Such a new vampire.
Galloway’s eyes shift from me to her, and he steps away from Olivia. Does she even realize that her sire has no interest in protecting her? They aren’t mates. She’s a plaything to him, nothing more.
He holds up his hands. “Damien, you know I only do what she tells me to do.”
Olivia scowls. “You don’t owe him an explanation, Galloway. He’ll be Valeska’s dog soon enough.”
I chuckle to myself as Galloway takes another step away from her.
“Can we talk about this?” he asks, but the question is half-hearted. He knows what’s about to go down, and he’s not going to do a thing about it.
“Hmmm. No.” I move closer to Olivia, staring her deep in the eyes. Compelling a vampire is harder than compelling a human but not impossible. “Did Valeska ask you to spy on Eloise or did you do it on your own?”
Her eyes go dull, and the corner of her mouth curls. I’m inside her mind but not in control. Still, I feel her desire to confess. Her mind is begging for her to spill what she believes is a cunning act of ingenuity. She’s proud of what she’s done.
“It was my idea. I heard everything you told Eloise and relayed it to Valeska once she agreed to have me turned.” She lifts her chin defiantly. “And now I have immortality.”
My lips curl, but it is no smile. “Is that what you think?” I strike before Olivia knows what’s coming. She struggles. I taste the fear in her blood when she realizes vampire strength is nothing compared to the strength of a shade.
Galloway slides his hands into his pockets as I drain her dry, feeding my hunger and my need for revenge. “Try not to get blood on the stone, Damien. It’s imported.”
I retract my fangs. She’s desiccated but not dead yet. I dig my fingers beneath her jaw and tear her head from her body. Both head and body burst into flames and settle to the stone, nothing but a pile of ash. I reach down and grab a fistful, my narrowed eyes trained on Galloway.
“Don’t look at me like that, Damien. You know Valeska ordered me to turn her. I had no idea what agreement she struck with the queen.”
“Right. It’s never your fault, is it Galloway?”
He snorts, shakes his head. “She’ll never win anyway. You know that, right?”
A growl rumbles through me. I’m too full to drain him… tonight. “My mate was strong enough to win the first challenge and threatening enough for Valeska to resort to cheating on the second. Eloise will win the third trial, and when the queen falls, you’ll be lucky to survive the transition in leadership.”
For a full breath, I enjoy the flash of fear that colors his features. Then I break apart and return to Eloise.
40
Disappointment
ELOISE
I’ve barely settled into a new room in the infirmary when Marabella storms in without knocking. Her strides are quick, her arms stiff with her agitation.
I lean my head back against the pillow and stare out at the garden beyond the window. “Relax. The doctor says I’ll be good to go tomorrow. You won’t have to reschedule any donation sessions.”
“Is that what you think this is about, Eloise? Donation sessions?”
I turn my head slightly so that I can examine her face. “Don’t tell me you’ve started to actually care about me.”
She turns around, pokes her head out the door and looks both ways, then locks us both inside the room.
“Why are you locking the door?”
“Because we need to talk.” She strides back toward me and pulls a chair up to the bed. “Today’s loss cost us all.”
“Is this about money? Did you lose something betting on me? I can’t be responsible?—”
“It’s not about money,” she retorts. “The resistance is losing hope.”
“The resistance?”
