Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
AS YOU WISH
‘Look what I found, wandering around the grounds. It’s like she was asking for it.’ Stefan grins, pulling Sophie around in front of him. ‘I think it’s hot when humans want to be hunted.’
‘Let her go!’ I put the might of Raven into it, every shred of my borrowed power. How the fuck is this happening?
Everyone turns to look at me. Peach Silk’s mouth is a perfect ‘o’, her blue eyes wide.
Stefan huffs out a laugh. ‘The Raven heir. I should have known. Is this one of yours?’
‘Let. Her. Go. Now.’ Rage rises. Bertrand is a moment away.
But this is a test. What kind of ruler will I be?
One who calls on her guards every time there’s a problem, who has to rely on others for protection?
But I have no idea what the norm is in this situation.
My only interactions with vampires my age have been carefully managed, or born from my own misadventure. None of them have been good.
‘Or what?’ Stefan sneers, his hand twisting in Sophie’s hair. She cries out, tears running down her face.
My rage becomes cold fury. The only thing I can do is what feels right to me. I have nothing else to go on. I have to save Sophie. One wrong move, and she’s dead.
‘She is one of mine. Which is why I’m asking you to release her.
’ I make my way between the cushions, sending a silent apology to Sophie, whose gaze is fixed on me.
I tamp down my feelings, the way I spent years doing before Kyle helped me change my world.
It’s one thing I can do well. No one needs to know how scared I am.
I smile at Stefan, as though he doesn’t have my friend by the hair. As though I don’t want to tear his head from his shoulders. ‘And I am indeed the heir to Raven. Your father kissed my ring. I doubt he’d be happy to hear of this.’
‘You’re a human.’
‘Am I? Gosh, thanks so much for pointing that out. I’d never have known, otherwise.’ There’s a giggle from Peach Silk. ‘I am human. So fucking what?’ I throw the question down, like a challenge.
‘Humans are prey.’
‘If that’s all you think humans are, ask yourself who it was that built this palace.
’ I wave my hand. ‘Who painted all this gorgeous artwork, designed all these glorious rooms. Because it sure as fuck wasn’t vampires.
’ I smile, sweetly, but there’s ice in my tone.
‘You couldn’t survive without humans. Yet I think humans would survive quite well without you. ’
I feel those shadow wings again, as though I’m truly the Raven, a creature of blood and darkness.
The room is silent. Stefan drops Sophie, advancing on me.
In a flash Deryck is there, helping her out of the room.
Thank darkness. I cannot let my relief show, though.
This game isn’t over. I can almost feel it in my hand, like a puzzle with different pieces.
Whichever one I pick next will change how this goes, so I need to choose wisely.
I cannot call for Bertrand, even though Stefan looms over me, too close for comfort.
Joaquin is a dark presence at my side. The room crackles with power, everyone watching wide-eyed. I refuse to back down.
‘Is there a problem?’
Stefan sniffs, deliberately. ‘Just the stench of all that anti-feed you’re wearing. In the old days, you wouldn’t be permitted to exist.’
‘Stefan!’ Satin Skirt rises, grabbing his arm and trying to tug him away. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she says, glancing at me wide-eyed. ‘I think one of the dancers earlier had something extra added. He’s not himself.’
‘In the old days, I’d have had your throat ripped out for talking to me like that,’ I drawl. Joaquin’s hand comes to the small of my back, as though he knows my legs are shaking.
‘It could still be arranged,’ he murmurs, his dark gaze sharp on Stefan.
Stefan snarls, lunging at me. Joaquin moves quickly; before I know where I am, I’m behind him. And he has Stefan by the throat.
Everyone else is frozen. Stefan pushes against Joaquin’s grip, clawing at his fingers. Joaquin squeezes. Stefan chokes, his legs buckling. Holy shit. I place my hand on Joaquin’s arm.
‘Let him go. Jennie will never forgive us if we ruin her cushions.’ I keep my tone light, but I’m freaking out.
Joaquin snorts. ‘As you wish. We’re in Raven territory, after all.
Something he would do well to remember.’ He shoots Stefan a fierce glare as he releases him with a shove, leaving all of us in no doubt how things would be if we were in Jaguar territory.
Stefan staggers back, his hand to his throat.
Black bruises bloom there, already healing.
‘I’ll tell my father!’ he shouts, his voice raw.
‘Oh, do,’ I say, not hiding my scorn. ‘And then I’ll let him know how you brutalised one of my friends and disrespected me. This palace is not a hunting ground; I’m sure Jennie won’t be happy to hear what you’ve been up to, either.’
‘You wouldn’t.’
‘I’m not the one who needs to run to Daddy.’
There’s another giggle, hastily muffled, from the girl in bloodstained satin. Stefan goes to lunge at me again, but Joaquin stops him, holding up his hand. He shakes his head, tutting.
‘You do not touch her. She is your heir and should be respected as such.’ There’s a growl in his voice and something dark in me responds.
Oh, he could be just what I need.