Their eyes closed and their mouths dropped open.
I quickly tossed the tea behind the couch, and then placed the empty china on the coffee table.
Master Niallan’s bloodshot green eyes turned in my direction. He took a calm sip of his drink. His throat bobbed as he visibly swallowed the liquid. The druid ruler lifted a blond eyebrow.
I shrugged one shoulder and peered back at the Three, who were starting to shake in their seats like they were having the best orgasms of their lives. I leaned my left elbow on the arm of the loveseat and placed my chin in my hand, hiding my amused smile behind my curled fingers.
Druids could be damn entertaining.
Their bodies slumped in their chairs.
The Three groaned in ecstasy, all as one.
I wanted to ask them if they wanted a cigarette, but I kept my mouth firmly shut. My sarcastic nature would end up screwing me over if I didn’t watch it in here.
Without opening her brown eyes, the leader of their group stated, “The war will not be stopped. Travel to S’Kir to find the Breaker. Only then will true peace be obtainable.”
My blink was real slow.
Was crazy-pants talking about the Unseen Gods?
My brows puckered in thought.
What. The. Fuck.
Her eyes fluttered open, and her voice was breathless. “Now, it’s our turn, Master Niallan. Why do you really want the vampire crown?”
I tilted my head and studied his profile.
Master Niallan’s lips curved up at the sides—it was his ugliest smile to date. “So I can hold the Original vampire amulet in my hands and finally end a murderer’s life.”
And there it was.
I stayed quiet with my own thoughts.
Her brows lifted. She stated patiently, “Forgiveness, Master Niallan. Never forget to forgive. Even if it’s simply forgiving yourself.”
He eyed her features. “Forgiving oneself is not as simple as you say.”
She waved her hand to the front of her home. “You may leave now.” Her brown eyes lit from within. “Unless you have another favor to ask?”
“Thank you, but no.” Master Niallan patted my right knee. “Time to go, your majesty.”
Both of us were out the front door before anything else was said—or any questions were accidentally asked. Out on the black rocks, I watched him create his transport circle with my right hand firmly placed in his free one. We stepped back through the magical opening and landed in the center courtyard of his castle, the dead grass under our feet snapping.
He tossed the Original druid amulet high above his head and whispered in the ancient druid language while it soared. It suddenly disappeared, no longer glimmering under the sun and sky.
My brows snapped together. “Uh, where did it go?”
Master Niallan dropped my hand.
He shrugged his shoulders, not answering me.
“Really?” I grumbled. I looked back up into the sky.
It had been right there. So damn close.
The druid marched toward the closest arched opening into his castle. “I’m getting this over with. Hurry up.”
My chest heaved in disappointment, once more glancing up at the sky. But I strolled after him, following him all the way to my shared bedchambers.
He pounded on the door. “Open the fuck up.”
Lord Belshazzar yanked the door open. His ice blue eyes completely bypassed the druid ruler and settled on me while the rest of the Overlords walked to stand around him. Lord Belshazzar’s intense gaze ran over me from head-to-toe. He asked gruffly, “Did any harm come to you, your majesty?”
I almost rolled my eyes. “No. I’m fine.”
The Overlord snaked an arm outside of the room and gripped my wrist, gently pulling me inside our bedchamber. He stuffed me behind him and turned his regard on the fuming druid. “What answer did the Three give you?”
I stared at his back…amused and annoyed.
I stepped out from behind him and crossed my arms, eyeing Master Niallan, wondering if he would tell the Truth.
Bloodshot eyes stared the lord down. “The war will not be stopped. Travel to S’Kir to find the Breaker. Only then will true peace be obtainable.”
No one moved for a full minute.
Lord Cato cast a quick glance in my direction. “Is that accurate, Monitor of Challenge?”
I nodded. “It is the truth. That’s exactly what they said. In my opinion, he passed the Challenge.” As damn crazy as that answer was, he hadn’t lied to make it sound more plausible.
Master Niallan was one step closer to becoming king of the vampire race.
That night, after the Overlords had gone out for ten minutes, I received an official invitation to dinner tomorrow night from Master Niallan. I turned away from the spying portrait and smiled.
It was time for TERMINATE.
Chapter Tweny-Five
Gwynnore
The Overlords’ seating arrangement at the dinner was obvious, but I didn’t mind. I had a great view of Ysander from where they’d placed me safely away from him. Lord Cato sat to my left, and Lord Belshazzar sat to my right. Dinner was served, and Ysander was eating with relish—it was probably his very favorite meal. I thought the meat and potatoes were fairly bland, but the man who was about to die wasn’t of the same opinion.
The only thing missing from this dinner was…
Master Niallan.
He had yet to arrive. Not that I blamed him.
I’d done the same on my last Challenge.
I took a large drink from my goblet of wine. I swirled the liquid inside my mouth, adoring the cherry and woodsy flavor. The wine did add to the dead man’s meal before us.
Lord Belshazzar stabbed one of my baby potatoes with his fork, stealing it off my plate. He’d already eaten all of his. The Overlord seemed to enjoy the meal as much as Ysander.
I placed the rest of my potatoes on his plate.
His blue eyes twinkled. “Thank you, your majesty.”
“You’re welcome, my lord.” I grinned.
We were in fine spirits tonight.
Although all six of us wiped our smug expressions from our faces when Master Niallan finally arrived through the doors. The druid ruler walked straight to Ysander and bent at the waist next to him. Master Niallan kissed his shocked partner.
And kissed him.
And kissed him.
Master Niallan whispered against his lips, “You are my heart. I will see you again, my love.”
He swung his sword.
Neat and clean.
Ysander’s head toppled to the table.
Blood flowed.
I choked back the bile that rose in my throat as the memory bombarded me. He’d killed him with the exact same strike as I had with Adelie. Instant death, merciful and kind.
Master Niallan backed away from his dead lover.
His sword clanged on the tile as it slipped from his limp fingers. Away and away his steps took him. His green eyes never leaving the dead.
He swallowed hard. “I want to leave now.”
I dabbed at my mouth with my napkin.
Master Niallan’s tormented eyes lifted to us. He shouted in a fury, “I want to leave right now! Do you hear me?”
I placed my napkin on the table and stood. “We’ll be ready in thirty minutes. We’ll have a car waiting for us, and we’ll have the jet ready in Qikiqtarjuaq to take us to Japri.”
Wide green eyes focused back on his dead lover. He nodded his head quickly and turned to rush out of the dining room, his feet pounding loudly on the tiling.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Peacefully, I retook my seat. I lifted my glass into the air, and stated with pleasure, “Congratulations, my lords. Those bastards are finally dead.”
The Overlords lifted their glasses, and we all clinked them together in a private celebration.
Lord Otto glanced down at his watch. “Do you think we have time to finish our meal before we take off?”
“Yes, finish up.” Lord Belshazzar ate one of his gifted potatoes. “Her majesty gave us plenty of time.”
I smirked and sipped my wine.
Lord Pippin peered down the table. “Do you think he had any meat left?”
I snickered quietly. “Do not steal from the recently departed, my lord. That’s just tacky.” My lips twitched. “But we should definitely burn those dolls before we leave.”
Lord Cato smiled. “Already done, your majesty.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Gwynnore
Japri, Ultima Esperanza, Chile