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“I know,” I said. When she looked at me curiously, I answered, “I had scouts watching.”
“Why?” Her brows furrowed.
“I make it a point to know everything about my enemies.” I maintained an even voice, pulling back any anger from leaking into my tone. “It’s part of why I have great faith that this plan will work.”
She uncrossed her arms, moving to sit forward. “Is Markus your enemy too?” she asked with genuine interest.
“That remains to be seen.” There wasn’t really more of answer I could give her. It was true. I didn’t know what the future held for Markus and how I viewed him. She seemed to accept it.
Turning her head, she looked out the window. “I told him last night. About the arrangement.”
“And?”
“About what you’d expect.” She played with the hem of her sweater, then started bouncing her foot. “But he wants to stay alive as well.”
“Then he’s already smarter than his father,” I stated.
She returned her attention to me. “I’d still like to spend time with him.” Something in her voice faltered, and she worked hard to keep eye contact. “When we aren’t busy with . . . whatever it is I’m supposed to do for show purposes.”
I prickled at the notion. Something dark and ugly unfurled in my chest. “What for?”
“Because he still needs to reject me. That would make it easier for everyone. Mainly for me, if I’m being honest.”
“Fair enough.” I didn’t like it one bit, not that I let her know that. “I can allow that.”
She dipped her head in thanks, a firm line pressed between her lips.
A knock came at the door. I called for them to enter, and Ysabeau peeked her head through. “Your first meeting starts in ten minutes. I can postpone?—”
“There’ll be no need for that.” I placed my hands on the arms of the high-back chair and pushed myself up. “I’m sure Dannika would appreciate some time to herself this afternoon.” To Danni, I said, “Remember what I said yesterday: You’re free to roam the forest or walk the halls if you like. There’s a fantastic library I can show you this evening if?—”
“That would be great,” she blurted out, then she smashed her lips together in an awkward grimace. Behind us, Ysabeau began snickering. Nova looked dead at her and narrowed her eyes. She started to choke, disguising it as a cough. Poorly, I might add.
“It’s a date.” I took her hand and leaned forward to press a chaste kiss on it. The thrum of her heartbeat through the vein in her wrist made my mouth go dry.
Orange and peppermint . . . She smelled exquisite.
Ysa coughed again, this time as a subtle reminder to hurry up.
I winked at Dannika, then walked away, leaving her speechless.
CHAPTER 9
Dannika
“Are you sure we can’t practice on some lower-ranking supes first? Low-hanging fruit? My kind of people?” Anxiety coiled in my gut.
Today was the big day. Before my life had been turned upside down four days ago, I would have been saying that about sending Adora to the neutral market with a new piece of jewelry I’d designed, or helping Nova blow out her winter coat after a six-hour long de-shedding session.
Becoming queen of a House kind of gave “the big day” a new meaning.
Ysa snorted, and Elias shot her a look. She straightened her posture and hid her smile. “Afraid not. You had an extended weekend to prepare. We’re going in hard and fast taking on the High Court, but if we do it quickly, it will be easier for you.”
“That sounds like a line some douchebag gives when he doesn’t want to use lube,” I mumbled, and both Ysa and Elias lost their composure.
They weren’t as serious as I figured they would be, at least not all the time. I supposed before I’d been blackmailed into moving here, I wouldn’t have thought they would have been so normal. Not because they’re vampires, but because of their age and position. Elias was king and had been for well over two hundred years. Judging by what Elias had disclosed about his second, her sharp tongue was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to what Ysabeau St. Clare was capable of.
Sure, in front of others, they played those parts well. Elias was a stoic, dispassionate king who exuded cold confidence and calculation. Ysabeau played his silent second, always there but rarely speaking—and when she did, it was either by Elias’s request or because someone was probably going to lose a limb.
