Crimson Crown

by Amy Patrick

  My heart plummeted then sprang back up again, feeling like a living yo-yo in my chest.

  “Now I’m scared.”

  “You shouldn’t be. You’d be an amazing mom.”

  Whether that was true or not wasn’t the issue. Yes, the thought of motherhood being a real possibility was wonderful, but I was suddenly aware this development wouldn’t make the world safer for vampires—it would only make it more dangerous.

  I didn’t want to bring a child into that kind of world. I didn’t want Larkin’s child to be in danger either—or any other vampire baby.

  There was no way I could stand by and do nothing or wait any longer. It was time to act. I had to reach out to President Parker and somehow convince him to stop persecuting vampires in this country before this brand-new generation was born.

  “Will you give your blood to the other females?” Larkin asked. “I mean, it could make us a thriving race again. Before long we could catch up to the humans in number. Or do you still agree with Sadie’s belief that the race was meant to go extinct?”

  I didn’t even have to think about my answer. “No—I don’t think that anymore. How can I? I loved Sadie, but she was wrong. Your baby is proof positive the vampire race is supposed to exist and to go on. So yes, I’ll share my blood with the other women. Seeing how happy you are just underlines for me that it’s a gift—how could I keep it all for myself?”

  Larkin beamed. “Sadie was right about one thing—you really are our last and greatest hope.”

  “Which terrifies me,” I admitted. “But I can’t run away from this any longer. It was my destiny to be queen all along.”

  I let out a small, desperate sounding laugh.

  “What is it?” Larkin asked.

  “Reece is going to be so smug about this.”

  “Yeah, you might get the ‘I told you so’ treatment. So, you’re planning to tell him about the baby?”

  “I think I have to. Even if I’m not pregnant, I’ll need his help in dealing with Parker and his goons. As for telling other people... maybe it’s good you haven’t told the father yet, especially if you can’t trust him not to brag about his amazing virility. This is great news, but it’s also a powder keg. We should keep it under wraps for now. I don’t want there to be any chance of President Parker getting wind of it before we’re ready. I thought the sex tape would make him feel threatened—this will make him go ballistic. There will be a time and place to share the news. Will you trust me to choose it?”

  Larkin rolled her eyes. “Of course I trust you. Why do you think you’re the only person I’ve told?”

  “Good. So does that mean you’re also going to tell me who the baby’s father is?”

  Larkin cringed, but the pained expression was followed by a grin.

  “I will... but you’re not going to believe it.”

  18

  Something Better to Think About

  Reece

  My belly boiled with nerves, and my heart felt like it weighed a thousand pounds as I walked to Abbi’s chambers.

  She’d summoned me, and I had an ominous feeling about the reason behind it.

  Her first Bloodbound liaison with Jason a few days ago had been interrupted, but the need for the carnal visits hadn’t changed. The threat against our race from hostile humans was still growing, and our defensive forces were still dwindling.

  She was going to ask me to select another soldier—or tell me she’d chosen someone from among the ranks.

  I knew it was necessary. What I didn’t know was how I was going to stand it. I could never join the defectors and leave the Bastion—leave her—but I honestly wasn’t sure I could survive for eternity, standing by while she took a succession of lovers.

  I’d go insane and have to be put down like a rogue.

  Why had I convinced her to take on the role and duties of queen? Survival of the species was a noble goal—in theory.

  In reality, it was breaking my heart one jagged piece at a time.

  Nodding to the guards outside her door, I went in, that battered heart pounding in my ears like the bass of my Charger’s sound system.

  You can do this. One night at a time. Whatever she says, keep your cool.

  I found Abbi sitting at the end of her bed. She looked gorgeous, as always. Tonight she wore a skirt with a black bandeau top that exposed her shoulders as well as her waist and stomach, which made it even more painful to picture her with one of my so-called brothers.

  No doubt whichever lucky fellow found himself here alone with her later tonight would be gaping at every luscious inch of exposed skin. An involuntary growl rolled through my chest.

  Calm. Down.

  Don’t think about it.

  “My queen,” I said in a tone of barely controlled fury. “You summoned me?”

  Abbi actually laughed. “Did someone pee in your blood bag or something?”

  Working to modulate my voice, I said, “I’m sorry. I was just thinking of something that made me angry.”

  “Well, let me give you something better to think about then.”

  For a moment I got my hopes up. Had she summoned me for that reason? But then she stood and walked away from the bed.

  “I have some news...”

  Oh God, here it was. She was going to tell me about the next Bloodbound who’d be called to her quarters for his turn.

  “I’m not sure how to lead into this gently, so I’m just going to say it... Larkin is pregnant.”

  I think my eyes literally bulged from my head. “What?”

  Of all the things I’d been expecting Abbi to say, that wasn’t even in the team picture.

  “How? I mean, I know how babies are made, but I thought it was impossible for vampires.”

  She shook her head. “Nope, it’s very possible. She may be only a week or two from delivering.”

  Shaking my head, I mumbled, “Kannon, you dog.”

  “Wait... you knew?”

