Page 35 of The Vampire’s Mercy (Blood Melody #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

PARIS

Three days passed with no attack, and not much of anything else other than a rise in my bloodlust.

Ugh.

Singing reached a roadblock, the king’s memories stuck. I didn’t believe we’d reached the end of the line with it, but I also didn’t see a way forward without either finding the tower or learning more about this curse.

I tested the singing on Vaughn, but I knew it wouldn’t work. The king was the source, so the king would remember first.

So, my days followed a boring routine of three meals and lots of chill time with Medusa. She was such an awesome bedroom buddy, always happy to see me.

At least I had one friend here.

I received plenty of death glares and hushed whispers whenever I went to eat with Elio, who clearly wanted to put an ocean between us.

The new clothes being in play really threw salt in the wounds.

Ha ha!

On the third day, I took a bite from my second caramel shortbread of the morning, enjoying every moment of the sugary goodness as best as I could. But it paled in comparison to the king’s blood.

By Aidan, I needed his blood more than ever. The thirst was too much, my desire about to become a wildfire.

“Tonight is the thrall feeding,” Elio said, picking at his toast. “Your first one.”

“But not my first taste of him,” I blurted by mistake.

Oops.

Elio stilled, as tightly wound as a coiled spring under too much pressure. “Yes. When he made you.”

“That’s right.” He didn’t need to know about the incident with Roy. No throwing fuel on his envy here.

A couple of thralls sitting opposite whispered about us. Executioner hearing worked super well, picking up their conversation. Basically, they cursed me out, putting down their king. All that good stuff.

Whatever.

“I’ll talk you through the feeding steps after breakfast,” Elio said, his tone hesitant.

Forced to be by my side, to make sure I followed the rules when really, he’d love to cut my head off with a butter knife.

“Thanks.” I took a bite of my shortbread and sipped on my coffee, wishing the day would slow down.

My anxiety was beginning to bubble harder the closer we got to the feeding.

It didn’t help being around Silvanus all the time.

Even though he hadn’t said much to me these past three days, he’d been making a yummy treat of himself just by, well, existing.

Often in a vest or a tight muscle tee, he would sit and read, the room’s soft lighting perfect for him.

He projected a serious amount of charm, and I found myself falling for it.

I was a real sucker for a hot guy in tight leather trousers.

Of course, I clapped back with a heavy dose of resistance by testing the muzzle on me, waiting for it to snap.

If I didn’t want to kill him, I’d be the easiest lay he’d ever had.

Turns my stomach.

Correction: Turns me on.

I gulped more coffee, my foot tapping, my muscles aching with tension.

The bloodthirst stirred, anticipation and dread colliding.

I didn’t want any part of this feeding, but I needed the king’s blood to survive.

Craved it. Wanted another hit, to feel that rush of healing sexiness again.

And my guess was that the whole thing would play out in a sexual way, like regular vampire feedings.

Hello, orgy.

Damn.

I pictured Silvanus with no top on, offering his wrists to me while I was on my knees. Begging him, completely submissive to his whims.

Trying not to gag, and ignoring the heat between my legs, I got up to pour more coffee.

A rumble shook the room, throwing me off balance. I staggered to the side, bumping into a chair.

“What the hell?”

A second, more violent quake shook the chandeliers, everyone jumping to their feet. The guards sprang into action, evacuating the dining room. They answered no questions, barking orders to get to our rooms.

Yeah, right.

I pushed my way through the throng, reaching the window.

“Get out of here!” a woman roared at me, but got distracted by someone making a fuss about spilling tea down his outfit.

What a prick.

I saw the streak of ice cutting through the ocean, heading for the horizon. I squinted against the bright sun, pressing my forehead to the glass. Was it the same frostbrood from the other night in the saltmarshes?

A waterborne frostbrood big enough to cause a tremor like this would be seriously bad if it attacked.

“It appeared a month ago,” Elio answered from beside me.

When did he get here? “Really?”

The icy streak vanished.

“It always disappears before anyone can kill it,” he said. “Never attacks.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. Why is the king staying here with it hanging around?”

“Because there are contingencies in place to blow it apart. Big breaker cannons ready to tear any threat apart.”

I looked at him. “Right. Okay. So why haven’t they blown it apart already?”

“Because it never comes close enough to the surface.”

Before I could ask any more questions, the woman who’d yelled at me grabbed me, yanking me away from the window.

“Leave!” she bellowed in my face, her breath stinking of garlic.

Someone needed to be introduced to the joys of breath mints. “Fine.”

She shoved me, her face full of fury. “His Majesty might have rosy specs on, but I don’t. You’re nothing more than a killer who’d send us back to the Dark Ages.” Her nose wrinkled with disgust. “If it were up to me, I’d have gutted you with a fish knife. Now move before I break your face.”

Elio played diplomat. “So sorry. I’ll make sure he’s—”

“I feel bad for you,” she cut him off as she marched us toward the door. “He’s clearly taking your place.”

I didn’t look at the elf’s reaction, but I felt the air bristle around me.

