I didn't think anyone else could feel it. The vampires didn't feel magic the same way we did. They could smell it, but if it wasn't actively coming from a witch, would they even know? They hadn't allowed witches near the Castle family in ages.
Maybe this is why.
There was something depraved going on here. But what I hadn't told the others was…
My eyes shot to the new Castle king, but his were already looking my way intently. I knew he didn't like Vesper here, but me?
I’m a threat.Or I’m going to be used next.Neither thought sat well with me.
My ego told me not to look away first, but the rational part of my brain forced my eyes to the front, looking over the sea of vampires who had shown up for the Blood Rites.
The sun was setting. The doors of the throne room were open, letting the golden rays shine in. Right in front of the stairs below the throne, there was a large goblet that was almost the size of a whole person. And inside, dark vampire blood.
There were texts about this in our archives, but this was the first time I or anyone else in my coven was invited to witness it.
“Thank you everyone for coming,” Aurelia said, stepping forward with a smile that twisted cruelly on her face. “Both our loyal Castle family members and…” She motioned to the side where the vampire heads of various families and even some clan heads stood. They were segregated. It was like the room had been split in half, with low-level family members on the left and important vampires on the right.
Atlas and her new fiancée were surprisingly absent. She was probably pissed at the arrangement and taking it out on us.
Though if a fight broke out and she was here, we would undoubtedly still lose.
“Our esteemed guests,” Aurelia finished, smiling even wider for them just before she walked down the steps.
“As you know, it is customary that when anyone joins the family, they add their blood to the goblet, then drink from it, tying themselves to us. But now that we have a new king, it's timeeveryonepledges their loyalty to us—through blood.” Aurelia held her wrist to her face and bit into it in one smooth motion before she held it over the goblet, letting it fall inside. “I may no longer be part of the Castle family, but I pledge my loyalty nonetheless.”
Caspian walked from his place off to the side to do the same, looking at Aurelia with a warm smile. There was a bit of jealousy coming from Vesper, but I was actually starting to feel relieved that she had someone by her side.
My heart twisted.
Our bonded was spilling her blood for the maniac she called her brother. It meant she was officially and irrevocably tied to him. The Blood Rites were more of an assembly than anything else, but at the end of the day, it was another bond. Another thing that tied her to this kingdom.
To him.
What can he do with all that power? If a bond between the three of us is this powerful, what does it mean for them?
“I have one more present to welcome in this new era,” Aurelia added and walked to the side where they were waiting. “I promised my brother one thing. Proof that there is a traitor in our midst. Someone who seeks to ruin our family's rule before it even starts and has been secretly sharing information with our enemies.”
Whispers started, with vampires looking from side to side, trying to figure out if the person they were standing next to was the very traitor.
“General Lee, will you please join us in front?”
Gasps shot throughout the room. Some cowered, others almost seemed to be looking at the general with hungry gazes, trying to catch everything.
The family stayed suspiciously quiet.
All eyes were on the general as he stood next to the king like he always did. He was done up in a deep black robe and button-up ensemble. I glared at him, not able to keep in my hatred.
I could feel the disgusting waves of dark power rolling off him, especially now that it was coming to light.
He gave Aurelia a smile that made my skin crawl.
“Are you accusing me of something?” he asked, puffing his chest. “Kyan wouldn't take too kindly to you accusing her favorite and most loyal general.”
But Aurelia didn't care about the threat. She just smiled.
I watched Adrian, trying to figure out if this would be the thing that pushed him off the edge, but surprisingly, his facial expression hadn’t even twitched.
“Then why don't you come down here and prove me wrong?”
