Shadows Claim Read online

Page 34

 

  "It must be dark. "

  "In the highest peak, theres an opening capped with a gigantic crystal. It allows in filtered sunlight. "

  "I can hardly imagine that. "

  "I wish I could have shown you. " Talking of his kingdom only brought to mind how much he missed it. The frothing fountains, the mist, the majestic black keep.

  How would Bettina have viewed Dacia? How many details would she have seen that had escaped his notice? Theyd never know.

  "What was your house like?"

  "I lived in the royal library, among all the books. "

  "You resided in a . . . library?"

  "There were suites inside and great balconies that overlooked the city, but yes. I was most content among those shelves, so one night, I simply never left. " What would she think his dwelling choice said about him?

  She seemed to be giving the matter serious consideration. Then she asked, "Do you have family there?"

  "No siblings or parents. But many cousins. "

  "Are you close to them?"

  How to answer that?

  "Its not a difficult question. "

  "I havent talked about myself in centuries. Every detail about me has been private-or already known among kinsmen. Im not what youd call a . . . a . . . " What was the modern term?

  "A sharer?"

  "Precisely. But I will try for you. "

  She muttered, "To win it. "

  "What was that?" When she shrugged, he said, "Very well," and began describing his family. He recounted the blood vendettas and discord. The constant assassination attempts and battles.

  He told her about siblings Kosmina and Mirceo, about hotheaded Viktor always spoiling for a fight. He briefly mentioned the hulking drunkard who was his cousin Stelian. He told her of Lothaire, their unbalanced potential king, and his human Bride-an impoverished mountain girl.

  And of the other royal cousin so few knew about? That tale was better left for another night.

  "It sounds like you hate your cousins. "

  "I dont, not really," Trehan said with a weary sigh. "Weve actually become cordial to a point. Im just sworn to kill them, as they are me. "

  "Thats really sad. Do you have no one you can trust?"

  "I can trust one of them, and maybe another-but only in certain matters. My house wars with theirs constantly. I know nothing else. "

  "What do you mean by house?"

  "There are several arms of the Daciano family, each with its own house. Viktor is all that remains of The House of War, Stelian of the House of Paladin. Kosmina and Mirceo are the last of the House of Castellan. "

  "And you, Prince of Shadow, must have represented the House of Shadow. "

  "Exactly. " Except its no more. "Each house serves a purpose. Viktor is general of the army, the wrath of the kingdom. Stelian is the gatekeeper, deciding who enters our land. Hes the guardian of the kingdom. Kosmina and Mirceo guard the castle. Theyre called the heart of the kingdom. "

  "What were you called?"

  "I was the sword of the kingdom. "

  "The sword, but never the king? You said you were a contender?"

  "Eventually duty would have compelled me to take the throne, but I never aspired to rule. I didnt believe I was particularly suited for it. "

  "And now?"

  "Now I believe I could be a good king-if I have a clever queen by my side. " He pulled her tighter against him.

  "Do you think this Lothaire will do well by Dacia?"

  Trehan hiked his shoulders. "The throne is his. His house ruled since the beginning of the Dacians. The head of the kingdom. " Ironically, theyd been known for their dispassionate wisdom.

  Lothaire-the red-eyed madman, raised among the fanatical Horde-wise?

  "Vampire, you didnt answer the question. "

  "There are some admirable traits about him. If he and his Bride could ever settle down . . . if he can make Elizabeth immortal . . . " Trehan and his cousins had watched Lothaire calling in favors from his legendary debtors book, traveling all over the world. "He searches relentlessly for the means to transform her into a vampire. "

  "A female?" Bettina asked. "Ive never seen one. "

  "In Dacia we have as many females as males. The plague that wiped out their number among the Horde has never entered our kingdom. "

  "How can he turn her?"

  "We believe he searches for a talisman. A mystical ring that could grant his greatest wish. "

  She rose on her elbow to study his expression. "Did you ever see yourself with a vampire for a Bride?"

