Thalia’s nails pierced her palms, and all the Vampyrs’ attention zeroed in on her.
Sweat dripped down her spine, her palms sticky with blood and water.
“We would also like to propose another offer,” Thalia’s mother said. It was enough to draw the attention of the Vampyrs. But Thalia still didn’t breathe, not as one of them caught her stare. His ebony skin gleamed against short-cropped hair, and golden eyes glinted like two coins. It must have been a trick of the light, because she could have sworn his skin had begun to sink in, his flesh pulling taut over his skull. Thalia blinked and it was gone.
“What more could you offer?” Lord Damien tilted his head.
“We have long since been at war. While this new deal is mutually beneficial for both our peoples, my council and I fear what should happen if we fall out of favor once more.”
Should one of the creatures decide to kill them as they’d done before. Thalia’s lips twisted in disgust. One of the Vampyrs stared at her palm, sensing the blood smeared against her heart lines.
“And what is this proposal?” Lord Damien asked.
“A marriage between House Lorenzia and the Cesiaran line. So that no more ill blood shall be spilled on behalf of our two peoples. United, we can hope to better the lives of both our kinds.”
Thalia whirled to her mother, heart pounding in her throat. “You can’t.”
Her sister’s dead face flashed in her mind—her body cooling not ten feet from where she now sat. They’d tried this before. Tried to broker a union between human and Vampyr—
The queen ignored her daughter, focusing on Lord Damien.
The Vampyr cocked his pale head, his ruby eyes looking the princess over. “A most interesting proposition, but I’m afraid—”
The throne room doors creaked open again, and everyone turned to see the newcomer. It was then that Thalia realized one chair had remained empty.
The cloaked figure didn’t walk with the fluid grace of the rest of the creatures in the room. There was almost something familiar about the way they moved, how their shoulders rolled under a velvet cloak.
“A most interesting proposition indeed.” The cloaked figure stopped in the half circle of chairs.
Another shiver rocked down Thalia’s spine.
“As hand to the prince, I speak on behalf of him, and I am most certain this would be advantageous to both our people. This war has gone on too long. Many have suffered, on both sides. But the time of peace is at hand, don’t you think so, Lord Damien?”
“Of course, Cassius. If that is what you believe His Highness would wish.”
Cassius—
Thalia jerked, stumbling to her feet, just as the Vampyr removed his hood.
Eyes bluer than the mountain lakes met hers.
She knew that sharp face. The jaw that could cut and the burnished dark-auburn hair brushing against powerful shoulders.
Not possible.
“You.” The word fell from her lips, breaking apart like ash.
The nausea swirling inside her gut quickly turned to white-hot rage.
The Vampyr grinned, twin fangs gleaming as his sensual lips stretched upward. “Hello, Princess. Did you miss me?”
Thalia launched herself down the dais, knife slashing straight for the strong column of the Vampyr’s throat.
Chapter Two
“I’m going to kill you!” Thalia screamed, her blade angled to cut right through his artery.
Someone grabbed her around her waist, yanking her back. Cold metal pressed against her spine as Reina wrapped a tight hand around her wrist.
