Death of Gods (Vampire Crown Book 3)

by Scarlett Dawn

  Well, fuck.

  My fangs lengthened inside my mouth. I kept my lips tightly closed and lifted my cell phone from my pocket. I opened the file Harmony had sent me on Lord Belshazzar’s personal lovers throughout history. I scrolled down the list, all of them from over a thousand years ago—odd that—and I scowled when I saw “Chester” on the screen.

  I tapped on his name and the information of their time together appeared. A lethal growl grew inside my chest, but I bit it back. They had only been lovers for a few months, nothing serious, but they hadn’t slept with anyone else at the time either.

  My fangs itched to take a bite out of Chester’s neck.

  This is what I got for being with someone Lord Belshazzar’s age. Someone who lived that long had many varied lovers throughout time. And the fuckers popped up out of the blue when you least expected it.

  The silence weighting the air finally hit me.

  I snapped my head up and glanced around.

  Everyone was looking at me.

  Lord Belshazzar was even tilted to the side and reading the information on my screen over my shoulder.

  I quickly hit the button on the side of my cell phone, turned it off, and pocketed it. I cleared my throat, and stated calmly, “My apologies.”

  Lord Belshazzar gradually leaned back, straightening to his full height. He lifted a black brow in silent question about what he had read—and how I had gotten it—but only stated, “Chester asked you a question, your majesty.”

  Perfect. His ex-lover was talking to me.

  I turned my attention to the redhead below me and keeping my tone wonderfully pleasant, I asked, “What was your question?”

  If my fangs were still showing a little, I couldn’t help it. The fuckers wouldn’t go away while I looked at the handsome—and criminal—druid.

  Chester’s lips twitched. “I asked your majesty if you were enjoying your new position as queen.”

  Why the hell were we even talking to this man?

  “Yes, I enjoy it immensely.” I peered down my nose at him, but my tone was as sweet as pie. “Tell me, are you enjoying your new position as our prisoner, Chester? I understand Lord Cato gave you a warm welcome. I’m sure we can arrange it again if you’d like? Perhaps I’ll join him this time.”

  I smiled.

  Lord Otto coughed quietly behind me in warning.

  All civility left Chester’s features. His lips thinned.

  My grin only grew, fangs showing blatantly.

  Lord Belshazzar moved quickly, trotting down the stairs, and drawing Chester’s attention to himself. “Well, enough of the pleasantries. We have work to do.”

  Chester’s crystal blue eyes flicked up at me, then back to the Overlord walking toward him. His tone was droll, as he muttered, “Yes, it was so delightful. We should get to work before your new queen decides she dislikes me even more.” He even tilted toward Lord Belshazzar when he stopped next to him like they were still best companions, and whispered, “What the fuck did I do to her? Have I killed someone she knows or some shit?”

  Lord Belshazzar shook his head and placed his hand on our prisoner’s shoulder. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Let’s focus on what needs to be done, and you’ll be free to leave then.”

  I stared at where my lover was touching him.

  Did he really need to do that? I mean, come on.

  Lord Otto placed his hand at the small of my back and started herding—gently shoving—me down the stairs so the rest of them could move down the stairs, too.

  I didn’t want to go anywhere near Chester.

  I might kill him. And that wouldn’t help right now.

  Maybe later? Hmm.

  Yes, maybe later. Then I might kill him.

  We followed the procession of Lord Belshazzar, Chester, and vampire guards. My father swiftly maneuvered himself to stand by my side, cast a reprimanding glance in my direction, and looped his arm through mine—as if to keep me from doing anything else he deemed reckless.

  I sniffed and looked forward.

  We stopped inside a lone cavern room. The shape was flawlessly circular, crafted with care. The space was completely bare except for the many lights hanging from the black rock ceiling and the pile of ingredients in the center of the room.

  Lord Belshazzar and Chester strolled to the pile of goods while the rest of the Royals fanned out against the walls in a ring around them. The guards left the room as silently as they had entered. My father still didn’t leave my side, his grip hard on my arm. The two spell-casters walked around the ingredients, inspecting them.

