Shadow's Claim

Lothaire keeps a tight rein on her,” he said, looking immensely pleased with himself. “Indeed I do.”

From the anteroom: “Oh, please! I’ve got you locked down tighter than a gopher’s ass in flood season. And we both know it!”

Lothaire gazed with utter longing in Elizabeth’s direction before turning to Trehan. “She’ll pay for that comment later.”

“Brang it, Leo.”

“Let’s be quick about this, Trehan, because I’m 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.

“It’s 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, there’s 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, he’d already lost a soothsayer within the realm, destroyed the council room, and lashed out against all the cousins, crushing Viktor’s skull in a vicious attack. Viktor still railed over the insult.

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

Gods help us. “I’ve 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 you’ve 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 you’re going through. I’ve been there. You’re weak in body and spirit, as if the most insidious illness festers inside you. You can’t drink, can’t sleep. Your chest aches as if it’d 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 I’ll pass on some advice I received. Perhaps it will help you as well.”

“I’m listening,” Trehan said quickly. Anything to end this anguish—

“Stop being a pussy, and go retrieve her.”

So much for wise! Trehan’s fangs sharpened. “You don’t 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 doesn’t have petty spats during courtship? So fucking what?”

“So she doesn’t fucking want me!” There. The words said out loud.

Lothaire roared back, “She doesn’t get a godsdamned say in the matter!”

Trehan’s 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 doesn’t deny capturing the king? In the past, this news would have jarred Trehan. Now he could think of naught else but Bettina. “What’s your interest in my life anyway? You couldn’t 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 won’t 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 mind’s declining. I’ll bet you didn’t mark your Bride’s neck when you claimed her. Denied your instinct, did you? Then prepare for punishment.”

Trehan fell back on an old argument. “Dacians don’t drink from the flesh. We don’t pierce other creatures!” No matter how seductive Bettina’s 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.

“You’re 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? It’s laughable that you Daci shun a vampire’s 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 isn’t 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. “I’m 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 won’t like how I deliver my teachings. Now put your house in order!” Without a final look in Trehan’s 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 hadn’t wanted to betray him.

Not logical. She possessed the poison, she’d handed him the goblet, she’d bidden Trehan to drink. She doesn’t want me.

Which is too bad. He withdrew his scry talisman. Since she doesn’t get a godsdamned say.