Page 62

Chunks of cake and icing splattered the floor, and I slipped on a sugary glob. “What the hell?” This was no accident but an attack.

The servant whipped around, daring to give the raging infernus his back. In the man’s hand was a dagger. My heart pitched. In a flash, the blade descended. His target—Custodis.

Faster than my eyes could track, Thorne sprang to his feet and captured the assassin’s arm. At the same time, the vampire grabbed the servant’s hand and twisted. Bones snapped and popped, the attacker screaming his rage. Next thing I knew, the male staggered backward and collapsed. The bloody dagger protruded from his chest.

It all happened so fast. I could do little but splutter.

With the threat contained, Custodis took a knee at the male’s side. “Tell me who sent you.”

The guy stared at the ceiling, unseeing. Blood gurgled from his lips.

“The Chosen One must not ascend,” he coughed, and the light faded from his eyes.

“What was that all about?” Drazen snarled, flicking cream from his ruined clothing.

The vampire plucked the dagger from the man’s sternum.Squelching sounds had my dinner rising, eager to escape my stomach.

Carved into the hilt were strange runes.

“Anyone know what the markings mean?” He glanced around our group.

Thorne dragged his gaze from the dagger, his expression hardening. “Never seen them before.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You sure about that?” He was far from convincing. If the new guy wanted “in,” hiding secrets wouldn’t put him in my good graces.

Horns blew. Guards shouted, “Everyone back to your rooms.”

I saton the lumpy cot, glaring up at Victor. “What do you mean, you’re heading out?”

“I can’t lie around when there is work to be done. Hidden doors to be located.”

I huffed an irritated sigh. In other words, veins to be tapped. “We need to discuss what just happened. Someone tried to murder you.”

He shrugged. “I’ve made a lot of enemies over the years. Many of those enemies ended up here in Carcerem.”

I studied his form in the soft light. The clothing Milani had brought him stretched tight across his shoulders. The seams on his thighs strained the threads that held them together. Either she’d miscalculated his size, or he’d packed on a couple of pounds since our incarceration. And not in the same way Yaga’s sweet buns did to me.

Something was happening to the vampire, and he refused to talk about it. “There’s something going on with you. The vampires I’ve met, strong emotion turns their eyes silver, not gold. Several times now, I’ve seen yours turn gold.”

“A trick of the lighting,” he snapped with impatience.

I firmed my chin. “It isn’t my imagination. In the cavern, there was this pulse of energy. I felt it again in the dining hall.”

He held up his hand, saying in that imperious tone I’d come to loath, “I don’t have time for feminine concerns. Remain in this room. Do not leave.” With his command issued, he headed out the door.

Thoroughly dismissed, I stared at the place where he had stood, mouth gaping. He did not just bark orders at me. No one spoke to me that way, not even my brothers.

I punched my fist into the lumpy mattress, hissing, “Better sleep with one eye open, Custodis.”

Whispered voices hummed outside my doorway, and I peeked out. Two women, towels thrown over their arms, strolled in the direction of the bathing room. Were they meeting my vampire?

My hands curled into fists. Pinpricks of pain spiked my palms, and I uncurled them, wincing at the small cuts my nails made.What am I doing?He wasn’tmyvampire. He wasn’tmyanything. I couldn’t care less what he did with his fangs.

Perhaps I would head to the bathing chamber for a soak and gather my own intel.

Not that I gave a heated fart for Victor’s orders, but did I dare? I definitely didn’t want to get caught alone in this place. Especially after the attempted assault I barely escaped last night.

“Psst,” a voice hissed.