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“No, he can sleep in a guest room. He’s our new ally, not a prisoner.” Her smile reminded me of a cat. A cat who learned how to open the canary’s cage.
“I need to get word to my mate that I’m safe,” I said.
“Madi, take care of that,” Marcella said.
“You need me here,” Madison argued. “He’s dangerous and I’m not a messenger.”
“You are what I say you are,” Marcella snapped.
Madison tensed, her chin lifting as she straightened her posture. Then, she inclined her head in a bow. “Of course, your majesty.”
Without another word, she stashed her knife and turned away from us, leaving me alone in the room with the vampire queen.
“Skylar’s going to regret that she let that one live,” I said.
“Your mate is weak,” Marcella said. “You’d be far better served with a stronger companion.”
“I have a mating bond, I don’t need anyone else,” I said.
“You may change your tune in a few decades,” she said. “I thought my mate would be forever. But forever is a very, very long time.”
Marcella swept past me and I turned to follow her. The comment about her mate struck me as odd. I’d never heard of her having a mate. I knew she had companions or lovers. That was common knowledge. A mate had never been hinted at.
The fact that she’d cast her own mate aside showed exactly what kind of cold bitch she was. It made me hate her even more. I knew what that bond felt like. To ignore it was a whole other level of callous.
We walked through elaborately decorated hallways past a dozen closed doors. Marcella might call this the guest wing, but the cameras in the hall made it clear it was a glorified prison. I wouldn’t be surprised if the door locked behind me once I was inside.
I considered going for the stone now. Knocking down the queen and reaching for it. But she was the oldest vampire I knew and even though I considered myself a good fighter, there was a very good chance she could rip my limbs from me before I got in a solid blow.
I wasn’t going to be any good to Skylar or my pack if I was dead. Waiting until daybreak was my best bet.
“One of our finest guest rooms,” Marcella said as she stopped in front of a door.
I noticed this room had a camera right above it. She expected me to try to get out. I was going to have to be more discrete about this. Hopefully, there was a window I could use to exit. Not that that wouldn’t have cameras. So far, the vampire queen’s palace was living up to the expectations Madison provided.
My stomach flipped as I considered how well she’d played her part. I had to trust her. If she was on our side, as she insisted, she was going to let the others know what my situation was. I hoped that meant they’d give me a little more time and not try to charge the palace by sunrise.
Marcella opened the door. “I know you don’t need rest, but I have noticed that my strength improves after a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow at sunset, I’ll send a butler to fetch you for dinner. We’ll begin our plan for our alliance.”
I forced a smile. “I look forward to it.”
She turned and took a few steps away from me before stopping and looking over her shoulder. “I haven’t eaten in centuries. Do wolves still prefer meat dishes?”
“I’m not picky,” I said.
“Very well.” She inclined her head. “Sleep well, my new friend.”
Her words were cutting. Even considering being friendly with her sent my wolf into a frenzy. I fought the urge to clench my teeth and ball my hands into fists. “Goodnight.”
I needed to be away from her presence before I did something drastic. Quickly, I walked into the room and closed the door behind me.
It was a luxurious room, much like everything else I’d experienced in the palace so far. Orange light glowed from wall lamps, flickering and moving as if created by flames. They’d used the fancy lightbulbs that looked like fire. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised.
A four poster bed with a large canopy and hanging drapes was against the wall in the back of the room. Two windows framed the bed but they were both covered with shutters. Even from here, I could see that they’d been bolted to the wall.
With vampires, it was possible that was a safety precaution to keep the light out, but I knew better. That was to keep her prisoners in.
I walked across the plush carpet, my feet sinking in with each step. The shutters were solid wood with gold swirl patterns painted around the edges. Carefully, I tried to pry apart the shutters at the seam, but they were very secure.
