All three spoke at once.
I was s-sleeping, all right, and a-all of a sudden this g-giant vamp
minding my own business and then I notice fangs. Fangs! After I pissed my pants, they forced me to
spare room or something I could stay in? Because Im sick of going back and forth, and did you happen to notice the hot redhead with the giant
w-was that thing that came o-out of Aden? A d-dragon? It just r-rose out of h-him
rope burns. If I scar, Im suing. I might sue anyway. Dan is going to kill me. If your blood-hungry friends dont snack on my organs first. Im on my last strike, you know. And this time its not even my fault. Why the hell
or even the brunette. You kind of owe me. I dont know if anyones ever told you this before, but there is such a thing as cock-blocking, and youre proof.
Silence.
Okay. Where to begin? Guess shed start with the basics. Im a vampire. And it was odd, talking to humans about her race. It was an offense once punishable by death. Or, at the very least, eternal imprisonment, cutting you off from the rest of the world.
That would have been her mothers fate if Victoria hadnt arranged for her freedom. And what does she do? Refuse to visit me. That stung more and more every day. Maybe because Victoria kept thinking of new reasons for her mothers refusal. She wasnt good enough. Wasnt liked anymore. Was a complete disappointment.
Was this how Aden felt when he thought about his parents? Abandoned, forgotten, unloved? Probably, and that was yet another thing they had in common.
This house is full of vampires, as you saw for yourself, she continued. What you dont know is that Aden is now our king. He fought my brother to defend his crown. He won.
Yeah, he did, Seth said, raising his hand to high-five someone.
The other two just looked at him.
What?
The monster you saw is Very hard to explain. Something all vampires carry inside themselves.
Oh, hell, no. Aden is a vampire? Ryders eyes were as round as saucers.
Yes.
A smirking Shannon held out his hand to Ryder. T-told you. Y-you owe me a f-five spot.
You wagered on his race? she gasped out.
Not that. I s-suspected you were s-something different. The way you w-walk, talk, dead giveaways. He flashed her a grin. The way you sneak into o-our room at the ranch, more so.
Once again she was in danger of falling into that spiral of depression. Shed worked hard to blend in, and yet, shed failed royally. How do I walk? Talk?
You glide, Seth said, wiggling his brows in approval. And your accent isdifferent.
Different. A polite way of saying creepy? How is Dan? she asked. Still blaming himself?
Hes sad, Seth said.
Worried, Ryder added.
Shannon shrugged. G-guilty.
Yes, he still blamed himself. Maybe, when Aden returns you to the ranch, hell talk to Dan. She knew Aden respected Dan, knew just how badly he had wanted to finish high school. And hed planned to do so. Until shed saved his life, changing the very fabric of who he was.
Would he look back later and regret the choices hed made these past few days? She didnt want that. More than anything else, she wanted him happy. Now, always. And if things progressed as she thought they would, he had a long always to look forward toor a long always to dread.
Hey, whats happening out there? Seth asked, pressing his face against the glass.
What do you mean? Beyond the two-way mirror, Victoria watched as everyone in the ballroom dropped to their knees, heads bowed. Voices tapered to quiet. She knew what that meant. Aden has arrived, she said, every cell in her body going on alert. And sure enough, a sweep of her gaze, and she could see Aden and Sorin towering in the arched double doors.
Adens hair no longer fell over his face, so she had a clear view of his swollen eyelids and discolored cheeks and jaw. The damage could have been worse, much worse, and should have been, considering the number of times her brother had introduced cartilage and bone to knuckles. At least he was steady on his feet. Not many would be, after receiving a beating like that.
He searched the room, his gaze sliding over vampires, wolves and humans, never pausing, completely determined. Was helooking for her?
He was so hot and cold with her lately, she dared not hope. Best to think of something else. Something less upsetting. Like her brother. The moron.
Sorin had healed considerably but sported the same cuts and bruises Aden did. Especially in his neck, where the je la nune had burned away skin and muscle. Part of her wanted to shove her fingers into that wound and tug. He had used her. He hadnt known her ability to teleport had vanished, and so he had drugged her. Reduced her to a bargaining chip. Yes, he had done so to prevent a fight to the deathAdens deathbut he could have found another way. Aden had.
