Canada was fucking cold this time of year.
I yanked my hood up and followed our group outside into the frenzied weather. I tilted my head down as another gust of wind blew a flurry of flakes into my face. My hands were deep in my pockets, barely warm, and crashing waves beat at a shore, ricocheting in the darkness surrounding us.
The cliff we perched on overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. If it wasn’t white-out conditions, it would have been beautiful. This coastline was even more striking in the summer though. And during the day.
Blindly walking around during the middle of the night, when I couldn’t see through the snow, in enemy territory, wasn’t my idea of a safe bet.
I deliberately shuffled to stand next to Lord Belshazzar, hoping no one noticed. He’d said no harm would ever come to me if I was by his side, and when the advantage turned against you, you played smart. I wasn’t about to get taken out by a damn druid hiding in the snow piles surrounding us.
Plus, the lord was a tall barrier against the wind.
He shifted his stance—blocking the wind even further—and muttered, “Where the hell are we, Master Niallan. I don’t find this amusing.”
“We are exactly where we’re supposed to be, Lord Belshazzar. This vehicle won’t be able to drive on the roads we’d need to take. Get your bags. It’s a hike from here.” A wicked grin curved his lips. “But I forgot to mention one little fact.”
Lord Otto snorted. “What now?”
The Original druid cast his eyes behind us to the black SUVs pulling to a stop. “Your guards can’t come.” He shrugged his shoulders, and his green eyes returned to our stony expressions. “You didn’t allow me any guards in your stronghold. I won’t allow you any in mine.”
I sputtered, “That’s bullshit.”
“All from your people’s making, your majesty. When Ysander and Devin tried to see me at your home,” his eyes flicked to Lord Belshazzar and back, “a certain lord made it adamantly clear to them they were not allowed inside.”
I remembered the night Lord Belshazzar had been pulled away from the bed. We didn’t need to spend time out in the cold chatting about the details either. I could imagine how that conversation had gone—ifany words were spoken. I only hoped there had been a lot of druid blood involved.
We were going in alone because of that now. To a place no vampire had ever been before. To a place of druid magic. There better have beena lotof damn blood spilled from the two druid assholes currently standing on either side of Master Niallan, each with a smirk on his handsome face.
Though, one stood a little closer than the other.
I was now betting he killed Devin.
Earlier, I’d decided Ysander.
My mind still might change.
But I hoped a miracle occurred, and it was both of them. A vampire Queen could dream.
Lord Belshazzar stuffed his hands into his pockets. He sighed heavily, and a puff of white air appeared in front of his mouth. “You’re set on this, aren’t you?”
“One hundred percent,” Master Niallan said without pomp. He wasn’t lying. “The choice is now yours.”
The lords glanced at one another. Silent.
“Fuck,” Lord Cato snapped. He pivoted and marched through the ankle-deep snow toward the waiting SUVs. “I’ll take care of our guards. Someone grab my bags too. I’d rather not be out here all night.”
Snow crunched under my boots as I walked to the back of the first SUV. I lifted the hatch and started grabbing bags. I handed them off to silent lords who reached for them.
With my teeth clenched, I stated, “We should probably leave one of you behind. That person could go back with our guards.”
Lord Pippin shook his head. “All living Overlords must be present for the Challenges. It is law.”
We moved to the next SUV.
I pulled out more bags, still thinking. “Are there any loopholes for that?” If all our royalty died at the same time, the vampire race would be in chaos. “There has to be something.”
Lord Xenon held two large bags down by his sides. “Our law is steadfast on this one. There are no loopholes for Challenges.”
My brows scrunched. I turned to face them. “What about me then? Do I need to be there?”
