Thalia’s lip curled, and she stepped into the shifter’s space. “And I knew him foryears. He servedme. And what he did was without cause.”
Camilla’s golden eyes burned with some sort of fire as the two women faced off. “Perhaps you should ask Cassius what the price was in betraying you.”
“I don’t care what his price was,” Thalia seethed.
Camilla’s face became stone. “Everyone who lives in this world pays a price. Even you.”
“Is that a threat?”
Camilla didn’t back down. “Call it council.”
Thalia’s jaw ached. “I wish to hold court.”
Camilla blinked. “What?”
“Court. I wish to hold court. Does the prince not do this when he’s here?”
Camilla’s eyes narrowed. “We hold court. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“If I wanted yourcouncil, I would have asked. Summon House Lorenzia.”
“Where is the rest of House Lorenzia?” Thalia asked. She and Camilla stood in the great hall, watching the other members of House Lorenzia mill about. “Is this everyone?”
Camilla at least had done her job in summoning the court, although it had taken the rest of the afternoon to do so. But with the lack of Vampyrs, maybe a few had decided to ignore the summons.
“House Lorenzia has always kept a small court. The prince has never liked to have that many Vampyrs around—prefers to keep things small and quiet,” Camilla answered, pulling Thalia from her thoughts.
Well, at least they’d deigned to heed the request of their new princess. Indeed, it seemed only a few members from the other Houses were even present. Thalia noted Lord Damien along with Keegan, which wasn’t surprising considering they were part of the prince’s council. But she also saw Lord Adrian, the lord of House Gallinus. He seemed to have lingered in Irenbis even after their altercation. Perhaps he hadn’t gotten help from Cassius like he wished.
“Where do they all stay?” Thalia asked, taking a sip from her goblet. It had taken her a few moments to try the liquid, but when she had, she was glad to find it was wine, not blood—although she was sure the rest of the Vampyrs present didn’t share the sentiment. At least food had been cobbled together and distributed about the space, including steaming braised ducks and tureens full of jewel-like fruit.
“They have their own residences outside the castle. Not many like to stay here.”
“I’m surprised they haven’t fallen for its homely charm,” Thalia commented.
Camilla snorted, taking a drink from her own glass.
“I don’t think most like staying here.”
“Why is that?”
Camilla shrugged. “The castle is cold.”
Thalia didn’t think that was half of it, but she spotted one sole member of House Olvectus, judging by the orange fox with multiple teeth stitched onto their doublet. The shifters and Vampyrs might be on good terms now, but maybe Thalia could find some buried discord still among them.
Everyone pays a price.
Despite the tension between her and Camilla having eased since the library, the shifter’s words festered in Thalia’s gut.
What was Thalia’s price?
To be sold off and bound to the very man who’d betrayed everything he’d ever said he loved and fought for. To be tasked with the impossible mission of taking down the creatures that could kill her in seconds. And this mysterious prince she was married to conveniently being called away didn’t help matters.
“When will the prince return?” Thalia got out.
Camilla didn’t bat an eye. “I don’t know. He’s still trying to find a solution for the drought in the east.”
Thalia’s heart stuttered. “I thought he was up north.”
