He turns to face me, though his gaze lingers on Aurora a beat too long before finally meeting mine.
“A Daughter. A true Daughter. I never thought I’d live to see it.”
He exhales with the kind of cold patience that makes your skin crawl, his eyes raking over her like she’s an asset he’s about to bid on.
“This could be … lucrative.”
Then, as if he owns the moment, he turns back to Aurora and gently takes her hand again. When the vampire touches her, the part of me that pretends to be civilized shatters.
What’s mine is mine, and I don’t fucking share.
The revenants twitch, vibrating with a tension I barely keep in check.
Not now, I warn them silently.You can braid yourselves into her hair later. I’ll even let one of you stroke her hip, but for the love of the void, just behave.
They still, but I can feel their resentment simmering, aimed straight at the vampire who dares to touch our queen.
“Fascinating,” Renato murmurs, studying her like he can feel the way she stirs the air. “You’d be the first Daughter toever claim her power as queen.” His smile curves, lazy with indulgence. “But if the myths are even half true, you could tip the balance in ways no underborne alive has seen.”
His gaze flicks toward me, then back to her.
“Which makes me wonder … What will you be,brasita? A force of reckoning? A ruler? A weapon?” He exhales, the faintest thread of amusement in his voice.
“Whatever you decide, I do hope you’ll consider the benefits.”
His fingers tighten just slightly around hers. “Now, my dear, tell me. What is your name?”
“A-Aurora … Aurora Hagan … um … sir.”
“Please, my queen. Do not be afraid. It is I who should be tripping over my words in awe. I mean you no harm,brasita. Because of recent humbling events,” he continues with a graceful bow of his head, “I would not dare displease you or yourhombre de sombra. You have my allegiance and the protection of my draughs, the vampires, and all who answer my call.”
Renato hums softly, making me want to scream. Of course he’s weighing her like currency, not a person.
“Ah,” he says softly, his voice oozing smug delight. “A Daughter without her power.” He shakes his head. “A shame, truly. But perhaps … an opportunity.”
His gaze cuts to mine. “Tell me, Ezra. Are you delaying her ascension?”
My shadows flare before I can stop them.
“That’s none of your fucking business, Ren.”
He tilts his head, amused.
“No, I suppose it isn’t. But you do realize what happens to an untapped resource?” His smile is thin and sharp. “Someone else finds a way to use it.”
If I didn’t share his concern, I’d already be mocking him.
But he’s not wrong. And that pisses me off more than anything.
He knows I’m dangerous, but does he know how dangerous? And this pompous asshole doesn’t bow before anyone, so referring to Aurora as a queen, and kissing her hand, is concerning.
Something isn’t right.
“Not that it’s any of your business, Renato, but we’re gathering information before she claims her power. She didn’t know what a Daughter was, let alone that she’s a Daughter, until yesterday. I won’t allow her to be in harm’s way for the benefit of others. She’s too important.”
The words scrape against something already cracked and bleeding inside me.
Jesus Christ, I sound desperate. But I don’t fucking care.
