Shadows Claim Read online

Page 43

 

  Though Lothaire had proved difficult, Elizabeth was intelligent, amusing, and friendly. She was already learning Dacian and had taken her new immortality in stride. She also kept Lothaire in check.

  Just yesterday hed announced to the court that he would like to "go kill something. Anything!"

  Running her forefinger over his chest, Elizabeth had purred in her mountain accent, "Lets go kill time, baby. In our bedroom. "

  Lothaires eyes had flashed red, and hed traced her away in an instant.

  Now he told her, "The question remains . . . do we open the gates of Dacia?" He yearned to announce Dacias presence to the Lore. In one of his bouts of madness, hed railed, "A king of a kingdom no one fucking knows about! Im the tree in the forest that silently falls-when no one is around to be crushed!"

  Lothaire looped both arms around her, tucking her even closer to him. "I want your opinion, Lizvetta. "

  "Youre only askin cause youre afraid Ill cut off your head again. "

  "Just so. But I also like how your tricky mind works. "

  "I think we should have a soft opening," she said. "You know, like they do with fancy restaurants. "

  He tapped his chin with a black claw. "Soft opening. Yes. "

  "We could keep folks, I dont know, quarantined when they come in. Make sure that vampire plague doesnt hitch a ride inside. "

  In a move that would have pulverized Elizabeth as a mortal, Lothaire yanked her even tighter to his chest. "My wise little hellbilly. "

  "Shut it, Leo. " Shed nicknamed him that, an acronym for his name. He was one of the most feared fiends in all the Lore-and yet she ribbed him with ease.

  Lothaire, in turn, loved it.

  They were about to kiss when Trehan cleared his throat.

  "Ah, Cousin Trehan. " Though Lothaires red eyes were uncanny, today he looked rational-and very cunning.

  "Ill let you two boys chat. " Elizabeth extricated herself from his arms, earning a growl of displeasure. "And once youre done, Leo, come on up and see me. " She winked and began sauntering toward the exit; like a male possessed, Lothaire rose to follow her.

  Then, making a visible effort to restrain himself, he sat once more. "I know what youre thinking, Cousin. Lothaire keeps a tight rein on her," he said, looking immensely pleased with himself. "Indeed I do. "

  From the anteroom: "Oh, please! Ive got you locked down tighter than a gophers ass in flood season. And we both know it!"

  Lothaire gazed with utter longing in Elizabeths direction before turning to Trehan. "Shell pay for that comment later. "

  "Brang it, Leo. "

  "Lets be quick about this, Trehan, because Im about to-as my beloved Bride likes to put it-get laid. " Steepling his fingers, he began, "Your occupation for centuries has been to track Dacian fugitives as the official royal killer, or some such. Know that if we open the kingdom, your position will be downsized. "

  As if Trehan gave a damn about that.

  "Its a new economy here in the Realm of Blood and Mist. Some fortunes will rise, some will fall. Perhaps you should reconsider your lead on that Abaddon job?"

  "I have no interest in this topic," Trehan said stonily, wondering how Lothaire had found out about Abaddon. Probably Stelian. "Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?"

  "Yes, theres another matter. You are related to me by blood and, like me, are a Dacian royal. "

  "So?"

  "So that means your ridiculous behavior reflects upon me. "

  "What are you talking about? My ridiculous behavior?"

  In the short time Lothaire had been king, hed already lost a soothsayer within the realm, destroyed the council room, and lashed out against all the cousins, crushing Viktors skull in a vicious attack. Viktor still railed over the insult.

  And earlier, one of Trehans assassins had brought word that Lothaire might have secretly abducted the Forbearer vampire king, to settle some age-old vendetta.

  Gods help us. "Ive done nothing to warrant this summoning, Lothaire. I keep to my library-and to myself. "

  "Exactly. You sit in your room and stroke off to memories of your Bride. "

  Trehan ground his teeth, unable to deny this. "And youve been spying on me?"

  "Of course. I spy on everyone. Why would you be any different?" he asked in all seriousness. "Not that I needed to in order to know what youre going through. Ive been there. Youre weak in body and spirit, as if the most insidious illness festers inside you. You cant drink, cant sleep. Your chest aches as if itd been gouged to the spine. And when you envision the future without your Bride, all you see is a great yawning nothingness. "

  "Yes," Trehan rasped in surprise. "Yes, that is it precisely. "

  Lothaire truly was the scion of his house, the one of wisdom and history. The House of Old.

