I can’t focus on why he is defending me. My heart breaks as Misty steps back from me.
“Misty, please!”
My friend faces Vyvyan. “May I be excused? My shift is about to start.”
Vyvyan nods, then Misty dashes from the room. I rush after her, my hand outstretched, eager to explain.
“Desiree, stop,” Vyvyan calls, and I freeze. No matter how nasty Vyvyan is to me, she’s still my queen. If I want to live here, I must obey her. “I’m sorry, but you had to be punished.”
My hands bunch at my sides. “For what? I already told you I didn’t ask for the cure!”
“The deal for you to live here was that you couldn’t tell anyone who sired you.”
“I didn’t tell a soul.”
“But that’s not true, is it?” Vyvyan taunts, rising on her stiletto heels to refill her glass. “You told your brother and his friend.”
I gasp. Vane must have told her I revealed he was my sire to Wilder and Jaxson. I had no choice; after faking my death and returning as a vampire, they deserved answers.
“They wouldn’t have told anyone,” I insist. “You didn’t need to tell Misty. Bring her back in here and tell her the truth?—”
“It’s done,” Vyvyan declares, adjusting her flawless appearance in the full-length mirror. “But I’ve decided how you’ll make it up to me.”
“How?”
“Go to Hebe as you mentioned. Stop Chiara’s research. Show that you are loyal to me.”
Vane turns away, breathing hard. I avoid looking at him. He did this.
“When?” No one leaves the Nest without Queen Vyvan’s permission. She aims to protect us, especially after Elio di Siena killed many vampires last year to procure our tears for his drug trade. It was a joyous day when the Eurynomos found him guilty. The celebration that followed as we danced upon his grave lasted three days and three nights.
“Tomorrow evening, we meet with the Council,” Vyvyan says. “You may speak with your mother while we’re at the meeting. Use that time to persuade her to abandon her research. But understand this—if you’re even a second late to meet us afterward, you’ll be locked out of the Nest forever. Got it?”
“Got it.” I’ll make it back before she does. Mom and I are on good terms now; she will listen to me.
“Good,” Vyvyan says, waving her hand. “Now, go.”
I turn to leave. How could Mom not tell me about her research? Unless it’s a secret.
I’m several paces away from Vyvyan’s door when I hear, “Desiree!”
My muscles tense as I walk faster. Someone grabs me, and I spin around, glaring at Vane. We are alone in a dark tunnel. “Come to gloat?” I growl. “Misty hates me because of you.”
Vane scowls. “Forget about Misty. You need to allow your mother to continue her research. It’s bigger than you.”
My jaw drops. Why would he care about my mom’s research? He wouldn’t. Does hewantme to fail? It’s the only explanation that makes sense. He’s setting me up so Vyvyan will punish me. After all, when has Vane ever put anyone’s needs before his own?
“You’re just saying that because you don’t want me here, you?—”
“Why do you care about what I want?” he challenges.
My chest rises and falls faster. “I don’t.”
“You shouldn’t.”
I grimace. “Did you come after me to intimidate me? Because you don’t scare me. You’re pathetic.”
Vane shakes his head and smiles. He has a perfect smile with gorgeous straight teeth, minus his fangs. Fangs so sharp I remember them piercing my flesh the night he killed me. I turn to leave.
