His attention swung down, peering into my eyes. “He killed his friend and obtained the additional power that way. That much is true. The rest is fiction.”
My nose scrunched. “How would you know this?”
“Because I was there. I arrived too late to change the consequences of their actions. But I was there.”
I couldn’t even breathe. I couldn’t even move.
The rest of the room’s occupants didn’t make a sound either—the Overlords stunned into silence like I was.
Lord Belshazzar lifted a black brow. “Scared?”
I swallowed hard and sucked in a large breath. “The amount of shit that I’ve learned in the past few daysisscary. But I’m persuaded to believe you, like before.” I would never ask him his age again. This vampire wasold-as-dirt. “How do you know that’s his mother?”
“Because I killed her.” Simple, cold words. “No one else had that shade of lavender in their eyes. She was breathtakingly beautiful.”
I shook my head. “No wonder he hates you.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I owed my brother a debt. I paid it with her death.”
I blinked. “I’m thinking Master Niallan probablyisgoing to starve us while we’re here.”
His plump lips lifted into an entertained smile. The lord laughed softly and shook his head. “I tell you all of that and all you do is worry about food, your majesty?”
“My lord, your words will change our history books, but they don’t change our present. Everything is still the same now, even with our history based on lies.” I pointed at my belly with a sharp finger. “And I’m hungry. His abhorrence of you may keep him from being cordial. It already has with this room and the lack of food given when we arrived at his castle.”
The smile slipped off his face. He stared at my stomach. His plump lips turned down at the corners. “I’ll make sure the prick feeds us tomorrow morning.”
I eyed the front door. “I was thinking about going to get something now.”
Lord Cato stepped right into my line of sight. He shook his head. “Your majesty, in light of…this new information…you should refrain from sneaking around Master Niallan’s home in the middle of the night.”
My lower lip was definitely sticking out. “I’m fucking hungry. The last time I ate was at breakfast. I was sleeping on the plane when you all ate dinner.”
My father shook his head. “I don’t believe Master Niallan wishes to harm you. His motives are the vampire crown. He wouldn’t do anything himself to put that in jeopardy. But if Ysander and Devin know this story too, I wouldn’t put it past them to take revenge on the only female in our group. We’re currently at their mercy. You need to be careful.”
I instantly fiddled with the chain on my necklace, the jewel hidden underneath my silk pajama top. My eyebrows puckered in frustration, but I nodded in agreement. I didn’t look back to the lord lying next to me.
Lord Belshazzar always had a plan.
Including telling everyone his past.
His words had hit its intended audience.
Now I would be watched more closely by the other lords, protected by them. Like the protective necklace around my throat. The Overlord was keeping me very safeandtelling me more about himself, allowing me glimpses into his private life.
Lord Belshazzar turned his attention from the bathroom door. The large lord started crawling over my body, careful not to touch me in front of them—or the watching portrait. He stood to his full height and rubbed at his stomach, griping, “Lord Otto’s taking his sweet ass time in there. I might as well get her majesty some food while I wait. Anyone else want something from their kitchen?”
Lord Pippin grumbled, “Yes. I’m starving. I’ll come with you.”
Lord Xenon pushed off the wall where he’d taken residence next to the bathroom. “I’ll come too.”
Lord Cato flopped down onto his bed. “I’ll stay here. I’m not hungry.”
“We’ll be back soon then.” Lord Belshazzar’s frigid blue gaze snapped to mine. “Do as Lord Cato said, your majesty. Don’t wander during the night in this place when others aren’t around to track your whereabouts.”
I licked my bottom lip, utterly shocked by his kindness. The man was venturing out to get me something to eat. “Thank you, my lord.”
In reply, Lord Belshazzar grunted.
