I just stared at him, pretending I didn’t know what he wanted me to do.
His lips barely moved with his whispered words. “Come on. Don’t waste all this effort for pride’s sake. She’s depending on you.”
He was right. I bristled at the thought, but it was a small price to pay if it would get us closer to Cynthia. I bowed, lowering my eyes to the floor. When, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Schwint raise back up, I stood straight once more and met Gwala face to face.
He smiled kindly, as if the moment had never happened. “I must confess I am quite elated at your arrival. As soon as I learned of your existence a few months ago, I knew you were meant to live here. We have not had a warlock of your caliber in centuries.” A soft, tittering chuckle escaped him. “Of course, we won’t say it quite like that in front of Omar.”
Livehere! At his words, my heart plummeted. I’d had no idea why the Royals would be calling me, but I’d known it wasn’t for something that would be accomplished easily. However, thinking it and hearing it were two different things.
“I do hope your journey went smoothly. No problems during your flight?”
I was barely able to comprehend what he was saying, let alone respond.
He paused, waiting for my answer. When none came, he gave a slight nod. “And your parents? They are in good health, I take it?”
My breath caught, and I glared at him. Only Schwint’s reminder of Cynthia kept me from rushing him. Even so, I felt my face flush with heat, and my fingers twitched, aching to send him flying across the chamber.
The king’s smile stayed genuine, almost sweet. “It is such an important thing to have one’s family healthy. I lost the members of my family at such a tender, vulnerable age.” He took a few steps closer, closing the space to such a degree I could easily have reached out to strangle him. His black eyes held mine, and for the first time, all pretenses fell away. His body might be that of a boy barely in his teens, but his eyes told an entirely different tale. This vampire was ancient. Centuries, I’d be willing to bet. Maybe even over a millennium. No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than his nearly motherly expression returned. “Truly, it is such a pleasure to have you in my home.”
Still I couldn’t force myself to say anything. I should play the game, say how honored I was to be here. Rage at him for nearly killing my parents. Demand to see Cynthia, for him to release her. Ask what he wanted with me.
Nothing.
His smile edged up at the corner, the hint of one long, thick fang peering through. With a jerk, he turned to Schwint. “And who might you be? I was not aware the invitation included any other than the warlock.” His eyes slid back to me for the briefest of moments, then returned to Schwint. Fear shot through me. Could the king kill Schwint faster than he would be able to shrink and dart away?
Schwint gave another bow, smaller this time. “I am called Schwint, Your Majesty. I am a fairy.” His voice trembled slightly. I couldn’t tell if the movement of his wings was in preparation for flight or if he was trembling.
The king barked out a high-pitched laugh. “Yes, I am quite capable of seeing you are a fairy. I have employed many fairies over the centuries from time to time, although it has been a few lifetimes since I have had one under my care.” His gaze traveled down Schwint’s body and back up again. “And what brings you into the Vampire Cathedral, Schwint the Fairy?”
“I…” Schwint, normally so quick and charming with words, seemed to be at a loss. My fear spiked again. “I’m Finn’s boyfriend, Your Majesty.”
The king’s black hand swept in front of Schwint’s face. Each finger was covered in rings, and diamonds and rubies flashed in the light. While his voice remained cordial, his tone held a slight dismissiveness. He looked back and forth between the two of us. “Boyfriends? So, you are… mated?”
Schwint opened his mouth, but no words came out.
I tried to think fast. Clearly Gwala was playing a game, but I couldn’t determine the outcome. Was it better or worse the more important Schwint was to me? Using my family as an example, it seemed the closer a person was to me, the more likely they were to be hurt. “Schwint is just my…” I almost said boyfriend but faltered for some unknown reason. “Yes, Schwint is my mate.”
Gwala smiled and nodded. I couldn’t tell if I’d given the right answer or not. A movement to my right caught my attention, but I refused to look away from Gwala. Apparently, he noticed as well, because he looked over, then clasped his hands to his chest. “Veronica, thank you, my dear! I’d nearly forgotten!”
I looked in the direction Gwala addressed. A beautiful woman with waist-length red hair gave a slight bow in the king’s direction.
“I had a feast prepared for you.”
I turned back to Gwala, chastising myself for looking away.
“I knew there was a chance you might not arrive until tomorrow or the next day. Of course I was aware you had left the Square yesterday but thought you might spend a day or so sightseeing around this beautiful country of ours. However, I had a feeling you’d waste no time in answering my summons.” He turned, gesturing for me to follow. “I only thought it would be a feast for one, so please forgive the inadequate amount.”
Before I followed him, I turned to Schwint and read my own questions reflected in his eyes. Did Gwala really not know Schwint was coming, or was he just playing more games? I’d assumed there’d been someone watching us the entire way. Maybe not. It wasn’t as if I’d be going anywhere else when he had my sister.
After a moment, we followed Gwala through the massive chamber. Now that his attention wasn’t trained on me, I glanced around the room, trying to avoid ever having my eyes land on one of the many vampires surrounding us.
The room was exactly how the outside of the Cathedral suggested it would be. Every ounce of it seemed formed from the mountain itself. The walls were various kinds of rock, polished and gleaming, color striations swirling over the surface. Thick, twisted tree roots arched forty feet above us to support the vaulted ceiling. Even the massive chandelier and sconces sprouted seamlessly from the stone and appeared to be sedimentary mixes of stone, crystal, gold, and precious gems—long flames flickered from each. Against the wall, behind where Gwala stood, were two thrones, the one directly in the center nearly four times the size of the other. Each was the same greenish copper as the entrance gate, each pointed and thin at the top and swelling in size as it reached the polished stone floor—like candle wax that has run down the sides of its stand and pooled at the base.
I felt a pull on my hand and looked over to see Schwint wide-eyed, trying to get me to move. Within a couple of hurried steps we caught up behind Gwala.
“The Vampire Cathedral is miraculous to behold, is it not?”
Schwint cleared his throat. “Yes, Your Majesty. It is gorgeous.”
