Page 35

“What do you think?” Emera asks me, stepping away and letting me study my reflection in the full-length mirror.

When I heard I had to have a gown, I was thinking of a prom dress, not a full-on Renaissance-inspired costume with a chemise and a corset.

The gown is beige satin with a peacock blue brocade and gold overlay. Unlike an actual period piece, it’s sleeveless. Like a period piece, it shoves my chest dangerously high and makes my waist look tiny.

“Are you sure this isn’t too much?” I ask Cassian’s pretty friend, wondering how they know each other. (Though I have my suspicions.)

The German vampire is voluptuous, with blonde hair and perfect cheekbones. As far as I can tell, she’s exactly Cassian’s type, though maybe she’s not criminal enough for him.

Emera walks around me, surveying the dress. “No, it’s perfect. A touch long, but that will only take a few hours to fix.”

The woman is a designer and a seamstress. When we arrived, she told us she’s lived in Sinaia for seventy-five years, catering to the royal vampires who frequent the castle.

She walks over to the curtained-off cubicle in her studio and asks Noah, “How is the fit?”

“The shirt and jacket are too small,” he answers from within.

Emera tuts. “Such broad shoulders. Yes, come out and let me look.”

I turn, waiting for Noah to emerge.

And I’m not disappointed. He’s wearing a crisp white shirt, but it’s too tight to button, so he’s left it open. His jacket is over his arm like he doesn’t know what to do with it, and…dang.

Emera’s eyes rove over my husband’s torso, and then she turns to me. “You are married?”

“Yes…”

“Good for you,” she says, praising me for my man-hunting skills.

I try not to grin at the annoyed look on Noah’s face. “Thanks.”

He doesn’t like being the center of attention. He really doesn’t like being the center of attention when he’s half-dressed.

“Take it off.” Emera waves her hand at him, impatient. “All that muscle requires a bigger size.”

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

Uncomfortable, Noah strips off the shirt and hands it and the jacket to the seamstress. She walks away, leaving him in nothing but a pair of black tuxedo pants.

He finally looks at me, his eyes wandering down my dress.

“Do you like it?” I ask, self-conscious.

“Very much.”

His phone rings, making both of us jump.

“It’s Cassian,” he snarls when he looks at the screen and accepts the call. “It’s about time. Why haven’t you been answering your phone?”

I clutch the back of a nearby chair, relieved.

“Is Sophia in the room?” Noah asks, and then he pauses to wait for an answer. When he gets it, he quickly tells him our suspicions before Emera returns.

I can tell Cassian is dismissing his concern because Noah looks even more annoyed than before.

“I’m just telling you to be careful,” Noah snaps. “I’m going now. Try not to die.”

“Maybe it wasn’t Sophia,” I say when he hangs up. “We were around Alfred for a while, too.”

But Noah has decided Sophia is to blame for Cassian’s illness. And, honestly, I’m not sure I should try to dissuade him this time. Bad things keep happening every time Cassian’s ex-fiancée shows up.

“Here we are.” Emera returns with new clothing. “Bigger jacket, bigger shirt.”

Noah nods, accepting the clothes.

As soon as he disappears behind the curtain, she looks at me, smirking. “If those don’t fit, we’ll just put a bow tie on him and call him dressed.”

“I can hear you,” Noah says from behind the curtain.

Unable to help myself, stressed over the last few days and desperately needing a release, I laugh.

“I’ll deliver the clothes to your room when I’m finished,” Emera says as we leave.

Her studio is within the castle grounds, toward the back of the estate, behind the gardens, and in the woods. If someone wanted to attack us, now would be the time.

When we came with Emera, she drove us in her car. But now, we’re alone on the dirt road, with only birds for company. Noah is on edge, which is making me even more nervous.

We listen to the woods, not talking, staying aware of our surroundings.

I resist the urge to check my hair pins, not wanting to bring attention to them.

But no one attacks, and soon, we’re back in the main castle grounds.

We pass a few vampires out on their strolls.

Many watch us from under the protective shade of their large, black umbrellas, probably wondering who we are, why we’re here, and how we’re out in broad daylight.

A few recognize Noah, and they greet us before they continue.

I glance at my phone when we reach the castle. It’s just after twelve now. I have five more hours to get myself kidnapped.

No problem.

“What now?” I ask, looking around.

“Let’s head back to the room,” Noah says.

On our way through the ornate halls, trying to find the wing Mihaela led us into earlier, we pass a familiar man. He nods to Noah, saying nothing, and continues on his way.

“Who was that?” I whisper.

“Daniel.”

“Daniel from Glenwood?” I say, surprised. “Your intel guy? What’s he doing here?”

