But it seems like I don’t need to explain further. Celine reaches out, and takes my shoulder.
It’s very rare that we touch like this, and I look up at her in surprise.
“You can claim the love that’s offered to you, Crimson,” she says. “You’ve been through enough. You deserve to write a new chapter. If someone is strong enough to do that, it’s you.”
Her hand feels heavy on my shoulder. Deep down inside me, something twists. “But what if I…”
Suddenly, there’s a loud, cracking sound as the door to the lounge slams open. Celine and I rise immediately, positioning ourselves toward the entrance, hands on our daggers.
A dozen shifters storm into the lounge, their hearts beating like war drums, the smoky scent of their blood filling the large space. At the center is Nella, the leader of the eastern shifter alliance, a sharp glint in her yellow eyes.
“Roslyn Night!” she shouts, crossing her arms as she surveys me. “I was told I’d find you here.”
“What do you want, Nella?” I demand.
The wolf shifter cocks her head, and two members of her pack enter the lounge behind her. One of them is dragging Kai by a silver chain around their wrist. Another holds their merman lover by his long hair.
“Unhand them immediately!” I command, flashing the red in my eyes. “Howdareyou treat my progeny in such a way?”
“We foundyourprogeny hand-in-hand with this merman,” Nella retorts. “They were in the courtyard. Celebrating theirmarriage.”
My eyes flash toward Kai. Their eyes are rimmed with red. Theshifter pulls the silver chain and forces their wrist forward. On their fourth finger is a shimmering turquoise wedding ring.
“When did this happen?” I hiss.
“Last…last night,” they whimper, wincing against the pain of the silver against their wrist. “Amrita Vyas married us. I meant it to be a secret…pleasedon’t hurt him!”
“It’s too late for that,” Nella snarls at the young vampire. Then she addresses me. “I had your word that you weren’t consorting with the mermaids, bloodsucker. And now I see that my suspicions were well-founded…”
“My clan is not allied with the Crystal Cove mermaids,” I respond, feeling my fangs elongate in anger. I knew this was destined to come to a head, but I wasn’t expecting Kai to actuallymarrythe merman.
But as my gaze falls upon the young vampire, I realize that it’s not Kai that I’m angry with. They look fearfully over at their new husband, clearly more concerned for him than with the silver chain wrapped around their wrist.
If someone was hurting Paige, she would consume my thoughts the same way. Perhaps Kai feels the same way for this merman.
I pull myself up to my full height, and I address the leader of the eastern shifter alliance.
“Let my progeny go this instant, and the merman as well,” I demand, allowing my fangs to descend fully.
The wolf shifter falters slightly, then nods to her pack members, who release Kai and the merman. They rush into each other’s arms, knocking over several chairs as they scramble away from the shifters, the merman unsteady on his magicked legs.
“Listen to me, wolf,” I hiss, deadly fury seeping into my words. “I never lied to you or betrayed you. But if you dare touch my progeny again -ortheir new husband - I will give you another scar to match the one across your chest.”
Nella growls, and the wolves flank closely around her. But I can smell their fear, and see the trepidation in the old shifter’s eyes. She doesn’t want to escalate this, but she’s not going to back down, either.
“I won’t forget this, RoslynNight,” she says, barking out the last word.
“I don’t expect you to,” I reply tauntingly.
Nella scoffs angrily,then she storms out of the room, her wolves trailing behind her.
“Never a dull moment,” Celine mutters, stepping forward beside me. “Would you like me to have them escorted out of the hotel, Crimson?”
“No, it’s not worth it,” I answer, my fangs retracting back into place as the earthy smell of shifter blood dissipates from the air.
“Then I’ll take my leave,” Celine says. She gives me a knowing look before she exits.
It’s only us and the bartenders now. All the other guests fled during the tense exchange between us and the shifters. I can’t blame them.
