Chapter Sixteen
Leonora
“Finger slipped?” Hayes tutted as he regarded the vampire who still had the crossbow pointed at us. “You really must be more careful, Adrian. Though, I have to say it’s a lovely looking weapon.”
“It was a gift.” Adrian slowly lowered the crossbow, a tight smile pulling his face into an odd expression, more pained than pleased. “I wasn’t expecting visitors.”
“No wonder,” I sniped, “if you shoot everyone who knocks.”
The chuckle that slipped from Hayes sent a warmth rushing through me that I did my best to ignore. In truth, I’d barely slept the night before, too busy replaying every moment of our encounter over and over again.
Adrian turned away, throwing the crossbow down onto an armchair by an empty grate that was clearly only for show—not only did most vampires fear fire, but there wouldn’t be anywhere for the smoke to escape. While oxygen wasn’t a necessity, I had to imagine fireplace smoke and soot was still a bitch to get out of the kind of fancy suits Adrian favoured. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Hayes opened his mouth but I beat him to the punch, not trusting him to keep the conversation on track. “I want to leave.”
“Leave?” Adrian tasted the word like he’d never heard it before.
“Yes. I came here and spoke at your meeting, and now I’d like to go home—to Ashvale,” I corrected and ignored the knowing look Hayes shot my way. “With your permission, of course,” I said, tipping my head slightly in a show of deference that made my throat tighten. Whatever was going on with my powers, my vampiric nature didn’t like the idea of me bowing in any way to Adrian.
“Hmm.” He sat back behind his desk, steepling his fingers as he flicked his gaze between me and Hayes. “No.”
“No?” I echoed, too surprised to be pissed off.
“I may have need of you.” Adrian shrugged, but his eyes were focused, intent on my reaction, and I worked to keep the growl out of my voice when I replied.
“Of course, but?—”
“Is our hospitality not to your liking?” The words were light and casual, but the half-step Hayes took in front of me told me they carried more weight than they seemed.
“You’ve been very generous to my bonded and her fledglings,” Hayes cut-in, voice smooth as he simultaneously kissed Adrian’s arse whilst managing to sound condescending. “We’d be happy to stay for as long as we’re welcome.”
For some reason, the words only made Adrian’s expression darken, but he didn’t challenge Hayes. “How can I refuse our lost heir?”
The words were right, but the tone felt like Adrian was genuinely asking and Hayes seemed to know it. “Perhaps we should talk.”
Hayes sat across from Adrian’s desk and gestured for Adrian to sit. I bit back my laugh at the sour expression on Adrian’s face, clearly unused to being bossed around in his own study.
“What would you like to discuss?” Adrian’s voice was silky and I knew there was poison hidden beneath its surface. “Perhaps the deaths of some of my closest allies? Or your hope to lead the council in my stead?”
I flicked a glance at Hayes, surprise and amusement dancing inside my chest in equal measure despite myself. He was the one responsible for the headless vampires? Not hunters, as some of those at court had believed?
Hayes smiled, the expression somehow condescending. “I know, terrible on my part. But, unfortunately, they’d confessed to being involved in my family’s disappearance. I’m sure you would have done the same thing, had you known.”
It felt like I was watching a tennis match, my eyes bouncing back and forth between the two men as they worked to undermine each other with only words.
“As for the council…” Hayes shrugged. “I’m happy for you to continue leading them as you have for so many years now.”
Annoyingly, I had to admit I was impressed at how Hayes was handling this vampire likely thrice his age, if not more. Though, as we’d said on the way here, it would look a little suspicious if the lost heir were to turn up dead moments after appearing at court and showing up Adrian. From the reactions of those we’d passed in the hall, it was clear that there were still plenty of vampires who did care about Hayes’ heritage, even if he didn’t beyond finding his family.
“I’m honoured.” Adrian’s voice was flat and Hayes smiled. “Of course, if I stumble across any pertinent information about the monarchs’ whereabouts, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
I recognised the taunt for what it was and grabbed Hayes’ arm before he could do something foolish, like leap across the desk and rip Adrian’s head off.
