Page 82 of Vampire Bachelor Games

“Just make sure,” she narrows her eyes at me. “that she’s here next month. I was disappointed she wasn’t at your mother’s funeral, but I understood that you were concerned for her safety after learning of the involvement of The Free Men in the death of your mother. But pregnant or no, she needs to be visible now. Am I making myself clear?”

“Crystal, Your Majesty,” I reply blandly, keeping my face neutral, “although Spider is the one who really killed my mother. After all, it was his minion who stabbed her in the heart, as I know you’re aware. Otherwise, why would you issue a royal edict to prevent me from killing him?”

“Why?” she snorts. “Because as far as I’m concerned, Spider’s actions just make you even.”

“Even?” I frown, “how so?”

“Your father killed his mother. He was simply returning the favour.”

I stare at her, the hairs on the back of my neck rising, fangs descending.

“Unless you want to lose your head, I’d put those away,” she hisses, before leaning back and laughing at my expression.

“You Dragonspurs have more skeletons in your closet than the catacombs. It’s a pity your mother didn’t share more with you before she died. Now, remember what I said about your wife. The public wants to see her and a bouncing baby. Humans need to see a happy-ever-after if they’re to continue to makeushappy ever after. Do you understand me,LordDragonspur?”

I’m so stunned by her revelation I barely comprehend the question.

“Falcon!” She snaps.

“Yes,” I murmur, adding when I see her raised eyebrow, “Your Majesty.”

“Good.”

She turns to leave, her retinue closing in on her as usual, but as she steps close by me I stiffen as she whispers in my ear.

“Find her.”

63

“So how do they get their victims?” Yin asks as we sit, feet up in front of the fire, eating strawberries.

I rest the bowl on my growing belly and shake my head.

“It’s called ‘procurement.’ Each royal house has a dedicated staff member who ‘procures’ victims for the vampires who live there. And by procures, I mean kidnaps.”

Yin nods, frowning.

“Where do they get these people?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Who does it for Falcon’s castle?”

“His bastard half-sister Asumpta. She’s like a beautiful dark reaper and, if you ask me, more than a little mental. I’m one hundred per cent sure she knew Viper had me in his thrall and did nothing to stop it. I think she’ll do anything to see the downfall of that house. Although I do think she likes Eleanor, perhaps even loves her. She saved her life when Tatyana attacked, anyway.”

“We’ll get to her,” Yin nods, “but back to the procuring. How often?”

I shrug.

“I used to think they had to drain someone every day, I mean because Falcon did in The Games, right? He killed more women than most bachelors do on the show. I think I added them all up, and between him and Giselle they killed most of the contestants in our series, although the public wouldn’t know that. Anyway, I digress. I think they need to feed on humans more like once a week, and the rest of the time they eat human food.”

“What makes you think this?”

“Caroline. She ordered a redhead once a week and ate her in front of me.”

“Fucking hell.” Yin sits up and stares at me. “You must have been horrified.”

I talk around another strawberry; I’m so hungry all the time now, and lately I’ve been craving fries — I have no idea why. I hardly ever ate them before.