  "Ah, Cousin, there was a reason I clawed out my heart and sent it to Elizabeth. " Gazing past Trehan, Lothaire said, more to himself, "It hurt less outside my chest. " He returned his attention to the conversation. "So Ill pass on some advice I received. Perhaps it will help you as well. "

  "Im listening," Trehan said quickly. Anything to end this anguish-

  "Stop being a pussy, and go retrieve her. "

  So much for wise! Trehans fangs sharpened. "You dont understand the dynamics of my situation!"

  "Explain them," Lothaire demanded, beginning to lose his temper as well. "How bad can it be? As your king, I command you to answer. And you vowed an oath of fealty to me. "

  Trehan had no choice but to respond. "My Bride poisoned me so that I would lose a match against the demon male she loves. "

  Lothaire hiked his shoulders. "So?"

  "Did you not hear me? She dumped toxins into a goblet of blood, then handed it to me, urging me to drink. Then she disqualified me from a tournament I was sure to win. She removed herself from my reach forever. To add insult to injury, she wielded her Sorceri power-against me-to protect the demon. "

  And even now Trehan craved her. Comoara mea. Gone.

  "Lizvetta nearly decapitated me. And look how happy we are. "

  "Queen Elizabeth accidentally struck against you with her new immortal strength. My Bride deliberately tricked me. "

  "Who doesnt have petty spats during courtship? So fucking what?"

  "So she doesnt fucking want me!" There. The words said out loud.

  Lothaire roared back, "She doesnt get a godsdamned say in the matter!"

  Trehans brows drew together. "What are you advising-that I abduct her? As you recently did the Forbearer king? And your Bride before him?"

  Lothaire snapped his fingers. "Exactly!"

  He doesnt deny capturing the king? In the past, this news would have jarred Trehan. Now he could think of naught else but Bettina. "Whats your interest in my life anyway? You couldnt care less about the rest of your family. "

  "Your Bride is a princess of Dacia. Are you going to allow a demon to rut betwixt her thighs? Not to be borne! If you wont put your house in order, I vow to you I will!"

  House? Had Lothaire meant that in a general sense? Or has he actually been listening? Then his other words sunk in. "You push too far, Enemy of Old! Bloodlust has enfeebled your brain-"

  "Look in the mirror, Cousin. Look at your pale face and your eyes black with wrath. What amazes me is that you actually wonder why your minds declining. Ill bet you didnt mark your Brides neck when you claimed her. Denied your instinct, did you? Then prepare for punishment. "

  Trehan fell back on an old argument. "Dacians dont drink from the flesh. We dont pierce other creatures!" No matter how seductive Bettinas flesh had been, Trehan had withstood its call.

  No matter how wrong it had felt to deny himself and his Bride-as if he were letting them both down.

  "Youre a blooded Dacian in his prime, but you believe yourself above the most natural drives a vampire can have?" Lothaire smirked. "Above such savage urges? Its laughable that you Daci shun a vampires most basic need. "

  That need had
felt basic and natural-and savage-all at the same time. "Should I become red-eyed like you?"

  "As if you could! Do you know how many Loreans I had to tap to get like this? The sheer variety and quantity would astound you. Merely tippling from your toothsome Bride isnt going to do it. " Lothaire rolled those red eyes. "Fool, you are supposed to mark her! You are supposed to drink from her!"

  I know this, I felt this!

  "If I have to instruct each of my cousins how to truly live as vampires, then I will. " Lothaire steepled his fingers once again, his eyes swirling with crimson. "Im the Enemy of Old, from the House of Old," he added with a sneer, "and my kinsmen each have lessons to learn from me. "

  So much for his underwhelming attention span.

  "Mark my words, Trehan. You will all learn from me-though you wont like how I deliver my teachings. Now put your house in order!" Without a final look in Trehans direction, he traced away.

  Breaths shallowing, mind in turmoil, Trehan returned to the library, standing before his lonely fire.

  Maybe Caspion had pressured Bettina into tainting the blood. Perhaps she hadnt wanted to betray him.

  Not logical. She possessed the poison, shed handed him the goblet, shed bidden Trehan to drink. She doesnt want me.

  Which is too bad. He withdrew his scry talisman. Since she doesnt get a godsdamned say.

