Page 15 of The Vampire's Mercy

“Awesome,” I responded, nose offended by the stink of his snack.

“Want to go over the details again?”

I tapped my skull. “I’ve got it all memorized.”

Attend the feeding ball, get myself close to the king, then get my killing on.

The anxious butterflies fluttered harder.

What would tomorrow look like? Could I finally leave city living behind and start a new life in the woods? After all, elves were meant to live amongst the trees.

I’d been born in Elmwhisper Woods, eastern Elf Domain, but I’d been given to Academy Fifty in central Human Domain, along with Pearl, days after birth. I grew up surrounded by violence and metal and concrete, the vampire war dominating our childhoods until we turned fifteen. I’d never been to a forest or patch of woodland in my life.

The names Paris and Pearl came while we were on the road. Before that we were Executioner 6710 and Executioner 6711 respectively.

We never knew our parents, not even their names, and had no idea if they were alive. Pearl was my only family, ripped away from me so violently.

Shit. My hands were shaking, so many future possibilities rattling through me, tangled with the pain of my past.

I couldn’t have this emotional shit throwing me off.

Hal clicked on the TV to a game of darts. “Ooo yes.”

The man loved his darts.

I got to my feet, tugging on the belt of my dressing gown. It fell open like a curtain, revealingmyrock-hard dart winking in his direction. And it would be striking his bull’s eye this afternoon.

Obviously, I didn’t share the dart analogy with him. He’d only laugh and get me floppy.

His eyes found me. “Paris?”

I let the dressing gown fall to the pink carpet. “Fancy it?”

The TV went off.

And I went to him.

CHAPTER FOUR

PARIS

Well, check me out.

No bruising on my neck, dressed in a teal crop top, showing off a scandalous amount of midriff. And my skin was glowing. My fair coral complexion practically sparkled in the bathroom mirror.

Perfect. I wanted to be a yummy treat for the vampire king—catch his attention, get him to take me away to a private room. Make him think his luck was in, then drive my stakeblade into his heart. The end. Hello, new world.

Apparently, he liked elf guys. I might be a jeans and hoody type, but I could pull off the sparkly elf look to turn his head and get him hot under the collar.

No problem. I’d do anything that meant him dying by the end of it.

I’d never seen King Silvanus myself. Not many people had. Strange really, considering he’d been here for seventy years. We’d learned plenty about his kin over the decades, but not him.Sometimes it was like he didn’t exist beyond word of mouth. A king who shunned the spotlight, hidden away, kind of a recluse.

But that word of mouth wasn’t a rumor. It was the truth, and Hal had been digging, along with his shadowy team of contacts, into the mechanics of the bloodsucker king’s movements.

Tonight, he’d be at a feeding ball right here in Oreflame. He popped up at these revolting events now and again.

I’d feel him the moment he arrived, since executioner senses were attuned to vampire comings and goings. And I assumed he’d give me the biggest read, being a king.