“You aren’t angry with me, are you?”
His question took me by surprise.
“No, but why didn’t you mention your sister?”
“I’m not entirely sure. I… didn’t think to mention it. When you came into my life, all that mattered was you.” Xavier was silent for a moment, his gaze flickering nervously back to me. “…I didn’t mean to keep it from you, if that’s what you think…”
Before I could respond, I felt a shift in the air. A breeze of sweet perfume surrounded me. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the unmistakable silhouette of his sister approaching, her gaze fixed on us like she already knew too much.
“Can I steal your girlfriend for a little while?” Her voice was honeyed but tight, although the sweetness did not quite reach her tone. “Or are you both still fighting over the fact that Xavier didn’t tell you about his so beloved twin sister…”
“No,” Xavier said, grabbing my waist to pull me closer to him.
“Oh, I didn’t realize her voice had an echo.” Lydia teased, her gaze flicking to me with a spark of amusement. There was aslight provocation in her voice, the kind used by children who’d learned long ago which buttons to push just for fun.
I’d never had siblings, but I’d seen enough of the neighborhood kids to recognize the game.
“Xavier, wouldn’t you want me to get to know your new treasure?” she asked with exaggerated innocence, cocking her head to the side.
He said nothing, though his gaze lingered on me for a moment too long. Then Lydia slipped her hand through the crook of my arm before he could stop her.
“It won’t be long, brother. Don’t worry,” she said softly as she led me away down the hall, weaving through the crowd until we found two empty seats at a low table, right beside Sparrow. I glanced back over my shoulder. Xavier was already speaking to someone else, but I still felt his eyes on me like a weight I couldn’t shake.
“Ah, silence,” Lydia sighed as we sat. She reached for a decanter and poured a rich crimson liquid into two crystal glasses, handing me one. I sniffed it cautiously, trying to place the scent before taking a sip. I hated the taste of alcohol.
“It’s a very sweet juice with berries and grapes, not blood or poison,” Lydia said, laughing lightly at my hesitation. She tossed back her drink like it was water, while I only dared a tentative sip. The taste was sweet at first, but a bitter edge followed, lingering on my tongue with a soft burn. There was definitely alcohol in it.
“So,” She leaned in, grinning. “How did Xavier land you?”
I nearly choked on my wine at Lydia’s bluntness.
“Lydia,” came Sparrow’s amused voice behind her. “You really need to learn how to behave in public. Otherwise, Seth will hear about it…”
Seth?The name hit me unexpectedly, a note of curiosity tightening in my chest. But Lydia didn’t address him. Sheonly rolled her eyes and took another long sip from her glass, ignoring her brother entirely.
Trying to steer the conversation away from myself and from the growing heat Xavier’s nearness stirred in me, I asked, “So, you live in the Vampire Kingdom?”
“I do,” she replied, lifting her chin slightly, her tone giving nothing away.
“What’s it like?”
She exhaled slowly, tilting her glass to swirl the wine before answering. “Luxurious, I guess. I live in the castle with our father, so I don’t really lack anything. But the city itself? It’s dull. Cold, even.”
“Why haven’t you left?” I asked softly, not only out of curiosity but because I understood that feeling of being caught somewhere between obligation and escape.
“If my mate wasn’t my father’s most important commander, I probably would’ve left already. I miss my siblings,” she confessed, her voice quieter now, less sharp. “And Seth… well, all of his family is in Marabour. He misses them too, even if he won’t say it aloud.”
Seth was hermate.
I nodded, watching the liquid in my glass. Something about the way she said it hit a little too close to home. My father had one brother who passed away, I never met him, but he talked about him often. How he missed his laughter and his presence, even their little arguments.
“But Sparrow? His arrogance is definitely not something I miss. He’s childish and cocky and gets on my nerves constantly,” Lydia continued, amused. “And Sparrow seems to think he’s the most beautiful man to ever walk the Vampire Kingdom. Sometimes I just want to slap his smug face and knock some sense back into him.”
Sparrow let out a low, amused snort, clearly not offended in theslightest. He raised his glass in a mock toast, as if to say,guilty as charged.
“But it’s not my fault,” he said smoothly, a slow smile playing on his lips. “That my mother is a siren queen. You know the effect sirens have.”
“No, Sparrow. I think you’ve only told me a thousand times,” Lydia countered, rolling her eyes again but with a hint of fondness now, like she was used to this exact banter. “And don’t forget it is your aunt Lilith who wears the crown now, since your mother was involved with a vampire.”
