Whispers erupted in excitement. Inquisitive eyes dissected me—some full of wonder, others overcome by jealousy. My vampire ears caught quite a few bemoaning the implication he’d taken a mate. No doubt, they grieved their seasonal hot piece—or maybe just their hot piece in general—having someone at his side. Luckily for them, I wouldn’t be staying.
A voice interrupted my slow-descending spiral into madness. “She’s got the blood of the Originals in her,” it boomed.
The mass parted like the Red Sea, and Rayis appeared in a long cape and suit similar to Aram’s. His green hair was gelled back away from his masculine face, all ridges and strength and royal airs. The upper part of his face was covered by a black mask, but I’d know those red eyes anywhere. They were forever burned into my memory when I had the bastard at the end of my blade, snarling at me.
Eyes followed the green-haired asshole as he strode forward, undeterred by the vicious glare Aram pinned him with. When they were nearly nose to nose, two titans facing off, his lips pulled back into an aggressive sneer. “She’s no queen. If anything, she’s a bloody traitor to this realm. An abomination that you’d be an absolute muppet not to put down for good. She’s already warped your mind, Aram.”
I wish, my dude, but I can’t totally take credit for that.
A chorus of whispers broke out across the crowd, but they abruptly cut out the second Aram swept his eyes around the room. My mind was fractured by the flood of Aram’s wrath. It smothered out all of my own thoughts, and the emotion swiftly became a dangerous pound in my head.
Aram’s wings spread out and the entire room seemed to shift back, clearing space for the sparring brothers. I hadn’t expectedeverything to escalate so quickly, but Dagon appeared next to my side, his black wings spread as well. To guard me? Guess it was only the one brother at this point, but I could work with that.
I stole a glance at the dark-haired Nether Douche’s direction, but his gaze was firmly set on his brother across from us. Unlike Rayis, it didn’t appear this one liked to talk much.
Every Fae in that room was stricken by the sudden turn of events. It didn’t appear this happened often. They continued to put space between them and the battling trio.
“Are you challenging me in front of this many witnesses, Rayis? Threateningmy matein plain view of our court? I never thought you’d be this stupid,” Aram spat at his brother, feathers ruffling in agitation.
Rayis dragged an angry hand over his hair and glared. “Well, I didn’t think you’d be conquered by a pair of tits and some weak-ass mate bond no matter who it was with, but I guess you and I are both disappointed tonight.”
Should I be flattered my tits made it into the conversation? I couldn’t help but glance at them. Small but perky in this dress.
Conquered a bouncer and now a super villain? Go you, little itty bitty titty committee.
“Rayis,” Dagon warned.
“No, Dagon. This is madness, and you know it. She’s…she’s the very thing that took our family from us. Will you truly betray their memory by allowing this insanity to continue?!”
Sadness and grief warped my thoughts for a second before it was gone. It’d been Aram’s, not mine. Rayis’s words struck a chord and doubt floundered in the reply he made. “She’s not our enemy. She’s my mate. Fate—”
“Fate this, fate that. That drivel means nothing to me when those powers of hers could be the end of us and everything we’ve worked to achieve,” Rayis said firmly, his heated scowl directed at me. “You might not see it, but I do. She’s not affected—”
“Silence,” Aram growled and Rayis went quiet, the light in his eyes dulling.
The surge I felt, it was his power. He’d used it on his brother. So, their bond didn’t protect them from one another? Hope took root inside me, and a plan stitched itself together, one piece of information at a time.
Phillip’s note came to mind—a reminder I was a goddamn Hunter. I wasn’t some untrained novice. I was a weapon. It was time I started acting like one.
“Dagon,” was all the tall villain said next to me.
The brother on my left was already moving. He took hold of Rayis and then they were gone.
Aram’s hold on me tightened as he walked forward. “Continue.”
It took a second, but voices eventually trickled back in. The music started again. The beautiful Fae all around us returned to their partners and their dance. As if nothing happened, the party continued exactly how he commanded it to.
Aram led me to the long table at one side of the room and pulled out a chair for me. I took it, but my mind was bombarded by moves I should make and questions I should ask.
I didn’t need to be careful with him like other enemies. Aram wasn’t going to kill me, but I did need to be intentional so I could get the most out of everything I did. Who knew if and when he’d find a way to keep me out of his head.
Kate was in the seat next to me, scanning the food in front of her with a skeptical eye. “Is this…safe for human consumption?”
I didn’t expect him to answer, but he did. “It is. A bit different from what the humans in your realm normally eat, I admit, but hardly unpleasant.”
It was so odd to be sandwiched between my best friend and enemy, carrying on with their mundane conversation like it was completely normal and not totally fucking weird we were all heretogether. But I had bigger fish to fry, so I left my friend to figure out what she wanted to risk putting in her mouth.
“Your family was killed by a Royal Siren?”