  Chester stopped at ‘the head.’ His lips twitched, and he grumbled, “Lord Cato didn’t mention this was who I’d be working on. Surprise, surprise.”

  “Will it be a problem?” Lord Belshazzar probed and squatted next to the feathers. He lifted one and examined it. “Dead is dead, right?”

  “No, not a problem. I’m just happy…” His lips curved up into a smile that made him appear even more innocent. “Actually, I’m fucking thrilled that jackass is dead.”

  “I thought you might be.” Lord Belshazzar lowered the feather back to the ground and straightened to tower over our prisoner. “Will you behave if I release you?”

  His red eyebrows lifted. “Does it matter? No matter what, you’ll need to remove the spelled chains for the spell to work correctly.”

  Chilling, ice blue eyes drilled into his gaze. “You will behave, Chester. If you try any shit, I won’t be happy with you.”

  “Good God. I get it. I get it. Don’t hurt any of your precious people. Blah, blah, blah.” He lifted his hands between them. “Just remove the freaking chains and quit giving me your scary look. You know it doesn’t work on me, anyway.”

  Lord Belshazzar ground his teeth together. “Behave, Chester. I mean it.”

  My vampire Overlord lifted a spelled key from his pocket and jammed it into the lock at our prisoner’s wrists, twisting the key. Both sets of chains, at his wrists and ankles, magically unlatched and dropped to the floor. Lord Belshazzar kicked them away from their ingredients and tossed the key away too.

  Chester rubbed at his wrists and wiggled his legs a little in place. “I hate those fucking things.”

  Lord Belshazzar snorted. “Maybe you shouldn’t have killed two guards when they simply asked you what you wanted for dinner.”

  Chester’s freckled nose crinkled. “It was the way they asked it. It wasn’t very kind.” His brows furrowed. “Speaking of that…”

  Our prisoner suddenly disappeared.

  I sucked in a sharp breath. Goddamn druid shit!

  Everyone’s heads snapped left and right, searching the room for our wayward prisoner. Aggravated and confused voices filled the small area, most talking all at once.

  He reappeared right in front of me, with our noses touching. Ruthless crystal blue eyes stared into mine, and he asked quietly, “Why don’t you like me, Queen Gwynnore?”

  My father jerked me to the side in a blur and shoved me behind him, right as Lord Belshazzar’s arm wrapped around Chester’s throat in a chokehold.

  Lord Belshazzar hissed against his ear. “Why don’t you ever fucking listen to me?”

  “Because rules are boring,” Chester choked on air, his face turning tomato red. But, damn, if he didn’t grin. “She’s kinda pretty, don’t ya think? Too bad she owns my death in her eyes right now.”

  He was right.

  My eyes were fiery red as I stared at him from around Lord Cato’s arm, my damn father not letting me by him as he kept shoving me back. I already had a knife in my hand. I really, really wanted to end this sarcastic butcher.

  Lord Belshazzar growled low in his throat. “You know I hate parlor tricks. Don’t try that shit again.” He squeezed his arm tighter around our prisoner’s throat, making him wheeze. “Got it?”

  “Fuck.” Chester coughed hard, wet and long, his eyes bulging. “Okay. Okay.”

  My vampire Overlord didn’t immediately release him. He walked
backward and dragged Chester with him. Only when they were back at the center of the room did he free him. Lord Belshazzar watched his ex-lover bend over and cough in great gulps of oxygen, no remorse on his features.

  My father turned around and faced me. He pointed one sharp finger back at the wall and didn’t speak. His lips were so thin in anger there were creases at the corners. He was a little upset right now.

  Fuck him. That druid had scared me.

  I did take my place back against the wall.

  I didn’t put my knife away. Not going to happen. Not with how fast Chester had appeared in front of me with a goddamn druid parlor trick.

  Chester eventually rose. His wicked smile graced his guileless looks as he turned to the Overlord. Blue eyes clashed, glare for glare. He stated in a croaking voice, “I won’t do the spell until the queen answers me.”

  Lord Belshazzar growled under his breath, but he quickly looked in my direction. “Answer him, your majesty.”

  I twirled my knife through my fingers and quirked one side of my mouth into a semblance of a smile while I analyzed our prisoner. “Does it bother you so much that I dislike you? Is your self-esteem that low?”

