“How?” she asks, a line appearing between her delicate brows.
Frederick steps inside and motions for me to close the door. “He had help. Sarah, Nolan’s daughter, slipped into his cell twenty minutes ago. That’s the last time we’re sure he was there. The guard went to bring him dinner a minute ago, and the cell was empty.”
“How did you find out?”
“Nolan didn’t want anyone to know what went on down there, but when I took over, I installed cameras,” he tells us. “I never told Sarah.” He lifts a shoulder. “I don’t know why she let him go. Maybe she has the panels and wants to sell them.”
“Or she’s been working with Bennett for a while,” Phaedra surmises. “She could have been the one who helped him kill Nolan. I heard her life with Nolan wasn’t the best.”
“That’s a bloody understatement,” Frederick growls. “Look, we have our best trackers chasing Bennett, but I doubt they’ll find him. He’s powerful and connected enough to evade them.” His phone buzzes, and he reads the text. “Damn. Sentencing is in ten minutes. I’ll send a guard to escort you.”
Phaedra gives him an incredulous look, but I subtly squeeze her side. With a huff, she turns back to the bedroom. “I’ll finish getting ready.”
“Keep me in the loop on Bennett. I want to know everything you know,” I order Frederick. When he snarls, I lean in and cut him off. “She’s my mate. And he escaped on your watch. You’re lucky I don’t call for the Code of Vamnbi.”
He stiffens but nods. “I’ll make sure you know what I know.”
After he leaves, Phaedra slips back into the living room. “What’s the Code of Vamm…whatever?”
I turn to face her. She looks stunning in the black pants and blue blouse; her eyes pop against the silky fabric. With her hair in a low chignon, she’s a far cry from the bloody woman the audience saw earlier. Not that I care what the crowd thinks, but it will be easier to control them if they’re not fixated on the blood around her neck.
“An old vampire tradition. Basically, it means an eye for an eye. Once it’s invoked, the responsible party has to give up something of equal value,” I explain, stripping off my shirt. “Let me grab a quick shower before they get here.”
She licks her lips as I leave, and I can’t help but smile. Maybe I should take my shirt off more often. I swear that was hunger in her eyes. I jump into the shower, and two minutes later, walk out of the room, dressed and ready to face the judges.
There’s a hard rap on the door. “It’s time.” I slip a phone into her hand. “Jamison’s number is programmed into it. If anything happens, call him. He’ll come get you.”
“Mathias…”
Three guards stand ready to escort us back to the court. When we walk in, the party is in full swing. Drunken faces leer and heckle us until Frederick calls everyone to order.
“Sarah had to step away,” Frederick announces to the crowd, waving his hand at her seat. “Paul is filling in for her.” He hesitates, then adds, “I’m sure you’ve already heard: Bennett escaped, which is why he isn’t here for sentencing. Our trackers are on it.”
Some cheer; others boo. One glance from Frederick silences them all. Paul hands him a slip of paper, and he motions to us.
“Mathias Blackwell and Phaedra Galanis, this court orders you to pay reparations for the lives of the three fallen vampires. A million pounds to each of their families,” Frederick reads. “And time served will be Mathias’ participation in the upcoming death matches while Phaedra watches. Bennett’s sentence will be passed when he is captured and returned to court. So be our will.”
The crowd erupts, cheering and laughing. I stare at Frederick, hands clenched, wondering what the hell he is doing. Why would he continue this farce? He knows I don’t really want to lead the vampires. That part of my life is over. My duty is to my family and, hopefully, Phaedra.
A peel of laughter on my right draws my attention, and when I look, I see her. Dark hair. Deep blue eyes. For a second, I freeze. She’s the one I’ve been searching for since I got here. The one I saw on Naxos. I’m sure of it.
Unwilling to leave Phaedra, I grab her hand. “Follow me. Don’t say a word.”
Her eyes dart from one person to the next as she tries to figure out what’s happening or if there’s an imminent attack. Not wanting her to be afraid, I subtly point to the woman in front of us. She lets out a small breath of relief and nods. Weaving in and out of the revelers, I move quickly, trying to intercept the woman before she leaves the building. It’s her. I know it is.
Phaedra motions for me to hurry. Speeding up, I stretch and catch the vampire’s arm as she goes to leave the room.
The woman stops, and her head whips around, giving me a glimpse of her blue eyes. They’re the exact shade I remember. My breath hitches. But how?
“Calla?” I ask hoarsely, trying to superimpose the image of my little girl with the woman standing in front of me. It’s close. Almost perfect.
“Marjorie,” she corrects me.
What? I continue to stare at her. The upturned nose. Small smattering of freckles. Dark winged brows.
She looks around nervously. “Look. I don’t know who you’re looking for, but I promise, it’s not me.” She tugs on her arm, but there’s no way I’m releasing her.
“Were you in Naxos?” I ask, needing to know if it’s her.
