“What do you want, Murad?” I snap.
“I’m afraid I don’t have very good news,” he sighs. “I just got off the phone with Damien Cross. Apparently Oana Ionescu and Cedric Ducharme escaped during the northern vampire alliance’s recent civil war, and they’ve been causing quite a lot of trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Well, it seems that Cedric is the one responsible for the most recent influx of tainted glow to our supply chain,” he continues, referring to the magically-enhanced drugs common throughout the region. “He’s got a collective of independent witches producing it for him. It’s causing unintended effects on the breathers, putting some of them into magical comas.”
I wave a hand. “Glow creates all sorts of issues. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before. What else?”
He pauses. It’s a fraction of a second, but it’s long enough to heighten my already sharp irritation.
“Whatelse, Murad?”
“I’ve got it on good authority that…Oana is making a move for Midnight City.” His expression darkens. “She feels that, because she was allied closely with Xavian before his demise, she has a claim to some of his territory.”
My lip twitches into a grimace. “Well, she can get in line, then.”
“I don’t know how serious her intentions are,” Murad says. “You know how Oana is. But if she makes the correct allegiances, she could be a legitimate threat.”
“I appreciate the information,” I tell him. “But I only have time for staking myknownenemies this week, Murad. Vague concerns about disgraced northern vampires will have to wait.”
“Speaking of those,” he replies, looking pointedly at the long line behind him.
I understand his tone, and nod curtly to the remaining vampires in the war room. “You’re dismissed. Visiting hours are over.”
The line disperses in a chorus of grumbles and sighs. Once they’re all gone, Murad steps closer toward me.
“What are you planning to do about Sabina?” he asks. I trust Murad more than any other vampire in my clan, and I confided in him that the breather told me Sabina was also involved in Waylan’s attempted coup.
“There’s nothing I can do about her,” I reply. “She hasn’t openly disrespected or betrayed me, so I can’t retaliate. I’ll have to just keep an eye on her, for now.”
“You need to be careful. She’s crafty, and almost your age.”
“If you want to lecture me, Murad, you’ll have to wrestle me out of this throne,” I snarl. “Do you think I don’t take my position seriously?”
A hint of red flashes in the other vampire’s eyes. “Don’t snap at me, Roslyn Night. I’m only sharing my counsel with you, and I know you value it.”
“Fine,” I answer, calming myself. Leadership has been more tedious than I thought it would be, but I shouldn’t harm my relationship with Murad because I’m frustrated with a bunch of newborns and disgraced vampires who are vying for my throne. “And Idoappreciate your advice, Murad. And the information about Oana and Cedric.”
His eyes return to their usual hazel, and he gives me a knowing smile. “Come, join me in the lounge. You look like you could use some sustenance.”
“On that, I can’t argue with you,” I reply with a sigh, alighting from my throne.
CHAPTER 11: THE PERFECT SHADE OF CRIMSON
Paige
When I wake, I feel like I’m floating on a cloud. My entire body is aching, raw.
Memories of last night echo in my mind. Crimson’s hand on my thigh, her fangs at my throat, the powerful tug of her mouth as she drank from my wrist…
The burning deep in my…
I open my eyes, rubbing the sleep from them.
I can’t let myself think about her like that. It’s good that I stopped her last night, before we went too far. I realize fully now (I can’tbelieveI didn’t realize it sooner) that drinking blood can be very…intimate…and it makes sense that many people might want to, um…combinethat with other acts, but…I know I just can’t do that. I’m in a monogamous relationship, and I would never do something like that. It’s not fair to Blake.
Scrolling through my phone, I can see that he’s texted me several times, frustrated that I’m not around. It’s sweet, really. He misses me. We’ve been together since high school. He’s always stuck by me, when my mother died, and through everything that’s happened with my brother. It can’t be easy, being with me.
