“I know that, too. And I wouldn’t ask you to pass up the opportunity to walk through the front fucking door,” he says and then points a finger at me. “But we need a plan. We need to be sure of your safety there.”
“I agree.”
“Good. I have a meeting with Officer Maya upstairs; there’s rumors of a stirring in the Southern Continent. Join us when you’re done so we can strategize our visit up north,” he says, spinning on his heel and speeding down the hall. “And I’m going with you to Goreon!” he shouts, disappearing through the doors before I can tell him any different.
Charlotte clears her throat politely. “You won’t talk him out of it.”
I ease back into my throne, slipping the letter into my pocket. “I rarely do.”
Emmanuel lifts a blood pitcher off its warming candle and pours himself a glass. We don’t drink from the vein. A singlebite will turn a human, and doing so against someone’s will is punishable by death in the Night Kingdom. But those who live here have no complaints. Wechosethis way of life.
Bicep flexing as he casually swirls his goblet, Em looks up at me. “Did the letter say when they’re expecting us?”
My eyes meet his. “Within the week.”
Emmanuel curses and slams the contents of his glass. “I need liquor.”
I’m about to walk into Goreon, and failure isn’t an option—for my kingdom, for the human lives in Goreon, and for the long-held promises I made to nullify this threat. I need to take the edge off. “Pour me one, too,” I tell Em.
It’s a heady feeling, being so close to what I’ve wanted for so long, yet I know what this letter is.
A trap.
Emmanuel’s dress shoes clack along the marble to the cabinet beside the dais. “Charlotte?” he asks, snatching the whiskey bottle.
“Gods, yes please,” she sighs.
Vampires digest one thing well—human blood. Liquor hits us like the poison it is, and vampire tolerance is pitiful when stacked up against that of humans.
Emmanuel pours the auburn liquid, serving me, then Charlotte, then himself. “Well, I guess we’re spending a full moon in enemy territory,” he laughs. “It’s going to be interesting.”
I groan loudly, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.
The full moon.
For one night, every month, vampires are forced to relive our humanity. The torment of our memories comes to life, and we dreamwalk through them. We don’t get to choose what we experience when trapped in our human reality for a night. We’rethrown in, reminded of all we’ve lost, and then we wake up—wholly broken all over again.
Our memoriesneverfade. We endure pain we canneverpush past. Because it’s always there, haunting and relentless. But since we’re all equally vulnerable on the full moon, including the king, it’s nothing more than an inconvenience in enemy territory.
I look my people in the eyes and raise my glass. “To the king we’re going to kill. No matter what they put in our path.”
I will do this. I have to do this.
With all that I am.
Emmanuel nods at me, and Charlotte winks before we drink and numb ourselves for the day.
I enjoy my last sip, body finally calming against the onslaught of nerves. “Go rest,” I say. “We’ll leave at sunset and stop by the estate and wherever else you’d like to remind ourselves of what we’re walking into enemy territory for.”
Emmanuel’s eyes shift to mine. “I don’t think any of us need a reminder.”
“Fair. But I need to say goodbye. Just in case.
Charlotte sighs and plops down on the steps, her chiffon pooling around her in a giant pink puddle. “It won’t be goodbye.”
Emmanuel looks down at her, swirling his drink. “Well, if Charsaysso.”
She tilts her chin, pinning him in place with a glare. “Watch it, Em. Positivity is never a bad thing.”
