Page 94 of The Vampire Court

Elizabeth liftsherself up on her toes and cups my cheek, giving two pats before placing a kiss on my mouth.

“This was a pleasant surprise,” she says, pulling away. “It is good you have finally accepted your fate. Things will soon be as they always should have been.”

“You are right, my queen. I have been stubborn.” I put every ounce of repentance into my words that I can summon.

Elizabeth smiles, cat-like and victorious. She snaps her finger, and Kharis swoops out of the shadows. They glide through the room and snatch Cherno from my shoulder with their taloned feet. The raven swings around, cutting the air with their broad wings and flinging my demon into the empty, gilded birdcage. The cage door closes and locks. Cherno presses against it and hisses, falling to the bottom of the cage.

Night-forged silver coated in gold to make it look harmless. It’s the perfect size for a creature as small as Cherno, meant to keep them, and me, weakened.

My lip pulls back in a snarl at Kharis.

“Now, now, don’t look so sour. This is only temporary. I will let them go once everything is in place.”

Reining in my fury, I nod obediently. “Of course, my queen.”

I have chosen to stand by her side in exchange for Clara’s life. Eyeing the cage, I have to wonder if she knew this moment would come by her design or if she had only hoped it would.

I stick out my elbow, offering it to her. She loops her hand through, and I tuck her arm into my side. Together, we walk down the halls toward the throne room.

It’s empty, save for the eleven remaining court members. We were twelve for so long, and then, she created Victor. But Clara had killed him… and now Alexander.

I watch her from the corner of my eye and wonder if she notices. Her face is unreadable as I escort her to the throne and remain standing at her side until she motions for me to sit.

The court is restless, murmuring quietly among themselves. I catch a few words here and there. No one knows the purpose of this meeting except for Elizabeth—and her secrets have never led to anything good.

She looks at each member of her court in turn. The moment her lavender eyes land on them, they fall silent.

Lawrence catches my eye, frowning. He tilts his head a fraction, confusion about this unexpected meeting clear in the crease of his brows, but I have no answers for him. I turn away from my friend to watch the man who has been a thorn in my side since the day Elizabeth turned him. Cassius holds his head high and places every ounce of his attention on the queen.

“Thank you all for coming. While the matter we are to discuss tonight is not dire, it is one that must be dealt with sooner rather than later to keep the peace we have become accustomed to,” Elizabeth begins. Her smile is far too broad.

Other than the typical petty squabbles among ourselves, there has been nothing out of the ordinary happening to call a meeting. The shifters have all left and live far enough away that there is no reason for our groups to have conflict.

Elizabeth holds her hand out to me, and I take it. Together, we stand.

“But first, I have an announcement.” She pauses, drawing out the moment until it is painful. “Our prince has decided to finally accept his place as consort. The crowning ceremony will be in two months’ time, where he will be oath bound to me.”

My blood turns to ice.

There’s a pregnant pause before the court breaks into subdued applause.

Oath boundto Elizabeth. I want to rip my hand away, to refuse all of this right here and now. That was not part of the deal, but speaking out against her now would be a death sentence for Clara.

I would rather cut out my own heart and feed it to the demons of the Otherworld than suffer a bond with Elizabeth. Whatever I do from here on out, I must do with care, or Clara will be the one paying the price.

She retakes her seat and looks ready to dismiss everyone. Surely this could not be the reason she called the meeting.

Elizabeth motions with her chin for me to sit. I do, keeping my mouth pressed into a tight line.

“Now, down to business,” she says once the room quiets.

I blow out a relieved breath. That announcement was a last-second addition… except that doesn’t explain the cage made specifically for Cherno. The details of her plans are beginning to take shape. I have fallen into every single trap she has laid out.

“Now that my consort will finally be crowned, he no longer has need for his marked human.”

My gut twists. Clara is the purpose of this meeting, after all.

“The reclaiming ceremony did not go as expected, and to prevent another such bothersome event, I will allow one of you to claim her.”