I marched down to the biggest dining room in the castle, where six tables of forty armchairs fit comfortably. I took my place at the head of the second table, with Lewis and Holden, two of my men, by my sides. Alex was at the other end of the table, accompanied by Ralf and Eden, two of his men. Nolan, Cain, Gray, Phelps, and Albert were already in their places. Patrick, Aston, and Dorian arrived soon after and took their seats. The only head of the table left empty was Reynard’s, and it was covered by a black veil.
The oracle sat to the left side of the empty seat, Roberta was on the right, and beside her the other three consorts. The rest of the tables were filled by the other members of our house—all vampires who meant something to Reynard, who he had brought into his family.
Twenty vampire guards lined the walls and watched over the exits. And, from the report I had received right before entering the room, I knew there was about forty more patrolling the garden outside.
Hopefully, no tragedy would strike tonight.
When it seemed everyone was in the room, Sarki stood from her seat and faced us all. “A great misfortune fell over this house. We lost our leader, our guide, our friend, our mentor. Reynard might be gone, but his legacy will live on. Tonight, we’ll drink and eat for him.” As she said it, human slaves, wearing plain dark gray dresses and pants and shirts, came into the room, each one bringing a tray with bottles of blood and big goblets. “We’ll tell stories, our stories and his stories. We’ll remember him and honor him. We’ll sing songs in his name.” The humans deposited the bottles and goblets on the names, and then stood there, two steps away, in reach of any of us who preferred the fresh thing. One of the slaves poured blood into Sarki’s goblet. Without acknowledging the human, she took the glass and raised it high. “For Reynard.”
“For Reynard,” we all toasted.
I lazily took my glass and sipped from it while most of the vampires reached for the humans for a quick bite. I averted my eyes and found Sarki watching me. She raised her goblet to me, as if toasting something else and only with me. Tired of these games, I nodded toward her, and then took a sip of my drink.
Her lips smeared with blood, Sarki let go of her goblet and stood. Her eyes roamed the room, filled with amusement, while she walked up to me. She leaned into my chair and whispered in my ear, “Have you already deciphered my vision?”
My brows slammed down. In all this confusion, I had forgotten about her vision. “No,” I confessed, now thinking about her words.
It has arrived. It’s here. It has come. The missing piece holding our salvation. Your salvation. Find the new and unite it with the old.
She ran her long, red nails along my shoulders. “Perhaps it’s tied to the mystery surrounding us. Perhaps if you solve it, you’ll find Reynard’s killer.”
Why would my salvation be connected to Reynard’s death? He had been my salvation long ago.
Sarki turned her sugary smile to me, and then sauntered to the corner of the room, where three blood slaves stood with instruments.
“Play,” she ordered, her tone absolute.
The humans started playing a classical tune—missing a few notes with their trembling hands—just like the ones Reynard liked so much.
Vampires stood from their seat. Some mingled, some danced, some drank from their blood slaves. Sarki danced in front of the improvised band, moving her curves in a sensual way.
My eyes followed her hand as it ran from her waist down her hips.
My throat grew dry, and I reached for my glass. After two long gulps, I set my glass down and found Alex standing beside my chair. With his trademark snakelike grin, he shooed Lewis from his seat, then plopped down. He propped his elbows on the table, steepled his fingers, and turned his malicious grin to me.
“Where is your pretty blood slave? The blond one?”
Something like rage coursed through my veins and I gritted my teeth. “Safe.”
“Safe …” Alex repeated, finding my choice of words amusing, I was sure. “She’s a pretty one. Beautiful, actually. You wouldn’t be interested in sharing, would you?”
Under the table, my hands curled into tight fists. It was all I could do not to jump over the table and grab him by the throat. “Stay away from her,” I warned, my tone low. Hard.
His grin widened. “Or what?”
He didn’t want to know.
Before I could answer, Karl approached Alex and whispered something into the prince’s ears. Alex’s grin faded, and his jaw set into a hard knot. Unease grew in my stomach. What in hell could have wiped the damn smile from Alex’s face?
Without looking at me, Alex pushed up and followed Karl to the other side of the dining room.
I let out a long breath and drank another big swallow of blood, trying to tell myself there was nothing wrong, that there was nothing going on. Besides the death of our beloved leader and not knowing who had committed such a crime, there was nothing wrong.
The ball of anxiety expanded and I shot to my feet.
To the hell with this party.
Careful about knowing eyes, I sneaked out of dining room and jogged back to my chambers. The guards weren’t in their spot by the archway, but that wasn’t uncommon as they patrolled the entire level every few minutes.
But my breath caught when I slipped my key into the lock and the door swung open. I hurried inside, sure I would find Alex’s men all over my place, trashing the rooms after having taken Thea to him.
The living room was intact, though.
“Thomas?” I called.
Without thinking, I turned into the hallway and marched toward Thea’s bedroom. The door was open, and right under the threshold, broken glass shards littered the floor with Thomas lying unconscious amid it all.
My blood turned into ice.
Thea was gone.
