Page 13 of Clash of Sin and Secret

The memorial must’ve given our clan a place to put their grief because the energy of the compound seems restored, more alive than it’s been since the night of the invasion. Or it’s the presence of the two-dozen human volunteers Zane allowed to be brought in for those who wished to partake in a live feed.

Whatever the reason, the lightened mood will take some weight off Zane’s shoulders.

Vampires aren’t overly emotional beings, so having laid our dead to rest, the clan can move on. That Bran and Francesco haven’t received the same honor is horrid, but everyone knows we’ll right that wrong.

I stride through the common area, a spring in my step from a night well spent. There’s nothing like a battle to the death to make you feel alive.

The hub is bustling with vampires—some feeding, some fucking.

Link and two other guards are holed up at the games tables, goblets of blood being tipped back in abandon. Laughter echoes off the golden walls and for the first time in weeks, I breathe to the full depths of my lungs.

“Yo, Huntley!” Link raises his glass, flashing that confident grin of his. “A good night off chasing shadows?”

“Killed a few demons, met a dragon shifter, and saved a damsel in distress.”

Link snorts. “If you say so.”

I wave as I move past them, not caring if they believe me or not. Zane will believe me and hearing about my night will cheer him up a bit.

Taking the corridor that leads to the royal residences, I push through the stairwell doors and head upstairs.

Zane will take my news and give himself a break for one night. He’s pushing himself too much. He hasn’t fed or fucked since the couple in the condo on the night of the attack.

I can seduce him into using me for a few hours to work off some of his stress. I swipe my tongue along the seam of my lips and swallow. That’s the best idea I’ve had all night.

I pick up my pace, jogging up the steps as my cock stiffens just thinking about it. He’s been so riddled with guilt since Scottie came home. It’s not healthy.

It’s also not right.

Because what he doesn’t know is that I’m equally responsible for our childhood playmate leaving us in her rear-view mirror.

I press a fist over the ache in my chest. “Now who’s riddled with guilt?”

Still, as long as she doesn’t tell Zane the truth, we’ll get past it.

And what are the odds of?—

A surge of energy slams into me like a freight train, sending me crashing back against the wall. The drywall buckles behind me, and I fall to the marble steps. Not an ideal landing by any stretch of the imagination.

Fucking hell.

Rolling to my knees, I shake my head and clear the cobwebs. Darkness has swallowed the stairwell and reality grips me.

No way this is happening again.

I scramble to my feet and sprint up the last flight of stairs, adrenaline spiking with every step. The guards outside the royal suite are on the ground and shaking off the haze of the blast.

“Has anyone pushed past you?” I shout as I release the security locks.

“No, sir.”

Thank fuck. Inside, I rush through the common area of the residence and head to the royal suite.

“Zane!” My voice echoes down the hall, swallowed by silence.

No answer.

I throw open the door to Zane’s office and a chill runs the length of my spine. Papers strewn across the floor, his chair overturned and left on its side.

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