There was an undercurrent in the room and when Hayes stood and tugged at my arm for us to leave, I had the feeling that turning our backs would be unwise. I took his hand in mine and had us out of the door at a speed he wouldn’t have managed by himself, not letting up until we were half-way down the corridor and safely out of Adrian’s line of sight.
“What now?” I muttered and Hayes glanced down at our hands, still intertwined, and squeezed my fingers before I could snatch my hand away.
“Well, it sounds like you’re stuck here for a little while longer. You should see if Cal will help you set up some wards on the rooms for protection.” Hayes’ hand flexed, like he could still feel the ghost of my palm against his skin. “But while you’re here?—”
“No.”
He blinked. “You don’t even know what I was going to ask.”
“I know that you’re the one asking,” I said, smiling sweetly before pushing past him. Maybe I was being unfair, but I couldn’t help it. I was fucking pissed . All the time. And he wanted me to act like he didn’t lie to me? Maybe if I’d known who he was?—
“What, you wouldn’t have bit me?” Hayes laughed and the sound was cold as he took the thoughts straight out of my head. “We were inevitable, Leonora. I get that you’re mad. You have every right to be—I did keep a big secret from you, but I barely knew you and then, when I did, I didn’t want my burden to become yours.”
The corridor blurred around us as I tried to walk away and he kept pace, blue eyes burning into me. I pulled to a stop and he stumbled a little at the abrupt change.
“You lied. Just like he did. Just like my… Just like—” My chest felt tight, and pinpricks stung my eyes. Even though I knew logically that I didn’t need to breathe, the wave of panic still surged through me. If I was being honest with myself, it wasn’t just that he’d lied and hid parts of himself while I’d been excruciatingly bared to him, not even my thoughts private— I’d trusted him. And when the time had come, when I’d realised what Rowan had done… Hayes had tried to stop me.
He was already shaking his head before I could say a word. “You did what you had to do. I don’t fault you for it.”
I looked away, not wanting him to read the emotions on my face even if he could feel it through our bond. At least this way I could pretend to have privacy, that he couldn’t feel how deeply broken the spaces inside me were, where my heart and soul should have been.
Cool fingers touched my chin, bringing my face back to his. He’d moved closer and I hadn’t noticed. For once, the bond was quiet, only my own emotions rolling through me as his eyes searched my face, a tilt to his eyebrows that made it feel like I was the sole occupant of his mind. “I didn’t choose Rowan over you. I wasn’t trying to save him, I was trying to save you from this. The guilt. The pain and anger. Because he was your friend,” Hayes said softly and the words hit me like a blow.
I’d done what I had to do. Everything in me had screamed for revenge, even as a smaller part of me watched from a distance, the part of me that was Rowan’s friend unable to stand up compared to the instincts of the vampire.
“He was my friend,” I whispered and Hayes pressed his lips to my forehead and brushed a curl off of a cheek that I realised had grown damp.
“I don’t know if he’ll wake up, but if he does… We’ll deal with it. Together. Okay?”
Together. I swallowed hard. “No more secrets.” He nodded and I knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as snapping my fingers and forgiving him, but it was a start. “And I’m sorry. Rowan was your friend, too.”
“Speaking of friends,” Hayes said, smile vanishing and replaced by a smirk as we resumed our walk down the corridor and back to my room. “I’ll let you break the news of our extended stay to Novalie and Emerson.”
Bastard.
“So we’re stuck here?”
“Unless you have another plan.” I sighed. “Do you think every day is going to be like this?”
Emerson sat up, leaning forward to look at me from her place on the bed. “What do you mean?”
“Being a vampire.” I shrugged. “It’s just so much… drama.”
Novalie snorted from the armchair opposite. “You’re a magnet for trouble. Besides, you’d get bored without our antics keeping you entertained.”
Maybe she was right, but I couldn’t help feeling like maybe I wouldn’t mind a bit of boredom. Some time to just sit and process and, in many ways, grieve what we’d all lost.
“Did you make-up with Hayes yet?” Emerson and Novalie shared a look and I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t tell if they thought my anger towards him had been unjustified, or at least a little over the top. But they also hadn’t had the past few months that I had.
“We talked.”
“And?”
“And he’s still alive.” I rolled my eyes, concentrating on the empty fireplace instead of the knowing looks they wore plastered across their faces. “I hate that he lied.”
