“My brother. Before you drove a stake through his skull.”
Thalia tripped over her feet, slowly sliding her gaze back to Lord Damien. She swallowed, but Lord Damien did nothing, simply stared at her, emotionless.
“And now?” she asked carefully. It had been six months since that … incident. Surely someone would have stepped up.
“No one has been elected yet in his stead.”
Thalia’s throat tightened. She didn’t know what to say. But she certainly wasn’t going to apologize to the Vampyr. Even if she’d gutted his brother and left his entrails to be ripped apart by crows.
“How does it work, then? Choosing a ruler of a House?”
Lord Damien didn’t so much as a bat an eye. “Each family who rules has a claim to their House. If you’re in the bloodline, no matter how distant, you can put forth your name to be voted. Those within the House courts choose who they would like to be their next lord.”
“There are no ladies?”
Lord Damien seemed to pause. “There have been a few in the past.”
Her brows narrowed at that. “And the prince? Was he elected?”
Lord Damien shook his head. “No. House Lorenzia is the only house whose rule is hereditary. A true monarch compared to the elected officials of the other Houses.”
Thalia chewed the inside of her cheek. It was similar to what she was used to. While her mother governed and Agripa’s rule was passed down through her bloodline, there were those on the queen’s council—those who ran certain cities—who were elected by the people. The way the Vampyrs ran their courts felt too … human.
“Why has no one stepped forward in your House, then?” she pushed.
Lord Damien stared at her. “It is not a task to be taken lightly. Running a House comes with its own set of challenges.”
“Like what?” Thalia’s interest piqued. Maybe thosechallengescould be used to bring the courts down.
Lord Damien smiled, but it didn’t reach his red eyes. “Challenges every court suffers from. Some wish to see the realm run in one manner while others wish to see it led differently. Surely, as princess of Agripa, you know what sorts of challenges a ruler might face.”
A nonanswer. Thalia didn’t think she’d get anything more from Lord Damien, but speaking about the courts had given her an idea. If there was a court without a ruler, perhaps she could use that to her advantage to further destabilize an already unstable House.
She’d need to confirm court loyalties, study the books Marcus had given her to find out who was more inclined to push back against the prince’s rules—
She sucked in a sharp breath. She hadn’t seen those books since the night they’d left Corithian.
“Everything all right, Princess?” Lord Damien looked her over, the sconces in the hall casting shadows over his features.
Thalia forced herself not to panic at the thought that the knowledge she needed was lost. “If I am to meet the prince tomorrow, is there anything I should know about House Lorenzia?”
Surprise flared in his red eyes. “Why are you asking me?”
She waved a hand. “I’ll admit that my memory of what we were taught is hazy. You are a diplomat for a reason, and you come from an important House, meaning you know about the other Vampyr courts. If I am to be joined to this House, I’d like my first impression not to appear weak.”
Lord Damien smirked, and she had a sinking feeling he’d like to have her look weak, only so the Vampyrs could tear her apart. “What would you like to know, Princess?”
“How long has House Lorenzia been around?”
Lord Damien cocked his head. “Since the beginning.”
“What do you mean, the beginning?”
“The Vampyrs have been around since the dawn of this world. When the pockets of magic were plentiful.”
Thalia’s mind briefly flashed to the story she’d been told as a child. There were beings of great power—Mages—who could manipulate magic into whatever they wished. “So the story about the Mages creating you is true?”
“Yes. What do you know about them?”