  No longer would Trehan deny himself what he desired-no longer would his savage hunger go unsated. Hed rise up from the ground like a true shade and seize the female who haunted him. . . .

  Two Sorceri and a sylph walk into a bar," Bettina muttered as she peeked through a cracked window pane into Erols, a Lore watering hole.

  Accompanying her this evening were Salem and Sabine: the Queen of Illusions, consort of the rage demon king, and Bettinas esteemed patroness. The three of them were just outside the entrance of this Louisiana shanty, preparing to go in.

  Bettina squinted to see inside, but a valance of cobwebs dangled across the dirt-caked glass. The interior was filmy; smoke from cigars, opium pipes, and intoxibongs steeped the air. No use. She turned from the window.

  Sabine flipped her magnificent mane of red curls over one pale shoulder, saying, "Ive never been the subject of a joke that doesnt have . . . viscera! as the punch line. But then, the nights still young. " She ran one of her claw-tipped gauntlets down the bars clapboard wall.

  From Bettinas collar, Salem said, "First of all, Salem doesnt walk. Second? Id like to actually get into the bar sometime tonight. Third, Id rather be the subject of a dirty limerick, preferably with the words rising tunic, dick, and lick. "

  "How do we even know were in the right place?" Bettina asked. The two sorceresses were on a mission to find the soothsayer Nix the Ever-Knowing, whod disappeared from Abaddon without a whisper. Salem was tagging along to meet with someone from his phantom network of spies-about a lead on the poisoning case.

  The three had just been traced here by one of Runes guards, their designated demon for the night. He awaited them in the oyster-shell parking lot, smoking with other drivers.

  Behind her wicked leather mask, Sabine rolled her tawny eyes. "Of course, were in the right place. Nix is leading the Vertas, and this is one of their haunts. " She lifted her face and delicately sniffed. "Can you not smell the self-righteousness of all those do-gooders inside?"

  Sabine had joined the Vertas because of her adoring demon husband, King Rydstrom the Good; didnt mean she had to be happy about it.

  "How do I look?" Bettina asked. Knowing she might meet new allies, shed taken care with her dress, wearing a slinky bandeau top of gold thread, a jade mask, and matching sarong. A pair of strappy gold sandals with blades in the heels-a new line!-completed the outfit.

  For jewelry, she wore her crown, a collar, two armlets, a thighlet, and an anklet-all doubling as weapons.

  This was her first return to the mortal realm, and she was prepared for anything, her heart-stopping power at the ready. . . .

  Like a fool, Bettina also wore that necklace with Dacianos wedding ring tucked down in her top. But, alas, her summoning medallion had gone the way of Salems copper bell, melted down, its control over her ending forever.

  Chin raised imperiously, Sabine said, "You look passable-though not nearly as good as me. " Bettinas great patroness wore a black miniskirt that matched her thigh-high boots and her mask. Atop her fiery red locks sat a blue-gold crown studded with gems, a present from Rydstrom. Sabines solid-gold bustier was engraved to look like dragon scales.

  Chapter 50

  Not bad work, if I say so myself. Well, except for a minor nip slip or two. Or four.

  Sabine narrowed her eyes. "Though I am the fairest, you really are wearing the better jewels. Is it wise to outshine your patroness, Queen of Hearts?" Shimmying, she tugged up her bustier. "And you two price-gouged me with this piece. "

  "None doin, Trixie. " Salem took his partnership in the biz very seriously. "We gave you a bang-up deal. "

  "I suppose. If you like nip slips. " Sabine sighed, "And, lets face it, I do. "

  Salem said, "While you birds are arguing over whos the fairest of them all, just know this: I am. Me and me swingin dick would put you two to shame. So if you ladies are done tarting yourselves up . . . ?"

  "Youre fortunate that I like you," Sabine began solemnly, "you price-gouging, foul-mouthed, sylphic man-slut. Ah, yes, I like these things about you indeed. " With that, she opened the door.

  As they entered, all eyes turned to them: two former Pravus sympathizers in full Sorceri regalia and an invisible sylph.

  Conversations halted midsentence. Even the old-fashioned jukebox ran out of quarters at that moment.

  Crickets.

  Haughty Sabine traipsed deeper inside; Bettina put her shoulders back and followed.

  Once conversations and the music resumed, Bettina said, "Do you always get this reaction here?"