“Welcome, my friends. Move closer. This is what we’re up against, and this is what I plan to do about it.” Larry Stein, aka the Padre, addressed the crowd, speaking through a microphone, and a tall curtain to his left was pulled away. Louds gasps and shrieks erupted. “It’s okay. These creatures have no power here.”
As the senator strolled farther into the room, people parted to let him pass through. He drifted right to the front, where Isabella had a clear view of the rotund man on stage who puffed on his cigar. Lined up in heavy silver chains stood several vampires—men, women, and children. Isabella pressed her hand over her mouth to stem the hiss that threatened to escape.
“Now,” Stein yelled.
A thin man to his left stabbed the first vampire in the chest, and he disintegrated on the spot, leaving a pile of ash in his wake. Some people screamed, and some chanted, “Kill the vampires.”
Isabella tried to shuffle away but the senator grabbed her wrist. “Don’t be scared, my dear. Look, they’re quite harmless now.”
As she stared at the gruesome scene, the executioner approached each vampire, repeating his action. But when he stood in front of the child who couldn’t be more than seven, Isabella caught the senator’s hand and removed it from hers, desperate to charge over and help. But the main door behind them banged open. She spun around as a seething horde of vampires, none she recognized, swarmed in.
They darted around the room, grabbing humans and slashing their necks, draining them of blood. High-pitched screams and blood-curdling yells filled the room. Blood sprayed over the walls and floors as chaos reigned around her. Humans tried to scramble to freedom, and she stood frozen, unsure what to do, but caught sight of the Padre sliding out a side door. As she made to race after him, Roman caught her wrist and stopped her.
“Let him go. It’s too dangerous right now.”
Standing at his side, she watched as Roman’s men flew around the room, outweighing the other vampires in numbers, charging at them. He jumped up to stand on the stage and shouted out, seizing control.
“I am Prince Roman De’ Luca of the Northern Territories. I’m sure you’ve heard of me. Surrender and you’ll be spared.”
Most of the vampires stopped, and the humans escaped, running outside. Isabella stared at the sea of surprised creatures. One or two hissed and continued to slaughter their victims, but the majority paused, releasing the humans. She couldn’t see the senator anywhere and switched her attention back on the prince, who now had control of the room. The power he held entranced her. She watched as he jumped down and flew to the side of one of the stray vampires who continued to feed on a woman, barely alive. Grabbing the deviant vampire, he dragged him away from the human and with one quick twist, broke his neck. When he slid to the ground, Roman nudged him with his foot before kneeling to stake him in the chest with his steel blade. The vampire disintegrated.
There was silence in the room. Standing up, Roman nodded to his faction of vampires and they began to destroy the other vampires.
“Clean it up. Leave nothing that can be traced back to us,” he yelled.
Isabella couldn’t believe it. Roman had promised these vampires their lives if they surrendered and now, he was killing them. She charged over, and instantly there was a guard there to stop her from getting too close.
“It’s okay. I’ll handle her,” he said.
“Oh, you will, will you? Like you handled those vampires?” Isabella shouted.
Roman yanked her to his side and moments later, they were in another room. When he turned, the rage mirrored on his face shocked her, and she jerked back, but he pressed his face close, baring his teeth and pushing her against the wall.
“Don’t ever question me in public, Isabella. I will not tolerate it. You may say what you wish in private, but never challenge me like that. I have a position to uphold. One that is being severely undermined by my enemies. Enemies who are already waging a war. Vampires who want me out of the way. I will not let that happen, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep it that way.”
Isabella couldn’t move, not that she dared as he pressed his hard frame against her breasts and molded himself against her. She studied his ice-cold chiseled features. Deciding the best tactic was to give in, she closed her mouth and dipped her head in surrender.
Roman eased his grip and pushed her chin up with his thumb. “Look at me, my love.”
She hadn’t heard him use that endearment since the handfasting ceremony and once again resentment crept inside. She shoved his chest, needing space. “Stay away from me.”
Being around him was a monumental disaster. She couldn’t keep up with the many masks he wore, even though she behaved the same.
“Don’t you understand? I had to get rid of the errant vampires. Allowing them to live would be seen as a sign of weakness. I need to send a clear message. You don’t understand what’s at risk here.”
Maybe he was right. She didn’t understand the vampire politics behind this attack, because he had never shared any insight with her. And right now, she didn’t care to know. “What about the humans who saw the vampires?”
“My men were waiting outside the room with orders to compel them. They won’t remember anything… Look, we need to discuss what happened earlier between us.”
She glared at him, not wanting to hear anything he had to say, especially when he was going to reject her
