Perpetuate the myths, he’d said, and the humans will never take you seriously. They will always underestimate your strength.
She had been half awed and half horrified by her father. But she’d always assumed Sorin adored him utterly. Why hadn’t—didn’t—he?
Sorin. He was a puzzle to her, the pieces so scattered she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to find them and put them together. And Aden, well, he had won a fight against a seasoned warrior.
Even more shocking, no one here had hindered him or helped Sorin—if she didn’t count Lauren and Stephanie, who were watching the doors for Sorin, and after yesterday, she didn’t count them. More than that, Aden had a beast and the skin of a vampire. Her skin.
How much more had they traded?
She’d lost her ability to compel humans with her voice. She’d lost her ability to teleport. Aden could do one, which meant he could probably do the other. And what about her lightning quick speed? He’d moved so swiftly in that ring. Swifter than ever before. What about her strength? Only weeks ago, she had jerked a tree out of the ground with her bare hands, roots and all.
Just then, she wasn’t sure she was capable of lifting her hair out of her face.
Would she still have saved Aden if she’d known this would happen?
The answer came in an instant. Yes. Yes, she would have. She would have given up more.
You just might have to, she thought.
Her hand shook as she brought her goblet to her lips and sipped. The blood was thick, cooling and had a metallic taste that left her grimacing. Ick. What she wouldn’t give for a…sandwich. Yes, that’s what those things were called. Thin slices of meat stuffed between bread and slathered with something thick and white. Her mouth watered at the same time her stomach growled.
Soon she would have to sneak back to the slave quarters. Very, very soon.
“V-V-Victoria!” a male called over the noise.
She spun, and there, in the far corner, was Shannon, the speaker, with Seth and Ryder beside him. Two of her brother’s soldiers were perched at their sides, expressions foreboding.
How could she have forgotten that the boys had been taken, bound?
She placed her goblet on a passing tray and stalked forward.
“V-Victoria,” Shannon said again, his stutter more pronounced than usual. “Do s-something. P-please.”
Their gazes met for the briefest of moments, the green of his eyes almost fever bright. His mocha skin had dulled, yet he was no less beautiful. More so than even a lot of the vampires here. He was tall and naturally strong, and when he smiled, his straight white teeth on display, he was a diamond among zirconium. She’d always liked him.
He was in the center of the group, and though he stood straight and proud, his pinky was curled into Ryder’s, as if the other boy was his rock, his comfort. Or perhaps he was Ryder’s rock, as the usually tanned boy was currently colored a faint shade of green.
Seth was waving and grinning at someone over Victoria’s shoulder. He even did the universal sign for call me.
Victoria looked the guards over, taking their measure. They lost their air of menace and smiled at her. Well, their version of a smile, anyway. They bared their fangs, their lips peeling back so much that she saw gums.
Both had razored haircuts and thin scars on their cheeks. Scars. How novel. How had they gotten them? The same way Riley had gotten the bump in his nose? Through repeated injury? And would she soon be covered in scars? If so, would Aden still think her beautiful?
Don’t worry about that right now. She might fall into a spiral of depression. But then again, depression might help her feel normal again.
Concentrate. Right. Despite the “smiles,” the one on the right looked like he enjoyed shards of glass and kittens for breakfast. The one on the left looked like he enjoyed just the glass shards, so she’d take her chances with him.
“You’re in good spirits, considering your leader just lost his chance to rule,” she announced.
One of his brows arched, nearly knitting into his hairline. “Who said he lost?”
An unexpected response. “Me. Aden, I’m sure. Everyone here, definitely. You did notice the party, didn’t you?”
He shook his head, a little shell-shocked, as if her literal interpretation of his question threw him for a loop. He shared a glance with his friend before saying, “No, I mean, perhaps he only wished to test your Aden’s mettle.”
Oh, please. “What a wonderful way to cover the sting of a loss.”
A shrug of wide shoulders, reminding her very much of her brother. How long had the warriors been together? “Think whatever you wish. It will not change the facts.”
What facts? “So he threw the fight and allowed him self to become the indentured servant of the new king?”
“He would never throw a fight. Your brother is a good man, Princess Victoria. His goal has always been, and will always be, freedom for us all.”
People were staring at them, listening unabashedly. So, all right, then. Pleasantries were over, and a debate was not happening. “Release the boys. Now. Or I’ll be forced to—”
“Of course. You’ll be happy to note they are in the same condition as when we took them, and no worse for wear.”
She folded her arms over her middle. “And the bruises on their wrists? The ones from the rope you used on them?”
“I’m positive they had those already,” the other kitten-eating guard said.
Both men actually stepped aside, practically gift wrapping the boys for her. Too easy, she thought, mouth opening and closing as she floundered for a response.
Shannon and Ryder did not falter. They grabbed her hands and tugged her away. Shannon also latched onto Seth to propel him into motion. Midway, when her neurons began firing again, she took the lead. Where to take them, where to take them?
An older female vampire stepped in front of her. Older, but no less beautiful for it. Smooth skin, elegant features. “I wish to speak with you, princess.” Gray eyes slid over the boys as a pink tongue ran over sharp white fangs. “How much for the tattooed one?”
“He’s not for sale,” she said at the same time Seth, the tattooed one, said, “What did you have in mind?”
With an I-mean-business frown, Victoria slapped the back of his head. “Not another word from you.”
“Ow!” He glared at her. “What was that for?”
“He’s not for sale,” she repeated to the vampire. “For any price.”
The female pouted. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
That gray gaze switched focus, landing on Shannon. “What about the—”
“None of them are for sale.” Blood-slaves were traded all the time. For money, for clothes. For fun. Once that hadn’t bothered her, but the thought of these boys, so like Aden, being passed around like bags of potato chips did not settle well with her. “Such a pity.” The female tossed her rope of blond hair over her shoulder before gliding away.
Victoria was stopped three more times with different offers to buy the humans before she at last ushered her charges through one of the many secret passages at the far end of the room. Secret, even though everyone knew about them.
This one opened into a small room that looked into the ballroom with two-way glass. Of course a young vampire couple writhed on the couch, and Victoria had to clear her throat to gain their attention. They sprang apart, both of them blushing as they righted their clothes.
“Uh, hello, princess, what are you—” the male began.
“Out,” she said, and the pair scrambled to obey. She shut the door behind them. Squaring her shoulders, she turned to face the humans with the eagerness of a firing squad. “You have questions, I’m sure.”