I’ve won!
Damien is mine.
My mate.
We are free.
It feels like Damien and I are the only people in the room as the dome slowly dismantles itself, falling to the stone like purple stardust. The archways collapse into mirrors again that float through the air of their own volition and plop down into their storage spaces inside the box. The mirror goes blank. The box closes and locks itself.
And then even the weight on my head disappears. I run a hand through my hair, noticing the crown is gone. Everything is as it was before. The challenge is over.
In the next heartbeat, Damien has me in his arms. His thumbs are on my cheeks, his fingers in my hair. And then his lips are on mine.
The silo erupts in cheers, whoops, hollers of laughter. I hear the shuffling of money, the excited voices of the vampires I just made rich, and the lower groans and growls of the vampires who put their money on Valeska.
I draw back when intense hunger storms through me. Hunger for him. Hunger for food. Hunger for more. With a force I’m surprised to find remaining in my limbs, I drag Damien to me and kiss him once more, until a soft but persistent tap on my elbow demands my attention.
“Eloise, remember our agreement. Please,” Marabella says. George is at her side. Both of them have happy tears in their eyes. “You must do it now.”
George takes my elbow in that fatherly way of his and says, “Go ahead, sweetheart.”
Slowly, I turn to face the audience of vampires. They’ve gone eerily quiet. It’s so quiet I can hear mice scratching inside the walls. One by one, every vampire kneels.
“My queen,” Marcel says.
I see the way they’re looking at me. According to the old law, I could slide into Valeska’s position. With Damien by my side, I could rule with an iron fist. I could have power over everything. I could make this hive like the Lamia coven, a fair and just vampire community where hurting humans was punishable by death. I can eliminate how humans are used by houses like Marabella’s, save people like Ren and others in desperate situations. I could use vampires to fix problems in the human world.
Damien’s fingers thread into mine at my side.
Fuck no. If I’m ever going to rule a kingdom, it will be his. All I want to do is go home.
“I will not be your queen,” I say as loudly and clearly as I can. “No one will.” An excited murmur flows through the crowd.
Galloway’s head rises, his teeth bared. “If you do this, the palace will fall!”
I ignore him.
“All my authority as regent shall be deposed and returned to the masters of the individual covens. Marcel will lead this effort, including assignment of all military resources to the covens based on their relative size. I give him full authority to do so. Everald has agreed to provide goods and services to aid in the transition. The covens will need money initially to replace what the monarchy stole. To fund this endeavor, George and Everald will lead the liquidation of all palace art, furniture, and decor. The palace itself will remain but be transformed into a public library, open to everyone and led by Lazarus.”
Vampires are rising now and rushing out the door. Some are ecstatic, like they’ve just been freed from their cages and have to scream it to the world. Others look like they just want to scream. The latter group seems disappointed and nervous, and I can only assume they fear their previous support of Valeska might be a death sentence.
I’m not interested in killing anyone.
I only want one thing—Damien.
But when I turn around, Marcel is there. He bows low. “Congratulations, Eloise. It was a sincere pleasure to witness you win and emancipate Night Haven.”
Everald slaps me on the back. “I knew you could do it. Way to go, kid.”
George grins at me and says, “You’re free, sweetheart. Get the hell out of here and go live your best life.”
By his side, Marabella holds out her hand to me. “Thank you,” she says, beaming. “You’ve made the right choice. Come back to the house and Dr. Everline will help you… adjust. You’re going to need a donation.”
Damien grabs Marabella’s arm and whispers something in her ear.
The madam nods and offers us both a smile. “Anything she wants,” she says softly and then strides toward the door.
I watch her leave and then turn back to Damien. “What was that all about? What did she mean? I do feel strange. Maybe I should see Dr. Everline for another infusion.” I look down at myself. I’m covered in blood. “I don’t know how much of this is mine. I lost consciousness and— God, I just want to go home. And I want to eat. I’m… hungry. Fuck, I’m so hungry, Damien.”