  He eased over onto his side to face her. "Before my father died, he told me not to count on having a Bride-though if it was meant to be, Id receive a daughter of Dacia to be mistress of my house. "

  "Oh. " Her eyes glittered. With . . . jealousy? "But now you can never go back. "

  "Do you think I would? Even if I could?" He brushed a lock from her forehead, unable to stop touching her. "I left for you-and I would make the same choice a thousand times over. "

  She seemed to weigh this over in her head. What I wouldnt give to know your thoughts right now.

  "You sound tired," she finally said. "Maybe you should return to your tent and rest. "

  Even after this nights victory with her, exhaustion weighed on him. He hadnt slept a day through in weeks, and he hadnt been drinking enough to sustain himself.

  "I can sleep once this tournament-and your affections-are won. I feel Im close on both scores. "

  She stiffened. "Close to winning means close to killing Cas. Your speaking of your family only reminds me how close I am with him. He was there for me when my father died. He took care of me after the attack. "

  "That eats at me. "

  "Why?"

  "It should have been me! Youre confusing loyalty with romantic attachment-and friendship for love. You havent experienced love to know the difference. "

  "I know I love Cas. "

  "Then youre confusing two types of love. Over the centuries, Ive witnessed it in all its incarnations. "

  Chapter 39

  "Is one more important than the other?"

  "Theyre different. "

  "Answer me, vampire," she persisted. "Is one more important than the other?"

  "In our case, yes. "

  "Then say I could fall in love with you. And say I do only love Caspion as a friend. What happens to him? If you survive against Gourlav, youre going to kill Cas. "

  "Im trapped in the tournament as much as you are, Bettina. "

  "Whos your most treasured friend? What if I had no choice but to murder him? How could we come back from that?"

  "Wed find a way-because Id know you had no choice. In time, you will forgive my actions. "

  "Maybe I could forgive you, but Id always be thinking about it," she said. "It was because of me that Cas went to Dacia. "

  "What do you mean?"

  "When Raum ordered him to stop searching for the Vrekeners, Cas disappeared. He couldnt take the frustration any longer, was about to go crazy. He must have met a Dacian who invited him to your realm. "

  Frustration wasnt the only reason Caspion had ventured into Dacia. Mirceo could be quite seductive, promising pleasures of the flesh that would boggle the mind of a randy young demon.

  "Im confused about so many things," Bettina said. "But one thing I know: I could never get past the fact that youd killed Cas. "

  Trehan had believed she could eventually, that shed see he had no choice. Now he doubted.

  "The fact remains that I might not win," he said. "And if this is my last night on earth, I dont want to discuss the future till dawn. Lets not think of it. "

  In a quieter tone, she asked, "What do you want to do?"

  As the rain softly fell, he drew her back down against his side, heartened when she stretched her arm over his chest. "Nothing more than this, Bett. "

  Trehan returned Bettina to her spire just before the sun rose, laying her in bed, pulling the cover o
ver her.

  Theyd talked the rest of the night about their pasts, their hopes, and their fears, until reality intruded with the growing light.

  "You look tired. " Her expression had grown pensive. "I wish I could do something to stop tonights fight. "

  "We are all bound by the language in our contracts. "

  "What are you going to do with Gourlav?"

  "Win, I hope. "

  "Im serious. How do you kill a creature who mustnt be harmed? What can I do to protect my people if you injure him?"

  "I dont plan to. "

  "Pardon?"

  "The tales of the primordials are true. When theyre wounded, their blood is catastrophic. "

  "Tell me. "

  "Legend holds that serpents, scorpions, and arachnids first spawned from other primordials, from drops of their blood-except that the original blood-born Child Terrors are as large as dragons," he said. "The only strike I can make against Gourlav is a kill strike. "

  She bit her lip, her face pale with worry. "Will you stay with me until the match?"

  To join her in that bed and spend a lazy day talking, touching . . . ? But he couldnt. "I have much to do. " He would deny himself in the coming hours, then reap the rewards later. An eternity of lazy days. If I live. "Should I fail tonight, it wont be from lack of preparation. "

  "You wont try to sleep?"

