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“I rather like it here. Newbury Grove could be a wonderful home for us vampires. A perfect seat for my new empire,” Sylvia said.

“What do you say to those demands, witch?” Sebastian asked.

“Then you get nothing,” Alice answered.

Sebastian rubbed the left side of his chest. “I haven’t forgotten what your boyfriend did to me. Maybe, as part of negotiations, we ask to return the favor. What do you say, my love?”

Sylvia smiled wide enough to expose her vampire fangs. “I think it would only be fair. A stab for a stab. And I assure you my dear Sebastian won’t miss . . . unlike my little pet. Of course, there’s always the other option. Off with his head.”

They chuckled.

Alice narrowed her eyes. She pulled back her shoulders and puffed out her chest. “Leave him out of this. You’ve already done enough to him. This is between you and me.”

Sylvia and Sebastian laughed.

“You think it’s only between us? Oh, you poor, poor child. This war has raged for centuries. There was an uneasy peace. I’m the one fanning the flames. I’m the one seizing control. This is my opportunity to be queen of a new empire—a vampire empire—with my king by my side,” Sylvia said. “We will rule together.”

Sylvia and Sebastian locked eyes and smiled as they held hands.

“We offered you a position in our new empire once,” Sebastian said. “You should have accepted it. I take it you found our lovely gift in the basement.” He smiled a devilish grin.

Alice checked her surroundings. The circle of vampires held back. She turned back to the Savinos. Her eyes narrowed.

“This is my home. Those people are my friends. What makes you think I’ll give them up to you?” Alice asked. “This is my life.”

“Life?” Sylvia asked. “Life is death’s playground, and I’m merely one of death’s instruments. I’ve seen what you call life. Torment. Torture. Destruction. Grief. Loss. Acts all done in the name of what you call life. Under my empire, life will take a new meaning. Life shall be everlasting.”

Sylvia motioned to the vampires around her and continued, “We need humans to exist. We’ll be their rulers. Sympathetic rulers. But those humans will have a new life. A life free from want. Free from desire. A good life.”

Alice clutched her fists. She turned a shoulder toward Sylvia. She dragged her foot back and shifted her weight forward.

Sylvia continued, “Just think. We’re here, right here, right now because of one witch so many years ago. All she had to do was grant immortality to a king. But because she was so shortsighted, we’re standing here. Many have fought. Many have died. Sebastian and I have killed quite a few . . . You aren’t immune from this war yourself. It’s bigger than us, but we have an opportunity. With that spell of yours, we could end years of suffering and bloodshed. Well, hopefully not all bloodshed.”

The vampires laughed.

“What makes you think this one spell will end it all?” Alice asked.

“Because I know the spell transcends death itself. I may be undead, but we aren’t immortal. With the spell, we—my king and myself—we can truly become immortal,” Sylvia answered. “Now give it to me, or the streets of Newbury Grove will run red with blood.”

“I’ll stop you,” Alice said. She removed the wooden stake, ready to strike at any vampire brave enough to test her resolve.

A few vampires rushed in front of Sylvia and Sebastian, blocking Alice’s path of attack.

“Do you think you’re going to stake all of us with one little toothpick?” Sylvia asked.

Alice yelled out, hoping Gwennie would hear her cue, “I’mreadyto stake each and every last one of you. Especially you, your highness.”

Everyone laughed—Sylvia and Sebastian, the vampires—everyone except Alice.

“Look around you. You’re surrounded. No one is coming. You’re alone, you little witch.” Sylvia took a step closer to Alice. Her eyes full of rage. Her fangs elongated.

Alice bent her knees, ready to jump. “Who said I’m alone? I’d look up if I were you.”

Sylvia stepped back and frantically scoured the ceiling. She gasped as an object cloaked in shadows appeared at the railing where she once stood. Waiting high above was Alice’s broomstick. Guinevere lurched forward at lightning speed.

“Sebastian!” Sylvia cried out.

Armed with its wooden bayonet, it shot straight for Sylvia’s heart. Sylvia tried to move, but she was trapped by the crowd of other vampires.