“I’m not replacing anyone,” I countered. “I’m a prisoner, remember?”

“Prisoners shouldn’t be handed sweet treats every morning. They should be downstairs with every other traitor. But the king is…” She didn’t finish, shoving me again, hard enough to send me staggering into the hallway.

Oh, she’d be paying for that at some point. A favor returned, her head going into this wall, saying goodbye to her teeth.

I swallowed a comeback, keeping my fury under wraps. I stuffed my balled hands into my pockets and dipped my head. My anxiety punctured holes into me, the concern over her bullshit draining away.

I had a feeding to worry about, along with everything else.

Unlock…

Elio escorted me back to the king’s room.

He paused outside the door. “You need to be careful.”

“I’m trying to be.”

He shook his head. “No one wants you here.”

“I gathered.”

“Don’t give them a reason to hurt you, because they’re already looking to make it happen. The king’s order of no one hurting you will only hold up for so long.” He sighed. “Terrible, really. They should respect him more.”

I rocked on my heels. “Uh-huh.” I didn’t know what else to say. There was clearly dissension in the ranks. Good. Fingers crossed it brought this bloodsucking empire down or threw it into turmoil.

Elio opened the door, since I was still banned from having the key.

Medusa greeted us with a hiss, vanishing into her hatch. Silvanus wouldn’t tell me where she went every day, and neither would Elio

I sat on my bed with the elf, wringing my hands together. “Okay. So, what’s happening tonight?”

Honestly, my worries over the feeding were slightly tempered by this frostbrood in the water. How could they be so easy with living beside it?

I’d ask the king later.

While he gets you hard with his blood…

Shudder.

“Appropriate clothing will be brought to you shortly,” Elio said. “The king wants to you wear it.”

No jeans and T-shirt, huh? “Okay.”

“Once you’re dressed, you’ll leave with me to the feeding room where you’ll wait for it to begin.”

I swallowed a lump. “I thought you were guiding me through the steps.”

“Those are the steps. It’s as simple as that.”

I lit a cig, hands shaking. “Oh.”

Thirsty.

Thirsty for him.

“I’m sorry it’s not dramatic enough for you,” he retorted, a bite in his tone. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

Yeah, you did.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my thighs. “Listen, you don’t have to worry about me taking your place. I’m not the king’s favorite, and I don’t want to be.”

No response.

“This is a punishment, no fun thrall times for me.” I straightened my spine. “I’m trapped in the vampire thrall blues.” I offered a smile, but it fell flat.

He still said nothing.

I went for more honesty, wanting this envy shit dead. He might snap at some point and spike my caramel shortbread with poison. Even if he couldn’t harm me, his jealously would find a way to get to me.

The green monster made a beast of anyone if given the chance to run riot.

“I hate it here,” I said. “I hate this room, this whole palace. I miss my life and my flat and everything.”

“A life of hating vampires?” he responded.

“Yeah. And my own bed.”

He got to his feet. “How can you hate this world so much? We’re in the best age we’ve ever been in.”

“With frostbrood on our doorsteps,” I rebutted. “If it wasn’t for the vamps coming here, we wouldn’t have that particular problem, would we? And there’d have been no war, and no need for the likes of me.”

I winced, an echo of my violent training coming at me.

“You shouldn’t say those things inside the royal chamber,” Elio countered, paling a little. “It’s disrespectful.”

“Think I crossed that line when I tried killing him.” I pointed my eyes at the vacant space where the bed should be, hoping Silvanus could hear. “I’ll never change. I’ll never stop hating him and his kind.”

“A terrible thing to say.”

I shrugged. “At least I’ll die with Aidan smiling down on me.”

An uncomfortable silence fell across the room. I looked at Elio, who stared at me with wide eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Is it Aidan?”

He flinched. “No.”

“I think it is. I think you’re feeling ashamed for being so weak while these fuckers litter the world.” Oh, man. Why was I going down this route? I’d let anger spill out, my frustrations quickly getting the better of me. “You should be ashamed.”

Elio glowered suddenly. “You’re a disgusting man.”

“Am I?”

“Yes. You are. I hope His Majesty hears you.”

“So do I.”

He shook his head, facing the door. For a moment, I expected him to cuss me out. Instead, he left without a word, leaving me to stew in my anger while I desperately tried to slam the lid back on it.

I didn’t expect the tears to follow. Hot and fast, flowing as if I’d taken a hammer to a faucet. They burned down my cheeks, sobs tearing out of my mouth, forcing me into a ball.

I let myself have the moment to clear out the pipes. I’d been so clogged up, I needed a cathartic release to help clear my head, especially with the upcoming feeding causing so much panic.

Buck up, play along with it, wait for the attack.

Then maybe I could fuck him over. I wasn’t out for the glory of the kill, only to make the change happen.

Unlock…

What about the other stuff? The dreams and visions and the magic I still felt brimming inside me?

I didn’t have an answer to that, only more tears and prayers to Aidan for his guidance. If he got me through this, everything would be sweetcream.