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The sigh of power coming from Varin, raises the hairs on the back of my neck.
I can help you… I can help you be with your beloved vampire again.
My heart pounds against the wall of my chest.It istempting.If I could get away from Cassius and Alaric could be free from the queen…
Varin chuckles inside my mind.
Demon shit.The mere idea of leaving this place with him was enough for me to let my guard down.
Closing my eyes, I force the demon out of my mind.
I sag in relief and put down the rising tide of disappointment that threatens to come up. It really would be tempting if it didn’t mean allowing a demon to possess me. Even if we agreed to a single action, a single moment, I doubt Varin would relinquish my body so easily, and I will be damned to the Otherworld before I willingly free them from their shackles.
Outside, it’s still dark, but the first chirps of morning birds sound through my window. I collapse back onto my pillow and drop my arm over my eyes.
The day hasn’t even started yet, and I am already exhausted.
Chapter Three
Clara
I peelmy eyes open to a stream of warm light flowing in through the window that sends my heart into my throat. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up. It takes a moment for it to register that I’ve slept in. By a lot.
Cassius never woke me for training, and after Varin’s power weakened finally releasing their talons from my unconscious mind, I slept like the dead. Scanning the room, I look for anything out of place, but everything is exactly how it was last night.
Tempting as it is to snuggle back down into the warmth, I fling the blankets off, then climb out of bed to prepare for the day’s training. I quickly dress in soft leather leggings, broken-in knee-high boots, and a simple tunic with a loose collar tucked in at the waist. I’m in the middle of braiding my hair when the door opens behind me.
“I’m almost rea—” As I turn, the words die on my lips. My pulse kicks up at Cassius’s expression. “What happened?”
He closes the door quietly then crosses the room, not answering immediately. The silence stretches on so long that my skin itches from the anticipation.
Asmod lifts their head from Cassius’s shoulder and looks at me with dark red eyes, then slithers to the ground, gliding across the room. There’s a light rustle of fabric as the demon settles into blankets on the bed.
Ever since the night Alexander attacked me, the snake demon has found their way into my room, and shown up during training, more and more often.
“Say something,” I beg, swallowing hard, “or I’m going to think you’re not here to give me the day off after all.” My attempt at lightening the mood fails miserably.
Cassius shakes his head, averting his gaze. “There is a change in plans for the day,” he starts slowly as if he physically has to pull each word painfully from his mouth. “Our queen will be making an announcement.”
They aren’t words that should inspire dread, but this is Elizabeth, and his reaction only confirms that whatever it is, it can’t be good.
I bite down hard on my lip and remind myself not to overreact.
It’s an announcement. Nothing more, nothing less.
Nothing has happened yet, and there is no reason to worry until something does.
“What else?” I ask.
“You need to change your clothes. I can’t take you looking like that.”
“What are you not saying,” I demand.
He tsks, openly unhappy about my insistence. “The queen wants you presentable. Now strip. We don’t have much time.”
Demons and saints.My stomach churns.
Elizabeth has ordered me to be presentable, which can only be for one or two things—either Alaric or her patience has run out because Cassius has not oath bound me to him yet.
