Lady Hawley sprang toward Poppy. Delano and Malik both moved to intervene. I stood back, my lips curling upward.
Poppy caught Lady Hawley’s arm. With a flick of her wrist, the bone cracked. The vampry’s howls of pain weren’t much different than those of pleasure as she dropped to her knees.
“How dare you?” Lord Hawley gasped. “Who do you think you are?”
“Penellaphe Da’Neer. The Queen. And the Primal of Life and Death.” Poppy lowered her hood, the air charging with the kind of eather even these fools could feel. “Who the fuck do you thinkyouare?”
I was instantaneously hard.
Lord Hawley’s already pale skin turned translucent while his wife shrank back. “You…you’re…” His head swung in my direction. “You’re…”
I lowered my hood.
Lord Hawley stepped back.
“You’ve requested an audience with us several times,” I said, my lips curving up. “Yet you don’t seem all that grateful that you have one now.”
Cradling her broken arm, Lady Hawley started to stand.
“Did I say you could rise?” Poppy stopped her.
The vampry jerked to a halt, her sharp features turning even starker.
Inching closer to his wife, Lord Hawley cleared his throat. “We apologize.” A practiced smile spread across his too-pinklips. These fuckers were well-fed. “We weren’t aware you would finally be answering our summons.”
I watched his chin lift. It was quite amusing to see the vampry attempt to regain control of the situation, treating his arrogance like a shield or sword.
He stopped behind his wife. “I wanted to discuss—”
“I don’t give a fuckwhatyou wished to discuss,” I interrupted, already done with this.
Lord Hawley’s shoulders drew back, and his mouth opened.
“And you will not speak unless it’s to answer our questions,” I continued. “Do you understand? That is a question. Nod if you understand.”
His nostrils flared, and he nodded.
I looked at Poppy as I linked with her.Do you have any questions for them?
Her response was immediate.No.
You sure? Even after what we’ve learned.
What did Mira say? That they ordered the tithes to be filled with crimson?
One side of my lips curled up as I eyed the vamprys.They did.
I am beyond positive.
Poppy stepped forward.
“Do you think you’ve won?” the female asked.
“Shut up, Laural,” the male gritted out.
“Why should I?” she countered. “I know how this ends.”
“Do you?” Poppy questioned.