And there was reason number one Aden was the better choice for king.
I cant believe I used to give him a hard time about stuff, Ryder muttered. He could have kicked my ass and then some.
Its cause youre dumb, Seth said.
Im not dumb.
Dude, the only class youve got an A in is lunch. And we both know that A only stands for Appetite.
Hes g-got an A in recess, t-too, Shannon said with a grin.
Ryder shoved him good-naturedly.
Seth gagged. My eyes! My poor eyes. Dude-on-dude foreplay is just gross.
Ryder lost his tolerant humor, balled his fist, about to take a swing, but Victoria stepped between them. Enough. But really? What could she do if they decided to go for a knock-down, drag-out? Nothing, thats what. Not anymore.
More than that, if they hit her, they could inflict injuries she might not be able to recover from.
Shed never had to worry about such a thing before.
Suddenly Adens gaze latched onto the mirror as if glued thereas if he could see through the smoky glass. She hadnt meant to look at him again, but it was habit now and shed acted automatically.
When she realized they were peering at each other, she froze, helplessly trapped by his scrutiny. Could he see her? Impossible. But
You may rise, he said to the crowd.
Clothing rustled as everyone stood, cutting Aden from her view. Murmurs arose. Giggles and jeers were thrown at Sorin. Right now, he was a laughingstock.
Perhaps that would change in a hundred years or so. Perhaps not.
When the crowd parted like the Red Sea, Victoria was offered another straight shot at Aden. He was striding forward and headed directly toward her.
Had he seen her?
Sorin stalked behind him, ignoring the barbs tossed his way.
A pair of soft, delicate hands reached out, caressing Aden, stopping him. Draven the So Going To Die, Victoria realized with a rising tide of anger. Again the crowd quieted, every ear in the room twitching and listening.
Congratulations on your victory, Draven said silkily. My king.
Thank you. If youll excuse me He tried to move around her.
She jumped back in front of him. A moment of your time, if you please.
Indecision played over his features before he nodded. A moment. Nothing more.
Her eyes glittered with menace, revealing the bitch underneath the beauty. Very well, Ill jump right in. I dont know if the wolf-shifter, Riley, or even Victoria herself, told you or not, but two weeks ago I challenged Victoria for rights to you.
Every muscle in his body stiffened, and his narrowed gaze rose to the mirror for one second, two, before returning to Draven. Go on.
Perhaps the girl was stupid and didnt hear the warning in his tone. Perhaps? Ha! She was, because she actually continued. You are human, after all, and
Was human, he corrected with sharp reproof.
I realize that, Draven replied. Now. Stupid was too kind. Obviously she had the IQ of a gutter rat. But the challenge was issued and accepted weeks ago, as I said, when you were, in fact, human. So the law still applies. Victoria must fight me, as you fought Sorin. That is our way. That has always been our way.
The whispered theories reignited. How had Aden turned? Could someone else be turned?
A grayish tint washed over Adens skin. There will be no attempting to turn the humans, he called to one and all.
Even Victoria didnt know how or why Adenand she herselfhad survived when the only successful turnings had happened in the late 1400s. Bloody Marythe original and not the former queen of Englandwas now the leader of the Scottish faction, and she had turned in that time frame as well.
Throughout the years, Victoria had heard rumors of a long-ago passionate affair between Vlad and Mary. That Vlad had chosen to turn her rather than his wife. And when Vlad later discarded Mary in favor of another, Mary had gathered her supporters and left, vowing revenge.
There had been battles, lives lost, but neither side had ever backed down. Amid both clans, people had tired of the constant bickering. Willing to abandon the only homes theyd ever known in the name of peace, they had broken all ties with both leaders, and more factions were created. So many, all over the world, each with a king or a queen, or both, if the more powerful of the pair was inclined to share.
Victoria thought of Sorin and his claim to have slaughtered Vlads allies. A claim she was inclined to believe, considering none had arrived after Adens summons.
