“No, of course not. It’s not my place to meddle, as meddling as I usually like to be.” Blaise half smiles, waggling his brows in a suggestive way.
“Thank you.” I sigh in relief. “Shall we then?” I point toward the dining hall.
“I’m afraid I’m not invited to tonight’s soiree, kitty cat. It will be just you, her, and Killian. I’m off to see Marhus to discuss our next steps,” he says, bowing slightly before continuing his stroll towards wherever he’s going.
And just like that, my anxiety returns tenfold. I watch his retreating back before I continue on my path.
The dining hall’s door is wide open, and as I step inside, I realize I’m the first one to arrive. I take in the opulent room, draped in black and gold, with gilded mirrors hanging from the walls, and a long, rectangular table placed in the middle of the room.
Several decadent candlesticks sit on top of the burgundy tablecloth, and the twinkling light of the candles bathes the room in an eerie glow.
Three sets of porcelain and gold dinnerware are sparkling in the candlelit gleam—one at the front of the table, the other two on each side.
The sound of the door closing behind me with a loud bang startles me, and I spin to find my snarling sister, dressed in a shimmering golden off-the-shoulder gown with bell long sleeves and a flaring bodice. That silver-chained headpiece is still adorning her straight hair, making her look like a malevolent deity.
“Look at you, little sister. All dolled up and prancing around like a vampire’s whore. Must be really proud of yourself, sinking your clutches into the King’s second-in-command.” Her voice drips with venom, just as I remember it. There it is, her viciousness making its grand appearance.
“I don’t…” I shakily start saying, before I think better of it. Let her think I’m fucking Blaise. It’s better than her sniffing out the truth. “That’s none of your business, Aurora,” I say with a meek voice.
“Oh, but it will be my business once I’m Queen, filth,” she snarls back. “I will not allow your magicless, trashy ass to live inmy castle,fuckmy subjects, pollutemy airwith your worthless presence. End it with the vampire, before I do it for you by killing him.”
I suck in a breath at the vile ultimatum, knowing full well that Blaise’s existence is now in danger because of me.
Before she can say anything else, the door opens and in comes Killian, glancing between us with weariness.
“Is everything okay?” he asks, the question directed at me, although he is looking at Aurora.
“Of course, Killian, darling. Just catching up with my dear sister here. We haven’t seen each other for such a long time,” my twin responds in a deceitfully sweet voice. “Are we waiting for anyone else?”
“No.”
Killian looks at me for confirmation that all is truly well, and I cowardly nod. I just need to get through this blasted dinner, and then I can tell him everything tonight.
We take our seats at the table as the servants pour in, bringing trays upon trays of exquisite delicacies, as well as chalices of blood for Killian.
I have no appetite for food, and I mindlessly play with the roasted vegetables on my plate, while Aurora shamelessly flirts with Killian, deflecting his attempts at discussing the prophecy. Does she even plan on helping at all?
“As I was saying, darling, your castle is absolutely astonishing. You have impeccable taste. I could see myself living here forever.” She licks her lips seductively, reaching to touch his hand that rests on the table, and I suck in a harsh breath before her fingers graze his. My heart hammers in my ears, and I clench my fist around the fork I’m currently holding. I don’t know how much more of this I can take, not when she’s trying to touch what’smine, to steal him from right in front of me.
“Little umbra, what’s wrong? You haven’t been yourself since I entered the room.” Killian’s eyes lock with mine reassuringly as he draws his hand back from the tabletop.
You could hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence. Aurora narrows her eyes into venomous slits at Killian’s nickname for me, as if she’s heard the word before—as if she despises it.
“What did you just call her, Killian darling?”
I recognize that stone-cold tone of voice. The calm before the storm. She has used it many times with me, right before viciously tearing into me.
“It’s nothing, Aurora, I swear.”
My voice trembles, as it always does in Aurora’s presence. Killian frowns at me, and I shake my head at him fervently.Please, please shut up!I plead him with my eyes.
“It’s not nothing,sister.And I wasn’t talking to you,”Aurora says with restrained contempt, before directing her gaze once again to Killian. “I will ask again. What did you just call her?”
Killian straightens in his seat, exuding ruthless confidence and authority like the Vampire King that he is. “I called her umbra. I fail to see how that is a problem, or any of your business, Miss Vaureghain.”
Aurora’s left eye twitches in disdain, and her teeth grit when she responds. “I’m just wondering how your second-in-command feels about you having endearing nicknames for the female he fools around with? And to call her little shadow, of all things! I’m the one mastering shadows, not her!” Tendrils of her silver power unfurl from her fingertips, crackling with electricity.
I gasp as my pulse quickens. How does she know what the word means?
