The Suck Stops Here
Page 28
The screen went blank.
Donna exhaled. The first hard part was over. Now the second hard part had begun.
The waiting.
Fitzhugh stormed off, but Donna took a seat on the couch. She didn’t know if the council would be gone for five minutes or five hours, but she wanted to be here the moment that screen flashed to life again. Her crucifix was tucked beneath her sweater. Her hand went to it out of her need for comfort and reassurance.
Her sister and friends joined her, but Cammie moved out of the way when Queen Francesca approached.
She sat beside Donna. “That went well, don’t you think?”
“I honestly don’t know. Maybe. I hope so.” But Donna had a knot in her belly the size of Texas. There was no way of knowing what the council would do. She’d already seen that firsthand.
“Fitzhugh didn’t come through that unscathed. The council will realize that he is playing them. If they don’t, they are idiots. And even if he owns one of them, that one purchased vote does not a ruling make.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Marcus approached, stopping at a respectful distance. “Are you ready for us to make the official announcement now that the hearings are done? I know you wished to wait for the verdict, but it seems to me things will go in your favor. We would let the council know as soon as they return.”
She stared at him for a moment, not really knowing what her answer should be. She appreciated his confidence in the outcome, however. “Can I have a minute?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
He slipped away, leaving her to think.
“You haven’t asked me,” Francesca said, “but I’m going to give you my advice anyway.”
Donna smiled. “I’m happy to hear it.”
“Make the announcement. Marcus is right. The council is going to rule in your favor. You might as well accept that victory as queen. And it will keep Fitzhugh from overreacting when he loses. He may be an egotistical idiot, but I don’t think even he would lash out at his new monarch with the council watching.”
“Great point,” Charlie said. “Put him in his place as soon as possible.”
“I hadn’t considered that.” Donna was glad to have the royal counsel. Especially if Donna really was going to take over Artemis’s spot on the throne, which seemed like a done deal now. “Thank you. I’m so glad we met.”
Francesca smiled. “Not as glad as I am. So many of the vampires I know are terribly boring. You are not.”
Donna laughed. “High praise.” She glanced over at Marcus, caught his attention, and nodded her approval.
He nodded back.
A server came around to see if anyone wanted anything to drink, and as everyone answered, Donna realized the atmosphere in the great hall had become rather festive. Did everyone think like Francesca and Marcus did? That the council was about to find in Donna’s favor? It seemed that way. Maybe she was being overly pessimistic.
She asked for a glass of red wine and tried to think good thoughts.
Charlie reached into her bag and pulled out Donna’s phone. Donna had asked her to hold it during the hearing, as she hadn’t wanted to worry about a purse. “I thought I felt something vibrating.”
“Thanks.” Donna took it and looked at the screen. A text from Ishalan.
How did it go?
I don’t know yet. Waiting to hear. Thank you for your part. That was brilliant. I’m sure it helped.
You are very welcome.
She left the phone on her lap. All around her, her friends were rehashing their favorite parts of the hearing. Francine looked pretty pleased with herself. Bunni seemed to be whining about not getting a chance to say anything. Temo was praising Neo for her part.
It was all business as usual.
Something inside her lightened at that thought, and she smiled. It was going to be okay. It had all worked out last time, hadn’t it? There was no reason to think it would go any differently this time. Especially with the evidence she’d had to offer.
Even the council couldn’t argue with Fitzhugh’s own words. Recording him might have been a little underhanded, but it had also been genius. Without that, they might be looking at a very different outcome.
The server returned with their drinks, handing her a glass of red wine.
Francesca lifted her glass. “To the newest head to wear the crown and my new friend, Belladonna.”
With a smile, Donna raised her glass. Mary and Joseph, was she really doing this? Really about to become queen? Apparently, she was. Time to stop fighting it and start accepting it. There was so much work to be done to behave otherwise.
“Will you move here?” Francesca asked. “You are about to inherit this property, after all.”
“I hadn’t even thought about it,” Donna answered. Her friends, especially her staff, were all looking at her. She shook her head. “I can’t answer that yet.”
It would put her closer to Christina’s soon-to-be in-laws. And Donna had a feeling her daughter and Noah would end up living near his parents if he were next in line to take over the Indiana pack.
“You will be able to travel easily back and forth, if that’s what’s worrying you,” Francesca said.
Donna considered that. “I suppose so. But it still takes a couple of days to get from here to New Jersey.”
Francesca smiled. “Not when you have your own plane.”
“A plane?”
“All royalty have them.” She laughed. “Did you think Artemis went by motorcoach as well?”
“I…hadn’t really thought about it.”
“Much like I do, she has residences all over the country. How else is a vampire queen supposed to rule if she can’t have a safe place to stay when she travels? All of those will be yours as well, I would imagine. Ask Marcus. He’ll know.”
“I will. Although I’m sure he’ll explain everything to me the moment we have a second to sit down and really go over it all.” Artemis had always shown up as though she’d been right next door, but Donna hadn’t really considered that she might own a place nearby.
Donna couldn’t lie. The idea that she might be able to travel like that held great appeal. Maybe being queen wouldn’t be quite as hard as she thought. Not with perks like a private plane and multiple residences.
The tone of the room changed suddenly, and Donna realized the screen had flickered to life. The council was back.
So were her nerves. They came rushing over her with a shudder. She exhaled slowly, trying to flush them from her system.
She stood, handing off her wine to Charlie’s outstretched hand. Everyone else quickly got up as well. Fitzhugh wasn’t back yet, but one of the queen’s staff dashed out of the room, presumably to get him.
The council was still taking their seats.
Marcus stepped up to face them, standing stiff-backed and tall while he waited to be acknowledged.
