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Henrik laughed bitterly. “And why should we trust you? You’ve always been her little bitch, licking her shoes or tight cunt whenever she snapped her fingers.”

Narcissa let out a deadly growl and threw something against the wall, the sound of glass shattering as it hit the floor.

“Shehumiliatedme. She thinks that she is so much better, smarter, stronger than me. But Mercy forgets who was with her every step of the way, helping her and disposing of the bodies. I know her every secret and she will regret the day she ever tried to shame me.”

“Hmph,” Henrik grunted in what sounded like a satisfied response. “Very well. I shall pass along your message to Carlisle and we will be in contact. But I warn you, Narcissa, that your life will be a torturous thing if you betray us. Mercy may be cruel, but I am barbaric.”

Narcissa laughed, the shrill sound making me grind my teeth. “Don’t worry, big boy. I’m all in. Mercy Petrova will be nothing by the time I’m finished with her.”

Fuck. Fuck.Fuckity fuck.

Mercy’s little bitch was going to try and take her down. I had to let her know.

Sprinting down the stairs, I slowed to a regular pace when entering the club ensuring my composure was in check so Carlisle wouldn’t suspect I knew anything. I pushed through the dancing bodies, and barged past the donors too high to realize that I was on a warpath, trying to make my way to the dais.

I finally burst through the crowd and looked up, my face dropping. Both Mercy and Cecelia were no longer on the throne and their scents had faded. Where the fuck had she gone?

I had to find her. She couldn’t trust Narcissa and if she was willing to betray Mercy, it meant all bets were off.

She was going to kill Cece.

25

MERCY

What I had donetonight was a power move and I could feel satisfaction radiating from within me. I knew Carlisle and his lackeys would be atAmbrosiatonight, and to have them watch me be worshiped in my home, at the heart of Sin City, was everything I needed to solidify my promotion within the council. There was no doubt that I was the perfect fit; my club was packed and both Known and human guests alike were . . . well taken care of. Vegas thrived under my rule, andAmbrosiawas nothing but a terribly infatuating and pleasurable experience for anyone that walked through those doors.

Carlisle had his fair share of donors around his VIP table all night, I noticed. His big, chunky bodyguards towered over every bloodbag that graced them, enveloping them in their meaty stature as they latched themselves onto whatever piece of open skin they could. Carlisle Valore was less messy about it. He kept his composure as he delicately tasted each human, like a flight of samples, even wiping at his polished mouth after each sip. I kept one eye on them, carefully keeping tabs on the man that knew my secrets.

Halfway through our night, when Cecelia was fully charged and drunk on lights and the music, dancing so sensually, Carlisle met my eyes with his icy steel gaze and nodded. It was his approval, the slight tilt of his head and obvious wink. His gaze turned to Cecelia, and I watched in horror as his lips twitched and his tongue slid across them as if he had already tasted her. I smiled cruelly, letting my fangs slip into view as I tugged on Cece’s leash possessively.

I would not share.

Cecelia turned around to look at me in question and Carlisle and I broke our gazes apart, him returning to his table and me tomine. I refocused my attention, my smile changing for Cecelia, airier and lighter than I think I’d ever given anyone. I clicked my fingernails and sighed at the sound before reaching across to draw idle circles on her arm. I was hopelessly addicted to this human that danced before me. My skirt was hitched so far up that anyone could get a look if they liked, and I watched as her eyes glanced down every few seconds. Each time my eyes met hers I could feel the silence stretch between us.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice slurring. She didn’t drink much, but the intoxication of the club could rub off on anyone in the right circumstances.

“Everything’s alright, baby,” I replied smoothly, “Do you want to go? We can finish what you started here back at the estate.”

I swore I could see her blush under the blue lights. I tugged the leather strap attached to her choker hard enough to cause her to stumble forward and fall into me. I caught Cecelia in my arms mid-fall and placed both hands on either side of her face, leaning forward to whisper in her ear.

“They watched you bury your face inside me,” I murmured. “There’s no reason to be embarrassed, little flower. You hold all the cards. How does it feel to be the person everyone is dying to be? How does it feel to hold thatpower?”

I let go of her and let her stand up, watching her smooth out her dress of jewels and straighten her back. I could see how much my words impacted her already, Cecelia’s drunkenness had worn to a sexy confidence that captured the attention of vampires across the dancefloor. They looked up at her, mesmerized by hunger and desire. It woke me up entirely, so much that I could find myself drunk on her, too. I don’t know what it was about her, but it wasn't a weakness. Looking at Cecelia, all I found was immense tenderness swimming between layers of passion. I growled selfishly and pulled her close to me. I dipped my head to her ear again.

“Let’s go.” She nodded wordlessly.

I couldn’t help but glance once more to the VIP table, frowning as I noticed Carlisle and his others had vanished while I was preoccupied. I’d have to check with my servers to see if they’d occupied one of my many back rooms when Cecelia was asleep. There was no need to frighten her now with their disappearance.

We stepped off the dais with slow, sensual steps, Cecelia attached to my hip as I weaved us through the crowd. Her grip on my hand was tight, as if she was afraid she’d lose me if she didn’t have a hold on me. I wondered when my promises to keep her safe would no longer be empty words she couldn’t believe.

When we breached the dance floor, my nostrils flared with the unexpected saltiness in the air. It was not the sweat of guests, the salted blood that I knew so well, but of a brass and firework mixture that made my senses spike with unease. I clutched Cece’s hand more harshly, feeling her jump from the unexpected pressure, my nails indenting in her skin.

I pulled her roughly as we made our way to the bar, setting her down on a seat. Where the fuck was Warren?

“Cecelia, I need you to stay here, okay?”

“Where are you going?”