Page 66 of The Vampire Court

“Or was I doing what I needed to keep Rosalie safe?”

If my words hit home, she doesn’t show it. The rapidly changing moods are a part of her facade meant to keep me guessing… to lure me into obeying her every whim.

Elizabeth returns to stand before me, her face unnervingly calm. If anyone saw her for the first time, they would think she was sweet and worth protecting from the world.

“I will be more than happy to kill the little bitch for her crimes, if you prefer.” She bats her lashes. “I made the vampire laws, and I can change them. It is only by my grace that your murderous little human still lives, and it is only for your sake.”

I swallow thickly but don’t respond. Begging is precisely what she wants.

Elizabeth pulls back. “You have one week to decide if you would rather see your human killed or if you will submit to your fate and finally become mine.” She pats my cheek over the nearly healed cut and smiles like I am a misbehaving child. “I hope you enjoyed your night with her because it will be your last. She is to stay in the human quarters from now on.”

I snarl, snapping at her hand. She draws back, just avoiding my bite.

“Or would you prefer she stay in the dungeon? I do not have to let you see her again, so consider it a gift that I let her live.”

I rein in my anger, swelling the bile that pushes its way up.

All those years of letters urging me to participate in the claiming, her threats against Rosalie, and refusing to let Clara and I leave… it was all leading to this moment.

She knew I would never claim a human and discard them, as so many others do. She knew it would never be a casual decision on my behalf.

And with Clara finally marked—finally tied to me—I will still end up losing her, either by agreeing to become Elizabeth’s puppet, bowing to her every command or by her death for my continued refusal.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Clara

As soon asthe door closes behind Alaric, I regret not asking him to send her away.

“Come now, darling. Let’s put the past behind us. We are together now, in this world.”

I drop my arms, my anger instantly replaced by shock. Shaking my head, I say, “We aren’t in the same world at all.”

Mother smirks, jutting out a hip. She’s nothing like the woman I remember. She was never warm, but she was also never thiscold.

“I suppose you’re right. You decided to aim quite high with your choice.”

I take a step back, feeling like she punched me in the gut.

“Was it your aim to be sired by the crown prince?”

“I-I never asked to be claimed, nor did I want to be.” I stutter, finally managing to recover. “In case you forgot,your familythought you were murdered by the vampire who claimed you, and for you to insinuate that I am little more than a social climber—” I cut off, my emotions thick and choking. Tears burn the back of my eyes.Demon shit, it hurts to have the mother I loved and missed think so little of me.“I never knew who or what Alaric was until we arrived here.”

She gives me a look that I haven’t seen since I was seven years old and caught sneaking a snack when I was supposed to be in bed and lying about it. Her slender brow arches as she dips her chin.

She thinks I’m lying.

When I don’t relent, Mother heaves a sigh and rubs her temple with two fingers. “Clara, I’m trying, and I need you to try.” She drops her arms as if her intention has been clear from the start. “We can get to know each other again.”

I pace the room, working off some of the anger threatening to choke me. I need to think clearly.

“You can try all you like, but don’t ask me to pretend that the last thirteen years never happened.” My throat feels thick and dry as I fight the tears of frustration rising higher, nearly choking me. “Father lost himself in his drinking and gambled away everything we had.” I look down at my hands. “I learned to hunt and steal just so Kitty and I wouldn’t starve, and even then, there were times we almost did.”

Pulling in a breath, I hold it, doing my best to push my emotions back down. I turn around to face Mother again. It’s impossible to read her. The arrogant, condescending expression is gone, but in its place is one that’s more suitable if we were talking about last week’s weather.

“Kitty and I mourned you every day.” That simple sentence is all it takes for my emotions to push their way to the surface. “Didn’t you think to check on us, to make sure we weren’t struggling? Did we ever cross your mind even once?”

She opens her mouth.