Page 22 of The Vampire Court

Alaric

Light streamsthrough the window from the small opening of the curtains as a tentative knock rouses me from sleep. Clara snuggles deeper into my side, grumbling. I close my eyes, allowing myself to sink back into the moment when the knock comes again.

I already know what it is before I slide out of bed. It’s been the same every day since the masquerade, for a week straight. A summons from the queen bitch, demanding an audience of me, monopolizing every spare minute that she can while we’re here. As if that will change my mind about finally accepting her “offer.”

But today, she has sent her messenger hours earlier than usual.

One more week, then we will be free of her and this place.

I amble to the door, still groggy from too little sleep. A human servant awaits on the other side with impeccable posture, chin up, and eyes downcast.

“Pardon the intrusion, my prince,” he says.

I wait for him to continue, but when he doesn’t, I snap, “What is it?”

Without so much as a twitch, he takes a deep breath and says, “Her majesty, the queen, wishes to have breakfast with you.”

“No. Tell her I am still sleeping. She can demand my time later.” I move to close the door in his face.

He clears his throat. “Her majesty says that if you do not, then the human will die.”

My heartbeat stutters. I immediately look over my shoulder to Clara, still sleeping peacefully, limbs tangled in the blankets. An image flashes in my mind’s eye of her dismembered and covered in blood, the sheets and blankets soaked through. Elizabeth would do it without blinking. She would do anything to get what she wants.

“Fine,” I growl. “Wait here.”

I let Clara sleep as I dress quickly, planning to return before she wakes. This has to stop. I will take Clara and leave early if I have to.

Cherno’s head pops up from the spot they claimed on the ceiling beam. I motion for them to remain here. This meeting won’t take long. It’s the same thing for the last seven days. Elizabeth will ask me to take my place as her prince, and I will refuse.

The demon gives a questioning chirp but makes no move to defy my order. Their power is noticeably weaker since arriving. Yet another reason to leave as soon as possible. Cherno has spent the majority of their time hiding in the shadows, no longer even speaking, to provide me to draw the maximum amount of their power.

The drain on Cherno’s power is steady. Otherworld damn Kharis… Elizabeth’s demon is targeting Cherno more and more each day. Elizabeth is a fool if she thinks I don’t notice.

I follow the servant, and we make our way down the hall. My eyes narrow at the back of the human’s head as he places his foot on the first step leading up rather than down the stairwell.

“I thought you said the queen wanted to have breakfast.”

He doesn’t falter. “Breakfast will be held in the queen’s chambers.”

I clench my teeth so hard my jaw aches and follow him up wordlessly, dreading the next hour.

We stop before an ornate door. It is one I know all too well, one I had hoped to never see again once I left this place for good all those years ago.

Carved into the wood is a large oak tree with leaves covering the branches and roots stretching out below, as deep as they are high.

The servant steps off to the side, bowing as he backs away.

I continue to stare at the door, remembering everything from my time here in perfect, excruciating detail. The seemingly endless days and nights, the months that lasted an eternity. The cloying scent of lilacs and sugar.

“My prince?” the man asks tentatively, jarring me from my memories.

I glower but push open the door and enter the massive antechamber larger than my own room. A fire roars in a hearth so big a tall man could walk into it without ducking his head. Across from me is a set of bleached wood doors leading to her bedroom.

Elizabeth lounges across the settee, drinking blood. Her demon, Kharis, perches near her head, watching me. Red clings to the glass as Elizabeth slowly lowers it, revealing a sultry curl of her lips.

Once that smile would have moved me, I used to think it was crafted especially for me. Now, I know it was only one more weapon in her arsenal. I never loved her, never felt anything close to it. She could make anyone believe she loved them, and only them.

But there had always been something missing in her. Hollow and broken. She was too manipulative, too demanding and selfish to ever be loved by anyone.