Page 52 of Her Vampire, His Ruin

“Strawberry tart, perhaps,” she continues, glancing at Elizabeth, before sliding her gaze to Edie. “Or is it a bittersweet truffle?”

“None of the above,” I say, my tone hardening.

“That’s disappointing. I was looking forward to a sweet treat. I’m famished,” she says, tapping her long, manicured nails on the table. “So, what did I miss?”

“Elizabeth pulled a knife on me.” Viktor laughs, trying and failing to ease the tension in the room.

“Is that so? Interesting,” Sybil says, eyeing Elizabeth.

“Edie eventually calmed her down, and Logan explained he did not, in fact, murder Henrietta’s ex,” Viktor continues. “I think that about sums it up.”

Sybil laughs. “Ah, just another entertaining evening in the Crow stronghold. I’m sorry I missed it.”

“Stronghold?” Edie mutters.

“Once you’re invited in, there’s no escaping,” Sybil says offhandedly, dropping that little bombshell with a wicked smile.

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Elizabeth asks.

“Sybil, these are my guests.”

She looks at me over the rim of her glass, her eyes flicking to Edie beside me. “Apparently so, darling.”

“Darling? Am I missing something here?” Edie says, less of a question and more of an accusation.

“Dorian and I go way back.” Sybil cants her head, her lyrical voice curling in the air between us. I can feel her compulsion stretching out towards Edie as a slow smile creeps across her face. Edie visibly recoils. “We’ve spent many years in each other’s company, shared fabulous meals, drunk from the finest⁠—”

“Enough,” I warn, my jaw gritting.

Sybil lets the silence stretch, savouring every stilted second. Then she raises her glass in a lazy salute, eyes never leaving mine. Edie’s chair scrapes against the floor as she stands.

“I think it’s time we leave. Henrietta, Elizabeth. Let’s go.”

“Edie, stay—” I begin, but she lifts her hand, cutting me off. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sybil raise her brows before realisation creeps across her face.

Fuck.

“Thank you for dinner, but I’ve suddenly got a bad taste in my mouth.”

“Agreed,” Elizabeth says, cutting Sybil a look as she stands. “I would say it was a pleasure to meet you, but that would be a lie.”

“But, my dear. It is a pleasure to meet me. In fact, I think you’d both very much like to stay and get to know me more, hmm? Sit down,” Sybil commands, narrowing her eyes on Elizabeth, then Edie before she takes another sip of wine.

Edie doesn’t respond, not because she’s under Sybil’s spell, but because she’s shaking with anger, and it takes everything in me not to reach out and touch her, to reassure her, but given Sybil’s volatile state right now, that would be unwise. Despite being her maker and therefore more powerful than Sybil, I can’t afford to correct her behaviour without revealing what I am to Edie.

“I said, sit down,” Sybil repeats.

“What is it with you people bossing us about like you own us? I don’t take orders from him,” Elizabeth responds, pointing at Viktor with a glare before fixing her gaze back on Sybil, “And I certainly don’t take orders from you.”

Sybil merely laughs, but I recognise the calculated look on her face as she watches Elizabeth stride around the table and grasp Henrietta’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“Wait, what’s happening?” Henrietta asks, blinking up at Elizabeth before trailing her gaze back to Sybil.

“Perhaps dessert won’t be so disappointing after all. You should stay,” Sybil insists.

“I’d be happy too,” Henrietta replies, smiling softly.

“No. You should leave,” Logan says.