Page 55 of The Vampire Court

That’s… disturbing.

“You… you think you owe me because I killed Alaric’s sister?”

Della nods, and a tear glints, caught in her long lashes. Her face pales, and she buries her face in her hands.

I reach out and pat her back, not sure how to feel. I work through what she told me. Rosalie’s death is something I’ve struggled with for a long time.

Della breaks the moment by jumping to her feet and wiping the back of her hand over her eyes. “Enough of this. We don’t have much time to get you ready.”

“I’d rather you throw me from the window,” I say.

Della snorts. “Don’t be ridiculous. I couldn’t get your head through that tiny opening.”

With that, she quickly strips me of my clothes and fits me into the too-tight corset. It’s all I can do to keep breathing in this thing.

The dress looks like a storm, dark gray with a thin layer of shimmering material on top. The neckline dips low. It’s designed to show off my neck and shoulders. There are no sleeves to hide my scars or my dagger. The skirt is thin and tight.

Della talks as she dresses me with deft movements, instructing me on how to act and when to speak—keep my head up and eyes down and answer questions only when they are directed at me.

She stands before me, a long nail tapping her chin as she examines her work. “Things will go smoother for you if you behave as expected.”

I force a smile, but it is more of a grimace than anything else.

“If there is a vampire you think has the possibility of letting you live, don’t fight their compulsion. It’s not much, but you have some choice in the matter.”

I’m about to tell her that there is no vampire I would ever obey when the human woman returns.

Della steps back. “This will have to do.”

“Fine,” the woman says, turning to me. She jerks her head, indicating that I’m to follow her and walks off without a word.

I take two steps before stopping and running to my bed. I clutch the hilt of the dagger and squeeze my eyes closed for a fraction of a second before holding it out to Della. Her lips part in surprise.

“Give this to Alaric.” When she doesn’t take it, I add, “We both know I can’t take it with me, and he should have it back.”

She reaches out, hand hovering over the hilt.

“If you honestly feel like you owe me, then do this and you can consider your debt paid.”

Della purses her lips then nods once. As soon as her fingers wrap around the hilt, I drop my hands and race after the human woman.

Della is right. Alaric and I should have made sure I was fully marked. It had scared me then, but why? He is my best friend, a rock against a storm. He is someone I care for.

If only I hadn’t been cut at the theater… If only I had stayed in the ballroom and not wandered the halls… If only.

If only.

If only.

I can come up with a hundred things I could have done better, but it will always be easier to see things after the fact.

I follow the woman down the halls, feeling the eyes of palace servants on my back. Their blank faces send a shiver down my spine. It’s hard to tell if they are skilled at hiding their thoughts or if their emotions have long since been compelled out of them.

I’m suddenly sick with nerves. I want to run outside and breathe in the cold evening air to get away from the queen and the vampires who want to own me.

Della said to look for one who seems decent. I should have laughed because the chances of that are damn near impossible.

We turn the last corner, and the servant stops, waiting for me to catch up.