Page 18 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

Now, we all stood awkwardly in the grand hall, surrounded by a group of vampires as we waited for my sister’s arrival.

Kara walked through the double doors, flanked by two guards on each side. She was dressed in her leathers, the fabric stretching around her full hips and thighs. Her golden hair was braided in a coronet with several pieces having ripped loose from riding.

“Your Highness!” Warren boomed, in the same way he had during my arrival, “Welcome to the Blood Court!”

“Thank you.” My sister smiled sweetly, her eyes roamed around the room until they locked on mine. Her eyes drifted to the males on either side of me, her brows pinching before she fixed her expression. “I’m happy to be here.”

“Little Adair!” Nico boomed as he stepped toward my sister.When had he come up with these nicknames for everyone?

A full smile bloomed over her face as she moved to embrace Nico, wrapping her arms around him as he lifted her into the air. She squealed before he placed her back on the ground.

“Kara.” Declan’s voice had a joyful lit to it, causing my brows to lift slightly.

“Declan.” Kara smiled as she looked over the harpy before pulling him in for a hug. Declan stiffened as my sister wrapped her arms around him, his wings twitching before he gently put his arms around her.

“It’s good to see you,” he said.

“It’s good to see you too.” She bumped him gently on the shoulder, and he smiled as she turned towards me.

“Lennox.”

“Kara.” Both of our voices were strained as we appraised one another.

We reached for each other at the same time, moving awkwardly into a hug, our bodies stiff as we embraced. I’d never shared such an awkward hug with my sister.

Nico coughed as we pulled apart, sharing a look with Declan.

I glared at him in response.

He smirked at me before turning to Kara. “Shall we escort you to your rooms, little Adair?” He bowed dramatically as he held out his arm to Kara.

“Lead the way, little Nico.” She looped her arm through his.

Nico gasped. “Little?” He put a hand on his chest dramatically. “I assure you there is nothing little about me, Kara Adair.”

Declan and I followed behind Nico and Kara as we ascended the stairs to her room, a couple of hallways from my own.

We all followed inside, taking a spot in the sitting room that led out onto the balcony.

Kara looked around the room, the layout similar to my own only mirrored facing the opposite side of the palace.

“So what have I missed since I last saw you all? And since my sister’s arrival?”

“Not much,” Declan mumbled.

“You got that right,” Nico huffed. “Luka’s been looking for Astria’s spellbook non-stop, which kept the three of us busy until Lennox arrived last week, and then the bastard decided to go out on his own.”

Kara narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean? Luka’s not here?”

Declan shook his head. “He left the day after Lennox arrived.”

“He left?” she asked again. I shifted in my seat as she turned her attention to me. “Did you even see him at all before he left?”

I swallowed. “Yeah. We saw each other briefly.”

“How brief is briefly?” There was a vicious lilt to her tone that made me sit up straighter in my chair.

“That’s none of your business,”

---