Killian’s stare softens, and he parts his full lips, but before he can utter a single word, Leilah’s sharp tone cuts through the air like an unforgiving blade.
“We don’t need your tragic ass’s help, Fae filth. What will you do? Implore the enemy to leave us be?” she says with bitterness, hatred swimming in her leering eyes.
Hatred and raging jealousy.
The realization hits me like a brick wall, and my green-eyed monster roars to life. This vampiress’s attitude stakes an unmitigated claim on Killian, and his self-restraint against the bullshit she spews my way only furthers my comprehension. There is something going on between these two, or there has been, at some point in time. Hurt and betrayal gallop through me like a horde of bloodthirsty animals, and I start shaking, fueled by my rising hot temper.
“Leilah…” Killian warns in a haughty tone, but I don’t need him to fight my battles for me.
I push down my anxiety as far as I can reach, and face her head-on. The tension in the room is as thick as unyielding stone, but I refuse to cower any longer.
“I’m usually opposed to females pitted against each other for such degrading matters as the attention of a male, but it’s not my bloody fault if he doesn’t want to fuck you, vampiress. Nor is it my problem.” I snarl, pouring as much venom as I can muster into my tone. “Instead of focusing your misplaced wrath on me, maybe you should take a good, hard look at yourself. Bitterness is such a turnoff.”
Blaise’s impressed whistle cuts through the resounding silence like a sharp blade through flesh. So does the other vampire’srestrained chuckle. “You know nothing about me, or what I am capable of, Lei-lah, dear,” I say, pronouncing her name derisively.
Chaos ensues as the female is just a blur of violent movement, and I brace myself for impact. But before she can lay her hands on me, and cause any long-lasting harm, turbulent crimson shadows erupt in the room, and she gets knocked off her feet, just a hair’s breadth away from my frame.
“Marhus, get her the fuck out now, before I do something we cannot come back from,” Killian says with a sneer.
The blond vampire moves into action immediately, hauling a shrieking Leilah from the floor, and dragging her out of the chamber.
I regain my composure, breathing through my nose and exhaling through my mouth, as I do when dispelling my constant anxiety.
Worry shines through Killian’s eyes, just as vividly as bemused approval sparkles through Blaise’s.
“I want to help.” I reinforce my earlier comment, not losing any time to dwell on that petty standoff. That bitch can fuck off for all I care, and Killian should be thankful that I chose to change the subject immediately.
“War is a messy, storm-tossed thing, little umbra,” Killian softly tries to let me down. “Not sure what you can do.”
“I know my way around a dagger.” My stare narrows on him. “I can fight.” He can go to hell if he thinks he can talk me out of getting involved in their war. “Maybe not on a battlefield, but I can be useful if there is ever another attack like last night. Give me a dagger, and I can fight.”
“Not an onpyr, you don’t, kitty,” Blaise says.
“Then train me,” I immediately respond, not taking my eyes off Killian’s, my stare challenging him to refuse me.
“Blaise can start training you first thing tomorrow,” he concedes, seeming to understand that I won’t budge. Smart vampire.
“Why him, and not you?” I ask, crossing my arms in defiance. “No offense, Blaise.”
“Absolutely offense taken,” he scoffs, but his grin is too wide for me to take his words seriously.
“Because, little umbra, you and I on the training mat… sweaty… all tangled up in each other—our limbs intertwined… body parts flush against another—is definitely not a good idea. Not for training, at least.” Killian’s scorching obsidian pools leave a trail of liquid heat on my instantly fevered skin. Blaise snickers, completely entertained by the exchange.
“Besides, Blaise is the best warrior in the kingdom, skilled in spying and weaponry.”
The vampire mockingly bows at the appraisal.
“It’s settled then. Tomorrow morning we start.” I nod towards Blaise, and he bobs his head in confirmation.
“What else?” I ask, my eyes roaming over the kingdom’s map displayed on the wall behind the vampire’s desk. Almost the entire upper half is blackened by many dots, four red-flagged pins standing out in the sea of darkness. “Is that the enemy territory?”
Killian gives a slight nod of his head.
“What are those red dots, then?” They are spread every which way on the map, not forming any pattern in particular.
“The possible strongholds from which Morweena operates,” the Vampire King answers. “We’ve narrowed it down to these four locations, interrogating prisoners, but we are at an impasse. To pinpoint the actual position, we would need to send vampire spies to all of these places, and with her mind control powers, it’s just too dangerous. We can’t afford to lose more soldiers than we already have.”
I squint at the four names written under the red flags, one of them burning through my memories.
