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She killed him. And now she was to resurrect him.

“Just one small matter,” Raphael said.

All eyes swung to the king.

“Your Majesty?” she said, meekly. Perhaps turning was exhausting for the vampire?

“The boy Crowley saved—your nephew, as I recall. How did Crowley find him?”

She blinked. “I… that is a better question for Crowley, Your Majesty. Once he has turned, I’ve every hope he will be able to answer your queries to satisfaction.”

“Naturally,” Raphael replied easily. “Then perhaps this one will be more suited to your domain. How did your nephew get injured in the first place?”

Janessa looked pale, even paler than usual for a vampire. Blood was smeared over her lips, which were parted as she stared up from the floor at Raphael on the high throne. “It is not unusual for young vampires to overestimate—”

“Donotattempt to deceive me!” Raphael roared.

I flinched.

The entire room flinched.

“You stupid, stupid child,” Raphael snarled. “You think you can manipulate your king into gifting your toy immortality?”

“Your Majesty, I only—”

“Silence!” Raphael snarled. “I’ll tell you what you did. You convinced your nephew to leave his bed, then led him down to the ravine. You hurled him over the side. And while he cried, bones broken into splinters, betrayed by someone blood-bound to protect him, you extorted him. You told him if he vowed not to say a word of your sins, he could have some of that pathetic worm’s blood. And why? Because you wanted your lover to be turned, and you’d both grown tired of waiting. You wanted to be absolutely sure I’d be so moved by his noble gesture, Iwould permit it.” He leaned forward, his fingers curled over the arms of his throne. “Go on. Tell me I’m wrong.”

The vampiress opened and closed her lips, but no sound passed. She couldn’t lie.

“Of course,” Raphael continued, “it turns out you’re as conniving as you are stupid. You made him vow not to tell anyone, but once the fingers in his hands healed, he was able to write his responses.”

The entire court was silent. I fought the urge to vomit. I’d thought there was nothing worse than giving up mortality to become a vampire—but Crowley had abandoned his humanity long before if he thought this was in any world justifiable.

Raphael had clearly known about this. Why go through this charade?

“Punishment should suit the misdeed. I’ve allowed you to turn him, to give him the eternal life he hungered for.” A pause. “Snap his neck. Now.”

“Mercy, Your Majesty!” She fell to her hands, pleading. “Punish me instead.”

“Oh, I am.” Raphael rose from his throne, taking one slow step down the dais at a time. “You will live.” He took another step. “Knowing you took his years of service, and his reward is death from his own sire.” Another step. “And you will live the rest of your life in exile.” Another step. “You betrayed your own clan when you harmed your nephew. No vampire will let you take refuge with them now.”

He stood in front of Janessa, who was crying on her hands and knees. I felt no pity at the sight, only hatred.

Raphael was doing something beyond cruel.

The newly made vampire would die.

This one would suffer.

Monsters.

“Break his neck now,” he ordered. “You won’t like it if I’m the one who takes my time, savoring his death.”

Tears streamed down her face as she lifted Crowley’s body. He was unconscious, but his lids flickered. Was he aware in this state?

Snap!

Janessa wailed.