Page 110 of The Vampire's Mercy

“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.”