ONE
“If you help me murder my entire family.”
Nadi couldn’t process Raziel’s words at first. They hung in the air between them as the wind whipped along the cliff and waves crashed against the rocks of the shore below the balcony.
What washappening?
Nadi blinked and took in the tableau before her. It would almost have been funny, if it weren’t her problem to solve.
A small table, set for two—a white tablecloth underneath the delicate silverware and shining plates. Carefully prepared food, largely uneaten. A bottle of red wine. A pistol sitting beside it, pointed at her, placed there by her worst enemy.
Raziel Nostrom fit perfectly with the setting—the decaying and decrepit estate behind him, its stone walls crumbling beneath grasping vines, was his ancestral home, after all. It was past sunset, and the twilight sky cast shadows across his sharp features.
And then there was the corpse of Monica Valan—the woman Nadi was pretending to be—dead in a third chair next to them.
Nadi did the only thing that made sense in her head. The only thing that she could think of to do.
She laughed.Hard.
Raziel smiled faintly. Lacing his fingers together, in front of him, he sat back in his chair. “You don’t believe me.” A statement, not a question.
“You have everything.” She gestured at him. “Everything.The metropolis—theworld—at your fingertips. Money. Influence. Luxury. Good looks. Everyone and anything you could ever want. What possible goal could you be chasing that means you want them all dead? Is it just out of spite? You must see that you could never run their empire on your own.”
Reaching out, Raziel poured himself another glass of wine. “Spite has nothing to do with it. Neither do jealousy or revenge. And you’re quite right—Mael and Lana’s underlings would never submit to my rule.”
“So…?” Nadi eyed the gun on the table. She wondered if she could get to it first. Though, playing through the scene in her head—all the scenarios ended poorly. Even if she shapeshifted into someone else’s form, Raziel was a vampire. He was faster, stronger, and tougher than she was in a face-to-face brawl.
She’d have to wait until she could catch him off guard.
Which was very unlikely at the moment.
The smile he paid her didn’t reach his eyes. “I plan to throw all of the metropolis into chaos. And once I am done, I will rule over all vampires, humans, and fae alike—as my grandmother Lilivra once did.”
Nadi stared at him blankly for a moment.
Then, she burst out laughing. Again.
And again.
This time, Raziel looked less entertained. He simply shrugged. “Mock me if you wish. I know my destiny.”
She knew Raziel wasinsane.But she didn’t know he was delusional as well. This was his endgame? To destroy the Nostrom clan and to rule the metropolis? “How do you planto destroy all the other vampire clans? Like the Rosovs, the Anotalis, the Molzars? Even the Toths would put up a fight.”
He rolled his crimson eyes. “The Rosovs are the only true threat on that list. The others are annoyances. They will be useful servants in the new world I create. The Rosovs, however, will need to be dealt with. But only once my family is removed from the picture. One thing at a time.”
“Right…” She paused. “And what happens if I say no?”
“I shoot you, and throw your corpse into the sacrificial crypt beneath the chapel. Along with the real Monica Valan.” He smirked. “Seems only fitting thatbothmy wives should be there, I suppose. Speaking of…” He reached for the gun and stood, pointing it across the table at Nadi. “Why don’t we continue the conversation there. Seems more suitable. Besides. I’m sick of staring at her face.”
Frowning, she stayed seated. “Pardon?”
“Get up, Nadi.” He gestured with the gun. “I’d hate to have to shoot you.”
She didn’t know if he was serious, but she didn’t particularly want to find out. Standing, she took a step back from the table and waited for more instructions.
Raziel walked over to Monica’s corpse, and threw her over his shoulder as if she were a sack of potatoes. He motioned for Nadi to walk ahead of him. “You first, little murderer.”
“I…” She hesitated.
