Page 111 of The Vampire's Mercy

“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 withpoison. 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.”