  “Queen Gwynnore!” Lord Belshazzar barked, his blue eyes blasting me with a warning to be cautious.

  “What?” I shrugged a shoulder, still twirling my knife. “A question for a question sounds fair.”

  Chester tittered softly. “Guess she doesn’t listen to you, either.”

  “Oh, fuck off.” Lord Belshazzar griped and waved a hand between us. “Fine. Go ahead and make enemies of each other. Both of you will see how far that gets you.”

  Chester rolled his expressive blue eyes and then turned fully in my direction. “I’m naturally curious, your majesty. I don’t honestly care if you dislike me. I merely wanted to know why.”

  I nodded my head once. “I dislike you because everything I do is for my people, while you only care about yourself. You kill anyone you feel like killing, with no regard for them, their families, or who might get hurt in the process. You’re lucky I signed my name on your release papers along with the other Overlords. Had I not, you’d be dead by now. You harm what I protect, and I don’t like that.”

  I didn’t mention anything about my jealousy. I’d wanted the bastard dead even before I’d known about their love affair. He needed to be dead.

  His crystal blue eyes twinkled in amusement. “Thank God you need me for that spell then.”

  “Yes, you’re fortunate that we need you.”

  He lifted a finger into the air. “I think you’ll be a great queen, your majesty.”

  “And I don’t give a fuck, Chester.” I pointed my knife to the ingredients. “You have a spell to do now.”

  He grinned. “I do have one more question for you.”

  I sighed with aggravation. My eyes flashed red. “What do you want to know now?”

  “Actually, it’s not really a question.” He shrugged. “And since you’re a Royal, I’m allowed to discuss it with you per my contract. You know all of those innocent people I’ve killed? Well, the men standing around you are the ones who ordered the hits. I am merely the weapon they use to do their dirty work.”

  My jaw slowly started to fall open.

  That couldn’t be right.

  He laughed outright. “Still want to kill me?”

  I jerked my attention to Lord Belshazzar, my question in my startled blue eyes. I lowered my knife to my side, waiting for his answer.

  My vampire Overlord’s nose scrunched adorably. “Your majesty, they weren’t innocents. They were enemies, I give you my word.”

  “Oh my God.” I tossed my hands up into the air, thoroughly vexed right now. “Why the hell haven’t I been told about him yet? All of you made me look like a damned fool.” I pointed my knife at our prisoner. “In front of someone who fucking works for us!”

  Lord Cato grabbed my knife and jammed it back in the sheath at my thigh. “We’ve been a little busy, your majesty, as you well know. Giving you our assassins list hasn’t been the priority.”

  “A little heads up would have been helpful,” I snarled. I crossed my arms over my chest and studied the druid. His job was no different than my assistant’s past. “Why aren’t you just helping us instead of putting up a fight like you’ve been doing?”

  “As I told Lord Belshazzar, rules are boring. I live my own life and take the jobs I want.”

  My lover rubbed at his forehead in exasperation. “He barely does what we tell him anyway when he does take the job. And he is extremely dangerous when someone pisses him off. Like the two fucking guards that he killed a day ago!”

  I stared at the prisoner’s head. I blinked. “He has red hair.”

  CHESTER CAST A SAUCY WINK IN MY DIRECTION. “Thanks for noticing, your majesty. I get a lot of compliments on the color. Though, I’m not sure what that has to do with anything here.”

  I worried my bottom lip with my teeth.

  Lord Belshazzar groaned and rubbed at his chin with a rough palm, and started pacing back and forth.

  It just spewed out of my mouth, “You fucking said you hated redheads!” My knife was back in my hand. I marched straight at him, my knife pointed at his dick. “You lying sack of shit!”

  Lord Belshazzar danced out of my way on quick feet with his hands held up into the air. “You have the wrong impression, Gwen. Calm down.”

  I swiped at him with my knife, frustrated when he slid to the side for safety. “Bullshit. You told me flat out that you hated them!” Another jab, another escape. I growled quietly. “How the hell is that having the wrong impression, you liar!”

