Page 23 of The Vampire Court

The raven spreads their wings and flaps them twice, stirring the loose strands of Elizabeth’s hair before taking to the air. The demon glides around the room, their eyes remaining locked on me the entire time. Finally, they settle near a hanging, gilded cage too small for the large bird.

“What do you want at this demon-cursed hour of the day?” I snap.

Elizabeth flutters her eyelashes as she lowers her feet to the floor and rises gracefully. Every move, every breath is designed to be attractive and accentuate her lithe body. She drains the last of her cup and sets it down on a glass table while giving me a carefully constructed pout. All of the acting and posturing yet her expressions still lack genuine emotion.

She has learned nothing in our time apart.

The thin black dress clings to her form. A slit runs up from the hem to her hips on each side, so her legs show with each step.

Elizabeth saunters over to me, hips swaying, and presses her chest against mine. She slides her hands over my shoulders and locks her fingers behind my neck. She sighs, relaxing into me.

“I have missed you all these years, my prince. You’ve been away from home for far too long.”

Home?My lip curls in disgust at the thought of calling this placehome. It had never been home—will never be home. It was my prison once but never anything more.

I take her shoulders and hold her at arm’s length. “This is not my home. You know that.”

Elizabeth juts a hip out and crosses her arms under her breasts. “Don’t be like that, my prince. This will always be your home.”

I swallow down further argument. We could talk this point to death and never get anywhere. “Elizabeth, I have been here for over a week, and you have summoned me at least once a day. Why do you insist on acting as if this is the first meeting in over a hundred years?”

She trails a finger up my lapel. “But, this time we are truly alone.”

I sidestep and cross to the fireplace. Above the mantle hangs her portrait. “Let’s get on with this. Tell me why you called me here this time.”

Elizabeth drops her arms to her sides and blows out a puff of air, and just like that. All of her attempts to be seductive are gone.

She straightens and pours herself a drink from the bar—wine mixed with blood. She takes a long draw, eyeing me up and down. “It is time for you to stop this foolishness and come to live here again. For good.”

I freeze, not even drawing so much as a breath. “I told you no.”

“You are the crown prince, and I have given you more than sufficient leeway in entertaining your whims. It’s time you take your rightful place at my side.” She drags a finger along the wood bar then examines it, rubbing her finger and thumb together as if she was checking for dust.

“How many times must we have this conversation?”

“As many times as we have to for you to make the correct decision.”

“I’m not interested. I have a home in Windbury.”

Elizabeth hums. “Yes… You do.”

My gaze narrows. Simple words, yet they are laced with more meaning than they should be. A thought occurs to me. “You sent Victor to my home knowing he was demon cursed, didn’t you?”

She brings her drink to her lips and bats her eyes at me over the rim, her brows rising in mock surprise. When she finishes, she sets the empty glass down and says, “So, I suppose you killed him then, and that is why he never returned with the rest of you.”

I mull over my next words carefully. She could sense a lie if I dared, but I will not damn Clara. “He has been dealt with.”

Elizabeth sticks out her bottom lip. “You owe me for killing my newest prince. Now you have to stay here to make up for it.”

“Otherworld damn you, Elizabeth. You can’t use people like that to manipulate me. Victor’s fate is on your shoulders. You turned him and sent him. You know those who are cursed must die. It isyourlaw.”

She closes the distance and latches on to my arm, tugging me toward the bedroom on the other side of the white doors. She may possess a slight build, but she has the strength of her demon.

She bumps the twin doors, pushing them open with her hips, and drags me through. At the sight of her oversized bed, my blood runs cold. I tug on her grip, halting in the threshold.

“Come now, Alaric. Don’t be like that. Let’s catch up and get to know each other like we used to,” she purrs.

“No.” I tug on my arm, but her fingers clamp down tighter.