  “I suspected. He acted too strangely when I said her name. Plus I know what a guy looks like when he’s in love—I see it every time I look in the mirror. So... what does this mean? Is Larkin Sadie’s daughter or something?”

  “No, but that’s a really good guess. Remember when I gave her my blood after she was shot? She had it in her system, and that made her fertile.”

  “But... wouldn’t she have to be with like, lots of guys?” I asked.

  “She says Kannon was the only one.”

  I thought for a minute. “Imogen must have made up the part about needing a swarm so she could justify keeping all the most eligible males for herself in what amounted to a harem.”

  “Exactly. And while she shared her blood with them in an attempt to make them fertile so she could get pregnant, she never shared it with any of the females.”

  “I don’t think a more selfish woman ever lived. I’m glad the cure killed her. Speaking of that, has Larkin made any more progress?”

  “Not really, but it doesn’t matter anymore,” Abbie said. “I’m going to tell her to stop working on it. I don’t know why I couldn’t see it earlier—vampires don’t need to be fixed or changed. What we need is a blood substitute, so we don’t deplete the human race. It’s more important now than ever... because I think there’s going to be a vampire baby boom.”

  Very slowly, a smile overtook my lips. I let out a bark of laughter and then a whoop, grabbing Abbi’s shoulders.

  “I knew it. I knew it was meant to be. You’ve saved us.”

  She blushed. “Well not quite yet. I can help vampires procreate, but I’ve still got to figure out a way to keep them safe from the humans who hate them. It can’t wait any longer—I have to talk to Parker. He’s not going to change—and we can’t just sit here and wait for him to find us and slaughter our people or send them all to prison camps.”

  My elation dimmed. “He won’t like this development—at all. He and the other haters are going to see it as a dire threat to the human race. It might even speed up his attempt
to eradicate us and win him even more support from the humans who are scared of us or just plain don’t like us.”

  “I agree, which is why I’m not going to tell him about Larkin’s baby,” Abbie said. “But I am going to try one more time to reason with him. He knows the sex tapes are real—maybe the guilt alone will be enough to get him to listen to reason. It’s a risk, but we have to know once and for all if there can be peace with him or if it’s going to come to war.”

  I frowned. “I’m afraid I already know which one of the two it’ll be.”

  “Me too, which is why I’m hoping my best Bloodbound soldier will accompany me when I meet with him.”

  19

  No Time to Cry

  Abbi

  Unfortunately the president had no intention of meeting with me, which became clear when we spoke by phone.

  Reece and I drove to Washington D.C. two hours away to make the call. I certainly didn’t want to make it from the Bastion or anywhere near it, in case the call was traced.

  To keep the cell signal from being triangulated, Reece kept the car in motion while I made the call on a burner phone. We could get out of the city quickly enough when it was done.

  If the call was traced to a location right there in D.C., we figured the Secret Service and other authorities would be freaked out enough that they’d thoroughly scrub the city before spreading out and searching the surrounding cities and states.

  Knowing better than to identify myself as queen of the vampires, I told the White House operator I was the head of the VHC—which was probably the only reason Parker took the call.

  “Sadie?” His voice sounded incredulous. “I’d heard you met with an unfortunate accident—I guess I was misinformed.”

  “Hello Mr. President. This is Abigail Byler. I’m the new head of the Vampire-Human Coalition of America.”

  Now he sounded amused. And much more relaxed.

  “Miss Byler, I’m not sure how you can be the new leader of the Vampire-Human Coalition since there’s no longer any such organization.”

  Channeling my inner Sadie, I kept my tone low and even. “I assure you there is, sir, and we are just as committed as ever to preserving and increasing peace and cooperation between the races. Which is why I’d like to schedule a meeting with you to discuss our grievances and talk about how we can work together to better uphold the tenets of the Crimson Accord.”

  The man had the gall to chuckle. “You may have a handful of delusional do-gooders with you, but after that unfortunate incident in Los Angeles, my sources tell me the majority of your members are either dead or scattered to the wind and hiding. You simply don’t have the numbers, honey—which means there’s just no reason for me to waste my valuable time taking a meeting with you.”

  Ugh. He was so smug, so sure he’d won.

  “I can think of a few reasons. One—it’s the right thing to do. If that doesn’t interest you, then maybe you’d be interested in a flash drive that’s come into my possession. It contains some rather shocking footage of vampire prostitutes and a prominent politician who’s built his entire platform on stoking human hatred of vampires.”

  All traces of humor left Parker’s voice. “There is no such footage. Even if there was, it wouldn’t matter—I’m untouchable. My supporters are so loyal I’m practically a god to them. They’re more invested in me than the country itself. I’m the greatest president in American history, and you—you are no one but a nasty little vamp.”

  I honestly thought he was going to hang up on me following his rant, but after a pause, he asked, “Where’d you say that new headquarters is located?”

  “I didn’t. I urge you to reconsider your position on this, Mr. President. We want peace between the species, but not at any cost. I’m not going to stand by forever while my people are mistreated and discriminated against.”

