Chapter 37 Adreona
ADREONA
I placed another crown on my head, this one was spiked and monochrome. Even the jewels were made of a black so dark it swallowed the light.
I placed the crown next to the rest on the dresser.
Who knew the Blood Court had such terrible taste in crowns?
When I was officially queen, I’d commission a hoard of them that would suit me.
The crowns the staff had brought me lacked elegance.
It was clear there hadn’t been a queen at the helm in many years.
The fashions of the crowns were from centuries ago.
“What was wrong with that one?” Lorenzo wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing my neck. I resisted a shudder of disgust as I pressed my lips into a thin line.
“It blended in too much with my hair.” I unwrapped his arms from my body and headed for my desk where he had discarded a slew of letters when he arrived.
“I could get one made for you to match your ring,” he called after me.
I glanced at the hexagon-shaped blood diamond on my finger that Lorenzo had given me as a wedding gift.
Although rings were not typically exchanged with vows, he had gifted me one.
When I pressed him about it, he said it was to show his devotion to me.
I suspected it was a way to show ownership over me. That I belonged to him.
He’d learn one day I didn’t belong to anyone anymore.
But I continued to wear the ring, only to please him. To keep up the facade.
Although we had mutually agreed to this marriage as a strategic move, he still believed I was interested in him.
Sometimes males were so stupid.
But it made them easy to manipulate.
Flash them a smile, let them see your breasts, give them a simple compliment, and they’ll fall head over heels for you.
How easy it was to convince Lorenzo to make me his queen consort.
Sometimes I almost felt bad for manipulating Lorenzo. He had lost like I had after all—that was what drew me to him initially. Why I let him linger around the Panateia. Well, that and his continued financial contributions.
But I got to know him and realized what a scum bag he was, and it became nothing more than a means to an end. I let him take me to bed. I faked pleasure while he had his fill. After that first night I let him into my bed, he bent to my every will.
Him walking into my headquarters sped up my plan by years after all. I had to be grateful for that. His intel was priceless, I reminded myself.
I thumbed through the letters Lorenzo had delivered. “What is this?” I asked, coming to an envelope addressed to me with the royal Star Court seal on the back. “Why is the seal broken on my letter?”
“I was curious, so I opened it.”
I bit my tongue, breathing deeply through my nose as I slid open the letter.
“Lennox wants to meet with me,” I told him as I continued to read.
“I know.”
I wondered what the girl could possibly have to say to me.
Was it in reaction to the Vanir failing to secure her and bring her back to me?
I had failed to hear anything from Sidna since the Vanir sent to the Aquatic Court were killed.
The details of what happened were scarce, only rumors since none of them came back, but I assumed they killed the siren.
What a shame, she had been a great contact from the Aquatic Court for months now.
A great weapon.
“I’m to meet her in the Lunar Court at the end of the week.”
“You’re not seriously considering meeting her, are you?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“It’s probably a trap.” I resisted rolling my eyes as I faced him.
“Even if it was, do you think I cannot handle myself against her?” Besides, I doubted Lennox would be stupid enough to try and lure me into a trap. I didn’t like the girl, but I had to admit she was quick as a whip.
“I didn’t say that, I just worry for your safety.”
I clenched my jaw. “I will have plenty of guards.”
“You? What about me?”
“You will need to stay here and keep an eye on things.”
“You’re not going without me,” he boomed.
“This is exactly why you can’t go. There is a good chance your nephew will be there and I cannot have you having an outburst like this.
” Not only that—but I needed a break from him.
A week wouldn’t be enough but it was something.
Sleeping on the ground would be better than sleeping next to him.
I’d dreamed of living in this palace my entire life.
I looked at it from my bedroom window every night.
My eyes trained on the dark spires in the distance from my small village in the outskirts.
When I had proposed marriage to Lorenzo, it was the next step in my plan.
But it was more than that, it was fulfilling my childhood dream of calling this palace my home.
Calling any home a permanent home after spending years on the run, never staying in once place too long in fear of being found.
“I’ll behave.”
I turned my attention back to Lorenzo as I let my robe fall to the ground, revealing to him I wore nothing beneath. “I’m sure you could, but you need to stay here. Your people need you.”
His eyes narrowed in on my breasts.
I slowly walked over and straddled him, placing my hands on his shoulders. “Your duty is to stay here.” I ground against him, pasting a slight smile on my face. “Besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?”
He groaned, and I tensed before continuing my movements, his hands digging into my ass. “I suppose you’re right,” he said before his lips closed over the skin on my neck.
You bet your ass I’m right. I let my mind wander as he took over. How sweet would it be to see his blood spilled when this was all said and over? To slide my dagger into his heart as he touched me. He’d never see it coming.
The Blood Court will be mine. The entire kingdom will be mine. Vampires will no longer exist. I will avenge my beloved.
And Lorenzo Rossi would be dead at the end of it.
Oh, what a sweet victory it would be indeed.
The hulking harpy was waiting for me at the entrance to the depleted village. This is where Lennox wanted to meet?
Maybe I had misjudged her, and this truly was a trap.
“Adreona.” The harpy’s voice was gruff as he addressed me.