“Keeping an eye on things.”

I don’t know if that makes me feel better or freaks me out more.

But Daniel doesn’t scare me nearly as much as the man who emerges from the room next to ours.

I stop in my tracks.

Gerald’s eyes sweep over us, thoroughly unimpressed. Coming to a stop in front of us in the middle of the hall, he says, “Cassian doesn’t know when to give up, does he?”

“What did you do to him?” I blurt out, realizing seconds after it leaves my mouth that I should have kept quiet.

Noah sends me a stern look, confirming I’m right.

Gerald narrows his eyes. “Do to him?”

“Never mind.”

“You think I fed him potato-laced chowder?” He shakes his head like we’re ridiculous and begins walking.

But Noah catches his arm before he can pass us. “Been talking to Jameson, haven’t you?”

The vampire suddenly looks shifty. He jerks, trying to free himself from Noah’s grip. “Get your hands off me. A NIHA hunter can’t touch me right now, and we both know it.”

“I do know that. I also know you’re working for Jameson.”

Gerald’s eyebrows jump. “This is your last warning. Let me go, or I’ll kill you right here.”

“Why is Jameson trying to keep Cassian off the throne?” Noah demands.

“Why do you think? Cassian is in his way.”

“They’re friends .” Disgusted, Noah releases him.

“Friendship only goes so far. Jameson wants the throne, and Cassian is his only real competition.”

“Do you really want an archduke who’s willing to stoop so low to get the crown?” Noah demands.

“I want an archduke who doesn’t hate what he is. Our numbers have been dwindling since Nicolau forbade progenies, and now, the only new vampires in our lines are either victims or criminals. Is that really how we want to ensure our future?”

“You certainly had a part in that. You manipulated the woman Cassian used to love, using her desire to help people to coerce her to work with you, just so you could create dozens of rogue vampires in his line.”

“I’m not denying it. I did everything I could to discredit him.” He shakes his head. “And for all our sakes, I hope he doesn’t end up on the throne. Short of threatening your wife again, I’ve done everything I can to stop it. My conscience is clear.”

We watch him walk away, neither of us speaking. When he disappears around the corner, I look at Noah. “I hate politics.”

Nodding his agreement, Noah motions for me to continue to our suite. I wait until he unlocks our door and then step inside.

Almost immediately, a hand clamps over my mouth, and I feel the bite of a stake at my back.

My first response is panic, but I squelch it. We knew this was coming—we anticipated it. I’m not a victim; I’m the key to Jameson’s undoing.

Help us all.

“Hands where I can see them,” the vampire commands in his Georgian Era accent. Jameson smells like expensive cologne and tobacco—a nauseating combination. “Step inside and close the door.”

Eyes locked on mine, Noah does as he’s told, moving slowly. “Piper has nothing to do with this. Let her go.”

“I intend to—after you speak with the committee and inform them Cassian is formally declining the nomination.”

“You know I can’t do that. It’s not my decision to make.” Noah’s calm, but he’s not that calm. The fear in his eyes isn’t manufactured.

“He’s sent you as his official representative,” Jameson says. “You can, and you will. Otherwise, I’ll kill her.”

“Fine,” Noah says. “Let Piper go, and I’ll speak with the committee right now.”

“That’s not how leverage works. Piper is going to come with me. I’m going to keep her in a secure location during dinner. As long as Cassian’s name is missing from the list, I’ll release her after the announcement is made.”

Noah’s eyes meet mine. He raises his brows slightly, asking me if I’m ready for this.

I can hear his voice in my head. “What do you do if someone takes you hostage?”

I stab them.

I give him an imperceptible nod, ready. And a little terrified.

“I understand,” Noah says. “But if you hurt her, I will?—”

“I’m not a monster, Montgomery. I have no desire to harm her.” He pulls me toward the door. “And as long as you do as I say, I won’t.”

I turn to watch Noah as Jameson leads me out the door. His jaw is so tight, the veins in his neck are showing. But he stays put.

Trusting me.

I raise my hand in a subtle fist, giving him a silly signal I know he’ll understand now that he’s watched half a dozen K-dramas.

Fighting.

He returns the gesture, and then the door closes between us.

“What are you doing?” Jameson demands, looking at my hand. “Surely you don’t think you can overpower me?”

I immediately drop my arm and look up at him. “Is this how you want to get the throne?”

“I don’t care about the process. Results are all that matter.” He slips the stake under his jacket, keeping his hand on my back as if to remind me I’m under his control. “Now walk.”

I could stab a hair pin into his arm right now. But I wait, knowing it’s not time. I need him to talk first.