“We know.” The words should have sounded snarky, but Novalie’s voice was soft and I wondered how much things had changed for her, now she was undead. “What if we just left?”
As I’d suspected, Novalie was on the same page as me. “Without Adrian’s permission?”
Novalie half-shrugged, half-nodded. “Hayes is here at court and he’s basically the new big-bad. I say we just go.”
“And if he comes after us?” Em raised an eyebrow and I hummed thoughtfully.
“He’d have to find us first.”
“You mean, not go back to Ashvale?” Now Novalie seemed surprised and I shrugged.
“I’m not sure about that new head. Carina. She basically told me to be on my best behaviour at court. I don’t know… What do you guys think of her?”
Emerson bit her lip. “She’s okay. It’s been weird at Ashvale since…”
“Since I left and killed Rowan.” I sighed. I couldn’t fault them for that, really. “I’m sure we could find somewhere to hide out for a while. Maybe Cal would take us in.”
“Normally, I’d take the piss out of you for considering running to daddy,” Novalie said, stretching as she grinned. “But in this case, I think you might be right.”
“We’re doing this, then?” I looked between the two of them for confirmation. “We should probably travel light, I have to imagine Adrian will be on the lookout for us, so the less we have to carry the better.”
There was a heartbeat of tense silence and then Novalie nodded decisively. “I’m in.”
Emerson relaxed. “I’ll do whatever you guys want.”
“What I want,” I murmured softly, “is for us to all be safe. I don’t think we’ll have that here.”
“I don’t know,” Novalie said with a laugh, “the assassination attempts really shake things up a little.” I rolled my eyes and Emerson laughed. “Should we do this thing then?”
“You want to go now?” Emerson stood and looked between us and I nodded slowly.
“Why wait?” I gestured to her bag by the bed. “If there’s anything you desperately want to bring, then grab it now.” I headed for their door, intent on packing a couple things of my own. “I’ll be right back.”
They were already busy grabbing things as I stepped out of the door and into the corridor. My smile faded as I met a familiar pair of eyes, ancient power lurking in them despite his relatively youthful appearance. Adrian.
Before I could say a word, he moved. The air seemed to blur around him with his speed and he reached me faster than I could breathe, his hand pressing to my sternum with the gentleness of a petal landing on the floor. And then the pain hit me.
His fingers punched straight through me, the tugging and twisting of him pulling at my skin as he drove deeper making me scream.
The door flew open behind me and I gasped a warning before Novalie and Emerson could take a step, not wanting Adrian to turn his ire on them.
“I thought you might require a little more persuasion,” he said, voice even and calm, like we were discussing the weather as he snapped my ribs open with the tiniest movement. “So I hope this warning might serve you well, my dear.”
I was held in place by his hand, my magick fleeing me as his own aura eclipsed me, pinning me into place even if he hadn’t wrapped his fingers around my unbeaten heart.
“You’re strong, Leonora. One day you may even have the power to kill me. But until then, you would do well to harness your rage, girl. I could end you in less time than it would take you to scream. And what would happen to our beloved, formerly lost heir then?”
I choked, all thoughts fleeing as his hand tightened and my body grew taut.
“Do you understand me, Leonora? Or do I need to demonstrate my point again with one of your little friends? Maybe the fledgling you’re so keen to protect? Or the new vampire you somehow managed to claim?”
I shook my head, fingers scrabbling at his arm until he relinquished his hold on me and I fell to the floor. The sound of his retreating footsteps never reached me, but I knew when he was gone by the absence of his suffocating power. I gasped for air, despite not needing it, my body healing slowly as Novalie and Emerson dragged me inside their room.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Novalie chanted under her breath and I grabbed her hand as she pressed it to my chest.
“I’m okay.” My voice was weak, but getting stronger. What I needed was blood.
“Adrian just had his hand inside your chest ,” Novalie hissed and Emerson growled. “You are not okay.”
“I am,” I insisted, sitting up and wincing as I pushed her hand away to show them the smooth skin through the rip in my corset-top. “Though, this top is ruined.” Bastard. It had been one of my favourites. Novalie’s hand shook in the air above my chest, the shock hitting her and I pulled her to me. “Everything’s alright. You and Emerson, you’re the reason I’m okay.”
