Shadows Claim Read online

Page 9

 

  This could be because Viktor had identified an enemy in Morgana, one who was thwarting the desires of a fellow Dacian. Or perhaps he was sensing imminent violence and hoping for a part of it. Maybe Viktor wanted to help because he sought to damage Trehans chances at the throne.

  Likely all three motives.

  For a brief moment, Trehan considered that Viktor might be moved to help because once, long, long ago, they had been friends. Then he dismissed the idea. They had too much history between them.

  Trehan said, "Id contemplated appealing to her godparents before the tournament begins. But how exactly would I present my case? Should I say, I cant tell you who I am, what royal line I descend from, where I hail from, or what my properties used to be. But give me your ward anyway?"

  "What about stealing her after the tournament-but before the full-moon wedding?"

  "Back to the summoning medallion. Whoever wins it will control her movements. "

  "If you entered, youd have to leave the mist? To be seen by all?"

  Trehan just stifled a shudder. "Yes. By all. "

  "Youd be banished-and then I wouldnt have to kill you," Viktor said smugly. "At least not pressingly. "

  Trehan gave him the look that comment deserved.

  "Just think, youd be king of one realm at least. "

  "Thats actually a negative for me. Ruling a rainy, backwoods swamp plane filled with Deathly Ones? What do I know about ruling demons? Or about rain, for that matter?" He waved to indicate Dacias stone sky. "And why would they accept a nameless vampire to govern them? Clearly, the tournament is not an option. I could never turn my back on my kingdom and abandon my house, not when the Dacians need a king. "

  "Theres another who could rule us. "

  Trehan drank deeply, keen to get to the mead. "Lothaire again?" Lothaire Daciano, the Enemy of Old, was a three-thousand-year-old vampire gone red-eyed and insane from bloodlust-a prime example of why Dacians refrained from drinking others.

  Lothaire was half Horde, half Dacian. Wholly mad.

  Did he have a claim to the throne? Undoubtedly. His own house had always ruled.

  What he lacked was a grasp of reality. Though the cousins had intermittently kept tabs on him, theyd never revealed themselves to him. "Youd truly accept a red-eyed king?" Horde vampires drained their prey to the quick, becoming addicted to the power and madness that act brought. Lothaire was rumored to have countless memories rattling around in his head.

  In fact, it was said that he used the cosaşad to his advantage, drinking chosen victims just to get to their secrets.

  "Perhaps I admire him," Viktor said. "His bargaining is masterful. He would bring his fabled book of debts to the kingdom like a dowry. "

  Lothaires book was also legendary. For millennia, hed maneuvered Loreans into life-or-death situations, offering to save them-for a price. Rumor held that his debtors had vowed to do anything he asked of them when he called in the debt, and that hed recorded their bargains meticulously.

  "Hes probably the strongest vampire alive," Viktor continued. "We could do worse for a king. Besides, I thought youd be all for it, eager to end all our family animosity. "

  "Dont you tire of it?"

  "Who are you talking to, Trehan? I live for animosity. "

  And Viktor had plenty of cause for it. Trehans own father had killed Viktors. Of course, Viktors mother had slain Trehans. Throw in Stelians parents and Mirceos and they had all ended up dead eventually.

  The blood vendettas of the Daciano houses were legion, inherited from their ancestors, with each generation adding new ones. "Then why would you even consider Lothaire?"

  "Maybe I have no desire to be king either," Viktor said. "Perhaps I only fight for it because I know Id be better at it than any of you. Give me a vampire whos actually more powerful than I am, and Ill help guide him as he rules. "

  From what Trehan had heard-and seen-of Lothaire, the male wouldnt prove easy to "guide. "

  Viktor viewed the invitation once more, this time with a look of lust on his face. "Zeii mea. " My gods. "Fights. To the death. " He actually groaned. "You could be in that ring. And with your clear eyes, everyone would think youre a Forbearer. " One among an army of turned humans who didnt drink from the flesh. Viktor smiled evilly. "Theyll believe you are weak, having no idea what you really are. Already an advantage. "

  Trehan gazed down at his drink, lost in thought. The fighting didnt factor into his decision whatsoever. If he chose to enter the tournament, he would win. Period.

