Page 62 of You’re So Vein

As if he’s chosen to pretend it never happened.

I swallow. Hard.

I guess he’s changed his mind about me.

That’s what I wanted, isn’t it?

“Greetings, human.” Irene raises a listless hand, gesturing to a wooden table and stool facing the merry group. “Sit.”

The stool creaks ominously as I lower myself into it. “Is this going to take long? Because I’m supposed to babysit my nephews tonight.”

I dare another glance at Augustin. Nothing. He’s still in the shadows, his hands folded neatly in front of him, one hand wiping dust off the face of his watch, his gaze fixed on Dante.

“As you know, we’ve come to Argleton to rule on a proposal to allow humans and vampires to wed,” Dante says. “Before we consider your arguments, a champion chosen by us must complete three challenges. The first challenge is Dusk Court, and as you are speaking for humans in this matter, and this new law affects humans as well as Upyr, I have chosen you as the champion.”

From above the fireplace, Mirabelle blinks at me, then swipes a dog statue from the fireplace. Gideon catches it before it smashes to the floor.

“She’s human,” Augustin murmurs from the darkness. “She can’t be champion.”

He’s using his Councillor Durant voice – the one he saves for proposing new by-laws, as if all of this is simply procedure to him. Did I imagine the fire in his words last night? This man said he was in agony. Some tiny, unhinged part of me liked having that effect on him.

But I did what I always do. I drove him away because Madam MacGyver cannot fix her own broken heart. Now he doesn’t even hate me anymore.

Now we’re nothing to each other.

I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing myself to take a calming breath. Forget about him, Komal. Focus on the vampires who want to eat you, not the one who might’ve once wanted to kiss you. When I open them again, Augustin looks over at Alaric and Gideon, who are nodding vigorously.

“One of us should be the champion,” Gideon says. “Alaric will—”

“I’ve scoured the rules,” Irene interrupts. “There is nothing prohibiting humans from being selected as champions. Komal will accept Dante’s challenge, or Dusk Court will refuse to hear your case.”

Okay, got it. I’m alone on this hill. I don’t even have my buddies Sisyphus or Kate Bush.

“I’ll do it,” I say. “For my friend Winnie. Go ahead, vampire, do your worst. Are we arm wrestling?”

My stomach tightens as Dante’s smile grows wide, revealing his fangs. What is he going to make me do?

Dante nods to the table beside me. I stare down at a goblet placed there. I don’t recall seeing it earlier, but I’ve been distracted by Augustin ever since I stepped into the room. It’s a beautiful ceramic vessel with a swirling glaze that looks like something Alaric has made. And it’s filled to the brim with a dark crimson liquid.

Blood.

“Your challenge is simple, human.” Dante leans forward. “Drink.”

20Augustin

KOMAL LAUGHS. “THAT’S IT? THAT’S the challenge? I don’t have to solve an impossible riddle, or explain to a person over sixty how to resize an image, or leap over a giant chasm while avoiding a fire-breathing dragon? I just have to drink a cup of room-temperature blood?”

My whole body trembles with the need to fly across the room and knock that goblet out of her hands. I know Dante’s grin. That’s the grin of an ancient, powerful Upyr up to no good. They shouldn’t put Komal through this. It’s not right.

But I promised myself that I wouldn’t fight for her. Not after the marriage resume, not after I confessed my feelings for her last night, and she rejected me again. Especially not now that the Conclave has declared her the champion.

I can’t afford another reason for them to look closely at me. I can’t let my feelings for Komal lead them straight to Hannah.

So I stand here, I don’t look at her, I do nothing, and I hate myself.

“You’re human,” Irene says. “The thought of drinking blood should disgust you.”

“Should it?” Komal picks up the goblet. “You bloodsuckers shouldn’t use such negative language. My friend Beth says it’s bad for your chakras.”