The longer the day wears on, the more agitated I become.Though both Red and Octavia continuously scan the doors, windows and any movement.
Dinner passes without a murmur.It’s the most lavish meal I’ve ever seen served.Calandra even serves us goblets of blood herself.The most visible indication of peace to her nobles that I’ve seen yet.
I can’t deny I’m famished.The hours and hours of heightened awareness, of constantly being alert is gruelling, even for a vampire.But this job is more than just body guarding.I want to protect Penelope.I need to.Something is coming and I have to be prepared.
I guzzle down the offering and then take a second helping of blood as the tables are emptied and the music ratchets up.
The beat kicks out, bodies move in synchrony as magicians, lords and even the occasional vampire prance around the dance floor.
Gabriel and Xavier have their hands up, wiggling and jumping about with a couple of Morrigan’s friends; Jacob, I think one of them was called and Mal, was it?I forget, but they’re chatting and drinking as they boogie together.
Everyone seems happy.
And yet my skin itches.
When I can’t stand it any longer, I call out.“Red!”I have to shout it a couple of times over the crashing beats and trilling melodies.But I’m able to wave her over.She darts off the dance floor, leaving Remy and Bella smooching.
“Where’s my sister?”I ask.
She points to the other side of the room where Octavia is talking with Quinn and Scarlett.It takes a couple of minutes, but I catch Octavia’s eye.She mumbles something to Scarlett and heads over.
“Everything okay?”she says.
I shake my head and draw them both close.“I can’t put my finger on it, but I want to walk the palace.It makes no sense.Everything pointed towards an attack today, right?”
Red and Octavia both nod.
“Will you keep an eye on Penelope?I won’t be long, I just want to check a few of the weak spots, entrances and the like.”
“Of course,” Octavia says.
I break away, my eyes always darting back to Penelope.She catches me leaving and a scowl falls over her expression.She grabs the nearest woman and begins gyrating her backside against the woman’s groin.
A muscle ticks in my jaw.Doesn’t she realise I’m literally doing my duty to protect her?I’m about to march over then and haul her off when a shadow rushes through my periphery.
I freeze.
My spine tingles.
It’s them.
I know it.
I spin around, frantically searching the room.But there are so many magicians in here, the throne room is so ram packed with people that I can’t tell where they went.
A sweeping movement.This time I just catch it.A hulking shadow.The same stature as the figure I saw in the nightclub.
It’s definitely them.“Got you, motherfucker.”
I lurch to the left, pushing and shoving my way through the throng of magicians to the edge of the room.
But I’m too slow.
By the time I reach the door, the shadow has vanished.
“Fuck,” I bellow and punch the wall.My fist goes through the plaster.“Shit.”I yank my hand out, hoping no one notices and head back to protect Penelope when I stop.There’s a droplet on the ground.I kneel, swipe it up with my finger and sniff.Metallic.I lick it.
Definitely blood.Not just any blood, vampire blood.
