“The four original vampires, the Eldritch sisters, created the first Hive together. As a place of peace and balance. It was a haven for the forsaken. The castaways, the outsiders, to become something more. Over the years, as their numbers steadily grew, they expanded. Created lines of commerce, built hidden safehouses across Atoris, and even forged the additional Hives.”
“How many are there?” I interjected.
“There were five.” His smooth delivery told me he hadn’t expected this number to be mind-altering news.
“Five?!” My hand flew to my lips. My disbelief only compounded when I considered the size of Rhazien’s realm. Even if the others were half the size…vampires very well could have outnumbered humans in Atoris twice over.
Had the Illica Crown known and withheld this from their residents? Maybe they thought it was better to think of the vampires as a collective rather than separate settlements.
Whatever the reason, I decided I needed to thumb throughNobles and Notablesagain. I’d only noted two Hives so far. The North, where Vaspar, Valta, and their regent Eryx hailed from. And the Southern Hive. This Hive. My new home.
He tapped my hand, breaking me from my mental spiral. “Therewerefive. But only two are occupied now.”
Three empty Hives. Interesting.I chewed on my cheek and waited forhim to continue but planned on asking Oddo more about the five hives during our next lesson.
“Lorana entrusted this place to me before she and her sisters went to ground for the long sleep.”
“How long will they sleep?” The question tripped over itself as it fell off my tongue. It was an odd concept.
“They’ll sleep until they’re woken.”
“Wait.” My eyes popped open. “You knew Lorana?”
Rhazien’s cheeks rounded. “She made me.”
I knew Rhazien was Lorana’s descendant, that he shared her blood and inherited the gifts Oddo mentioned. But I didn’t realize she’d directly made him.
“You were made by an Original?”
Brown strands of hair lifted and fell with his eager nod. “Yes. I’m so used to everyone knowing that about me, but your expression reminds me that’s something very special.”
I wanted to know more. About Lorana and her sisters and where they were now. About his transition and life before immortality. But my mind’s attention was yanked back to the question that had been burning within me since I’d arrived.
“So, Lorana made you, entrusted you with caring for this Hive, and where do I fit into this? It seems like this is a thriving community.”
“Right.” Rhazien gave me an unfamiliar smile. It was hesitant, strained. “The item I need you to help me find is a powerful stone. Possessing it could help prevent a growing discourse between the Hives.”
“Discourse?” I repeated.
“Well,” Rhazien exhaled to the night sky, “a war, actually.”
My eyes bulged and I felt like I had been kicked in the gut. “Oh, is that all?”
A piercing ring vibrated between my ears. Through its shrill echo I made out the words ‘Northern Hive’ and ‘old ways’. He broke off mid-sentence about his great matter and moving Atoris into a new era of peace when he glanced back, noting my stunned expression.
“Reyva, are you all right?” Rhazien shook his head and scolded himself. “I really should have listened to Gorvin. This was too much.”
Too much was cohabitating amongst vampires. Too much was learning Rhazien intended to court me as a future queen.Thiswas beyond too much. I could feel myself withdrawing next to him.
His hand stroked feverishly across my forearm. “I’m sorry. Tonight was supposed to be about welcoming and celebrating you.”
“No,” I quickly countered. “No, I’m okay.”
I wasn’t okay.
This was no request to find a misplaced trinket or some piece of jewelry with sentimental value. This request held so much more weight and responsibility. And it wouldn’t be just a war. If it came to be, it could mean continent-wide havoc, ruin, species annihilation. It was too great an ask…and considering how I’d failed my final client before Hollis was murdered, the fragile petals of my confidence wilted and scattered to the winds months ago.
If there was a war between vampire Hives on the horizon, I could only imagine the kind of devastation that could mean for the humans of Atoris—for Lydia and the peaceful future I hoped she’d have. The mangled and charred bodies from the tapestry in The Hall of Truths rushed to the front of my mind. So much pain and death.