  Instead, his thoughts centered on another battle. Could I possibly win Bettinas affections? On that score, he was much less certain.

  "Come, Cousin, theres more that youre not telling me. "

  Trehan quickly glanced up, the words falling from his lips: "Shes in love with another. With . . . Caspion. "

  Damn it, what did she see in that demon? If those two had had some kind of relationship, then Caspion hadnt been true to her, had been in a brothel this very night.

  Viktor winced. "Bloody bad luck, Trey. " He sounded genuinely sorry for Trehan.

  And yet tomorrow Viktor would plot to murder him all over again.

  Unless Im not here.

  "He must die," Viktor said. "Even Mirceo has accepted that. "

  Mirceo had been Caspions sponsor into the kingdom, using all his influence to campaign for the demons acceptance. Mirceo had never expected Caspion to bolt, a first for the charming Dacian.

  "You have other assassins under your command," Viktor pointed out. "Get someone else to kill the demon. "

  Trehan rubbed his brow. "By my hand or by my command wont make a difference with her. "

  "Is the demon entering the tournament? Then you could kill him in combat. "

  "I havent relinquished Dacia yet, Cousin. If I decide to enter-"

  "Youll enter. "

  "-then I will have spent my entire life in service to the kingdom, only to abandon it in a time of need, for a female who doesnt even want me!"

  "It makes sense that she would prefer Caspion," Viktor said in a thoughtful tone. "Apparently, he is irresistible to females-and not a few males. Theres a reason Cousin Mirceo petitioned for him to enter Dacia. Alas, the demon is much better-looking than you are, old man. "

  Trehan scowled. "Im barely older than you are. "

  "You said your Bride was young. She likely doesnt know her mind yet. Her feelings for Caspion could be nothing more than a schoolgirl infatuation with a dashing demon. "

  Bettina was woefully young, and shed obviously been overprotected. Perhaps she simply hadnt been around other males? She might have bonded with the one given most access to her.

  Or was this only wishful thinking? He knew his looks didnt compare to the demons-admittedly Caspion was . . . without flaw-but Trehan had other laudable qualities.

  Im a good killer. A talented scholar. Fuck. How could she possibly resist?

  Chapter 10

  Then why has fate chosen her for me?

  Bettina, Princess of Abaddon, was the only female in existence-and in all times past and future-whod proved to be his Bride. . . .

  He reminded himself that she had responded to him. Shed inhaled deeply of his skin, moaning in reaction. Shed moistened her bloodred lips as shed investigated him with her soft fingertips. Shed murmured in a throaty voice, "My gods, I love your body. "

  Shed delighted in touching me.

  If he could seduce her into a similar situation, he could make her realize whod awakened those feelings in her.

  He had to believe that, given the chance, he could make her desire him again.

  But that was the crux of this all: the mere chance would cost him dearly. His house would perish forever, his duty-and honor-with it. Competing in that tournament will cost me everything.

  "Youve obviously got it bad, old man," Viktor said. "The girl burned a hole in your brain, did she?"

  Trehan recalled how shed looked in the throes of passion
-her shimmering eyes pleading for more of his touch-and muttered, "A fiery arrow through the fucking temple. " Shed quivered against his hand, so close to coming for him. . . .

  "What are you going to do?"

  "What any logical male would. "

  Viktor raised brows. "Then I am at a loss. Enlighten me. "

  Trehan said, "Im going to gather more information about her before rendering a decision. "

  Morgana would arrive in minutes, yet Bettina sat in her cooling bathwater in a daze, unable to muster any outrage that Salem had been watching her bathe again.

  Her interaction with the vampire had left her feeling battered-not to mention Caspions confession this morning.

  When shed all but begged him to make love to her, hed said, "Youre my best friend, and I love you like a sister. Tina, it wouldnt feel right. And after the night Ive, uh, spent, I dont even know if I . . . can. "

  While shed rocked on her feet as if slapped, Salem had sneered, "But pile-driving a hooker for hours felt right? Maybe the manwhores all whored out? Maybe wittle Cas cant rise to the occasion?"

  Caspions flushed cheeks had confirmed Salems jab.

  If shed ever needed a wake-up call . . . Cas felt no physical attraction to her. Period. Why was she forcing this with him?

