Page 14 of The Star's Sword
Zadis swallowed. “Many know her. She’s an eighth realm celestial. The highest rank to be seen in the mid-realm, except for Samael.”
Vasara pursed her lips, eating Samael up with her eyes again. “And he spends all his time doing dirty things like killing. He could have everything in the world. What a waste.” She sighed dramatically. “And he looks like that, too.”
My fingers cracked, itching to punch her, but Simon’s conflict resolution senses seemed to have kicked in as usual, and he moved forward, quickly putting himself between Vasara and my friends.
Vasara gasped happily, pulling Simon in against her like he was some kind of pet or squeaky toy. She was nearly six feet in spiky heels, so Simon was just slightly shorter.
He gave her a patient smile and then extricated himself. “I’m sorry I left you alone, dearest.”
She grabbed his arm again. “Isn’t he just the sweetest? I’ve been his fan for such a long time. The oldest vampire. The only pure blood—”
“That’s enough,” Simon said wanly. “Did you want to spend some time together?”
Vasara’s grin grew extra sickly. “Oh! Excellent.” She looked at me, throwing eyes over me. “I have training late tomorrow, after all.” She flicked her eyes back up, roaming them over Zadis and then Samael in a way that made me furious. “Better keep up, Cleo, or it won’t just be your Morningstar title I’m taking.”
Then she walked off the dance floor, pulling Simon with her past a perturbed-looking Cayne.
Simon merely waved him off, smiled at the rest of us and was dragged out of sight.
My soul stung slightly at his disloyalty. How could he be spending so much time with the woman competing with me?
“I hate her,” Samael said. “I always have.”
“Me too,” Zadis murmured.
“Who is she?”
“She moves through the havens and mid-realms, gaining attention through performing ‘miracles’ with her illusions.” Zadis sighed. “She’s built up quite the reputation, and I guess she wanted to ferry that into a bid for the Morningstar position.”
“She just wants attention,” Samael said gruffly. “She always has.” He looked back at me. “Are you okay, Cleo?”
I nodded.
“That’s all good then,” Zadis said warmly.
Something flashed between them, but it wasn’t quite mean.
“The two of you look flushed, though who could blame you with Cleo looking like that tonight,” Zadis said.
Sam nodded tightly, looking me over again, naked hunger taking his eyes, making them flash deep red.
But then he pushed me gently away from him and toward Zadis. “You go ahead and dance with Zadis and continue to gather information. I’ll stay out of sight.”
My heart sunk at the idea of not seeing him again, but if that was how Vasara was going to look at him…
Sam’s eyes caught mine, and his expression lit with a mischievous grin. “But remember, I’ll be the one taking that dress off tonight when you get back.”
I gasped as he grinned and strode away, disappearing back into the crowd as easily as he came.
With all the glittering glass around us, it was hard to keep focus as Zadis spun me around the dance floor again in his capable arms.
But at least I had something to look forward to when this was over.
5
By the end of the night, I’d met many elder vampires.
My impression of most of them was of rich, bored elites finding more interesting ways to pass the time. But there was also a glint in their eyes, a predatory awareness of everyone around them that never quite lowered.
