by Mandi Casey
Liam spoke once we were at a more comfortable distance away. “What’s her deal? I know she’s in charge of the king and his niece tonight, but what’s her bag with you?”
“I’m not sure, Liam. I’ve had these visions of rogues getting together and planning an attack. But Blake didn’t think it was a good idea to tell the Judges. So don’t say anything to anyone, okay?”
Liam’s face went blank.
“Well, the last few nights I’ve been having these spells. It’s like I’m transported to somewhere else. I’m inside of the rogue compound, the one the lightning demons held me prisoner in. But there’s no way to be sure what I saw is real. I can’t change my path in the visions, either. It’s like I’m on a direct route to whatever it is I’m meant to see.”
Liam grabbed my upper arm, sending a spiral of pain down the muscle to my wrist, almost causing me to drop my glass of wine.
“Who else have you told about this?” His face was rigid with barely suppressed anger. “Tell me, who have you told?”
“Liam,” I said, trying to pry his hands from my arm. “Let go of me. You’re hurting me.” I was getting scared. Liam should already know about the visions. Maybe it was an oversight because of all the commotion with the happenings of the ball that he wasn’t aware. Kieran was supposed to tell him and his most trusted Knights about my visions. They were supposed to be ready for an impending attack on the ball from the gathering rogues. Liam was in that group of Kieran’s trusted Knights, wasn’t he? Why would Kieran keep something from Liam that may be so integral to the success of the party’s security?
It had to have been a mistake.
Liam relaxed his grip, then let go, leaving red, angry welts in the shape of his fingers on my bare arm. He ran his hands through his hair, leaving it wild looking with tufts on top poking out in every direction. His action made me think of Blake, who did that in times of great distress. What had upset Liam so much?
“Sydney, have you told Kieran about this?”
I didn’t understand why he would ask such a thing. I also didn’t understand why Liam didn’t already know. The coven leader had a lot on his mind with hosting the Blood Rites Ball and having the Elders and the vampire royalty at the party, so I figured he deserved a little slack. But I was all too aware Kieran didn’t forget to do anything. He was the coven leader for a reason. There had to be just cause for Kieran not including Liam in on the news about my visions.
“Of course I have. Liam, everything is going to be fine. Kieran is aware of everything. The wolves are outside making sure the party is safe. Plus, the Judges are here. Nothing is going to happen. This is the safest place for everyone to be right now.”
I could see panic, worry, and anger on his face. Liam quickly scanned over the crowd, his eyes blazing red through his mask.
“Liam.” I grabbed his arm. My stomach started to churn. Something was wrong. He was worried about something and he wasn’t telling me what it was. I was tired of people keeping secrets from me. I didn’t have any special type of link to any of them to know what they were thinking like the rest of them did. Why couldn’t that have been one of the handy Selected powers?
“Hey, what’s got you all upset?” I said, keeping my tone light. I didn’t want him to know how scared I was. “I don’t get it. So far, everything is going smoothly, well, besides the deal with Aaron.” I didn’t know what his problem was, but it was scaring the hell out of me.
“Sydney, I have to go,” he said sharply. “I have something I have to do with the Knights. I’ll see you later.” And then he left. That was weird. Liam was supposed to be my chaperone for the entire night, no matter what. Kieran had ordered him to keep me company and make sure nothing happened to me while I was at the Blood Rites Ball. He was supposed to be my own personal protector.
It wasn’t like Liam to leave, shirking Kieran’s direct orders. Liam was usually the obedient puppy dog, who was well trained and heeled to his master’s every whim. The vampires must be communicating through their blood link, and Liam wasn’t telling me what was going on. Men. I figured that if anything were amiss, Liam would be the first to blab. Well, there went that idea.
I pulled out my cell phone to check in with Blake. I raised my index finger, ready to highlight his name when I heard Kieran’s voice from the crowd.
