The eyes of S’Kir were on me
They were on Elex as well as he spun me across the dance floor in the traditional courtship dance.
He did this on purpose. He was claiming his right to court me, to be exclusive to me. It was a purposeful display to warn everyone that I was not for their pleasure.
I hadn’t realized it would, but his possessive stance on our budding relationship actually turned me on.
“The only reason we’re still here,” Elex whispered, “is because I wanted this dance with you. Else, you would already be naked on my bed.”
“You do not need to fan my flames, Lord Everettson.”
“I plan to do a lot more than just fan them.”
Butterflies fluttered through my stomach as we whirled our way across the dance floor and through just a few other couples. My nerves wound tighter as the song finished, and we bowed to each other and the other couples on the floor with us.
Elex’s words were breathy. “May I escort you to my bed, Lady Raven?”
Before I could answer, a hand that wasn’t Elex’s slid between us and grabbed me around the waist.
A tall, well-dressed man in formal clothes stood behind me, smiling. I didn’t like it.
“May I have the next dance, with your suitor’s permission?” His voice was full of snake oil and falsehoods, and it slithered around like the very snake he’d stolen the oil from.
But Elex couldn’t refuse because he’d asked permission. It would be rude, and in an unspoken agreement, Elex and I conceded this.
The snake oil aristocrat whirled me out on to the dance floor again, this time in a high-spirited dance that had a lot more people joining us on the floor.
I hoped Elex would cut in fairly quickly. He lurked at the edge of the dance floor for just that reason.
The music was joyful and light, and it was a song I would have usually enjoyed, but something was bothering me about the man I was dancing with. There was something dishonest about him.
Turning me out at the right moment in the song, another person wrapped their arms around my waist, and the hope it was Elex was gone instantly. This faceless man turned me out again in the song and sent me to another pair of arms.
Spinning me, again and again through a dozen different arms, it took me a moment to realize I was no longer on the dance floor, but being dragged away through a door opposite Elex and the masters.
“I think your spell is broken,” Adelie griped.
I grunted. Because I couldn’t really argue with her.
A glance at my cell phone indicated we had been waiting for two hours.
Lord Otto growled, “Our spell is not broken.”
“Then what do you call this?” I waved a hand at the see-through glass where all the folding chairs remained empty. “You said most of the oldest male vampires were already here in the stronghold. This spell was supposed to make them rush with open arms into this room. That sure as fuck isn’t happening.”
The overlords had all found places to sit and relax once they saw no one was initially running through the cavern door. One of them, Lord Xenon, was even snoring softly.
Cato ran his fingers through his hair, his eyes flashing red briefly. “The spell isn’t broken, my dear.”
My eyes narrowed at his endearment, but I held strong to the argument. “Lord Pippin hasn’t ever done this before. Perhaps there was an error.”
The lord in question snapped his eyes in my direction. “Excuse me, candidate?”
“No offense, of course. I’m merely shooting out ideas.”
“More like, you’re just shooting shit out of your mouth,” he growled.
From his perch sitting against the glass barrier, Lord Belshazzar held up his hands to stave off further argument. “Lord Pippin performed the ritual flawlessly, Gwynnore. There isn’t a problem with it. There is no problem at all.”
My eyes widened in disbelief. “There are no men down there! That is a problem.”
Was I broken? Because if I were, I would be booted.
Unable to complete the “King” Challenge.
Adelie glanced at me, a brief flicker of worry entering her gaze before she hid it.
Damn. Even my friend was having doubts.
Cato hissed, “This was not what I planned for. I haven’t had blood in a week.”
Now, attention turned in his direction.
Adelie mumbled, “Leave. Go drink your fill. It doesn’t appear we’re going anywhere soon.”
Cato hissed, pure vampire.
He rolled on his own couch, placing his back to us.
Lord Belshazzar held up his hands once more. “Everyone, calm down. I will explain it all the best I can.” He flicked a finger at the blood-deprived lord. “He can’t leave. His power is bound to the spell. So, he’s mildly grumpy that we’re going to be here—possibly for a few days. And no one else can enter this room until the spell is complete.”
My jaw dropped open, and I shrieked, “A few days? What the hell!”
The eldest vampire sighed. “This has happened before. Many, many years ago. It was written in the ancient book, so if it ever happened again, the overlords would be aware of it.”
Lord Pippin dropped his head back and groaned loudly at the ceiling. “Oh fuck. That is happening?” He sighed and fell to his back against the hard floor. “Good God, we’re going to be here forever.”
My confused gaze flicked between the overlords.
In the resulting silence, I finally questioned, “Did I do something wrong? Should I have used more blood? I could fix it if I did. I’ll slice my wrist if I need to.”
They couldn’t send me packing. I wouldn’t let them.
Cato grunted, his face smashed against the cushion. “If only the problem were that easy to fix, my darling.”
I lost my cool, hissing, “Quit calling me that crap! You have no right!”
Another grunt was all I received in return.
Lord Belshazzar rubbed at his forehead, resting the back of his head against the glass. “Allow me to explain further, candidate.”
He was still calling me a candidate. That was a good sign. The tension in my shoulders eased some.
He continued, “You see, honestly, the vast majority of the eldest vampires are here. The fact that not one of them has come is a clear indication of what is happening.”
I leaned forward, silently pushing him to expound on his words.
The old lord almost appeared hesitant to say. But he cleared his throat, and forged onward, “It means, Gwynnore, that your match is not a vampire.”
My shoulder slammed into the barrier as my legs weakened. “Huh?”
“Your match is either a human or a druid. Most likely a druid with the amount of power we had to push into the spell.”
I couldn’t stop blinking.
I was feeling faint, my head swimming.
I decided it would be best if I sat.