A worrisome thought occurred to her. If word of that spreadhey, everyone, the new vampire king has no backupwell, he would become an even bigger target.
As the kings number one adviser, Sorin said to Draven, I have much to say about this.
Aden tossed him a what-the-hell frown. Victoria hid a smile behind her hand. Number one adviser?
I am advising him to schedule the fight later today. After the beating I just received, I look forward to seeing someone else receive one. Namely you, little girl. I have watched my sister fight
He had?
and she is very, very good.
Draven buffed her fingernails. I am agreeable to the time frame, and need only your approval, majesty.
Victorias hand fell to her throat. Her oh-so-vulnerable throat. The chill inside her deepened, migrating into bone.
What are you quaking about? You can take her. Seth tapped her on the butt. Shes straight-up bitch, but youve got a dark side. I can tell.
Thank you. I think. She used to have a dark side. Now she just had a human side. Draven would tear her to pieces. And though she wanted to rush out there and stop the madness, she knew it was already too late. The fight had been accepted. To withdraw now was to admit defeat.
As Aden would soon learn, the loser of a challenge gave up everything to the winner. Their possessionstheir lives. Thats why challenges were so rarely issued. Sorin was Adens property now. For the rest of his very long life.
Victoria did not want to be Dravens.
No, today is unacceptable, Aden said. Ill set a time after I review my schedule, and an announcement will be made. Until then, stay away from her. He brushed Draven aside and kicked back into motion, Sorin remaining at his side.
The girl watched his back the entire time, her eyes slitted.
When he reached the mirrored wall, he stopped, his gaze roving, searching for the handle. Victoria, he said. Let me in.
He did. He knew she was inside. And peering through objects had not been an ability she had ever possessed. Shocked, she opened the door for him.
Their gazes clashed as the boys poured out from behind her and rushed to him, surrounding him, whooping, grinning like loons and shouting. Aden endured everything with flushed cheeks and a frozen expression of disbelief.
She smiled at him, and he smiled back. A moment all their own, despite the chaos. Pleasure bloomed. She cherished every second, knowing the memory was one shed coddle for a very long time.
Thats the way its done, bitches, Seth said, extending his arm through the doorway and flipping Sorin off.
Her brother blew him a kiss.
Ryder drilled his knuckles into Seths arm and chortled. Now whos the one enjoying guy-on-guy foreplay?
Stephanie, Aden called without turning away. I need you.
Wait. What?
Her sister came rushing from the center of the crowd, chewing gum and twirling the end of her ponytail around her finger. Present.
Do me a favor and take the boys back to the ranch.
Frowning, she pointed to her chest. Me?
Yes, you.
Sweet! Really? Jumping up and down, clapping her hands, she said, I can drink them, right? Please, please, please tell me I get to drink them.
Adens horror was instant. No. Do not drink from them. I want them to arrive home in the same condition theyre in now.
The bouncing stopped. She popped a bubble. Thats all you want me to do, then? Escort them? That kind of suckswithout actually sucking.
He glanced at Victoria for guidance. She shrugged.
Yes, escort them only, he said, massaging the back of his neck.
Next came the patented Princess Stephanie pout. A glower, a stomp of her foot, a puff of breath. Fine. Next time, though, I want an important assignment. You should see my skills with nunchucks.
True story. I trained her, Sorin said. Shes very good.
Comforting, was Adens only reply.
Stephanie flattened her hands on Adens shoulders, rose on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. By the way, thanks for not killing my big bro.
Aden cast Sorin a sideways glance, the same whats happening around me glance hed thrown Victoria a moment before. She liked that. Liked seeing them work as a unit. I cant say it was the wisest decision Ive ever made, but he is growing on me. Like a fungus.
Stephanie laughed, a tinkling sound. Whatever. You like him. I can tell. With that, she turned to the boys and waved them over. Come on, pesky humans. Lets get you home.
Alive, Aden reminded her.
Yeah, yeah, she replied, not turning back but throwing her hands in the air.
Shannon patted Aden on the shoulder before walking off, and Aden nodded at him. A silent communication. They would be talking soon.