“That’s me,” I drawled. I let my gaze roam over the male.
I hadn’t taken the opportunity to take him in before, there hadn’t been time.
He was stunning, even with the scar slashing across his face.
I’d gladly take him to bed if given the chance.
I’m sure he knew what he was doing in bed, unlike Lorenzo.
“I’m Captain Hale, I’m to escort you to meet the High King and Queen.”
“Please, escort away.” I reached for his arm, attempting to loop my arm around his, but he brushed out of my hold, not even sparing me a glance as he continued into the village.
Or what once was a village. Only one building remained standing in ring of homes, the rest had long since crumbled.
“What is this place? Is this the kind of meeting place the High Queen deems suitable for meetings?”
“This is a neutral meeting ground given to us to use by Queen Elvira of the Lunar Court. The village has long been abandoned. That way, if the meeting takes a turn there will be no innocent lives taken in the crossfire.”
“Always so considerate, that Lennox, isn’t she,” I all but spat. Did she think I couldn’t handle a meeting civilly?
Captain Hale ignored me, leading me to the one building that remained fully intact in the town square.
The door had fallen off the hinges, but the rest of the dwelling appeared to be in good shape. Hopefully, it wouldn’t fall in on us.
“You made it.” Lennox Adair didn’t even bother to stand as Captain Hale led me into the room. Her mate sat at her side, both of them dressed in battle leathers. “I wasn’t sure if you’d come.”
“Why wouldn’t I? I was surprised you wanted to see me at all. I suppose I was intrigued to see what you had to say.”
“And Lorenzo wasn’t?” The prince, or High King I suppose now, looked behind me as my guards filed in.
“Someone had to stay back and watch over the city.” After I let him fuck me, he still tried to argue his way into coming. He finally agreed to stay, but I had left before he woke to ensure he’d stay behind.
I took a seat at the opposite end of the long rectangular table from the royal couple.
Captain Hale moved until he was standing behind the pair, the Queen’s sister Kara and their other friend, the witch, was sitting on either side of them along with the silver-haired wolf and a chestnut-haired female I had never seen before.
“I see you left your brother behind, afraid I might try to take him again?” I let myself smile. Losing the Adair sibling had been a loss, a loss she’d pay for in time.
The High Queen’s hands balled into fists, her eyes narrowing in at me.
“What is the meaning of this anyway?” I tucked my hair behind my ear.
“I don’t want to start a war,” Lennox said, catching me off guard. I hadn’t figured out why she had brought me here but talk of war didn’t cross my mind.
“Why not?” I steepled my fingers under my chin.
“Seems fun, doesn’t it? Especially when I have such a strong army behind me.
” Just because I didn’t think she wanted to discuss war, didn’t mean I hadn’t thought about it.
About how quick a victory I’d make it with the Blood Court forces on my side.
Captain Hale had trained them well after all.
“Enough people have died in the crosshairs of this so-called rebellion of yours and the Vanir. I want to stop any more unnecessary death.”
“Does that mean you’re giving up? Going to give me the cure for vampirism?” I kept my expression neutral despite the hope blossoming in my chest.
“No, I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” I all but sneered.
“Because there is no true cure for vampirism. If I give you the spell and you complete it, all vampires will cease to exist.”
I laughed, the sound cold and bitter. What a fucking joke she was. This, this lie was why she brought me here? Pathetic.
“Right. What a terrible lie. Who came up with that one? The wolf?”
“It’s no lie. I saw the spell myself. Written by the Goddess Astria, it said if the spell was reversed, all vampires would die.”
“So you saw the spellbook? The real spellbook? And the pages that are missing?”
“Astria’s journals—yes.”
“And what did you do with it—the pages you ripped out of the original journal.”
Lennox hesitated.
I clicked my tongue. “I will find the original.”
Lennox remained quiet before finally speaking again. “You’d give up your own life to end vampirism?”
I tensed. If this was the truth—it was an unexpected one. A roadblock. An outcome Keziq and I had not anticipated. But if I could eliminate vampires, avenge my love—I’d do it. I’d give my life up for that.
“Yes—to prevent others from losing their loved ones at the hands of vampires yes—I’d give up my own life. There is already plenty of blood on my hands—why not add an entire population before I return to the stars?”
“You won’t be resting with the stars,” the witch, Luciana, all but growled.
I shrugged. “As long as I am reunited with my love it doesn’t matter.
Now, if that is all, I will take my leave.
I’ve got a war to organize.” I’d have Keziq look into it in the meantime.
See if it really was true and if it was, if she could stop it.
Or find a way to stop my death. Everyone else—I didn’t give a fuck. But part of me still wanted that power—
“You’re seriously going to move forward with this?” the High King pressed.
“Yes. When this is all said and done, vampires will have been eliminated, and you and all your people and friends will be dead. Leaving the crown open for whoever gets to it first. A new Lethenia—sounds refreshing, doesn’t it?
I’m leaving behind a legacy that will live on well past my death.
” I laughed. This was grand. This was all going too well. And the looks on their faces—priceless.
I stood, not caring to waste another minute with them when I had so much work to do. “It appears I have a lot to do before I meet my bitter end. I’ll see you on the battlefield, Lennox Adair.”