Page 36 of Midnight Queen

Yeah, this girl definitely isn't a threat to me… or Duke.

“I wasn’t taken or hurt because I worked for Silas,” I correct, dropping back into the chair. “I was taken because I’m in love with him.”

It’s odd admitting that to someone when I haven’t even told Silas yet. I want to say those three little words to him, but each time I open my mouth to tell him, I can’t do it. Not when he’s still looking at me like something he needs to coddle or fix. I don’t want to look back on the moment and remember the pity he’s been wearing on his face.

Rory’s head shakes in disbelief. “You’re in love with a vampire?”

I shrug casually. “I’ve never been one to go for the easy or safe option.”

Eyes lingering on Duke, she utters, almost as if to herself. “Easy and safe are boring.”

When Silas talked about Rory and how talented she is, I didn’t expect her to be so young. There’s no way this girl is even my age. If I had to guess, she still isn’t old enough to legally order a drink at a bar, but there is an air of maturity in her eyes that only comes from having to live through some serious shit. It’s something I’m familiar with myself.

Awkwardly shifting in the chair, I clear my throat before saying, “I don’t know how to thank you for what you did. I would probably be dead if they hadn't gotten there when they did.”

Her painted lips pull in a sort of smirk. “Well, Silas didn’t exactly give me a choice in the matter.”

“Yeah, I figured as much. He doesn’t really take kindly to the wordno. I could apologize for him, but I don’t think either one of you would appreciate that.” Speaking on behalf of Silas doesn’t seem like a smart move and if he feels inclined to apologize to Rory, he sure as shit needs to do it himself. “Nonetheless, I’m really grateful for everything you did. Thank you for helping me and helping Silas when no one else could.”

Rory’s face falls and heavy silence fills the space between us. For a second, I’m worried I said something wrong, but finally she speaks up. “I’m kind of in awe of you,” she shocks me by saying. “I watched the camera feed and I saw… I know what he did to you.” Her head shakes in small, barely noticeable movements. “You were stronger than I could have been—hell, I think you were stronger than most people would have been. When you stood up for yourself and threatened him back, I definitely was cheering for you.”

“I think you may have been the only one rooting for me.” Gideon’s voice floats through my head,you should know you’re quite popular, Quincey. I have many people making offers. They’re bidding more than I ever could have hoped for.“I'm pretty sure most of the people watching wanted to see me in pain. If I was in pain, they knew Silas would be too, and that was the ultimate goal.”

Rory lets out a low whistle. “They’re ballsy—I’ll give them that. I don’t know much about Silas and his—role—but he’s not someone I would like to piss off. That was the case even before I knew he was CountmotherfuckingDracula,but I saw how much they were bidding on your blood. They were all willing to pay more money than I will probably see in my life—so they were highly motivated to hurt him in some way.”

The angry burn in my belly grows. The more I heal and feel better, the less angry I am for what was done to me, but instead I’m angry that I was used as a vessel to hurt Silas. I’m enraged anyone would try and hurt Silas in the first place. “They’re too afraid of him to face him in person, so like cowards, they hid behind screen names.”

“Well, then they’re idiots too, because those screen names aren’t foolproof. The security on that website was topnotch, but I’ve seen better. It would take some digging, but if someone wanted to, you could find out who was hiding behind those names,” she explains casually while picking at the chipped black nail polish on her fingernails.

I sit up straighter in my chair as a half-baked—probably really fucking dumb—plan comes to me. I don’t even have to run it past him to know that Silas wouldn’t want me doing it, but that’s exactly why I’m not going to tell him. He’s keeping his own secrets and I can do the same.

“Rory,” I start, pulling her attention back to me. “I know you don’t work for Silas anymore, but would you consider doing a job for me?”

Her eyes spark with interest, “What exactly do you have in mind?”

Ileave Duke’s room feeling lighter than I went into it. I know I won't stop worrying about him until he’s awake and we have all the answers, but I leave knowing that while we wait for those, he won’t be alone. Della will be there. Or Rory, if she’s going to continue to sneak in and see Duke.

We didn’t talk about what she was doing or why she was there, and we didn't have to. Her eyes when she looked at Duke told me everything I needed to know, whether she wanted to admit it to me or even herself.

Closing the sliding glass door, I find Lor standing against the wall, tattooed arms crossed in front of his chest and eyes closed. He looks relaxed and harmless, but I know differently.

He was listening to everything we were saying and when his eyes partially open and his lips tilt in a knowing smirk, he confirms it.

“I don't need a lecture,” I cut him off before he can ridicule me for what I have planned. “I need to do this.”

He holds his hands up. “Hey! Don’t make assumptions like that. I’m all for it and was actually going to offer my assistance.” He pauses for a beat. “That is if you would like it.”

I consider my options for a second before nodding my head. “Fine, but you better keep your mouth shut and not go blab to Silas.”

“I’m wounded that you think I would be a gossip, Quincey.”

“I think your ego can handle it,” I scoff, walking past him toward the elevator.

Before I have time to reach out and push the call button, the silver doors open, and Della appears. Her gray hair has been washed, and it’s once again styled in one of her sleek updos, making her appear more like herself. Her face is still devoid of any makeup, but that’s okay given she still looks like at any second, she could burst into tears.

“You look better.” I smile at her. “Hopefully you feel a little better too.”

“The hotel room Silas has me in is nicer than my house. The shower is too.” It’s not a secret that Silas enjoys the finer things in life. “And I ate something so, yes, I’m feeling better.”

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