Garroway laughs again, louder this time.
Skar pushes him. “Shut up, graybird.”
“I didn’t say anything, Master.” There’s a wide grin on Garro’s face. He loves seeing arrogant Master Skar put in his place. Almost as much as I do.
“The guard says we need to find our allies. I intend to do that,” Skar says. “Starting with the closest ones.”
Vallan grunts, shaking his head. “Demilord Aldion was a supposed ally, brother.”
“We quickly struck him off the list. What’s your point?”
“Is it smart to waste our time slashing off allies to enemies one at a time?”
Skar snorts. “Let me do the scheming, brother.”
His words annoy me. I tense up. When I’m angry at a mate, the Brat Princess makes herself known, and I can’t stop it.
I slap Vall’s big beautiful ass and earn a gratifying twitch from him. “You’re talking to the man who cooked up a months-long scheme that resulted in the death of Overlord Barnabac Craxon. None of us made that happen. Not even you, Skar. Maybe you let usallscheme, because I’d say Vall is quite good at it, and certainly cunning enough for it. Speak your mind, my big brute.”
When Vall frowns at me through his beard and mutters, “Thank you, silverblood,” I beam at him.
Despite how the evening ended, I won’t soon forget that torrid session we had in the random storage closet of the castle a few hours ago. He’s still imprinted inside me, and Vallan will be front-of-mind for many, many days to come.
“Very well, little temptress,” Skar says, feigning sweetness. Judging by his tone, he’s hardly able to contain his exasperation. “Do tell us what you have in mind, Lord Vallan?”
Now Vall looks embarrassed, and I roll my eyes.These vampires are ridiculous sometimes.“I only wish to know where we’re going, so I can plan accordingly,” he says, ducking under a high-hanging branch that no one else has to duck under. “Don’t keep secrets from us, brother.”
“Yes,” I echo brattily, locking eyes with Lord Ashfen. “Don’t keep secrets from us,love.”
Now it’s Skar’s turn to roll his eyes. “We’re going to another keep. Another acquaintance of Sephania’s. First, we find shelter for the day once we’ve put more distance between us and Aramastun. There. Is that adequate?”
I give him a ridiculous faux bow, twirling my wrist in front of me.
We travel in sullen silence, moping through the thickly forested mountains.
Eventually, Lukain chirps up. “If I remember correctly, we all vowed ourselves to Sephania. The one who holds the Loreblood in her veins.”
“That vow still holds,” Skar growls.
“Then why are we following you?”
I stifle a sharp gasp.This evening might end in more bloodshed after all, if this keeps up.Trying to play the peacemaker, I interject before Skartovius can voice his opinion. Because of my anger, it comes off more backhanded than I mean when I say, “Skartovius just lost his pretty castle and estate, Lukain. Let him have this night. He knows where the real power lies.”
We find refuge in a small forest cave a little over an hour later. It’s barely large enough to fit us inside it, but the overhang protects us from sunlight so it’ll have to do. When I glance over at my sleeping mates, Vallan is inadvertently spooning Garroway, and Skar’s legs are tangled with Lukain’s.
I smile at the sight. If the half-brothers knew their bodies were anywhere near each other, they’d draw swords. And Vallan with his giant frame draped over Garroway, well . . . Garro is everyone’s little cub in this outfit. He probably knows what’s happening and loves it.
Palacia lies on her back near the front of the cave with me, where I’m taking first watch. Her head is in my lap, pretty face staring up under my chin, though she’s not looking at me. She’s peering at the ceiling of the cave with bright, unblinking, unnerving eyes.
Absentmindedly, I stroke the vampirex’s lank hair. It used to be so beautiful and golden. Her new state has morphed it a sickly green and tawny color.
“Are you sure you don’t need rest, Pala?” I ask in a small voice, making sure not to wake the others.
“I won’t leave you awake alone,” she answers flatly. Her small hands are folded just below her chest, where I notice her nipples pebbling against the thin fabric of her nightgown. “I’m not tired yet.”
I blush, turning my gaze outside the cave. The forest dapples with sunny rays lancing through the canopies. The afternoon is quickly upon us, with the morning fog dissipating before my eyes. It breathes a fresh warmth and crispness into the heady mountain woods.
Biting my lower lip, I glance down at Palacia’s slack face. “Can I ask you something?”
