Twisted

into that wound and tug. He had used her. He hadn’t known her ability to teleport had vanished, and so he had drugged her. Reduced her to a bargaining chip. Yes, he had done so to prevent a fight to the death—Aden’s death —but he could have found another way. Aden had.

And there was reason number one Aden was the better choice for king.

“I can’t believe I used to give him a hard time about stuff,” Ryder muttered. “He could have kicked my ass and then some.”

“It’s ’cause you’re dumb,” Seth said.

“I’m not dumb.”

“Dude, the only class you’ve got an A in is lunch. And we both know that A only stands for Appetite.”

“He’s g-got an A in recess, t-too,” Shannon said with a grin.

Ryder shoved him good-naturedly.

Seth gagged. “My eyes! My poor eyes. Dude-on-dude foreplay is just gross.”

Ryder lost his tolerant humor, balled his fist, about to take a swing, but Victoria stepped between them. “Enough.” But really? What could she do if they decided to go for a knock-down, drag-out? Nothing, that’s what. Not anymore.

More than that, if they hit her, they could inflict injuries she might not be able to recover from.

She’d never had to worry about such a thing before.

Suddenly Aden’s gaze latched onto the mirror as if glued there—as if he could see through the smoky glass. She hadn’t meant to look at him again, but it was habit now and she’d acted automatically.

When she realized they were peering at each other, she froze, helplessly trapped by his scrutiny. Could he see her? Impossible. But…

“You may rise,” he said to the crowd.

Clothing rustled as everyone stood, cutting Aden from her view. Murmurs arose. Giggles and jeers were thrown at Sorin. Right now, he was a laughingstock.

Perhaps that would change in a hundred years or so. Perhaps not.

When the crowd parted like the Red Sea, Victoria was offered another straight shot at Aden. He was striding forward and headed directly toward her.

Had he seen her?

Sorin stalked behind him, ignoring the barbs tossed his way.

A pair of soft, delicate hands reached out, caressing Aden, stopping him. Draven the So Going To Die, Victoria realized with a rising tide of anger. Again the crowd quieted, every ear in the room twitching and listening.

“Congratulations on your victory,” Draven said silkily. “My king.”

“Thank you. If you’ll excuse me—” He tried to move around her.

She jumped back in front of him. “A moment of your time, if you please.”

Indecision played over his features before he nodded. “A moment. Nothing more.”

Her eyes glittered with menace, revealing the bitch underneath the beauty. “Very well, I’ll jump right in. I don’t know if the wolf-shifter, Riley, or even Victoria herself, told you or not, but two weeks ago I challenged Victoria for rights to you.”

Every muscle in his body stiffened, and his narrowed gaze rose to the mirror for one second, two, before returning to Draven. “Go on.”

Perhaps the girl was stupid and didn’t hear the warning in his tone. Perhaps? Ha! She was, because she actually continued. “You are human, after all, and—”

“Was human,” he corrected with sharp reproof.

“I realize that,” Draven replied. “Now.” Stupid was too kind. Obviously she had the IQ of a gutter rat. “But the challenge was issued and accepted weeks ago, as I said, when you were, in fact, human. So the law still applies. Victoria must fight me, as you fought Sorin. That is our way. That has always been our way.”

The whispered theories reignited. How had Aden turned? Could someone else be turned?

A grayish tint washed over Aden’s skin. “There will be no attempting to turn the humans,” he called to one and all.

Even Victoria didn’t know how or why Aden—and she herself—had survived when the only successful turnings had happened in the late 1400s. Bloody Mary—the original and not the former queen of England—was now the leader of the Scottish faction, and she had turned in that time frame as well.

Throughout the years, Victoria had heard rumors of a long-ago passionate affair between Vlad and Mary. That Vlad had chosen to turn her rather than his wife. And when Vlad later discarded Mary in favor of another, Mary had gathered her supporters and left, vowing revenge.

There had been battles, lives lost, but neither side had ever backed down. Amid both clans, people had tired of the constant bickering. Willing to abandon the only homes they’d ever known in the name of peace, they had broken all ties with both leaders, and more factions were created. So many, all over the world, each with a king or a queen, or both, if the more powerful of the pair was inclined to share.

Victoria thought of Sorin and his claim to have slaughtered Vlad’s allies. A claim she was inclined to believe, considering none had arrived after Aden’s summons.

A worrisome thought occurred to her. If word of that spread—hey, everyone, the new vampire king has no backup—well, he would become an even bigger target.

“As the king’s number one adviser,” Sorin said to Draven, “I have much to say about this.”

Aden tossed him a what-the-hell frown. Victoria hid a smile behind her hand. Number one adviser?

“I am advising him to schedule the fight later today. After the beating I just received, I look forward to seeing someone else receive one. Namely you, little girl. I have watched my sister fight—”

He had?

“—and she is very, very good.”

Draven buffed her fingernails. “I am agreeable to the time frame, and need only your approval, majesty.”

Victoria’s hand fell to her throat. Her oh-so-vulnerable throat. The chill inside her deepened, migrating into bone.

“What are you quaking about? You can take her.” Seth tapped her on the butt. “She’s straight-up bitch, but you’ve got a dark side. I can tell.”

“Thank you. I think.” She used to have a dark side. Now she just had a human side. Draven would tear her to pieces. And though she wanted to rush out there and stop the madness, she knew it was already too late. The fight had been accepted. To withdraw now was to admit defeat.

As Aden would soon learn, the loser of a challenge gave up everything to the winner. Their possessions… their lives. That’s why challenges were so rarely issued. Sorin was Aden’s property now. For the rest of his very long life.

Victoria did not want to be Draven’s.

“No, today is unacceptable,” Aden said. “I’ll set a time after I review my schedule, and an announcement will be made. Until then, stay away from her.” He brushed Draven aside and kicked back into motion, Sorin remaining at his side.

The girl watched his back the entire time, her eyes slitted.

When he reached the mirrored wall, he stopped, his gaze roving, searching for the handle. “Victoria,” he said. “Let me in.”

He did. He knew she was inside. And peering through objects had not been an ability she had ever possessed. Shocked, she opened the door for him.

Their gazes clashed as the boys poured out from behind her and rushed to him, surrounding him, whooping, grinning like loons and shouting. Aden endured everything with flushed cheeks and a frozen expression of disbelief.

She smiled at him, and he smiled back. A moment all their own, despite the chaos. Pleasure bloomed. She cherished every second, knowing the memory was one she’d coddle for a very long time.

“That’s the way it’s done, bitches,” Seth said, extending his arm through the doorway and flipping Sorin