“No,” he mutters. “It couldn’t be.”
Confused, I shoot him a look. It takes me half a second to expand my senses and take stock of the full strength potential of every vampire here.
He and I are still at the top.
But Raul seems to experience something wholly different.
“HOW DID YOU DO IT?” he suddenly roars. “How did you become so strong, so fast?”
I look around the room, not able to make sense of what’s going on. The two witches far away hide their emotions completely. Their faces are perfect masks.
Raul spins around, gasping as his gaze falls on each witch. “You, you, and you,” he accuses. His eyes are wide, his chest heaving with panicked breath.
And then, I see it. In the far corner of his eyes, nearly unnoticeable unless you were to seek for it specifically, is a hint of the dark miasma that sometimes taints mine.
Suddenly, the pieces fall into place. The witches aren’t actually stronger—Raul’s paranoia comes from the darkness seeping into his mind.
My lips hook up in a crooked smile.
This could be very, very, fortuitous for me, after all.
“Silence!” the witch beside me calls out. Her voice rings through the air like a crystal bell.
It’s a little discomforting how easy it is for her to assume control in the presence of two vampires as strong as Raul and I.
But then again, this is no ordinary woman.
Raul goes still. The two witches far away approach him, walking with all the vampiric grace my blood gave them.
Usually fledglings take years to develop that sort of ease in their new bodies. No such learning curve here.
They both stop behind Raul and take his arms from either side. “You will lead us back to Eleira,” the lead witch says. “And there you can gain a full appreciation of this very unique situation.”
Raul glares at her almost in hatred. But then he bows his head in consent, much like a weaker vampire would when given a command by a stronger one exerting his influence.
He truly does believe himself weaker than they.
“Come, sisters,” the witch beside me announces. “It is time for us to leave this wretched place.” She turns to me and her eyes sear into my skull. “It has been our prison for two millennia.”
A jolt of unabashed excitement runs through me on hearing that declaration.
Not only is Raul now at my mercy, but I have made three fledglings of human witches who have managed to preserve their bodies for two thousand years.
If that doesn’t grant me power over Eleira, I do not know what can.
Chapter Three
Eleira
The Haven.
I walk out from the underground sanctuary housing Morgan and take a deep breath. I want to run my hands over my head, but Felix taught me never to show weakness.
Especially not here. Especially not in public, with all the guards looking at me to lead.
So I push away the immense discomfort I feel following the revelation that Morgan is still alive… and address the first row of vampires ringed around me.
“You will hold a tight perimeter here,” I say. “None shall be let in or out save for me or Riyu. I’m sure you’ve already heard of what was discovered down there. But if not, let me tell you now so as to erase all doubts:
“Morgan is still alive.”
A ripple of shock runs through the guards.
“She’s alive,” I continue, “but extraordinarily weak. There are torrials down there sustaining her body. Without them, she would be long gone.”
“So destroy them!” a junior guard cries out. “We don’t need her shadow hanging over the era of your rule. You are our Queen, and we are bound to you. End her!”
I give him a sad smile as I remember the oath I made to the Forsaken Sisters. The one that is bound tight into my skin.
“That would be premature,” I say. “I told you all before that I intend to rule with the benefit of the Royal Court. I will not go back on my promise.” I nod. “Now that you all know about what was found down there, I have to give the news to the rest of The Haven.”
Just at that moment, I see Geordam rushing back to us through the trees. He makes a hasty salute as he stops beside me.
“The assembly is gathered,” he says. “They await your arrival.”
“Thank you,” I say. “How is the mood?”
“I think most of them sense something is wrong,” he admits. “But I don’t think any expect a bombshell of this magnitude.”
“Well, we’re nothing if not exciting,” I mutter under my breath.
I take one last look around. The Haven seems so peaceful… but I know that’s just an illusion.
I am starting to suspect there can never be true peace when creatures like us are involved.
“Geordam, you stay here,” I tell him.
“My Queen,” he begins.
I interrupt. “I need you here because you are my most trusted link to Riyu. He is down there monitoring the currents of magic. If something were to change, he would know first. I told him to trust only me and you with that news.”
“Yes, my Queen.” Geordam bows.
“I want four guards to accompany me to the assembly. Everyone knows I can take care of myself, but a Queen needs proper ceremony.”
“Might I suggest a few more?” Geordam asks. “Just sixteen would be a more suited number—”
“The danger is here, Geordam,” I snap. “Here, underground, and that is where I want the majority of your forces to be.”
“Understood,” he says. “I will get your escort.”
As he goes in amongst the guards to pick the four tasked with the ceremonial honor, I reflect on how much I appreciate Geordam’s disposition. He is not frightened to speak up or give advice, but once my decision is made, he does not question it.
If only the other high-ranking vampires—like, oh, say… Raul—were more like that.
A moment later, Geordam rejoins me with a handpicked collection of four guards. “They will escort you,” he says.
“Good.” I touch his arm before I go. “Remember to stay on high alert. Morgan is the greatest threat to our safety. And those pale, strange creatures are the greatest unknown. I will not be naive enough to assume the events are unrelated. You and your guards should not be either.”
“Of course,” he says, and gives me one more formal semi-bow as I walk off.
I do not know where the assembly gathered, so I leave it to the four guards to show me the way.
We walk toward the apartments for a little way but then veer off.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Felix got all the vampires to gather at the ruins of the castle,” comes the curt reply.
I sniff. That would not have been my first choice of a meeting place.
After a few minutes, I pick up the sounds of the gathered vampires through the night air. As soon as we emerge into view, a silence falls over all of them.
Every single eye is on me.
I try my best to assume the mannerisms of their Queen. I walk with my shoulders back, my chin high. I betray none of my doubts or uncertainties.
It seems to work, because by the time I make it to the front of the assembly, I sense a palpable amount of respect emanating from the vampires.
Felix is standing beside a raised dais he had prepared for me. I thank him with a nod. I do not trust him one bit, not any more… and yet, he hasn’t done anything overt that would give reason for that distrust.
It’s just an instinctual sort of warning I feel whenever I’m near him.
I step to my place. The vampires watch me very closely—Elite and Incolam alike.
I clear my throat. “Thank you for coming on such short notice,” I say. “I will make this brief. Your former Queen is still alive. She was discovered in a secret chamber hidden underground.”
A wave of gasps and angry noises wash over the mass of vampires.
“Alive? How could she be alive?” someone screams.
“You are our Queen!”
“Morgan should be exiled for how she betrayed us!”