Page 64 of The Vampire's Mercy

The elevator stopped, the wall sliding away to reveal another corridor identical to the first one.

“These corridors will be endless for you,” Elio said, walking on. “Without the proper access, you’ll get lost and die.”

“Right,” I said, far from impressed.

So, no one could just rock up to the king’s bedroom and knock on his door to knock his fangs in? Got it.

No fun.

“An executioner came here once, stormed the walls, reached these corridors,” Elio continued. He stopped walking, facing me with a stern expression. “It took her three weeks to starve to death. She went mad, screaming, clawing at the walls. Begged for mercy.”

My fingers twitched in response, craving some violence. I tensed, wondering if it was Glenda Green.

No…the thrall shit told me.

I pushed my shoulders back. “Noted. No attempts at wandering.”

The elf nodded, seriousness all over his face. “He told me what you are. I don’t want to offend you, but I’m shocked you’re here.” He clutched the base of his throat.

Erm, he did want to offend me, the lying shit.

“Far be it for me to question His Majesty,” he added, “but you’re a potential poison in our home. One I will destroy if you hurt him.”

Me thinks you’re a little smitten.“Got it. I won’t. I can’t anyway.”

I felt bad for him for feeling like this. That scumbag king had infected his mind, turning him away from Aidan.

“But youarean executioner, thrall or not.”

You got me there, Elio.“Yeah, like a lion with no teeth or claws.”

He smacked his lips. “Just don’t ruin our lives.”

Silvanus really had him under the thumb.

I hope you find your way back to Aidan’s light,I prayed for him.

“Okay,” I said, not sure what else to add without pissing him off. I needed to keep a low profile, assess, and plot. Maybe even make a friend. Whatever helped get me out of here.

But the blood, the blood, the blood…

Oh, and figure out how to break the thrall bond with no idea how. I did know that the king was the only vamp able to make a thrall. Therefore, the solution sat with him.

Ugh.

Elio carried on walking.

I kept pace with him. “So, what’s your story?”

“Freshen up first.” He stopped, turning to face a wall and pressed his right hand to it, a screen coming to life in the black stone.

Red lights surrounded his hand, blinking in turn, picking up speed until they became one blur of light shooting around his fingers.

A door opened into another corridor, which we didn’t walk too far down before Elio repeated the wall-touching steps, taking me into a massive bathroom of white marble and gold accents, a large, curved window facing the blue ocean and skies of a sunny day. Again, the sunlight pooled against the glass, a faint film of gold light swirling against it.

I felt its warmth, though. Lifting my arms to it, a thrall still able to walk in the sun.

“The palace is protected from the sun,” Elio said without me asking.