“I love you, too.”
The call disconnects, and I put the phone back into my purse.
But the suite feels cold now, and empty without Crimson. I wonder where she went. I search for her in the bedroom, and the large ensuite bathroom. She must have gone to her crypt.
I debate whether I want to look for her. The entrance to her crypt must be somewhere in the suite, although I’m sure it’s well-hidden to prevent anyone from harming her during the day. The night is still young, and I want to talk to her. But a deep, aching tiredness overtakes me, and I can’t bring myself to try and find her.
Instead, I unpack my things, trying to distract myself from the thought of Crimson underground somewhere, all alone.
CHAPTER 35: ALLIES AND ENEMIES
Crimson
I rise the next evening in an irritable mood. I tell myself it’s only the situation with Kai that’s bothering me, although I know the truth is much worse.
The more time I spend with Paige, the more difficult it is to keep her at arm’s length. I worry that I’ve made a mistake in allowing her to travel to Silverlake City with me. As much as I want her by my side, I have to be aware that favouring her too openly presents a risk for both of us. If the other vampires and witches know how fond I am of her, it will put a target on her back. Especially with thatstupidprophecy that claims any human I love will be my undoing.
And As ridiculous as it sounds, I can’t help but feel…confusedby my relationship with Paige. I’m used to always being in control, tokeeping myself at a distance, to minimizing my emotional attachments to avoid situations like this. But Paige has a way of knocking down my defenses. I find myself revealing more and more of myself, and it’s dangerous.
It’s not just the prophecy. The more I share with Paige, the more…the more she means to me. The more painful it will be when…
No. I can’t allow myself to go down this road. I can only handle one situation at a time. And right now, I have to be focused on the escalating threat of the disgraced northern vampires, who are certainly vying for my territory. I need to cement my alliances clearly and firmly, and ensure that my clan gets a good deal if we reach any agreements. That’s what I need to focus on.
All of this is on my mind as I dress and prepare for the evening. There’s a small dressing-room adjacent to the room that houses my coffin. It’s not as elaborate as the bedroom in the main suite, but I don’t want to dress in front of Paige.
Pushing my thoughts of her aside, I enter the main suite through the hidden door in the ensuite washroom. It’s almost impossible to detect, and it keeps my resting place safe.
Unfortunately, Paige is awake, and taking a bubble bath. Her thick, wavy black hair is piled up on her head in a messy bun, a flyaway strand sticking to her wet cheek. She gasps when she sees me appear, a delightfully tempting sound. The sudden, pounding increase of her heart reverberates in my ears.
And thesight of her, skin fresh and moist and covered in lathering bubbles, whets my appetite. But I don’t have time for that right now.
“Excuse me,” I tell her with a brusque nod, keeping my eyes level with hers, although it’s difficult. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“It’s all right, sir,” she replies, eyelashes fluttering shyly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know the entrance to your crypt was in here.”
“Don’t reveal its location to anyone,” I answer.
My words are sharper than I intended them to be. Her shoulders slump slightly, and there’s an agonizing expression of disappointment in her eyes. Ihatedisappointing her, and I know my tone is harsh, but this is how it has to be. It’s for her own safety as much as mine.
“The first evening consists of strategic meetings with the other groups in the region,” I tell her. “I’ll be engaged for the majority of the night. You should go upstairs and enjoy the restaurant, if you haven’t already, and the other amenities the hotel provides.”
She sits up in the tub with a frown. “Can I join you for your meetings, my king?” she asks. “I can help, maybe, I can take notes or…”
“That won’t be necessary,” I reply. “If I need you, I’ll call for you. But the conference should be well-stocked with distilled blood.”
Her eyes fall, and there’s a piercing pain in my chest.
But this is what I have to do. It’s too dangerous to have her involved in my clan’s operations.
And it’s too dangerous…for her to believe that our relationship is anything more than sex and blood. The closer we become, the harder it is for me to deny the way I feel about her. To deny the reality that one day, she’ll…
But I push those thoughts away again. I have other matters I need to attend to.
Without another word, I exit the bathroom, and go up the elevator to the event hall.
“And in closing, the Hecate coven believes that reintegrating our prisoners into magical society will not only reduce the strain on resources, but it will help strengthen our relationships with other magical clans and covens.”
The pale, red-haired good witch beams proudly out at the other witches, vampires and shifters. We’re gathered around a massive, round oak table in one of the hotel’s conference rooms, in various states of engagement. Only higher-level representatives are here, two or three from each group, with a contingent of independent witches and bear shifterstaking up the remaining seats. Right now, the Hecate witches have the floor, with Callista Craft presenting their proposal.