9
Thea
Despite everything that was going wrong, I couldn’t deny being in Prince Drake’s chambers was better than being locked up somewhere underneath the castle with the other unclaimed humans. Here, at least, I had my own bedroom, my own bed, regular clothes, and real food … the steak was buttery and on point, and the baked potato was covered in a sweet and sour sauce I had never dreamed of before—and it was oh so good.
However, I had no idea how I would continue my plans.
Thomas eyed my empty plate. “Done?” He had been standing along the wall like a perfect statue while I took my time eating. I tried engaging him in conversation once or twice, but he didn’t say more than half a word to me, so I gave up. Besides, he was too young and probably innocent. He wouldn’t know anything.
“Yes,” I said, not ready to go back to the bedroom, where I was sure I would be locked in again.
Like a gentleman, he pulled out my chair and gestured for me to walk toward the hallway. Like a lady, I stood and headed that way.
But instead of letting him escort me to my bedroom, I cocked my head at him. “Why haven’t you tried to escape?”
Thomas didn’t seem fazed by my question. He was young, but he was already taller than I was. And probably stronger too. “Because I owe Prince Drake. He is a good master. You’ll learn that if you do as you’re told.”
I scrunched my nose, not liking the idea of having masters or doing as I was told. “It can’t be just that.”
“It is. Didn’t you hear him? If I didn’t stay here, I would have been moved down to the slave quarters, and believe me, you do not want that.” He shuddered.
“I’m not talking about that; I’m talking about escaping.”
“No one tries to escape and lives,” he warned. “I mean it. Everyone who has tried was brought back to the castle and drained right away.” He gestured once more to the hallway. “Now, please.”
I sucked in a sharp breath and dragged my feet toward the hallway. With each step that echoed on the beige stone floors, the desperation inside me grew.
I couldn’t be locked in the bedroom. I would go crazy, and it wouldn’t help my cause. I had to
do something.
I stepped into my bedroom and turned to Thomas, my eyes pleading. “Please, don’t lock the door.”
He looked down as if the weight of my gaze was too much for him. “I’m sorry.”
Damn it. I didn’t want to have to do this. “No, I’m sorry.” I grabbed the vase from one of the small tables decorating my bedroom and slammed it into his head.
The boy fell to the floor.
My heart reared for a brief moment, hating what I had done, but there was no time to waste. I pulled the big black key from under his shirt and raced to the front door.
Praying the locks would be silent this time, I unlocked the door, opened it slightly, and spied out. To my surprise, the guards weren’t standing by the archway on the other side of the room. I took that as a sign.
My heart hammering in my chest, I ran.
I had paid attention to the corridors and staircases we had taken to get here, but the castle was much bigger than I anticipated. When I had to turn away from the corridor we had first come through because a vampire guard was coming that way, I entered another long hallway lined by many doors and more archways leading to other corridors. I was instantly lost.
Damn it.
I stopped in the middle of a dark corridor and glanced from side to side. What now? Test the doors? What if I opened one and ended up face-to-face with a vampire?
I had to find a stairwell or some other way to go down.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway and my heart stilled.
Eyes wide, I glanced at the many doors, doing a silent eeny meeny miny moe in my mind, trying to decide which one to use, until I saw a door that wasn’t closed. Holding my breath, I pushed it open a little more and spied inside.
The dim light from the corridor illuminated long shelves with linen and buckets and brooms. A closet.
I slipped inside and closed the door, being careful with any sounds, then retreated to the back of the small room. I put my hands over my nose and mouth, trying to control my erratic breathing. With the vampires’ enhanced hearing, it would be a miracle if they didn’t find me in here.
The sound of the footsteps got closer and closer, and when they finally were upon the closet’s door, I stopped breathing all together.
The footsteps slowed and my heart went into overdrive. I closed my eyes and prayed—it was all I could do right now. Holding my breath for too long, I was sure I was turning blue, until finally, the footsteps continued down the hall, in the same normal rhythm as before.
I was purple when I dared to breathe again.
Tears of relief and desperation filled my eyes. Holy crap, how would I make it through this castle like this? First, I was lost, and second, this place was crawling with vampires. They would hear me coming a mile away.
But I had to try. By all sacred things in life, I had to try.
I leaned on the door and listened, but no other footsteps or voices reached my ears. With trembling hands, I opened the door and spied out. I sneaked out of the closet and resumed my trek, my heart thundering faster inside my chest, my hands shaking harder, and my breathing uncontrollable.
I ran the opposite way the vampire had gone and stopped by the next archway connecting with another long hallway.
What now? Which way would I go? How could I keep running inside this damn castle and not expect to get caught?
It didn’t matter. I had to try.
Taking a long, shuddering breath, I turned toward one of the corridors and marched on. I didn’t stop at the next intersection. I didn’t let myself. I had to keep moving, to keep going, to finding a way—
I bumped into a hard wall and bounced back, losing my balance.
A hand closed around my elbow before I could fall on the stone floor and kept me upright.
My breath caught.
Drake watched me with rage in his eyes.
10
Drake
This girl …
Her eyes took half of her pretty face, and her breathing came out in shallows gasps. “Y-you …” she whispered.
Her heart beat as if she had run a marathon and her scent … I let out a long breath before I either slapped some sense into her, pushed her against the wall and tasted her sweet, sweet blood, or threw her over shoulder and locked her in the dungeons.
