make the trip. Meetings were a place for mingling, a chance to rub elbows with highborns, swap stories and talk bargains. Vampires frowned at me as I moved through the crowd, some of them looking on with clear distaste written on their faces. I ignored them, barreling past the well-dressed supernaturals with one goal in mind.
Sky’s scent permeated the air around me, the sweetness of her blood tangible on my tongue. I had to get to my mate. River’s clairvoyance was reliable at best and uncomfortably accurate at worst. And if she saw an immediate future where Sky was in danger, where Sky washurt,it was only a matter of seconds before that future became reality.
I launched down a marble staircase, kicking off my heels and upping my speed tenfold. I didn’t care that I was disgracing myself before my coven members. This woman was too important. She was little more than a stranger to me, but my heart had known her all my life.
Her scent grew stronger as I rounded a sharp corner, darting down a narrow hallway lined with portraits. I heard the sounds of a scuffle behind a door to my right and kicked it open, nearly tearing it right off its hinges as I burst into the office.
Before me, I saw three vampires—two men and a woman—who looked horrified by my sudden appearance. Between them, caught at the elbow by one of the men, was my mate.
I watched relief flood through her when she noticed my presence, and my heart strings thrummed in unison.
My eyes dropped to the clawed hand gripping her arm, and my tender feelings were immediately drowned out by an unyielding rage. I needed no explanation from any of them. Their protruding fangs told me everything I needed to know.
“Get your hands off my mate.” My tone was low and threatening, my simple words a promise of violence should they think to disobey me.
The vampire male released Sky immediately as I stalked toward the trio.
Holding the sickening supernatural’s gaze, I closed an arm around Sky’s shoulders and backed the both of us out of the room. “You drew no blood, so I have no jurisdiction to kill you.”
I flashed my fangs, pouring every drop of my anger into my words. “But know this: if you seek her out again, if you touch her, if you so much as look in her direction, I won’t hesitate to tear you limb from limb. I will take whatever consequences I must if it means staining the dirt with your blood.”
The vampires didn’t follow us and we walked back to the gathering in silence. By the time we made it back to the main hall, Sky was teary-eyed and I was fuming.
“They said you were looking for me,” Sky whispered, keeping her eyes to the ground. “I didn’t believe them, but they got me to follow them anyway. It was like I wasn’t in control of my own feet.”
“That’s persuasion,” I replied, my tone devoid of emotion, “a gift some vampires possess.”
When she didn’t respond I added, “I’m sorry I didn’t come earlier. They should never have approached you to begin with.”
“It’s not your fault.”
I wasn’t so sure about that. She wouldn’t have had to deal with any of this if I’d just left her alone to begin with. I had put her in the path of danger, and now I needed to make amends. I would not let any of my coven members harm a single hair on her head.
All eyes were on us when we walked into the main hall. At least I wouldn’t have to struggle to get everybody’s attention. Once the murmuring had faded I addressed the crowd, my fury still simmering just under the surface.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering about the human in our midst. Sky Vincent is not a contract worker, nor is she a plaything for you to toy with.” I glanced at Sky and she held my gaze, nodding ever so slightly in silent reassurance.
With my eyes locked on hers, I continued, “I claim this human as my lover and consort. According to our laws, she is mine, and mine alone.”
Sky gave me a small smile and I wondered what those words meant to her.
Before I could dismiss the gathering, one of the highborn spoke up, an older vampire who frequently butted heads with my mother. “According to our laws, any human who remains aware of our presence is required to enter into a contract. Or mark her and seal the mating bond.” The woman folded her arms, a pompous sneer twisting her fine features. “Simply naming her your consort means nothing. You have to pick one or the other.”
I had expected this, been ready for it. I straightened my shoulders, looking down my nose at the woman. “It is a bold gesture, Agatha, commanding your queen like one would a child.”
