“I told you to sit quietly,” the queen whispered harshly.
Cassius watched her, some sort of sick delight lighting his features as Thalia snarled, “You motherfucker—”
“If you do not hold your tongue, you will be removed.” The queen turned sharply to her. Thalia stiffened, Reina’s sharp breath echoing in her ear. The entire throne room had quieted, a silence that suffocated her almost as much ashispresence. “Is that understood?”
Thalia glanced at the Vampyrs once more, her fingers tightening on her dagger. Then, finally, she nodded. Reina let her go but didn’t go far as Thalia stiffly sat back on the chair, blade angled.
“I apologize for my daughter. She is prone to … fits,” her mother said, turning back to the monsters before her.
Thalia could hardly pay attention over the pounding of her heart.
Hewas here.
Standing before her as though nothing had happened.
As though the last four years had never taken place—
Kamith cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “The treaty has been drawn up. All we need are the signatures before the ceremony.”
Ceremony.
Thalia wasn’t in her body; she was back to the night thirteen years ago when another ceremony had taken place. But instead of sitting by her mother, it had been her sister, Ariadna, she sat next to. Her sister and a Vampyr—
Thalia froze, her heart rate rising as her stomach rolled. She glanced around the room, noting the guards on the wall—guards who hadn’t been able to stop the Vampyrs, who were slaughtered alongside her father and sister—
Thalia’s chest seized. “This is a trap.”
Her words silenced whatever Kamith was saying to the Vampyrs.
“Princess?” Kamith’s brows furrowed.
Cassius was here.
Cassius who’d betrayed her. Who’d betrayed his kingdom. Who’d killed the one person who could have stopped this war long ago.
And now they were back here, under the guise of peace—
“This is a trap—” Thalia panted, her focus onhim. The courtiers around the room murmured, unease spearing itself through the gathered crowd like oil on water. “They’re going to kill us like they did last time—they’re going to—”
In one blink Lord Damien was before her. He moved so fast Thalia didn’t have time to raise her dagger. She sat in the chair, helpless, as the Vampyr hovering over her cocked his head.
“If we wanted to kill you, you would all be choking on your own blood at this very moment.” His red eyes swept over her before he smiled at the dagger in her clenched fist.
Thalia couldn’t help the shiver of fear running down her spine. She swallowed her revulsion as he leaned closer.
“Charming. You truly are a treat.” The Vampyr cocked his head. “She’ll make a fine bride for our prince, don’t you think so, Cassius?”
He studied her a moment longer before he stepped back, leisurely returning to his companions. “The ceremony shall be within the hour. Our prince does not like to be kept waiting.”
Without waiting for a dismissal, the Vampyrs all followed Lord Damien out, the guards keeping close behind them. Thalia could have sworn Cassius faltered on the threshold, but the traitor didn’t look back.
Thalia didn’t even realize the throne room had been cleared until her mother stood, her posture stiff.
“What ceremony?” Thalia croaked out. She couldn’t believe her throat worked, let alone that her heart still pumped blood through her.
Kamith glanced at her mother, but the queen ignored her adviser. “There will be a ceremony to bind you to the prince. This marriage is part of the treaty struck between our two realms to stop the war from continuing.”
Thalia jerked out of the chair. “Are youmad? They killed our family. Your husband—yourdaughter—” She choked on the last word. “We’ve tried to strike this deal before, and it ended in blood—”
