Page 68 of The Vampire's Mercy

Silvanus had been right. This was going to be hell for me. Kudos to him for coming up with this as a punishment. What sucked worse than death? Wearing this shit and not being able to kill him.

Aidan only knew what humiliations waited for me.

Bring it. I’d take it.

Hard.

Elio returned, giving me the once over. “Very nice.” He didn’t look too pleased about it.

Was he jealous? Ugh. I hoped not.

The elf took me on another walk through the onyx corridors until we reached a ridiculously large and lavish dining room. He drew luck down his chest and guided me toward a table in the left corner of the room.

Lots of black-and-red décor surrounded me, the walls filled with a crimson glow, sparkly red leaves painted across them. A gleaming obsidian floor with flecks of red gleamed under my feet, reflecting the six chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

I took note of the twenty thrall guards in fancy red uniforms guarding the panoramic window. Big guns, spears, and plenty of glowering looks came my way.

Apart from the way we’d entered, I couldn’t see an exit.

I sat at a red oval table in a black chair, away from the other thralls—around thirty of them all stopping their chatting and eating to check me out. A sea of various races all wearing versions of my outfit.

I guess I wouldn’t be making friends here.

“Don’t cause any trouble,” Elio warned.

“I won’t.”

Not today, anyway.

A burly werewolf guard strode over, throwing a sneer at me strong enough to curdle milk. I felt my palms itch, but no crystal dagger or stakeblade came out to play.

“He can’t be here.” The wolf’s yellow eyes narrowed into furious slits. “He’s not welcome.”

I kept my mouth shut.

“His Majesty told me to—” Elio tried.

The guard snapped his fingers in Elio’s face. “Are you answering me back?”

“No, but?—”

“But what?”

Silence fell over the dining room, the spotlight firmly pointed this way.

The elf hesitated for a moment. “I… I…” He took a breath, then puffed out his chest. “His Majesty gave me firm instructions to take care of our new addition. He wants him to eat with us, to see some of the palace.” He sounded much firmer now.

The werewolf’s nostrils flared. “Why?”

Good question. This all seemed a bit too pleasant for my tastes, me on a leash or not. And a big risk, considering I would be a lot more kick arse when given the chance. Then we’d see how the wolf guard behaved when faced with getting his bones broken.

“Because he said so,” Elio countered.

A human woman guard arrived, also throwing me a dirty look. “Leave it, Mike.” She spoke with the western accent of the Human Domain. “The king’s word is final. Don’t start.”

Mike growled again, his angry eyes pinning me. “I’ll be watching you.”

Until I pluck your eyes out.