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A perceptible shift moved in the air like ripples in water, the tension ratcheting up at my blatant threat. Some vampires edged toward the doors, and I swallowed a dark curse.
“Killing another vampire is punishable by death,” the vampire sneered.
“Who said anything about death?” I laughed low in the ensuing silence. “You dare presume what I can or can’t do to the vampires under my father’s crown? Especially vampires who have started to fucking annoy me,stranje?”
The vampire poised to flee, but I was quicker.
My fangs ripped away the gaping vampire’s throat in a burst of fresh blood.Over the sound of screams, I turned so the spray wouldn’t stain my face or clothes. My silver dagger emerged from my dinner jacket, and I stabbed it through the vampire’s eyes, making him shriek out in pain.
As if my brief moment of lucidity never happened, the blood-rage returned, rampant.
“You even look at her again and I will make you wish for death,” I spat, shaking his bleeding body.
Over his pained cries, Thibault’s voice rang out with exasperated amusement. “You and your little witch are trouble. I’m five minutes late for our meeting and already we have bloodshed.” His black and white pinstripe suit stretched to stay my hand as the vampire beneath me choked on his own blood. “Alexei, release this fool and let’s take this somewhere more private, yes?”
His words, filled with quiet admonishment, crept through the haze.
“Thibault?” I rasped.
I shook my head slightly, trying to thrash the cobwebs surrounding my logical thoughts. The vampire squirmed in my grasp and I snapped my fangs, falling under the spell once more. This creature dared to touch my mate—hurt her precious body while I stood mere feet away.His prince.
Jade’s hands suddenly lifted to my back, soft and gentle. The warmth speared through me as her words reached through the fog. “Alexei. Let’s move this somewhere else. We’re causing a scene.”
Her touch, combined with the unspoken reminder of our true purpose here—to find information about Trystanwithoutalerting him to our presence—finally broke through the last vestiges of fury.
My anger turned inwards as I battled for a way to salvage the evening. I stood to my full height with a flourish, wiping the blood on my dagger onto a table napkin with a serene smile. “You know how terribly upsetting I find waiting.”
Thibault lifted a wry brow, but his smile flattened.
“I assume you have somewhere to store my prisoner while we get down to business?”I asked as I guided Jade into my reach, my eyes never reaching hers. Leaning close to her comforting juniper scent, I whispered, “Are you alright, darling?”
She nodded briefly, glancing around the emptying bar, now covered in blood with an unreadable expression. Before I could ask, she muttered a near-silent forgetting charm, the tendrils of her magick dancing after the fleeing patrons.
With that settled, my shoulders drooped in relief, as Thibault’s guards grasped onto the vampire and dragged him towards the basement while we followed through the narrow hallway to another secret staircase.
As the silence grew stilted, Thibault sighed deeply. “You mustn’t let yourself become overwrought. Cooper is an impulsive fledgling, rearing with hatred for witches stemmed from Dubois’ long, distasteful history of violence. Your impulse made you appear weak.”
“I think I delivered my message effectively.”
Thibault laughed low, and the sound was like an ancient song, beautiful and full of hidden power. “Believe what you want, Alexei. But your overreaction no doubt scared away the vampire I wanted you to meet. Luca Castillo heads the Hartford Court, working closely with Trystan on occasion, but your recklessness brought that lead to a screeching halt.”
Jade stiffened imperceptivity, but Thibault caught the movement.
He sighed, holding out his hand unsmilingly. “I’m afraid I’m being rude. I’m Thibault Rittoli.”
She glanced at his hand, delicately grasping it for a moment before dropping hers back to her side. “Nice to meet you. Rittoli? As in the Vampire Court in Venice?”
“Guilty as charged, I’m afraid. I’m sure the exploits of my Court are nearly as infamous as Alexei’s,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Now that pleasantries are out of the way, let us get to the heart of the matter.”
Gone was the charm and in its place someone who would not be denied.
In the darkened basement, a wet chill brushed over Jade’s skin, and she shivered delicately. I took off my coat and placed it around her shoulders before refocusing my attention on Thibault. The vampire merely watched Jade and me with undisguised suspicion.
“You know I came to discuss Trystan and his recent skirmishes waged across the state with creatures, but then your vampire guest destroyed my evening plans.” Tapping a finger to my fang, I added, “Perhaps the night isn’t a total loss. As per vampire law, I can question my prisoner, inquiring into the matter myself.”
Thibault's brows nearly rose to his hairline before a shaken laugh escaped. “Oh, Alexei. Your brazenness never ceases to amaze. Youhavegone soft. If you are staging a coup on Trystan, you will have to do better than a mere fledgling from his Court.”
“A coup? Hardly.” I speared a glare at him, fighting the violence still simmering under my skin. “It is imperative that I retrieve this pertinent information before any true damage can be done. My father would surely disapprove of an all-out war breaking out because of a prominent Court under his rule.”