  His tone shifted from boredom to malice. “Are you threatening me, young lady? The last uppity female vamp who threatened me found herself on the crispy side of the bed.”

  I sucked in a sharp breath, unable to speak for a moment. He’d just basically confessed to Sadie’s murder.

  There was no working with this man. He was pure evil. He was never going to come to any sort of terms with us.

  Reece and Kannon had been right all along—it was going to come to war.

  “You did it, didn’t you?” I said. “You killed one of the kindest souls to ever walk this earth. You’re not going to get away with it.”

  “And you,” he said with a sneer I could literally hear over the phone, “have just made a threat against the life of a sitting president. By the way, while we’ve been speaking, I had my people look you up. You’re a wanted criminal, Miss Byler. You dropped off the radar there for a while, but you better believe you’re smack dab in the center of it now with a big old bullseye on your back.”

  I ended the call and threw the burner phone out the car window. Then Reece backed up the car and rolled it forward, crushing the phone under its front tire before getting on the highway.

  Just in case, we switched vehicles outside the city before driving home to the Bastion.

  When we were on the highway, Reece looked over at me. “That didn’t sound good.”

  “No. Not at all. He’s definitely not open to peace talks. And now that I’ve provoked him and identified myself, he’s not going to rest until he finds me. When we get home, I want you to arrange a gathering of the Bastion’s full population.”

  “Of course. What are you going to tell them? That we’re going to war with the humans? You know I’ll back you whatever you decide, and I’ll defend you to the death, but I don’t have to tell you that our troop numbers are far too low. It’s going to be a mismatch of epic proportions.”

  “Trust me,” I said. “I have a plan.”

  Before facing the Bastion’s citizens and making perhaps the most important speech of my life, I took a few minutes to gather my thoughts then opened Sadie’s journal for one last bit of inspiration.

  The entries skipped around through the years. While it was fascinating to read about her alliance with President John F. Kennedy that led to the signing of the Crimson Accord, I turned to the final entry in her journal. It was dated during the time Kelly, Heather, and I worked at the VHC.

  * * *

  I haven’t entirely given up on peace between vampires and humans, but it seems the struggle is never-ending. I am weary of the fight.

  Sometimes I wonder if my sister was right all along. Perhaps I should have focused more on the power that comes with vampirism and been proud of who we are instead of apologizing and trying to acclimate to the rigid standards of human society.

  The fact is, we are different, and perhaps those differences should be celebrated instead of sanitized.

  I am coming to the point where I must admit my peace-at-all-costs approach has been too costly. I’m afraid I have failed the vampire race.

  But I do still have hope. I believe I have found the one who is going to save all our people. Surprisingly, she is Imogen’s child, but she is not like my sister. Not like me, either.

  Abigail is unique, and I truly believe she will change the world with her own unique approach.

  * * *

  Closing the book, I held it to my chest and breathed in and out slowly as I fought tears. Swiping at my face, I blinked them away. This was no time to cry.

  It was time to address my people, to learn whether Sadie’s faith in me was justified and if Imogen had chosen well when she decided to claim me as her heir.

  Rising from the bed, I strode toward the door and then down the corridor that led to the Grand Dome.

  Only one way to find out.

  20

  The Power of Our People

  Reece

  The last time the Grand Dome had been this full was Abbi’s first address to the citizens of the Bastion. I desperately hoped tonight’s speech would go better, but I feared it would not.

  The news she’d delivered bef
ore was at least hopeful—that there might be a cure and that they were all going to be okay.

  Now she couldn’t say either of those things. The cure had turned out to be a bust, and Parker was more motivated than ever to ferret out our stronghold.

  Eventually he’d succeed.

  No doubt the U.S. military would be joining his private army in the search. They knew we had to shelter from the sunlight during the day and had already searched some of the region’s other caverns.

  It wouldn't be long before they found this one.

  Though I would stand by Abbi no matter what she did or said to the people tonight, I was afraid she’d waited too late to give the people the war they wanted. Our own military forces had waned to the point we stood no chance.

  In contrast, the population of civilians in the Bastion had grown exponentially. Looking out over the sea of faces in the Grand Dome tonight, I was nearly overwhelmed by the size of the crowd.

  So many. So many lives at risk.

  There was a dull roar of conversation as the gathered vampires speculated on why their new queen had called them together. It quieted when she entered the auditorium chamber.

  Unlike the first time Abbi had stood before her people, there was no shaking. Her hands and her voice were completely calm.

  She stood for a moment, surveying the assembly. Then she spoke, loud and clear.

  “My friends… I have promised you that I would lead you to the best of my ability and do so with honesty. The truth tonight is that I come before you with bad news. I have spoken with President Parker. His hatred for our kind has only grown, and he has been emboldened by the destruction of the VHC headquarters and by the assassination of its leader, Imogen’s sister Sadie, who was my dear friend. In fact, Parker claimed responsibility for both and has no remorse.”

  Abbi took a long pause, her expression growing sad. “Sadie believed in peace, and so do I... to a point. I want us to have peace, but if the vampire people are going to survive and thrive, we must also have power.”