Page 17

Louis turned his hard stare on his underlings and snarled in warning, a crimson ring forming in his eyes, and the other vampires either averted their gazes or schooled their expressions to tone down their hungry looks.

The prince motioned for me to step closer to him, and I inched toward him. His hand lashed out, gripping my shoulder. His fangs slid out, glinting white under the chandelier light. Before I could shove him off or run back out of the door, he sank his fangs into the side of my neck. His venom pumped into my bloodstream at rapid speed as he attempted to mark me as his.

“What the fuck? This is the third time in a row! You need to chill!” I struggled while Sy moaned at the pleasure.

Louis retracted his fangs and sealed the two tiny wounds on my neck.

“Stop fucking fighting me, little Bob,” he ordered. “I’ve marked you with my scent, which should warn everyone off. No one will dare to touch you, as you’re mine now. Words will spread.” He swept another warning stare across the hall. “They all know how I punish anyone who tries to poach my valuable possessions.”

The vampires in the hall bowed in acknowledgement of their prince’s declaration.

Louis clapped, and a blonde woman with a high ponytail dressed in a blue shirt and smart pants rushed forward, an electronic tablet in her hand. Clearly, she was an assistant.

“Your Highness.” She bowed to the vampire prince before glancing at me.

“Here’s my new squire,” Louis said. “Make sure the boy bathes thoroughly. I don’t want my meal to smell.”

I glared at him. I’d been on the road a lot, running and killing the Shriekers and then running from him.

“You didn’t complain when you sank your teeth into my neck, sir,” I said in my husky voice.

The assistant blinked and looked at her boss for cues as to how to treat me, or maybe she was waiting for him to strike me down.

“See, our little Bob not only stinks; he knows no manners.” Louis shook his head with a smirk. “You’ll make sure he learns the rules, Drusilla.”

I frowned at him. “What rules?”

He shot away at super vampire speed before his assistant nodded dutifully. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“He’s gone,” I told her.

“Of course,” she said. “Follow me, Little Bob.”

Drusilla turned, not looking back at me, as she expected me to follow her.

“Actually, it’s Bobb—” I didn’t finish saying my real name, as a new idea hit me.

It’d work to my advantage if everyone mistook me for a boy. Ruin’s ears and eyes reached far. If his agents or associates ever got into Mist of Cinder, they’d be looking for a girl me. I’d be a lot safer staying a boy.

I followed her across the hall to the elevators. We got in one of the two elevators, and she pressed B1.

“What’s B1 about?” I asked. “Where exactly are we going?”

“B1 is the floor where servants reside,” Drusilla said, not looking at me.

“Fine,” I shrugged. I was good so long as I had a bed to sleep in and a roof above my head.

“Right now, we don’t have a vacant room on the fourth or fifth floor, where the prince’s close circle and squires take up residence. Feeders dwell on the third floor. The top floor belongs to the prince only.”

“I don’t mind staying with other servants,” I said.

The elevator stopped, a ding sounded, and the door opened. I followed her out.

“You’re only a half-vampire, aren’t you?” I asked.

Her eyes tensed up. “Even you can tell?”

“Yeah. I haven’t met many like you.”