  “Gwen… Little one, stop it.” Lord Belshazzar ducked and spun against the quick flick of my wrist at his head. “Goddammit, he and I were together a long time ago. Before you were even born. It wasn’t anything.”

  Chester stood still in shock, watching us, but he snorted. “Having sex every night for three months straight is something if you ask me.” He teetered his head in thought. “We broke a few beds in the process, too, if memory serves correct.”

  My nostrils flared, and my vision went hazy.

  “I didn’t ask you! Shut the fuck up,” Lord Belshazzar shouted as he tried to grab the knife out of my hands. He missed when I pivoted. His voice tempered as he backed away from my stalking form, explaining, “I do hate redheads now. I promise you. They’re thrown at me left and right. I can’t stand it. I didn’t lie to you.”

  “The head! The head!” Lord Pippin barked. “Don’t step on the head!”

  Lord Belshazzar quickly veered in his backward retreat, missing the king’s head, and his hands rose again. “Gwen, I swear to you I didn’t lie. Breathe through this and really think. You’ve seen me afterward. You know how it is.”

  My long, black hair flew over my shoulders as I stopped fast in my tracks. I drew my brows together as the vision of him puking into a toilet the night of his work fuck entered my mind. All that pain he experienced by doing his job.

  He never puked after having sex with me.

  Was that really why he was ill?

  Because of the sex he’d had?

  Was that what he was saying?

  I lifted my blue eyes to his and sheathed my knife. I opened my mouth, and muttered, “Oh...”

  It still didn’t make any sense, though.

  Was that anxiety barfing?

  I’d never heard of that for a vampire.

  I blinked. “I’m confused.”

  Chester snorted. “And now I know why you really wanted to kill me.” He snickered. “Now who’s the liar?”

  I flipped him off but kept my attention on my lover. I tilted my head to where my father was. My words were hollow and muddled even to my own ears. “I’m going to go stand over there now.”

  Lord Belshazzar’s brows lowered over his eyes. He marched right at me. “Are you all right?”

  I backpedaled quickly and held up a stopping hand, halting him in his tracks. “I just…n
eed a moment.” I shook my head. “That was all a bit much for me. I’m a little fazed right now. Adrenaline pumping and all that nonsense, I’m sure.” I nodded quickly and walked backward to where my father stood.

  My back slammed against the wall, with one of my shoulders even lying on top of Lord Cato’s bicep. He didn’t move away from me, letting me lean on him. I waved a hand, and mumbled, “Go on ahead. Spell away, my lord.”

  Maybe vampires did get anxiety…

  Or, perhaps, I was just…falling for the devil.

  Fuck. Me.

  ‘Cause that was indeed how I’d just acted.

  Like, falling-falling for him.

  That was a little fast even for me.

  Lord Belshazzar started walking toward me again, with worry imprinted on his features, his eyes running over me from head to toe.

  Lord Cato held up the stopping hand this time. “Just give her a little space, my lord. Like she asked for.” It wasn’t really a request, but he said it kindly enough.

  My lover scanned my face once more and then nodded. All personal emotion fell from his features and was replaced by cool cunning, the Overlord staring at me. He pivoted on his feet and turned to face our prisoner.

  Lord Belshazzar stated, “Are you ready to work now that the show’s over?”

  Chester’s lips trembled in humor. “I don’t know. If the drama continues, I’ll demand some popcorn.”

  The Overlord swiped his left hand through the air. “Let’s get to work before that actually happens.”

  The vampire Overlord and the druid assassin circled the ingredients, once more studying them. They finally sat down, one on either side of the pile, and faced each other.

  With meticulous care, they placed four total rocks around them. One to the north, the east, the south, and the west, all in their geographical direction from where they were taken. Then the real fun began.

  Chester’s eyes turned golden as his power flared inside the room and Lord Belshazzar’s gaze burned blood red as his own power whispered in the air.

  They moved as one as they began chanting words of magic, their hands lifting over the pile. I jerked in place as two flares of power shot down from their palms, the spell so heady it began to steal the air from the room, pulling in the wind from the open cavern door. Their mouths were moving, but I could no longer hear the exact words, only hints on the breeze, uncatchable and indecipherable.