“How?” she said, face muffled against my shoulder.
“Because you’re House of Romilly. We’re stronger together.”
Novalie was quiet and I couldn’t tell if she believed me. Eventually, she pulled back and nodded. “I guess we’re staying then.”
“For now,” I agreed and Emerson breathed a sigh of relief. “You know, I’m surprised Hayes isn’t?—”
The door flew open and a silver wolf barged inside, answering my thought about the pain he must have felt through our bond.
“I’m fine,” I said before he could even finish changing back into a man. “It’s nothing.”
Hayes covered the distance between us in a blink and ran a gentle finger over the bloodied rip in the fabric covering my chest. “Who?”
“Adrian.” I gripped his wrist before he could leave and shook my head. “It’s not worth it. Not until you’ve got what you need from him.”
“Nora, he?—”
I stood slowly, testing for any residual soreness and finding none before I stroked his furrowed brows with one hand. “I’m not saying not ever, just not now. Okay? Once you have what you’re looking for, you have my blessing to rip out his heart. Hell, I’ll even take care of his head. Okay?”
There was a storm in his blue eyes but he nodded, so I pressed a soft kiss to the hard line of his mouth.
“You two say the sweetest things to each other,” Novalie said dryly and I rolled my eyes.
“So,” I said, eager to lift the heaviness that had fallen over us and distract myself from the desire for revenge as I dropped back into one of the chairs opposite the hearth. “Any special powers yet?”
They all looked at me like I was insane but what else could I do? Adrian had nearly killed me once, we needed to lay low for a little while.
Novalie sighed and imitated me, sitting down and swinging her legs over the arm of her chair, letting them dangle in the air as she bit her lip. It didn’t escape my notice that Emerson watched attentively. Clearly there was something going on between them, but I wasn’t sure if it was my place to ask or if I should wait for them to tell me.
“Fuck all. It’s not fair—you two got all the cool stuff.”
“Strange, uncontrollable visions aren’t what I’d call cool,” Emerson said as she finally moved closer and sat down next to Novalie and I laughed.
“You can see the future,” Novalie protested. “Even if it’s kind of inconvenient, that’s still cool. And, y’know, sort of saved my life. Or un-life. You know what I mean.”
Hayes looked between the three of us and threw his arms up in the air before marching towards the door. “Don’t forget to feed.”
I ignored him and shrugged at Novalie, not keen to relive the memory of her fading in my arms. “Well, I’m only so juiced up because of…” I mouthed Cal’s name, untrusting of the room’s security.
Emerson stood and crossed the room, grabbing a pair of thick socks from her suitcase. I raised an eyebrow and she shrugged. “Force of habit.” Right. Because it’s not like she could get cold anymore. “Do you really think he’s the only reason you’re strong, though?”
“What?” I blinked slowly, trying to keep up with where the topic had shifted.
“Well, it’s just, you can share power with your fledglings and house.” Emerson nodded to Novalie while she gestured at herself too. “Do you not think it’s possible that Hayes’ power and lineage is boosting you too?”
Lately, I had been more dominant than usual, my vampiric instincts pushing me to assert and protect more frequently, often landing me in trouble—just as my recent encounter with Adrian proved. I had just assumed it was because I was at court, surrounded by vampires who probably wanted to kill us so my senses were on overdrive. But maybe Emerson was right—like it or not, Hayes did have some kind of sway here and vampires were very keen on hierarchy. Were my senses just responding accordingly?
“I’ll talk to Cal,” I murmured, my brain still spinning with the possibilities. “In the meantime, I guess we just have to keep our heads down. No more killing off parents or public prophecies.”
Novalie gave a mocking salute and I sighed. Yeah, it was easier said than done.
“So Ashvale, are you coming back there when we’re done here?” Emerson asked suddenly and I nodded without giving it much thought.
“I don’t see why not. It’s not like I have anything else to do or anywhere else to go, and if we don’t need to hide out somewhere then there’s no need to stay with Cal…”
“Where did you go? When you left, I mean.” Maybe it was because it was Em asking, or maybe I was feeling sorry for myself, but I decided to answer honestly,
“Bars, mostly. I poked around in my human life a little and saw that guy who’d recognised me outside of Cal’s? But…”
“But?” Novalie prompted, swinging her legs down so she could brace herself on her knees while studying me.
