“She’s…she’sunfitfor the throne—an exile? From the island? What was her crime? How did she get there? How did she get back? No one is supposed to leave those lands! You can’t possibly—”
His words cut off with a wet, gurgling snap.
Haide doesn’t even flinch. One moment she’s standing there, the next she’s sliding a blade back into the sheath on her thigh, blood misting the air like perfume.
“Hey, don’t look at me. He said disrespect and die.” She shrugs. “I felt disrespected so…yeah.”
Sinner wheezes and doubles over with laughter. Creed covers his face with one hand. Knight says nothing—just closes his eyes and leans his head back like he’s praying for death.
I beam. “As I was saying…”
Blood continues to drip on the wall Haide leans against, her expression returning to one of boredom.
“Your Queen has arrived. And as you can see, she bites.”
…
Haide
I blink, head tilting slightly.
Did he just…
I look out at the room full of gifted—no therealmfull of gifted. Hundreds upon hundreds watching from outside the castle walls.
Why are they all staring at me like I’m supposed to curtsy or blow a kiss or some shit? Like this isn’t the same realm that literally throws people onto my island like trash. I mean, most are, but still.
AndKing Legendis up here, all smug and self-important, declaring me their Queen like some fool with a death wish.
Honestly, it’s a terrible way to flirt if that’s what he’s going for.
You wanna talk about biting, Demon King? Fine.
I lunge.
The crowd gasps like one massive, useless organism as my hand fists the front of his shirt and I sink my teeth into his neck.
Not a love bite. Not a nip. But a full-on, mouth-open, flesh-tearing mouthful.
His skin gives way like sin, and the second his blood hits my tongue, I freeze.
Oh.
Oh,fuck.
It tastes like smoke and ruin and something so stupidly addictive I forget where I am for a second. My head reels. My spine hums.
Something behind my ribsclicks. Not a sound exactly. Morelike a pulse, like a wire deep in my chest was yanked taut. My breath snags, my blood flares, and not just with heat, but with something old, coiled, waiting.
Somethingnot mine.
It crawls up my spine and hums in my brain.
I blink, dazed for half a second.
Huh.
Maybe I was a vampire in a past life.