I carefully wove my way through a few groups of vampires on my ridiculously high-heeled shoes and went to stand at Kieran’s side, hoping not to break an ankle on the way.
“Sydney, come.” Placing his hand at my lower back, Kieran guided me through the masses. I would never get used to the cold feeling that seeped into my skin every time a vampire made contact with my body.
Kieran smiled, his fangs gleaming from the flames flickering from the blasts of air generated by the swirling dancers on the ballroom floor. “I have someone very important I would like you to meet.”
I shook my head in disbelief at the reality of my new life as the Selected.
I was being escorted around a ballroom by the leader of a vampire coven.
I slipped my phone back into the beautiful purple purse Aunt Judith had given me and turned toward Kieran with a smile plastered on my face. I would do whatever it took to keep Kieran as the designated coven leader. Even though I wasn’t enjoying the party overly much, I’d pretend my butt off. I’d be the life of the party if that’s what it took. It was good business practice, I figured. I might as well get used to it. I was not only the Selected and the target of every Other in town, I was a businesswoman running Morning Sun. I was sure to find myself in situations with dealing with the professional world I wouldn’t like. I’d get used to it. Eventually.
Another vampire approached. Kieran’s back was straighter than usual. Despite vampires not showing their emotions, Kieran was tense. I’d known him long enough to get that the new vampire coming our way was important in the decision-making process about me and also about who was going to get to be the coven leader.
“Uphir, I would like to present to you Sydney Sedrick, the Selected.” Kieran smiled, baring his fangs for all to see.
I bowed to the Elder standing in front of me. The man’s skin was semi-translucent, like Kasdeya’s, but his was white, while hers was black. The only other telltale sign of his ancientness were his eyes. They weren’t the vibrant, glowy red like Kieran’s were. Uphir’s eyes were more of a maroon, a red thick with age, experience, and the old ways. Kieran believed those old ways were over. The Elders had yet to agree.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Cian, Kieran’s slimy and power hungry brother, strode up to us and put his arm around Kieran’s stiff shoulders. Kieran didn’t look at his brother. I wanted to slap that sneer right off Cian’s face, for the humans he treated like cattle, also for trying to have his own brother removed as leader of the coven. I didn’t have time for or care for people who had a lot of power and wanted even more. Cian had his own coven, yet he was willing to take his brother down to gain another, no matter what happened to Kieran.
Uphir turned and gave Cian an acknowledging nod. Then the Elder turned to me and stared with the intensity of a lion appraising the lamb strolling by before he pounced and ripped its belly open. I kept on as neutral a face as possible. It was hard to keep my disdain for Kieran’s brother from seeping into my expression. I didn’t like Cian one bit. I wanted him to know it, but he scared me, too.
Kieran and my grandmother had both said Cian would do anything for power. Once he had it, he would make sure he got his way in everything, especially where the Selected was concerned. The Elders had already excused his abominable behavior toward humans. They told him to live however he wished, torture his food in any way he found pleasurable, as long as he didn’t bring attention to the vampire race. Who knew what else they would excuse if he were the coven leader in charge of handling the Selected?
A sh
udder ran through me as possible torture scenarios flitted in my thoughts. I didn’t want to find out what he’d do to me.
Kieran and I locked eyes. “Brother,” Kiernan said, without giving Cian the benefit of even a glance in his direction.
Cian put a shit-eating grin on his face, playing the good, social and political candidate in front of the Elder. “Nice party, Kieran. Tell me, how did you finance such a gathering? The expenses to pull all of this together must have been staggering.”
I saw red. Cian was trying to undermine Kieran, making it look like he was misusing coven funds. The rat fink. He was good.
Kieran turned his head to Cian, his eyes glowing more brightly. I could have sworn that as he spoke his fangs grew longer. “Cian, the Elders, and you, are well aware of my personal wealth. It is one of the advantages of having me as the coven leader. It makes our gatherings more enjoyable. I use my personal funds to also employ appropriately trained security personnel who can be trusted with persons of such high importance.” He smoothly waved his hand toward Uphir and me. “Tell me, brother. How are your finances coming along down in Chicago? I heard there has been a bit of a financial crunch with all the layoffs in the human community going on. However are you managing?”