  But every time she wondered when shed become that girl-the one chasing after a guy who would never love her-shed recall all their years together.

  When shed been orphaned after her fathers death, shed gone from crying herself to sleep, feeling completely alone-with not a friend in the world-to waking up each morning filled with anticipation of seeing Cass smiling face.

  Hed been a lifeline.

  Whenever she berated herself for holding on to false hopes, she remembered his reaction when hed first seen her injuries. With his eyes watering, hed barked orders to get her help, urging, "Stay with me, Tina. " When theyd started to set her bones, no demon tonic would put her under. Hed roared as shed screamed.

  Later she had heard that hed destroyed his home, blaming himself for not protecting her, bellowing with frustration. Was that the reaction of a big brother? She hadnt thought so. Of course, she had no siblings for comparison.

  For sixty nights, hed tried to avenge her, but failed. No one could avenge her. . . .

  Now, as the sun began setting, her nervousness ratcheted up. The vampire might return for Caspion soon; the tournament was definitely about to begin.

  No more stalling. She stepped from the large pool in her bathing chamber. This room was as medieval as everything else in Abaddon, but through miraculous feats of engineering-and the work of behind-the-scene ogres-she had managed to score hot, running water all the way up in her spire.

  Tossing on a robe, she asked Salem, "Got an eyeful again, didnt you?" Life with a sylph roomie-her resident peeping phanTom-had drilled out much of her modesty.

  "Of course," Salem answered from the foggy mirror above her sink. "How do you always know?"

  Bettinas five senses might be humanlike, but her sixth sense was strong. Well, except when she was tanked on demon brew. And besides . . . "I know, because you always do it. "

  She swiped her sleeve over the glass, then studied her reflection. No better than before the bath. She still looked hungover and exhausted. When shed finally managed to drift off to sleep this morning, her customary nightmares had plagued her.

  "I dont understand why you spy on me," she said. "Its not like you have a body. " A servitude curse-for some mysterious crime-prevented him from becoming corporeal. And though he was still telekinetic, he couldnt feel.

  "I wont be like this forever. Why, one day Ill be a real boy! And this gives me much masturbation fodder for the future. "

  She rolled her eyes, hoping he was kidding. When hed arrived here three months ago, shed made the mistake of picturing him as a harmless, genie-type sprite, much as Raum still thought him.

  The first time Bettina had sensed Salem spying, shed figured if he wanted a peep at small breasts and zero hips . . . knock yourself out.

  Then shed found out more about the "notorious" Salem from Morgana and her coterie, whod known him before his curse. Apparently, Salem had been a ruthless warrior who "dripped sex appeal. "

  Bettinas innocent genie bath time had taken on an awkward new dynamic.

  "You look like utter ass, chit," he said now, nudging a glamour trinket toward her.

  Morgana had given it to her to conceal all her wounds after the incident, but there was still some magic left over. Should Bettina do a cursory camouflage, so her godmother wouldnt spy anything amiss?

  Morgana was already hypercritical about Bettinas looks, finding her lacking compared to Bettinas mother, Eleara.

  Bettina remembered one of her earliest visits with Morgana: "Oh, for the love of gold, you are an odd, tiny thing, arent you?" shed said with a frown. "Your features cant decide if they want to be impish like a demon cubs or arresting like Elearas. Hmm. Well, little freakling, be of cheer, for it can only go up from here. . . . "

  At the memory, Bettina set the glamour away. She wanted her godmother to know something was amiss. No less than my entire life.

  "Still having the nightmare?" Salem asked.

  "Unfortunately. " This afternoon, Bettina had shot upright in bed, midway into one of her panic attacks. Ever since her beating, shed been plagued with them. Her body had been tight with strain, her skin covered with perspiration. Her lungs had felt constricted as if by a vise.

  Shed peered around her room, assuring herself, Im in my home. Those fiends arent here. No Vrekener has ever come to Abaddon. . . .

  Bettina had two goals in life. One of which was to feel safe again. She could remember what it was like not to have fear constantly creeping up on her. She remembered life without her debilitating attacks.

  She used to be able to walk the town without a care, used to be able to visit the rain forest by herself. Now she couldnt exit the castle unescorted, could scarcely navigate the interior of it alone.