Page 8 of House of Darkness (The Fallen Star #1)

ROMAN

Ifucking hated the cold. I grumbled about what the freezing temperatures would do to my beautiful feathers. They’d molt and develop a thick layer of down, a dreadful process that took ages to reverse. But deep down, I knew my brooding was about more than just the chill.

We had returned from Kulta Academy early that morning, and sleep had eluded me, making my morning flight to Haugor arduous.

I thought the journey would clear my head, but it only fueled my anger.

They had hurt and threatened her in my name, using fear to strip her of everything she was.

Her terror had screamed at me, my attempts to help only shattering her further.

The woman I saw now was a far cry from the one I’d met nearly a month ago, and it was my fault.

I wanted to kill them all. If not for her horrified expression when I revealed the monster within, I would have wiped them from the earth without a second thought.

At least I knew Isabella was taking care of her.

For now, I had to focus on the task at hand and not let thoughts of Estrella distract me.

Haugor was a cluster of A-frame cabins hidden among snowdrifts and evergreens, barely visible through the blizzard.

The people were just as harsh as the landscape and armed to the teeth.

Even the children ran around with knives.

The Fj?llr?v House's commitment to battle mirrored that of my general of war's House.

Except for them, war was a way of life, not merely a matter of honor.

The central longhouse echoed with lively music. Inside, I was greeted by the warmth of the central hearth and vampires laughing and dancing. Long tables were filled with people chugging from steins and tapping their feet to the rhythm.

Across the hearth sat Count Ylva. The bushy white tail of her beast form swayed to the beat. Her eyes were glazed with contentment, yet her ears were pricked and alert. When she spotted me, she flashed a wolfish grin.

I returned the smile and made my way across the room. It had been years since I’d seen Ylva, and I would have preferred to keep it that way. Unfortunately, my generals were unaware of our past, and I had no intention of enlightening them. Her smirk made my skin crawl.

Ylva commanded attention, even surrounded by her imposing lieutenants. Lean and muscular, with stark white features and amaranth eyes, she tracked my every movement with obsessive fascination, like an arsonist watching a building burn.

“I forgot how young you are,” she said, her thick, raspy accent cutting through the music.

“Yet I could never forget how fiercely beautiful you are, Count Ylva.” I kissed her knuckles, and she tilted her head back in pleasure.

“Sit, sit.” She gestured to the seat beside her and nodded to the musicians, who resumed playing.

“Have you met my cabinet?” She pointed to the two other vampires at the table and introduced them one by one.

The first was her right hand, Erik, a lean man with spikes of gray hair and wild eyes.

Then Emma, her sister, though I noticed the lack of family resemblance between the foreboding Ylva and the petite, gray-haired vampiress she called kin. I nodded at them.

An acolyte servant placed a silver stein in front of me and bowed. “For you, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you.”

Her dainty fingers trailing down my shoulder made me tense. “Would you like company, sir?”

Her fear was a palpable, toxic fog. She was a rabbit forced to serve foxes. I clenched my teeth and counted to ten.

“No, thank you, sweetheart.” I offered her a pleasant smile. Her relief was fleeting before her mask slipped back into place.

“Come here, morsel,” Erik barked. His eyes gleamed with hunger, his tongue sliding over his fangs as though he was imagining biting into her warm flesh. The scent of arousal was nauseating. Her hand trembled as it left my shoulder, heading to obey.

I grabbed her hand. “On second thought, sweetheart, I am a bit cold. Why don’t you warm my lap?”

Erik growled, making my hair stand on end. I bared my fangs in response. Even as the girl settled on my knee, I kept my gaze locked on Erik. It was a tremendous insult to take her after he claimed her, but I didn’t care. If he challenged me, I’d eviscerate him, and he knew it.

Ylva rolled her eyes. “So territorial.”

I smirked. Her comment snapped Erik out of his foolishness, though he kept his eyes on me.

The acolyte shook with fear from her place so close to me, and I didn’t blame her.

Monsters like me were the stuff of nightmares.

There was no way for me to reassure her without revealing my powers.

Perhaps there were other ways to make her feel safe.

I twirled her black hair, imagining it starlight blonde. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“Siv, sir.”