Cian growled like a rabid dog. I could tell he was nearing the line where he would soon lose control if Kieran continued to antagonize him. I wondered if that was Kieran’s plan; to prove to the Elder his brother didn’t have what it took, including a level head and the ability to control his temper enough to rule over the vampires of Kenosha.
“Watch yourself, Kieran. I wouldn’t try anything if I were you.”
Kieran didn’t flinch. I waited, but the Elder, Uphir, didn’t acknowledge their bickering.
“I’m not the one who’s trying to go behind my own brother’s back because I’m selfish and full of greed, brother.” Kieran spit out the word brother like it left a bad taste in his mouth.
The vampire coven leaders stood toe-to-toe, daring one another to be the one to lose their temper and initiate a fight. Kieran had said they were both turned and trained by the Elders. I wasn’t sure exactly how long ago that was. He never said who would win in a fight between them. I hoped I’d never have to find out. I’d bet Cian wouldn’t fight fair and would use any dirty means to cheat that he could get his hands on. Cian wasn’t a good person, let alone a morally burdened vampire.
Uphir clapped his hands with one loud smack to get their attention. “Boys, this posturing is beneath you both. Do not disgrace yourselves in front of such a delicate human as this. Besides, I want to enjoy this fine ball Kieran has so eloquently gone to all sorts of trouble in preparing for us.”
They both stood still, having been reprimanded by one of the most esteemed and powerful vampires to ever live. I wondered if Uphir had a hand in raising the brothers and teaching them how to be vampires.
“Well, I think that’s a glorious idea.” Cian again planted a false, charming smile on his face. “Why don’t we do just that? Come on, my esteemed Elder. Let me show you how to party like a real vampire should.”
I wanted to get as far away from Cian and the Elder as possible. My skin crawled and goose bumps rose along my flesh from being so close to something sinister, as well as their natural coldness due to their being creatures of the night. I knew Cian’s intentions were not honorable, but I couldn’t tell if he were the only one causing my Selected senses to trigger, albeit they weren’t going full blown, yet.
“Kieran, I know you have a lot of people to see, but I wanted to talk to you for just a second.” I put my index finger in the air, waving him to come closer. Cian took the opportunity to lead Uphir away, chatting in his ear. No doubt he was continuing his plea to have the Elders unseat Kieran from his coven, making himself out to be the obvious choice for replacing him. He desperately wanted a chance at leading Kenosha’s vampires.
Leaning forward, I went on tippy toes to get close to Kieran’s ear. “I know you have to go, but I wanted to tell you I think Aaron is up to something. One of the Knights standing at the ballroom door gave him something in writing. Whatever was on that piece of paper got Aaron all hot and bothered. He even made another one of your vampires take his place at the door. I thought your vampires had to do what you said. Kieran, how much do you trust Aaron?” Personally, I didn’t trust him one bit. Not anymore.
His brow furrowed. “The only reason they would write things on paper would be to keep whatever it is from being said over our open communications. I’d have to say they were hiding something from someone. But what that could be, and who they would want to hide anything from, is unknown to me.”
My gut twisted in a knot. I didn’t want Kieran more upset than he already was. But he had to know. “Kieran, do you think Aaron could have been the robed figure I saw in the vision helping the rogues? Is there any reason he could hold a grudge against you? You two have been together for quite some time.” I tried not to be biased when I thought of the vision of the rogues. The truth was I really didn’t like Aaron. I never had, and I certainly didn’t trust him. I hoped for Kieran’s sake that my suspicions were wrong, but the evidence was leading in one specific direction, right to Kieran’s second-in-command.
