Chapter 10 #3
They’re prey and not predators. They don’t even have sharp teeth or claws. What’s that about?
I blink in surprise, when a tiny female Beta walks regally and calmly into the audience chamber. She is middle aged and beautiful with high cheekbones and bronze skin. Her shroud of black hair tumbles around her shoulders.
Even though her head is raised high like this is her throne room, she is dressed plainly in all white with no jewels, as if she is a servant.
The only embellishment is a malachite glittering green crocodile badge pinned to her robe.
Yet she doesn’t break eye contact with Lanlin for the entire long walk from the back of the audience chamber to the front.
She doesn’t prostrate herself, bow, or kneel.
She’s no servant.
Instead, her cruel, calculating gray eyes sweep across Daire, before narrowing, as she studies me sitting in the throne.
Her lips thin.
She raises her hand before she calls. “Sobek. Horus.”
Instantly, at her summons, two Alphas — Sobek and Horus — march behind her into the room.
Alphas obey Betas…?
This kingdom makes my head spin.
The first one, Sobek, is a strikingly tall and broad Alpha who dwarfs the Alpha at his shoulder. He appears to be about Lanlin’s age and is dressed in crocodile-skin armor.
He doesn’t look at anyone.
His expression is serious and grim, dangerously focused. His short curls are neat. He has the same gray eyes as the woman.
Are they related?
Sobek has the appearance of an official, despite his unusual armor. But then, maybe he is a warrior, because a deep scar bisects his face, through his eyebrow, cheek, and all the way to his lip.
I glance nervously at Daire.
I hope that I won’t find out that Sobek is another of Daire’s battlefield triumphs.
Why am I conflicted that Daire is a good killer? That all my men are?
How could they have survived any other way?
As if he knows what I’m thinking, Daire taps the snowflake three times, which is our secret code for no.
I take it to mean no, I didn’t fight this Blood, but it could equally mean, no, don’t say anything to piss off this asshole vampire.
My shoulders relax.
The other Blood appears to be a little younger. He is smaller and prettier, as decadently dressed as the other two aren’t. His crocodile leather outfit is artfully designed to show off his legs and chest. He is smothered in collar jewelry, earrings, and bracelets of peridot and emerald.
His long, black curls drip around his shoulders like a dark temptation.
Horus’ eyes are half-hooded and sleepy.
He follows his brother, as if he would rather be anywhere but here. Probably, organizing an orgy by the way he is sending wicked grins to the Scarlet Temple priestesses, who are purring and swooning because of a single glance from the Alpha.
I can smell their slick from here.
I wrinkle my nose.
Now I know who the playboy of the Blood Court is.
Both the Alphas are wearing the same crocodile brooch. Are they all from the same family?
Sobek stands at the female Beta’s shoulder like a bodyguard.
Horus, on the other hand, throws himself down on the bottom step of the dais. He sprawls out like he’s trying to make as pretty a picture as possible and closes his eyes, as if he’s disinterested in what’s going on.
I’m not tricked.
“Lan, why didn’t you come to me immediately?
I had to hear the news being gossiped through the palace of the disgraceful way that you returned after such a humiliating defeat.
How could you have been outmaneuvered like that?
I should have known that you would be too trusting.
You don’t know the kingdoms…the world…outside the Scarlet Temple.
” The woman’s voice is sweet with fake concern, while she stabs the king bloody. I snarl. “Are you hurt?”
Lanlin simply shakes his head. His jaw clenches.
The Beta tosses her hair. “Why is there…a wolf…on your throne? A wolf who could have been behind the attempt on your life? The breaking of the peace treaty?”
“She wasn’t,” Lanlin coldly replies.
“Have you even asked her? Or the fae.” She spits fae like it is poison.
“I have a name.” Daire drops his gaze with a pretend meekness that I’m sure was taught to him in the Courtesan Guild.
It works on Lanlin, however, who takes a protective step forward.
“Do you?” The Beta’s smile doesn’t meet her eyes. “Then shall we do introductions?”
Lanlin stiffly nods. “This is Freya and Dove, my future Queen and Blood Lover. I will hold our official marriage and bonding in accordance with the sacred rites. And this is…” He stumbles over his words as he points an iron claw at the woman.
She raises her eyebrow in expectation. “Isis, the consort of the ex-Queen. She is the leader of Crocodile House.”
“Oh,” Isis tuts, “always so hurtful, Lan. Am I not your mother too? Are these not your two brothers?”
Lanlin’s lips press harder together.
He doesn’t reply.
Isis’ eyes flash with rage, before she fixes on a crocodile smile.
I am certain that any tears from her would be crocodile tears as well.
I watch her warily.
