Page 39 of The Vampire Court

They are calling for my death.

Then, Elizabeth breathes a single word that rings out like a bell, loud and clear, silencing the room. “Slayer.”

Elise clears her throat. “There is more, your majesty.” The queen stiffens, but Elise doesn’t wait for an invitation to continue. “When I worked for Mr. Devereaux, I caught this girl trying to kill him several times. She was never punished for it.” She shakes her head. “And then I noticed that Rosalie had never returned from the claiming. It’s not uncommon for her to go away for days at a time but never months. I think…” Elise chokes on a sob dabbing at nonexistent tears. “I think the human murdered her, too.”

The queen turns to Alaric. He is deathly still as he watches me. She has been unnervingly silent for most of this trial. There is something in her posture that sends dread pooling in my belly.

Cassius flicks a hand at the two women, and the guards behind me escort them out. Elise tries to protest, but they are removed as quickly as they came.

“Alaric,” Elizabeth asks slowly, placing a hand on top of his. “Is this true?”

My heart sinks.

Demons and saints… I will not survive this.

Chapter Fifteen

Clara

Death will come for me,no matter what happens next.

“Is this true?” Elizabeth asks again.

There is a long pause. Her fingers squeeze, nails biting into Alaric’s skin.

He doesn’t want to betray me, I can see it in his eyes, but what choice does he have? I don’t know what she’ll do if he lies to her or defies her.

“Yes.” I wince. The word echoes through the chamber. “I defended myself against Victor, and again at the theater, and here, and I will not apologize for that.”

My chest rises and falls with each breath.

“And what of Rosalie?” Elisabeth asks. “Did she attack you as well?”

I lift my chin. “No.” There is no reason to lie or hide the truth. “I killed her because she was a vampire, and for no other reason.”

The room falls silent and even the speaker is at a loss for words. The only sound is the rush of blood in my ears.

I just admitted to killing four vampires.

Elizabeth brushes the base of the bone crown with her fingertips. The gesture is strange as if she forgot it was there. She slides her hands over her hips, smoothing down the material of her dress. Her nostrils flare. Even she can’t hide the rage threatening to bubble over at my crimes.

She presses her lips into a thin line. “There has not been a slayer in over a hundred years. Any human who has taken the life of a single vampire must be put to death to prevent it from happening again. Claimed or not, she must pay for these atrocities. We will begin the draining process immediately,” she says.

Alaric pushes to his feet, his cool exterior gone. “No.”

Slowly, the queen pivots to face him, and her beautiful features twisted in fury soften. The change sends dread crawling over my skin like a thousand spiders. I fear whatever changed her mood more than my impending death.

Elizabeth reaches up and cups Alaric’s face, her hand pale against his skin. She guides his head so he is forced to look her in the eye. The cruelty behind that saccharine expression can only be worse than having every drop of my blood drained.

“For you, my prince, I believe we might be able to come to an agreement.” She steps away and opens her arms to the room. “Since this human is not fully marked, she may yet be claimed and marked by another.”

Alaric’s lips part. I shake my head, willing him not to speak.

I should have kept my mouth shut and never admitted anything, but I was stupid and all too ready to die. Now, I’ll spend what’s left of my life compelled, all free will stripped.

My stomach churns. I would prefer death.

Elizabeth pulls Alaric down to her eye level. She whispers something in his ear. He jerks back, but she presses a finger to her lips.