Helget nods her chin deeply. “You know where to find me, Sephania. Our vow stays true. The Ministers must die.” She puts her hand on Godial’s muscled forearm next to her, intimately rubbing him and making me wonder if another orgy isn’t about to break out the moment we leave this place.
“Where to, then?” Garroway asks. He has one leg curled over his knee, tapping his boot. The dhampir looks exceedingly relaxed tonight, and for good reason. His eyes keep dancing over to me and Lukain, a smirk playing on his lips.
Try to show a little decorum, eh, cub? Your master is about to skewer me like a lance with his eyes, and you’re probably next!The last thing I need is a spat with the rest of my mates. I already have one unruly vampire to tend to, whenheis the one who should be apologizing to Lukain. None of this is my fault.
Lord Skartovius Ashfen is so damned arrogant, he probably thinks last night was premeditated and meant to torture him with the sounds of our lust.
“I would like to see that my mother is safe,” I voice.
Skar says, “I’m sure you would.”
Furrowing my brow and trying to match his scowl, I stand from my seat. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Only that you’ve fallen into your reckless ways, little temptress. Do you not stop to think what danger it might put—”
“Enough, you two,” Vallan grunts. He stands beside me, towering. I know I can count on him to always be the voice of reason, if for no other cause than to display his size and skills at intimidation. “We’ll get nowhere with all this bickering. It must end.”
I raise my chin, not backing down. Skartovius does the same, and I recognize we’re both being bratty and exasperating to the rest of the people around the table, and the evening has only just begun.
Lukain, at the end of the table farthest from Skartovius, says, “If our little grimmer wants to go to the Chained Sisters to see her mother, then we go to the Chained Sisters to see her mother.”
I smile demurely at him.
“Easy for you to fall in line with our queen after theexaltedevening you had with her, is it not,brother?” Skar spits out.
Garroway says, “Master, you’re being an ass.”
Unlike Vallan, my poor dhampir is typically ignored when he tries to interject, as he is now. He simply doesn’t have the gravity and girth Vallan has.
“Why, yes, brother, itisquite easy,” Lukain answers Skar in equally as snide of a tone. He takes a step around the table, toward Skartovius.
“You’re lucky I gave you back that silver sword, pup,” Skar growls, baring his fangs.
I roll my eyes. Looking to a corner of the room, I see Palacia eyeing everyone warily, her big orbs darting back and forth between speakers. She seems even smaller than usual, trying to stay unnoticed.
It angers me for some reason, so I pound the table with my fists as the voices rise again.
All eyes turn to me at the loud thud.
“Enough!” I cry out. “Vallan is right. Our hosts don’t deserve to see such ridiculousness from us. Let us all get some fresh air and get out of Helget’s hair.”
I give her a nod, she nods back, and then my mates grumble and decide it’s the best course of action.
As we start to flood out of the room, Helget says, “Lady Lock, if I may have a word?”
My mates look at me, I dip my head in approval, and they meander out with Palacia, leaving me alone with Helget andGodial. “I’m sorry about that, Helg,” I sigh from the foot of the table. “Things have been . . . tense since losing Manor Marquin.”
Her red eyes are stern. Her body gleams from a silhouette of the moon behind, outlining her. “Get your men in line, Sephania. You see me with mine?”
My teeth grind and I nod. I don’t need a lecture. “Yes. You keep them on a tight leash.”
Demilord Godial only smirks, not taking my words as a slight.
“I fuck Godial, Eldis, and Darrien as often as possible. Multiple times a day,” Helget says unabashedly. “You’re right, I keep them on a tight leash. They love me for it.”
“I’m trying!” I wail, the vexation clear in my tone.
“I know. I heard it last night. We all did.”
