“Belladonna, my queen.” Mars turned and held out his hand to her. “Come, see what Dravyn has brought us.”
Her fluid steps swayed her hips. Her tight-fitted white gown trailed a few feet behind her. She pushed her long, black hair over her shoulder on one side and stepped between the kings. They both slipped their arms around her. Quinton kissed her temple, while Mars ran his fingers over her collarbone.
The stories all said she was beautiful. They were right. A goddess among mortals.
I looked for an escape but there were no windows.
This was a tomb.
My pulse became erratic. I had to get out of this place. Ineededout. The swishing of gowns, the tapping of feet moving in time to the haunting music. The smell of blood and the wafting scents of heavy perfume made my head throb. The surrounding vampires laughed and watched me like I was a strange animal they waited to see perform. This was hell.
Belladonna’s green eyes locked onto mine and held them. An invisible but dark-feeling essence swirled around me, a thick cloud seeking to smother. Sweat beaded on my back. The intensity of her stare felt like a pressure on my head. Was she attempting to use her power on me? Rumors claimed it only worked on males.
After several beats of my pounding heart, she pulled her stare and looked to Dravyn. “So, my assassin is finally going to come home.” Her voice was like bells, lovely and seductive. “He has vexed me as of late.”
“We don’t like our queen vexed.” Mars licked the side of her face and Quinton kissed her neck.
The scrunch of disgust on my face was involuntary.
“I believe he will come,” Dravyn answered. “To give her Oriana’s sword is one thing but to give her his dagger as well?” He tapped it on my hip. “I think she might even be more than an apprentice to him.”
Belladonna smiled, revealing pretty white teeth. “Ah, yes, I think so, Dravyn. Heterochromia is rare. I’ve never seen eyes like hers.” She leaned her head against Quinton. “Under all that filth I think she is rather lovely and I would like my Vander to be happy when he arrives. Have my servants clean her up and dress her properly.”
I cringed at her use ofmyVander. He wasn’t hers. He was mine. My heart.
“She’s vicious, my queen.” Dravyn jerked on my collar enough to make me stumble. “We can’t leave your servants alone with her. She will kill them.”
Mars curled his fingers around a lock of Belladonna’s hair. “After his behavior lately, I’m not sure he deserves her dressed up like a doll. He has some explaining to do.”
My pulse started to drum louder, pumping in my ears. A cold dread worked its way through my veins.
Dravyn nodded. “I say we keep her in a cage like the bait she is.”
Belladonna sighed and pushed the hands of the kings off her. Neither one of them appeared bothered. “Fine. You deal with him when he arrives then.” She waved a dismissal and turned back up the steps, heels clapping lightly.
My breaths came faster. I tried to settle my unsteady breathing, but panic pulled at me, tearing at my fragile composure. I’d managed to keep myself calm but the facade was crumbling.
Everything about the way they spoke of Vander confused me. It was as if they knew him and well. Since Oriana was a vampire, I could understand how they knew his name, but the way they were talking about his behavior, like they expected something different, and calling this his home... He had explaining to do? It didn’t make sense.
Vander was loyal to LOA. He was with me all the time. He killed vampires.
He... was a vampire.
The golden cage closest to the dais lowered. Dravyn cut the straps holding my hands behind my back. I stepped inside without a fight and curled onto my side, letting my bruised swollen cheek rest on the cold metal. The door closed and clicked. Dravyn smiled at me, raked those dead eyes over me.
Wasn’t he supposed to be the one who killed Oriana? Wasn’t he the one who’d taken her? She didn’t act afraid of him.
Tears slipped out as my cage rose. My throat felt uncomfortably tight. A heavy weight seemed to press on my chest.
Breathe. Breathe.There was a storm building inside me, threatening to tear me apart. I clenched my teeth until my jaw ached. I wasn’t sure if I could stop screaming if I started.
From up here I could see the number of the vampires. Hundreds. There werehundredsbelow me.
Dancing, drinking, careless.
A woman with a metal collar around her neck like mine danced with a male vampire, except hers was gold and encrusted with rubies. I spotted another with a collar. Three more. They talked and moved among the crowd freely.
Silent tears streamed as I wrapped my arms around myself. Was that what they would do to me?
