The music was joyful and light, and it was a song I would have usually enjoyed, but something was bothering me about the man I was dancing with. There was something dishonest about him.
Turning me out at the right moment in the song, another person wrapped their arms around my waist, and the hope it was Elex was gone instantly. This faceless man turned me out again in the song and sent me to another pair of arms.
Spinning me, again and again through a dozen different arms, it took me a moment to realize I was no longer on the dance floor, but being dragged away through a door opposite Elex and the masters.
CHAPTERELEVEN
~ GWYNNORE ~
“I think your spell is broken,” Adelie griped.
I grunted. Because I couldn’t really argue with her.
A glance at my cell phone indicated we had been waiting for two hours.
Lord Otto growled, “Our spell is not broken.”
“Then what do you call this?” I waved a hand at the see-through glass where all the folding chairs remained empty. “You said most of the oldest male vampires were already here in the stronghold. This spell was supposed to make them rush with open arms into this room. That sure as fuck isn’t happening.”
The overlords had all found places to sit and relax once they saw no one was initially running through the cavern door. One of them, Lord Xenon, was even snoring softly.
Cato ran his fingers through his hair, his eyes flashing red briefly. “The spell isn’t broken, my dear.”
My eyes narrowed at his endearment, but I held strong to the argument. “Lord Pippin hasn’t ever done this before. Perhaps there was an error.”
The lord in question snapped his eyes in my direction. “Excuse me, candidate?”
“No offense, of course. I’m merely shooting out ideas.”
“More like, you’re just shooting shit out of your mouth,” he growled.
From his perch sitting against the glass barrier, Lord Belshazzar held up his hands to stave off further argument. “Lord Pippin performed the ritual flawlessly, Gwynnore. There isn’t a problem with it. There is no problem at all.”
My eyes widened in disbelief. “There are no men down there! That is a problem.”
Was I broken? Because if I were, I would be booted.
Unable to complete the “King” Challenge.
Adelie glanced at me, a brief flicker of worry entering her gaze before she hid it.
Damn. Even my friend was having doubts.
Cato hissed, “This was not what I planned for. I haven’t had blood in a week.”
Now, attention turned in his direction.
Adelie mumbled, “Leave. Go drink your fill. It doesn’t appear we’re going anywhere soon.”
Cato hissed, pure vampire.
He rolled on his own couch, placing his back to us.
Lord Belshazzar held up his hands once more. “Everyone, calm down. I will explain it all the best I can.” He flicked a finger at the blood-deprived lord. “He can’t leave. His power is bound to the spell. So, he’s mildly grumpy that we’re going to be here—possibly for a few days. And no one else can enter this room until the spell is complete.”
My jaw dropped open, and I shrieked, “A few days? What the hell!”
The eldest vampire sighed. “This has happened before. Many, many years ago. It was written in the ancient book, so if it ever happened again, the overlords would be aware of it.”
