Page 87 of Sweeter than Honey

Tudor surveys us with a glint of sadistic pleasure in his eyes. “Now that we’re all here, I think we need to have a little chat.”

I position myself between Lily and the vampires. She holds my arm tightly. Despite the dire circumstances, her heartbeat keeps me grounded.

“Where is Celine? And Hallie?” I ask my Creator.

“Bound in their coffins,” he replies coolly. “For now. You and Lexi are free, I need you to run the hotel. But I’m going to keep Celine and Damien, and perhaps Hallie. One wrong move, and they’ll pay for your insubordination.”

He hasn’t staked them. At least not yet. It’s a huge relief, although it pains me to think of Damien and my sisters trapped in coffins.

Tudor’s voice lowers to a hiss as he addresses Lexi and I. “But let me make myself clear. I am not happy with either one of you, and I expect you both to demonstrate your loyalty to me. Lavinia Nox is dead, and her pathetic witch council is in chaos. There’s a new order, and you’d be foolish to think otherwise.”

Lily whimpers softly. I squeeze her hand.

“Xavian will take over Lazarus’s branch of the mafia, under my tutelage. And the Arundel wolves will return to their forest. The evil witches get Elmwood castle. That’s the deal. And to cement our alliance…” his eyes flash to me. “You’re going to marry one of the wolf shifters.”

I stare at him in complete shock. “What?”

“You heard me,” he says, with a challenging glare.

Lily and I make eye contact. Although I know that she would go along with whatever I say, I can’t marry a wolf shifter. I refuse to be with anyone other than her. Whatever Tudor does to me as punishment, I can handle it.

I steel my resolve, and turn to face my Creator. “No. Absolutely not. I’m not a pawn for you to trade, Tudor…”

He hisses angrily, showing his fangs. “Well then, you give me no choice…”

“Wait!” Lexi says. She swallows, and addresses our Creator. “I’ll do it. I’ll marry the wolf shifter.”

“What?” I whisper. “Lexi, you don’t have to…”

“If you let Renata be, and don’t hurt Celine, Damien or Hallie,” Lexi says.

I look at my sister with new eyes. She’s never stood up to Tudor like this.

He surveys her suspiciously. There’s a tense moment. The whites of his eyes flash as he considers her words. I can hear Lily’s heart racing.

Then he nods. “Fine,” he says, curtly. “It doesn’t really matter which one of you marries the shifter, as long as it cements our alliance.” He looks me in the eye. “I expect complete obedience from you. The only reason I’m not throwing you in a silver-lined coffin is because I need you to run the hotel. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” I respond. I hear his words. They’re the same ones he’s always spoken to me, but they sound different now. I know thathe values me only for my usefulness to him, but…now I don’t define myself the same way.

I’m worth more than just my competence. I truly believe that now.

I feel Lily beside me. Despite the fear wafting off her skin, she holds her head up bravely, and clutches my hand tight. My sister looks at me over her shoulder, a defiant gleam in her blue eyes.

If I have Lily, and my sisters, I know that we can beat Tudor.

But still…it will be a fight like we’ve never seen before.