Kieran shook his head. “Aaron has been in my employ for a very long time, Sydney. If I were made to guess, I would never suspect he would be the one to betray me.” He gazed into my eyes. Through the eyeholes of his bat-shaped mask, I could see genuine disappointment and sorrow in his heart. It must be hard knowing his most trusted employee, and friend, could be trying to betray him.
The coven leader rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet in contemplation. “That will be quite a problem if the betrayer turns out to be my second-in-command. Aaron knows about your visions, Sydney. He’ll use that against me as I have not told the Elders yet. He may also think to use your visions for his own means, if he is truly the one taking up with the rogues.” And that was it. The stone-cold, emotionless façade returned to the coven leader’s face.
“Kieran, I’m so sorry.”
“I’ll have this taken care of. Too much is at stake this night.” Grabbing my hands, he gently squeezed them in his large cold ones. The gesture didn’t give me comfort as he intended. “I must talk to the other Knights. I’ll use their own method of communication against them. Paper. Who would have thought something so simple would get by me unnoticed?” With disbelief in his voice, Kieran abruptly turned and walked away, leaving me once again in a giant ballroom filled with vampires and demons. I had never felt so utterly alone.
When Nature called, I had to answer. The mansion had to have a bathroom, or twenty. I’d just go and find one. Making my way through the crowd, I couldn’t avoid brushing the skirts of my dress against those of the other women’s who were dancing with their partners. If the ball were held under different circumstances, I’d have to say it would have been the neatest party I’d ever attended. If it were under different circumstances, I’d probably be bopping around the dance floor myself with Blake.
No one approached me. Some of the vampires gave me a gentle nod but didn’t attempt to start a conversation, to my relief. In a hallway outside of the ballroom, I turned another corner.
“Hey, you must be Sydney.” A brunette vampire wearing an extravagant red dress with ornate pleats made from a black material that ran across her chest and down to the bottom hem said.
I blinked in confusion at the woman who wore a matching, red-velvet mask covering only one side of her face as she came up to me, hand extended in greeting. “Hi, I’m Kat.”
Besides Liam, she had to be the most normal-looking, laid-back vampire I’d ever met.
“Hi, Kat, I’m, well, you already knew my name. How do you know who I am?” Did everyone know who I was?
Kat laughed. “All the vampires here know who you are, silly. I’m the king’s niece,
by the way. Sorry about the Judge, Kasdeya, she can be such a snooty bitch.” She smiled. For the life of me, it didn’t seem like she made the gesture for my benefit but like she really meant it.
“Yes, I’d definitely have to agree with you there.” Kat was the princess? I couldn’t frickin’ believe I was standing in the hallway with a real, live, well, sort of live, princess, a vampire princess, but a princess nonetheless.
“Yeah, don’t let her bother you. She’s dangerous and all that, but I do what I want. My uncle thinks he can tell me what to do because he has those Judges to threaten me with, but they don’t bother me. They make their threats of this or that punishment, but seriously, pay them no attention. I don’t. Besides, what’s he gonna do to his own niece?”
Kat’s eyes were red, like Kieran’s, but they had a youthful innocence, if there could ever be an innocent vampire. I’ve never seen one before. Not even Liam’s eyes reflected such genuine intentions.
I didn’t know what to say about how far her uncle, the king of vampires, would go to punish her, and I didn’t want to find out, either. “Um, I don’t know what the king of vampires would do to his niece. You have to deal with the Judges a lot?”
“Yeah, my uncle has this thing about me being the stupid long lost vampire princess. My father was a vampire prince, and also the king’s nephew. I didn’t know I was a vampire until I changed when I turned twenty-five. Plus, my human aunt raised me. Both my parents, well, let’s just say they weren’t available while I was growing up. So, long story short, my husband was security for my uncle before I met him. We ended up running into each other when the anti-vampire extremist group tried to kill me. He figured out who I was when he drank my blood. The rest is history. Now my uncle has a bird if I want to do anything outside of the palace without being chaperoned by either my husband or one of the Judges.”
