She leans up and clasps Stirling’s cheeks, placing her mouth on hers.And this time, the officiant doesn’t stop it.I’m pretty sure they pronounce them wife and wife, but I can’t hear through the roaring of cheer of all the magicians in here.
Someone chucks confetti into the air.It triggers a ricochet.Thousands of fluttering pieces of paper.The air fills with paper hearts and flowers and petals.My sister and her wife walk out of the throne room, confetti raining down on them, surrounded by the happiest hoots I’ve ever heard.
Chapter14
Dahlia
I’ll give the magicians their credit, they don’t half know how to turn a room around.
We all exited the throne room to have drinks and canapés in a side hall.But within an hour, they’d done that magical fuckery with their hands, ribbons of magic flowing from the walls, andswoosh!the room was completely different.I forced Penelope to stand and watch as I was fascinated.She whined until I promised I’d fuck her into oblivion one more time after the wedding was over.
The room is now dressed with chandeliers that look like cresting waves, made of blue and white frothing crystals.Tables line the perimeter with a huge black-and-white chequered dance floor in the middle.On the dais where the thrones usually sit is a long table for the royals and Stirling.Near the huge doors, Remy fiddles with a set of large boxes that pump out music.
Every guest in here is smiling and laughing and cheerful.I am none of those things.
Daria has done her best, and her security is in here.They were far more discreet in the ceremony because no one was moving.But in here, you can tell who they are because they’re the only magicians not bopping their heads in time to the music.On the one hand, it’s reassuring.But on the other, if I were the attacker, I’d know exactly who to avoid.
All afternoon my skin has crawled like we’re being watched.That message I plucked from the dead woman’s mouth plays over and over in my mind.
My shoulders ache with tension.The wedding is nearly over and there’s been no attack, but it’s coming.If the message wasn’t warning enough, I can taste the threat in the air.Electric, thick, grimy.It crawls over my skin, an ever-present pressure, forcing me to stay alert.
“Anything?”Red says, sidling up to me.Because Octavia has spent much of her time with Queen Calandra and her council, Red has popped in and out, working with Daria and her team to offer support and hunter tactics.
I shake my head.
“Octavia said you had a wild idea about who it was.”
I do.It’s ridiculous given the levels of security.“I’ve got no proof,” I say.
“Don’t you?Octavia said you saw the marks on the girl’s wrist.”
I grit my teeth and drag her to the edge of the room, my eyes never leaving Penelope, who swings and twirls her sister around.
“The corpse had marks like someone had tried to bite her.”
“Someone?”Red says.
My lips press together as if I can squeeze the idea away.“A vampire.”
“In New Imperium?”she asks, checking over her shoulder to make sure we’re not overheard.
“Yeah.”
“That’s not good.Shouldn’t the fang marks have been obvious?”
“Not sure.It could be a failed transition.Or a vampire that was tortured and had their fangs recently removed.Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Have you told Calandra or Daria?”
“Daria knows.All her guards are carrying stakes.”
“Good move on the weapons.How the hell did another vampire get into the city?I thought the tunnels were mostly sealed off, and the ones we came through guarded or deserted.I didn’t think anyone really knew of them,” Red says, pulling a hand over her face.
“The real question is, if they are in the city, how do we stop them getting into the palace before Penelope is injured or Octavia’s peace talks are ruined?”
Red leaves her expression stiff as she returns to Octavia.They clearly discuss what I said, because neither of them relax after that.
If it is a vampire at fault, then Octavia will be blamed, and that is the last thing she needs.It will destroy the progress we’ve made.
