Page 24 of The Vampire’s Mercy (Blood Melody #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY

PARIS

The fancy outfit melded to my body, but also moved without friction. Every piece fit perfectly and was super comfortable.

I could’ve backflipped in it.

Might have to when I escaped.

I pushed back my damp silver hair, flabbergasted by my reflection in the full-length mirror at the far end of the changing room.

I looked good. The shirt came with a set of pearl buttons, the lace sheer.

It clung to my swimmer’s build, perfectly tailored.

Sexy. Really sexy, my perky nipples saying hello through the fabric.

Shit. I didn’t do sexy for fun, only for seducing vampire kings and Hal now and again. This damn thing needed to meet a bonfire.

Does Silvanus want to see me like this?

Done with the mirror, I found a hair dryer and some hair wax to fancy up my hair, and slipped on the brocade jacket, returning to the mirror to fix the amethyst choker in place.

I managed to tolerate my reflection again for like ten seconds before leaving the changing room, all preened and pretty and ready to eat.

Buckle up for an interesting breakfast.

Silvanus had been right. This was going to be hell for me. Kudos to him for coming up with this as a punishment. What sucked worse than death? Wearing this shit and not being able to kill him.

Aidan only knew what humiliations waited for me.

Bring it. I’d take it.

Hard.

Elio returned, giving me the once over. “Very nice.” He didn’t look too pleased about it.

Was he jealous? Ugh. I hoped not.

The elf took me on another walk through the onyx corridors until we reached a ridiculously large and lavish dining room. He drew luck down his chest and guided me toward a table in the left corner of the room.

Lots of black-and-red décor surrounded me, the walls filled with a crimson glow, sparkly red leaves painted across them. A gleaming obsidian floor with flecks of red gleamed under my feet, reflecting the six chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

I took note of the twenty thrall guards in fancy red uniforms guarding the panoramic window. Big guns, spears, and plenty of glowering looks came my way.

Apart from the way we’d entered, I couldn’t see an exit.

I sat at a red oval table in a black chair, away from the other thralls—around thirty of them all stopping their chatting and eating to check me out. A sea of various races all wearing versions of my outfit.

I guess I wouldn’t be making friends here.

“Don’t cause any trouble,” Elio warned.

“I won’t.”

Not today, anyway.

A burly werewolf guard strode over, throwing a sneer at me strong enough to curdle milk. I felt my palms itch, but no crystal dagger or stakeblade came out to play.

“He can’t be here.” The wolf’s yellow eyes narrowed into furious slits. “He’s not welcome.”

I kept my mouth shut.

“His Majesty told me to—” Elio tried.

The guard snapped his fingers in Elio’s face. “Are you answering me back?”

“No, but—”

“But what?”

Silence fell over the dining room, the spotlight firmly pointed this way.

The elf hesitated for a moment. “I… I…” He took a breath, then puffed out his chest. “His Majesty gave me firm instructions to take care of our new addition. He wants him to eat with us, to see some of the palace.” He sounded much firmer now.

The werewolf’s nostrils flared. “Why?”

Good question. This all seemed a bit too pleasant for my tastes, me on a leash or not. And a big risk, considering I would be a lot more kick arse when given the chance. Then we’d see how the wolf guard behaved when faced with getting his bones broken.

“Because he said so,” Elio countered.

A human woman guard arrived, also throwing me a dirty look. “Leave it, Mike.” She spoke with the western accent of the Human Domain. “The king’s word is final. Don’t start.”

Mike growled again, his angry eyes pinning me. “I’ll be watching you.”

Until I pluck your eyes out.

I kept my thoughts to myself, concentrating on feeding my grumbling belly and soothing my parched throat. A plethora of delicious scents wafted at me from four buffet tables over on the other side of the room.

The wolf left with the human, stepping back in position at the window to glare.

“Sorry about that,” Elio said. “No one wants an executioner here.”

“I gathered.”

“They want you dead.”

No shit. “I know.”

He sighed. “You won’t cause trouble, will you?”

“How can I? I’m a thrall now.”

“Do you promise?”

I wasn’t about to pinky swear with the elf. I wasn’t one for making promises to strangers I’d never keep anyway.

“Can we move on?” I responded.

My question hung in the air with the rest of the thick tension in the dining room. Man, what an atmosphere, my skin prickling, palms still itching.

I kept my head down. No eye contact meant no dragging my fellow thralls into arguments. Even if we couldn’t physically hurt each other, it seemed verbal spats might be on the table.

Or was that just for thrall guards? Pfft. I didn’t want to find out.

Yet.

“I’ll get you some food and coffee. Do you like coffee?”

“Yeah. Milk. No sugar. Thanks.”

“Toast? Cereal? Something else?”

I pushed myself up, spotting the cakes and pastries area. “Got any caramel shortbread?”

Fingers crossed.

“Yes.”

And just like that, the morning got better. To hell with the mean eyes around me. Aidan had smiled down on me with a sugary gift to help get me through these days.

I scoffed four slices of caramel shortbread, two bacon sandwiches, and guzzled four cups of coffee. By the end of it, I carried food baby twins in my belly, but was happily fed and watered.

“Satisfied?” Elio asked.

I leaned back in my chair, patting my swollen gut. “Happily.”

He laughed. “I’m glad.”

He still didn’t sound genuine. “So, how long have you been here?”

“Three years.” He sipped on a cup of lemon tea.

“Do you enjoy it?”

“Very much so. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

Right. Thralls weren’t created by force. Me aside, of course.

Unless they were. The king might have an illegal method like the feeding house back in Cosgrove where…where…

I stopped myself. Not here. Not right now. Dealing with the grief always lurking around my perimeter wasn’t on my list today. The tower nightmare had been enough, thanks.

“This was my dream,” Elio added.

“Really?” Ugh. What a shit goal.

“Yes. For such a long time. And now it’s my reality. I’ve been blessed.”

And you’ve forsaken Aidan. Pissed all over him.

“Paris?”

How could I blame him, though? He’d been conditioned to believe otherwise, just like everyone else in this palace.

I’ll set you free.

“Yeah?” I answered.

“What’s wrong?”

I shuffled in my seat. “Nothing. So, what’s next?”

He glanced around the room. “You’re to return to His Majesty’s chambers and wait.”

“With the snake?”

“Medusa won’t hurt you, but keep out of her way.” He paled a little.

“Has she ever hurt you?”

His brows pinched together. “No. She wouldn’t.”

“But you’re not a fan?”

His throat bobbed. “She’s the king’s treasured serpent and must receive nothing but our respect.”

Hmmm. Had the python squeezed him a few times too many? “Okay. Got it.”

He quickly changed the subject. “Until the king says so, you have to stay in his chambers until he decides what’s next.”

“Right.”

Elio got to his feet. “Let’s go. We’ll pick up some mistrock cigs for you on the way back.”

Another positive addition to the morning. “Thanks.”

Keeping my head down, I followed him out of the dining room, leaving the awkward atmosphere behind.