Instead, I slipped my hand from her elbow to her wrist and held on tight. “What the hell were you thinking?” I asked, barely controlling my rage. “I told you not to try to escape.”
Even though the fear was stamped in her gray eyes, she lifted her chin and faced me with a little defiance. “I’m not your pet.”
“No, but you are mine nevertheless.”
Mine …
The idea of having her just for me both excited and terrified me. If only she behaved, I could pretend she didn’t exist.
“You can’t keep me here against my will.”
Did she really think she could escape from a castle full of vampires?
“Watch me,” I snarled. I tugged on her wrist. “Let’s go.” I marched down the hallway, dragging her behind me.
She whimpered, jerking against my hold, but I only increased the pressure. If it hurt, so be it. She deserved it.
Her scent filled my nostrils and I stiffened, clenching Thea’s wrist tighter. She jerked against my hold again, but I only pulled her closer.
“Well, well, well,” Alex said as he turned the corner and faced us. “What do we have here?”
I halted, keeping Thea behind me. “I thought you would be at the dinner,” I said, willing my tone to remain casual, non-caring.
“I could say the same thing of you.” His predatory gaze slid toward Thea. “But now I see why you left early. If she were mine, I would have done the same thing.” He took one step closer. “Hello, pretty pet.”
I tugged Thea even closer to me, gluing her to my back. Her hands fisted on my jacket. “Do not talk to her, Alex.”
“Oh, but she’s irresistible, brother. Beautiful and enchanting like a siren.” He winked at me. “I meant it. After you’re done with her, I wouldn’t mind having my share of her.”
I growled, a low rumble deep in my chest. “Stay away,” I warned, putting all the menace I could muster into my gaze. He knew me. He knew I wasn’t joking.
I put my arm over Thea’s tense shoulders and steered her away from the evil prince. “Good night, Alex.”
In silence, I guided a trembling Thea back to the chambers. Each step between us and Alex eased some of the tension coiled in my muscles.
Once inside my chambers, I let out a long breath and released her.
She took several large steps away from me and glanced around. “Where’s Thomas?”
“What do you care? You almost killed him.”
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t kill him.” She chewed on her bottom lip, drawing my gaze like magnet. I averted my eyes. “Is he okay?”
“I took him to the infirmary to get checked, but he should be okay.” I didn’t know why I answered her. She was my blood slave. She answered to me. I stalked toward her. She retreated two steps until her legs bumped on the couch, but she faced me with her fake bravado. I towered over her, fighting the urge to bare my fangs to scare her more. “Listen to me as I won’t repeat this. Do not try to escape. Do not leave my chambers without my permission. Do not do anything without asking first.”
She swallowed hard and her neck bobbed. My breath caught. “So … I can’t eat without asking first? How about taking a shower? Or peeing?”
My hands balled into fists. I groaned, ready to pounce on her. This girl was driving me crazy. Ignoring her words and not retorting was a challenge, one I gladly accepted. “Didn’t you just see Alex out there? He was all over you. I promise you, if he puts his claws on you, he won’t be nice like I am.” My stomach turned with the idea of Thea alone with Alex. “If you want to live another year, another month, or even another day, you will do as I tell you. Got it?” She stared at me, barely breathing. “Got it?” I
barked, raising my voice.
She flinched.
Hell.
Still, she didn’t give up. “I’m not afraid of him,” she snapped. “I’m not afraid of you!”
I snarled and my fangs itched to come out. “You should be.”
Her shoulders sagged as if she finally understood. “Then if I can’t escape …” Her eyes turned into two silver pools rivaling the moon outside these walls. Alex was right. She was as beautiful and enchanting as a siren. “If I can’t escape, then let me go,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Please, let me go.”
I took a step back. “That’s not possible.”
Tears filled her eyes. “In that case, I just want you to know that I won’t behave, I won’t follow orders, I won’t act like this isn’t all crazy, like this isn’t all wrong. I’m not anyone’s pet or blood slave!” she shouted.
My blood boiled and I exhaled through my nose.
I needed time away from this crazy girl before I did something stupid. “Go ahead. Try escaping again if you’re that stupid!”
I marched out and slammed the damn doors. They rattled against their hinges. Since I didn’t trust her, I locked the doors and turned toward the guards standing by the archway. “Stay here until I come back. That girl isn’t supposed to leave.”
“Yes, my prince,” one of the guards answered while the other bowed his head in acknowledgment.
In need fresh air and space, I marched out of the castle and into the back garden. Breathing in an out and hoping all the anger and frustration left my muscles with each exhale, I walked around the maze.
I crossed paths with two guards patrolling the area, who bowed to me when I approached, then I marched until I was at the edge of one of the many artificial lakes on the estate.
The moon, only a thin sliver in the dark, reflected in the dark water, shimmering and trembling.
Hell, what had I done? By claiming that girl, I had damned my sanity, I was sure. She would drive me insane in no time. If I didn’t lose my temper and drained her in the next ten hours, it would be a miracle. How was I supposed to keep her safe and protect her when even I couldn’t endure her presence?
The Vampire Heir Page 5