“And this is,” Isis grabs the tall Alpha by the shoulder, pushing him forward, “my son, the Grand Vizier, Sobek.”
“Leaving the best to last, as always.” The Alpha, who is lying on the bottom step like it’s a bed, cracks open one lazy eye. If he’s trying to convince us that he’s not the dangerous one, then it’s not working. “I’m the handsome brother, Horus. The Grand Mage.”
“Half-brother,” Lanlin replies, automatically. “Isis is not my mother.”
“You wound me.” Horus dramatically lays his hand over his heart. “We have the same father.”
I snort.
Horus narrows his eyes at me like he expects me to be soaking through my panties and doesn’t understand why I’m laughing at him instead.
“My mother was the Queen,” Lanlin replies. “I am the only vampire of the House of Sin. You’re part of the House of Crocodile. Do not claim to be part of my dynasty.”
“Sin told us,” Daire deliberately moves closer to Lanlin without touching him, “that he has no family.”
Both of Horus’ eyes snap open, and he snarls.
Score for the fae.
Daire is the kind to weaponize words. He can be masked, disguised as a sweet Dove, surrounded by enemies, and still slice those enemies with no more than words.
Why didn’t Lanlin tell us about this family? Don’t the children of consorts count in his culture?
Or do they only not count to him?
“Naughty, naughty, brother,” Horus says with controlled rage. “How remiss of you to forget our existence. Your father would be so disappointed in you. The Shadow Devils punish those who disrespect their families.”
Lanlin drops his gaze to Sobek’s scarred face. “On my heart, I believe you are right.”
Sobek takes a step forward, but Isis rests her hand on his shoulder.
“By my blood, we should not quarrel. We have far more important matters to address tonight,” Isis insists. “Horus worked hard with the priestesses to put on a welcome feast in your honor. It would have been replete with blood and pleasure.”
I’m sure he did work hard, especially on the desire.
I smirk, when I catch Horus blowing a kiss to the closest priestess, who purrs deeply.
Horus jumps up, stretching.
His pheromones swirl with dark magic. They prickle across my skin.
Horus eyes Shadow and Devil uneasily who are still laid out guarding the throne.
Then he offers me a mocking bow with a flourish. His long curls brush the floor.
Horus is similar enough to Lanlin to make me uncomfortable; his incense scent is intoxicating, as are his deep gray eyes. Yet a layer of falseness smothers each of his movements.
Horus reminds me of a crocodile lurking underneath the river waters, trying to trick you that it is safe to wade in and swim with it.
I’m sure, however, that Horus would devour me with his sharp teeth if I did.
Horus steels himself to step closer to the demonic lions, who growl warningly, holding out his hand to me. “You may call me Hor, my future Queen.”
“Call you a whore?” I ask, attempting for innocent.
Daire laughs.
Horus’ charming expression sours, and he drops his hand. “Try it.”
“Step. Away,” Lanlin warns.
Horus twirls with a look of mischief. “My fangs were hardly in her delicious neck.”
I shrink back in the bone throne.
The yet hangs unsaid in the sentence.
Is it a threat?
“In your vampy dreams,” I mutter.
Horus laughs awkwardly like he has never been rejected by an Omega before.
He draws away from me. “Charmed, I am sure.”
“You are acting like a mosquito buzzing after a wolf.” Lanlin’s gaze drops to Shadow just for a moment.
Instantly, she sits up. Shadows flare out of her mane.
Horus stumbles down the steps in fear.
Sobek catches his younger brother in his arms, smoothing his hand comfortingly down Horus’ neck.
Sobek touches his scar for a moment, taking a single, steadying breath.
His expression darkens.
Then he pushes his brother away from him.
“My Queen,” Lanlin’s sultry voice is low enough for me to hear, and my gaze is fixed on the plushness of his lips as he leans closer to me, hiding us behind the veil of his hair, “are you insulted? Do you wish me to tear off his knot and present it to you along with the courting gift of honey cakes?”
I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.
So tempting.
Also, lucky that Lanlin didn’t ask Daire because he’d definitely have said aye to that.
I shake my head. “I’m okay. Your throne could do with a cushion to make it comfier, you know, because of all the bones.”
I bounce up and down to prove my point.
Lanlin’s lips quirk. “As you wish, dearheart. What color?”
He’s serious.
I swallow. “Ehm, green?”
“Is that your favorite?”
“I’m guessing that yours is black.”
I gesture at his clothes and gloves.
Lanlin’s eyes flicker with something that I don’t understand. “Actually, fiery orange is like your hair. I have always loved the sun and wished that I could feel its warmth on my skin. I apologize, dear. You may mock me now.”