  "My Bride cares for my well-being?"

  She quietly said, "You know I do. "

  A victory! His plan was working. Optimism filled him. "No male could be more motivated to live. " He cupped her nape. "If youre within reach, I wont go down easily, if at all. Know that, Bettina. " With a final lingering kiss, Trehan forced himself to trace away.

  Back in his tent, he replayed all hed learned over the night. One thing stood out-her insistence that she couldnt move past Caspions death.

  Survive Gourlav; kill Caspion; lose Bettina? There had to be some way out of this bind.

  Suddenly, the tents flaps flew open and Morgana sauntered inside.

  "What do you want?"

  "Yes, yes, youre welcome for my assistance with my winsome goddaughter. By the way, the tour was all my doing. " She sat on his desk, much as Bettina had. Now it irritated him. "Ive come because I want to know how you reached the air territories. "

  "I have ways. What concern is it of yours?"

  "Great concern. One of my Sorceri subjects is likely being held against her will in Skye Hall. She was rumored to have been taken there directly after she escaped from a group of humans who imprison and experiment upon Loreans. Needless to say, shes having a bad run of it. So Ill ask you once more. How did you get to the air territories?"

  He decided to take another page from Lothaires playbook. "I expect Ill need more assistance with Bettina in the future. Perhaps well bargain in the days to come. "

  Behind her mask, she looked intrigued. "And if you die tonight?"

  He didnt think this sorceress could affect the outcome of the match, but he might as well motivate her, just in case. "If I die, my secret dies with me. "

  Light danced in her palms, sorcery at the ready. But she didnt strike out against him. "Youre very fortunate that I need something from you, Prince of Shadow. " She turned to leave. At the exit, she said over her shoulder, "Should you live, well speak soon. "

  Alone once more, he reviewed what he needed for his match. But he was as prepared as possible-or he would be if Honorius came through.

  Trehan considered trying to sleep; yet no matter how fatigued he was, his mind wouldnt rest. Would his problems only begin if he defeated Gourlav?

  Some way out of this bind . . .

  His gaze landed on the contract scroll, the one with all the rules. The one that was at least a foot in diameter. He already knew itd been written in old Demonish.

  It would take a normal scholar weeks to read through, much less translate. Luckily, Im no normal scholar. With a weary exhalation, he set to his task.

  The things I do for my Bride.

  "What are the odds?" Bettina asked Salem, gnawing a nail.

  It was late in the afternoon. Morgana and her Inferi had long since come and gone, leaving Bettina cosmeticized, masked, and formally dressed.

  Shed been unable to sleep today, lightly dozing and then shooting awake with nerves. Though the vampire had made no mention of returning before the fight, shed thought he might drop by or send a message.

  Nothing.

  "Bookies are laying three-fifty to one. "

  "Three hundred and fifty?" She pinched her forehead.

  "Yeah, youd basically have to have inside info to take on those odds," Salem said. "If someone-not me or you, of course, but someone-had spent the night wiv one of the competitors and gleaned intel, then someone-of course not me or you-could clean up. "

  "The only thing I know is that the vampire is highly motivated. " And that hed been exhausted. What if he still hadnt slept? What if it did finally affect his fighting? "Did you uncover any of Gourlavs weaknesses?"

  "None. Just heard horror stories about Child Terrors. I dont suppose Abaddons defenses include anything atomic?"

  She shook her head. "Will you come with me to watch the fight?"

  "A domestic at the grand table?" Salem sounded amused.

  "Come on, its not like anyone will see you. "

  Silence.

  Bettina realized that shed offended him, and she hadnt meant to. How could he not be sensitive about his circumstances? During this tournament, hed become much more to her than a servant, and now shed hurt him. "Salem, Im sorry. "

  "Princess, I might be invisible now, but I used to be a sight to behold, a regular vision, wiv a swagger you had to see to believe. This corporeally challenged domestic is declining your invite. "

  When he shimmered away, she attacked her regrown nail. Shed fix this with him in the future. Right now, all she could think about was her vampire.