The words, "You can try," bounced around in my head the whole walk back to my quarters. Charlotte remained glued to me, blonde hair falling over her face. I stopped near the doorway to the interior of the castle, the cold air pushing against my back and confronted Sebastian with a glare I was sure surprised him."Jacket," I snapped.He slid it free, broad shoulders straining against his white shirt as he laid the velvet jacket around Charlotte's shoulders before bowing his head to me and backing away.A little respect? Yeah, I'd take it, though I wondered what the show cost him.I waited until we were behind the brand-new door a pair of human servants installed before turning on Charlotte and screaming at her.Well, screaming was a bit of an exaggeration. Talking very loudly and with great emotion while my body shook so much I could barely catch my breath was more like it.She took my anger and fear, finally uncurling from her hunch, Sebastian's jacket pulled tight around her. Wh
Though Celeste made a retreat, Demetrius still hung close, eyes watching her as she rounded the corner at the end of the hall before he did a happy dance, spinning in place."So, good news?" I started to follow Celeste, Charlotte behind me and he quickly kept pace."Very, very," he said. Danced again. Clapped his hands before covering his mouth with them, eyes huge. "Quietly," he whispered.Right. He scampered off before I could comment I wasn't the loud one in our little conversation. I decided to take it slow, even though I wanted to run to the throne room and thank the Queens for their questionable hospitality before blowing this place.Despite-or maybe because of-Demetrius's enthusiasm, my gut told me it wouldn't be so easy.If I had real doubts, they were answered by the look on Mom's face the moment I entered the throne room and began my parade down the center carpet. From Sebastian's grim expression to Sunny's tight-lipped anger, Uncle Frank's crossed arms and even Margaret
I imagined all the horrible things I could do to Piotr as I followed him, faithful Charlotte at my side, wishing for my demon and her very creative imagination. She always made plans for destruction so much more delightful.And bloody.The antechamber was plush, soft chairs and a deep sofa, a low table full of decanters and trays of food. Vampires ate, with gusto, if seeing Uncle Frank devour a burger was any indication, and wine was a favorite. But it wasn't likely this food was here for me. Probably for the two Queens.Knowing that made me lose my appetite.Mom didn't leave me alone for long, barging into the room, slamming the door closed on a very angry Margaret."You can't possibly be considering this," she said."Mom." I hugged her. "You have to let me go."Her instant argument hung between us without her even saying a word, but I shook my head and released her."No, Mom," I said. "Don't you see? The Brotherhood isn't just after a war between vampire clans."Mom shuddere
Demetrius didn't give me time to wallow in my sorrow."You will join her," he said, madness in his eyes, but cunning too. And the cunning I trusted. "You will be her responsibility."Charlotte chuffed softly and I caught her actually laughing. Not a little laugh like she sometimes allowed to escape. She drew a breath and began to howl, slapping her knee with her open hand, wiping tears from her eyes as Demetrius grinned at her.Clearly I was missing something."Brilliant," Charlotte choked. "Just brilliant.""I'm all ears." I looked back and forth between them, patience so thin I could poke a finger through it."She will be forced to protect you," Charlotte said while Demetrius bobbed his head and wheezed a laugh. "Meanwhile, you can gather power and plot to kill her and no one will say anything."What kind of screwed up system was this? "So if I'm outside the family, she's off limits, but if I'm one of hers, I can kill her and no one will give a crap?"Charlotte let out anothe
Batsheva immediately demanded a recess of her own and, through another heaving sigh, Margaret granted it.I wasn't alone in my chambers long before company rushed in to ask me if I'd been knocked from my rocker."You can't do this." Sebastian swept into the room, sweeping toward me, hands out. He gripped my shoulders, shook me ever so slightly, though the pressure of his hold told me just how agitated he was. He was nearing vampire strength, not be-nice-to-the-frail-witch-girl strength. And though I understood his concern, I had no desire to test the limits of my immortality under friendly fire.I didn't get a chance to free myself. With a growl and a swipe of her arm, Charlotte knocked him back, away from me. Sebastian's eyes flared white a moment, fangs showing, his quick reaction to her protection also letting me know he wasn't happy.Not even a little.Charlotte just bared her teeth, sliding between us, the wolf coming out in her hands, the shift of her shoulders, and though I
I know I should have been much more focused on what was happening around me as I was led out of my chambers by a pair of vampires, once Batsheva had enjoyed her little recess, and toward the throne room instead of thinking about Sebastian.But oh, my, my, my. Those lips. That magic. My body still tingled.So much for Quaid.Who said that? I turned my head a little as we passed the entry to the main room only to catch sight of a black-robed figure behind a statue. One white hand swept the hood back a little, Ameline's crystal blue eyes locking on mine.Choke.We need to talk, she sent. Watch your back.I couldn't think fast enough to latch onto her, nor, I supposed, did I have the power. And then I was past her, every pair of eyes on me, including Mom's and Margaret's.Did I dare mention Ameline was here? And what did she want?Watch my back. Since when was the ice princess herself on my side?So much churning going on, I needed a moment to reorder everything, but didn't get th
And that was that. Ceremony over, all said and done, nothing to see here, move along.Margaret looked impatient, clearly wanting to zippity-do-da her way back to Delusionland. But no way was she going while Mom still hovered, her Enforcers gathered around her in a tight, angry knot.Mom, I sent, feeling the rush of her relief when she felt my magicks were partially at my disposal. Just go. It's cool. Go.With a firm nod and a flash of blue power, she did, her Enforcers with her, so fast Margaret grunted at the rapid departure before waving irritably at the lot of us."Behave," she snapped. "Or else." Then, she gathered up her own posse and left.Wow. Effective. Wish I'd thought to try telling the Queens not to hurt me.Snort.Batsheva turned in her throne and glared at Pannera. "Your turn," she said, all illusions of niceness, as thin as they were, vanished with the witches.Pannera simply reclined further in her own seat, a little smile on her stone face. Did wonders for her b
"You need to be wary." Sebastian's voice was soft, low, but came through clear enough. "As much as I have trusted my Queen in the past, I'm not as certain of her intentions anymore."Sad. I reached out and linked my arm through his, the two blonde vampires swaying in their ball gowns ahead of us. "I'm sorry," I said, really meaning it.Family. Who else could hurt him so much?His hand settled over mine, pressing my fingers into his arm. "This entire situation could get out of control very quickly," he went on. "Neither of our clans is meant to be in such close proximity for such an extended period."A bomb waiting to go off, in other words. Well, at least if they were fighting each other, they might forget about me."Batsheva is up to her old tricks," I said. "Not like she'd shift tactics now anyway, since her mind's gone bye-bye. She's lying to her vampires."Sebastian shrugged. "There's nothing we can do to stop her," he said. "She is Queen."Well, wasn't she special?We didn