“But I couldn’t talk to them. I remember snippets, small things, but that’s it. They think they know me, but I don’t know if the person I am now is the same as who I was before—when I thought I was human. I’m not sure I even want to know.”
“I’m sure they would have liked to see you,” Emerson said softly, the sweetness of her scent soothing me as she got up and perched on the arm of my chair.
“I guess I’m worried I won’t feel the same.” I shrugged like it was no big deal and jumped when Em’s hand fell on my shoulder and squeezed. “Hiding my emotions is one thing, faking them… I’m shit at it.”
“True,” Novalie said and stood in a motion so smooth it felt like music. “It’s been a long fucking day and it’s hitting you—that’s all. Let’s go and get something to drink and then sleep before you get cranky instead of wallow-y.”
The chair squeaked when I stood and my nose wrinkled. “I don’t feel like getting drunk will help anything.” Especially as it seemed to be near-impossible with a vampire’s tolerance.
“That’s not the kind of drink she means,” Emerson said quietly, her grin full of mischief as she passed me to hold open the door. “Besides, Hayes is right. You need it after… earlier.” I winced as the realisation hit me—Novalie had obviously found blood from somewhere after her transformation, but she was still a new vampire. Hungrier and more emotional than most until she adjusts to her new body, and I’d shirked my duties again by not seeing to her needs.
“I honestly can’t decide if it’s gross or genius,” Novalie said as the door thumped closed behind us, all of us avoiding looking at the spot on the ground that still held some of my blood. She led the way and I jogged to keep up, unused to her being able to keep pace. I didn’t know what she was talking about until she pushed open a door one corridor and three turns away from our rooms.
Blood was thick in the air, metallic and heady, and I understood now what Novalie had meant. The space was decked out like a lounge with plush velvet pillows and silky blankets draped on almost every surface. Some of the volunteers had shunned the sofas and loungers in favour of the floor though. Blood dripped steadily from one man’s neck and onto the thick cream rug he was sprawled upon, the vampire at his neck sloppy in his bite. It was easy to see why. The pop of his cock sliding out of another vampire’s mouth made me jolt and I realised we were staring.
There were screens for privacy, soft peaches and dusky oranges attempting to distract from the debauchery with polished elegance. It didn’t succeed. Most of the screens weren’t in use, many vampires opting to feed more publicly, a claiming or an invitation.
The humans present ranged in age, colour and gender, but the look of bliss on their faces was identical. Novalie had already walked over to a human girl who had smiled invitingly as soon as she’d glimpsed Novalie’s fangs. But Emerson stayed by my side.
Two vampires close to us began to argue over the attention of a young, admittedly gorgeous, human man before deciding they could share and I pulled Emerson away, closer to Novalie and the girl. Em approached and picked up the girl’s wrist, biting down until she gasped.
I hadn’t realised I was hungry until we’d walked in here, but now the blood was getting to me. My head was dizzy with the sounds, the scents, a sinful kind of overload that caught me in its spell.
Before I knew what I was doing, creamy skin was arching under my hands as I guided the girl’s neck to one side and struck.
Heat filled me, blood on my tongue and dotting my lips as I drank and drank. The girl cried out, the three of us feeding from her bringing her to orgasm, muscles quivering until she slumped, spent.
I pulled away abruptly, quickly licking the wound to help it heal. This was why feeding rooms like this were bad news—vampires packed into a room, surrounded by blood and sex… it was asking for trouble. How many lost control in here, amidst the bloodlust?
My eyes ran around the room and found everyone there too engrossed in what they were doing to pay attention to anybody else. In here, you could die and nobody would even notice.
I nudged Novalie and then pinched her arm when she didn’t pull back. Her head snapped up and her fangs flashed as she hissed before shrinking back when I growled. “You good?”
Reason returned to her eyes and she nodded, her smile apologetic as Emerson managed to bring herself back from the edge with no prompting.
“Let’s get out of here,” I muttered. “Before one of us kills somebody.”