I helped her to her feet but couldn’t hold both of them up.She staggered ahead of us, while Raleigh and I limped behind.I managed to free my dagger and waved it at anyone who dared come near, whether they were allied with the Queen or not.The crowd grew thicker as we reached the exit.All around us, the court was turning on each other.I couldn’t make sense of where our allies had come from, nor why they’d risk themselves for us.All I knew was that suddenly, somehow, there was hope.
‘Everyonestop.’
At once the room went silent.Every vampire, mid-strike or otherwise, froze in their tracks, Raleigh included.The Queen had appeared at the top of the twin stairwells, without a trace of the dishevelment of battle, save for what appeared to be a hive on her wrist.She held out her hands in fists, like a conductor silencing her orchestra.
‘Come away from the doors.Anyone who tries to open them is dead.’
Most of the room shifted inwards, and I pushed against Raleigh’s attempt to follow.Some, however, didn’t move.From their pallor and elegance, I could tell they weren’t human, but they weren’t beholden to her orders like the rest of them.There were hundreds of vampires in the court, and from all my research I knew any vampire could sire another.How many, I wondered, were outside of her control?
The Queen’s gaze locked with mine, and her lips twitched.‘Who organised this?’the Queen asked.
There was silence.
‘Give me their name and I’ll let you live.’
Still, no one.
‘You cannot expect me to believe it was Raleigh.You,’the Queen yelled, jabbing a finger at one of the women who’d blocked her from me.‘Who planned this?’
‘I don’t know what you’re—’
The Queen clenched her hand, as she had in the throne room, and the woman fell to her knees.
‘Pierre’s boy,’ the woman gasped.
A flicker of confusion passed over the Queen’s face.‘Who?’
As she spoke, those who could move began to wind their way towards us, coaxing their frozen allies and enemies alike out of our way.A clear path to the doors opened up.The Queen glanced up too late.
‘Lukas!’she cried, and let go of her hold on the rest of the room.
I hurled Raleigh towards the doors, hoping Moira would follow.Lukas’s claws grazed the back of my neck as I reached the handles but I held tight, pulling as he wrenched me backwards, only to release me when two of those not in the Queen’s thrall bore down on him.The doors opened.
A dozen more vampires stood shoulder to shoulder on the other side, blocking our way entirely.My heart sank.Raleigh began to tug me back the way we’d come, but Moira said, ‘Wait.’
The crowd was parting, forming a path out of the palace.And there, at the centre, was Enrique, waiting for us with the carriage.
Pierre’s boy.
‘Hurry up,’ he barked.
Behind us, Lukas, now covered in ash, had managed to free himself from his attackers.One was bleeding profusely from the throat, while the other had vanished completely.He spotted Enrique as we did and rushed towards us, shoving aside everyone who tried to block our way.
I spun as I passed the doors, despite Raleigh’s protests, and threw up my cross to block him.‘Thank you for your hospitality,’ I said, then let the doors shut, as the crowd closed in around him.
Those remaining outside pushed up against the doors, preventing anyone else from opening them again.Raleigh hesitated as we reached the carriage, ushering Moira in ahead of us.‘Why are you helping us?’he called.
‘You’re not the only one who wants to be free,’ the woman closest to him grunted as the door heaved under her.‘Get him out of here, Enrique!’
I didn’t need any more convincing.I helped Raleigh into the back of the carriage and slammed the door shut as Enrique pushed the horses forward again.
I couldn’t believe it.We were still alive.We’d made it out.
We were alive.
But so was the Queen.And until she was dead, this was far from over.
Twenty-Six