“Siv…” I studied her mind. She longed for her room and a book she’d saved from Ylva’s trash, kept hidden under her mattress. “That’s a lovely name. It reminds me of a character in a novel I just finished. Do you read, Siv?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she sank into me. “Sometimes, sir.”

“Do tell.” Her rapid heartbeat reminded me of Estrella. I wondered if she enjoyed reading, if she’d ever been given the chance to read for joy. It was a comforting thought, though perhaps just a way to assuage my guilt over her suffering.

“Your Majesty, might I draw your attention to more pressing matters than my acolyte’s reading habits?” Ylva’s tone was playful, but her eyes narrowed.

“Your acolyte?” I asked.

“Vampiresses can keep acolytes,” she retorted.

“I’m just surprised you’d let others enjoy her.

If she were mine, I’d keep her to myself.

” I winked at Siv, though my words tasted like spoiled blood.

I took a swig from my stein to wash away the aftertaste and winced.

Wyne was mixed with alcohol to make it shelf-stable and provide the dizzying effects that fresh blood offered.

It was better than feasting on humans like the days of old, but drinking booze still made my gut twist.

“You males are so single-minded. All you think about is blood and sex.”

“Well, that’s two things, dearest Ylva,” I purred.

She rolled her eyes but smiled. “Let’s talk alliances, Your Majesty. How can we serve?”

I shifted Siv on my knee, though she clung to me, making it difficult to give Ylva my full attention. It had been impulsive to play white knight with her. I couldn’t risk this for one acolyte when I could gain much more with Ylva’s armies.

“I aim to serve you, Ylva. My generals and I are developing a team to improve inter-house communications and trade. This should reduce wyne prices, make it easier to feed your people, and open trade with the Azu. My general of commerce assures me this would significantly improve Fj?llr?v production. I also hope to initiate a quarterly meeting between the House counts to improve relations and reduce bloodshed.”

Ylva’s ear twitched. “You’re an idealist, little Tsar.”

I gripped my stein tightly, the heated drink warming me. At twenty-four, I was used to being dismissed by counts, but it still stung.

Before I could respond, Erik interjected. “What about the annual hunting Tsar Leonidas agreed to? It’s tradition.”

I didn’t care about their fucking traditions.

I ran a hand through Siv’s hair and gave a placating smile.

Of course, Leonidas would agree to something cruel like that.

He didn’t care about the welfare of humans, as shown by how he treated my mother and his other acolytes.

“I won’t entertain the suffering of any of my subjects for others’ amusement. ”

Erik's aura thickened with anger, radiating off him in toxic plumes. I tensed, ready for a potential threat.

“Why should we back you if you won’t respect our customs?” Erik snarled.

His aura was overwhelmed by Ylva’s, which glowed like the fire of hell itself. “You will not speak for your countess. You forget your place.”

“I apologize, ma’am,” Erik murmured, dipping his head. I smirked, enjoying the sight of Ylva putting men in their place. I had always appreciated that about her, despite our sensitive past.

Now Ylva’s focus turned back to me. Siv cowered against my shoulder. “It seems I am losing in this deal, Your Highness.”

I wasn’t adept at this part of the job. Garnering favor had been my father’s game, not mine, but if I couldn’t figure this out, I might as well step down. I forced my emotions in check and tried to remain rational.

“Would a generous donation to your House make things even?” I asked, trying to soften my tone.

Her ears flattened. “I do not need your money. I want my House’s customs respected.”

I stared her down, unwilling to yield. Ignoring my morals would make me no better than the monster before me. Her thoughts tempted me; it would be so easy to sway her if I could just shuffle around a bit. I could even manipulate her, but I wouldn’t. It wasn’t right to use my powers that way.

“I’m willing to invite a Fj?llr?v lieutenant of your choosing to work alongside my general of war and publicly acknowledge your wartime prowess, in addition to my other offers.” My tone went flat. No point in sweet-talking now.

Ylva’s tail twitched with excitement. She had been fighting to have a seat at our war table for decades. After all, their customs focused on their war prowess. Enso would be furious, but I knew it was the only way to move past the human hunting events.

She glanced to Erik, who nodded. Bile rose in my throat at the thought of enduring him at my home, but I choked it down. Ylva turned back to me. “Alright. We’ll back you, Tsarling. Let us host a ceremony tomorrow to celebrate.”