Fitzhugh returned with his admin and donor, the staff member who had gone to get him trailing behind. Apparently, he was eager to hear the outcome as well.
Marcus cleared his throat softly, and the councilman looked up.
“Yes? Is there something you wish to say, Proctor?”
“There is, Your Honor. As you know, I am—that is, I was Queen Artemis’s deputy. As such, I have just carried out her last will and wishes. Because of that, I have something I need to share with you.”
“Again, our condolences. Please, go on.”
“Thank you. Queen Artemis left a letter detailing who she is leaving her throne to. I can now announce that the person she chose has not only accepted the throne, but has also inherited Artemis’s estate and all of her personal holdings.” He lifted his head a little higher. “I am pleased to announce our new monarch is Belladonna Barrone.”
The crowd began to applaud and give Donna a lot of mostly happy looks, but they quickly went silent as the councilman banged the gavel to restore order.
She snuck a look at Fitzhugh. If he could have kill
ed her with a thought, she imagined her night would have already ended. He somehow looked pale and also red-faced. Could a vampire have a heart attack? If so, she hoped Marcus had 911 on speed dial. Or not.
The councilman spoke. “That is…quite interesting. You will provide us with a copy of that letter?”
Marcus pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “It’s been sent.”
“Very well. Is there anything else?”
What else could follow that? Donna thought. At least the Prime would be happy. He’d gotten what he wanted. Even if it hadn’t happened the way he’d wanted. Although why hadn’t he responded to her voice mail? There’d been no other messages when she’d responded to the one from Ishalan.
Marcus shook his head. “Not at this time.”
“Then we will announce our verdicts in the two hearings. If the parties involved would step forward.”
Marcus moved out of the way so that Donna and Fitzhugh could come before the council. Which they did, keeping an arm’s length between each other.
“In the matter of Barrone versus Fitzhugh, the claim of conduct unbecoming, we find Hawke Fitzhugh guilty. We sentence him to be censured for a period of six months. Should there be any further conduct unbecoming during that time, the council will reconsider what actions to take.”
It was a slap on the wrist, but he’d still been found guilty. And he’d probably be on his best behavior for the next six months, so that was a good thing. Donna bit her tongue to keep from smiling.
“In the matter of Fitzhugh versus Barrone, the claim of causing the queen’s death, we find Belladonna Barrone—”
The councilwoman next to the speaking member nudged him, then leaned closer and whispered something.
He nodded once, then resumed. “We find Queen Belladonna Barrone guilty. We thereby sentence her to death, but with extenuating circumstances.”
Donna stared at the screen, unable to breathe or think or speak. The room was closing down around her, her vision narrowing and her hearing going tinny. Pain radiated through her chest. She opened her mouth, trying to get more air.
“Because of those circumstances, we shall allow the queen to die by the method of her own choosing. Queen Belladonna, you have twenty-four hours to decide your end. Thus concludes these hearings.”
The screen went black.
And Donna passed out.
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If you loved the book and want to see the series grow, tell a friends about the book and take time to leave a review!
Other Books By Kristen Painter
PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION
First Fangs Club Series:
Sucks To Be Me
Suck It Up Buttercup
Sucker Punch
The Suck Stops Here
* * *
COZY MYSTERY:
Jayne Frost Series:
Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case: A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Ices The Imp: A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Saves The Sandman: A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Cracks A Caper: A Nocturne Falls Mystery
When Birdie Babysat Spider: A Jayne Frost Short
Miss Frost Braves The Blizzard: A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Says I Do: A Nocturne Falls Mystery
* * *
HappilyEverlasting Series:
Witchful Thinking
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PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Nocturne Falls Series:
The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride
The Werewolf Meets His Match
The Gargoyle Gets His Girl
The Professor Woos The Witch
The Witch’s Halloween Hero – short story
The Werewolf’s Christmas Wish – short story
The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée
The Vampire’s Valentine Surprise – short story
The Shifter Romances The Writer
The Vampire’s True Love Trials – short story
The Vampire’s Accidental Wife
The Reaper Rescues The Genie
The Detective Wins The Witch
The Vampire’s Priceless Treasure
The Werewolf Dates The Deputy
The Siren Saves The Billionaire
* * *
Shadowvale Series:
The Trouble With Witches
The Vampire’s Cursed Kiss
The Forgettable Miss French
Moody And The Beast
* * *
Sin City Collectors Series
Queen Of Hearts
Dead Man’s Hand
Double or Nothing
* * *
Standalone Paranormal Romance:
Dark Kiss of the Reaper
Heart of Fire
Recipe for Magic
Miss Bramble and the Leviathan
All Fired Up
* * *
URBAN FANTASY
* * *
The House of Comarré series:
* * *
Forbidden Blood
Blood Rights
Flesh and Blood
Bad Blood
Out For Blood
Last Blood
* * *
The Crescent City series:
House of the Rising Sun
City of Eternal Night
Garden of Dreams and Desires
Nothing is completed without an amazing team.
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Many thanks to:
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Cover design: Janet Holmes
Interior Formating: Gem Promotions
Editor: Joyce Lamb
Copyedits/proofs: Chris Kridler
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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USA Today Best Selling Author Kristen Painter is a little obsessed with cats, books, chocolate, and shoes. It’s a healthy mix. She loves to entertain her readers with interesting twists and unforgettable characters. She currently writes the best-selling paranormal romance series, Nocturne Falls, and award-winning urban fantasy. The former college English teacher can often be found all over social media where she loves to interact with readers.
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For more information go to www.kristenpainter.com
For More Paranormal Women’s Fiction Visit:
www.paranormalwomensfiction.net