Page 96 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

An ache pulsed behind my eyes. War with Auremar was inevitable now. I had to prepare. And soon, very soon, I would need to speak to Arabella.

41

CLAIM YOUR POWER (AND THE DARK LORD)

ARABELLA

After waiting most of the night for Kazimir to return, I’d finally collapsed into sleep surrounded by my dragon and shredded pillows.

“Bastard,” I muttered, plucking a stray feather from my hair.

I’d scrubbed myself nearly raw to rid my skin of that blasted blue tint from the bath salts, then spent hours practicing magic alone (since Kazimir missed our scheduled training), and I still hadn’t received a single message from him.

A soft knock on the door cut through my brooding.

“Come in,” I called, cinching the silk robe tighter around my waist.

A serving girl peeked in, carefully balancing a tea tray. “Afternoon tea, my lady.” She took one startled look at the mess in the room but, with creditable restraint, stayed silent.

“Thank you,” I said, forcing a small smile. “Any word from Lord Blackrose?”

Her brow furrowed. “My lord returned hours ago, my lady. Just after dawn.”

I froze with a teacup halfway to my lips. “Hours?”

“Yes, m’lady,” she confirmed.

Hours. And hadn’t bothered to let me know. Betrayal and wounded pride flamed inside me, igniting into white-hot anger.

“Where is he now?” I asked, each syllable clipped.

“He’s in the war room, m’lady. He’s been in there with his advisors since his return.”

“And he left word that he’s not to be disturbed, no doubt.”

She chewed her lip nervously. “He might have said he’d feed anyone who interrupts him to the void beasts…”

I set the teacup down with a sharp click. “Where is the war room located?”

“M’lady, I don’t think?—”

“Where?” I cut her off, letting my voice and the magic pulsing in my veins warn her I wasn’t playing.

She sighed. “East wing, second floor. The large chamber with the double doors and the guards.”

“Thank you,” I said pointedly. “You may go.”

“But the void beasts?—”

“They’ll have to find something else to eat,” I snapped, already marching for the door.

I had a good, long walk to build my fury into something like a wildfire. By the time I reached the double doors, guarded by two burly men in black livery, magic crackled around my fingertips. They straightened, exchanging an uneasy glance.

“Lady Blackrose,” the taller one said with a bow. “I must inform you, Lord Blackrose?—”

“Ordered you to feed anyone who disturbs him to the void beasts,” I finished for him. My voice vibrated with power. “Now step aside.”

They shifted uncomfortably, but I lifted my hand, letting sparks loose to show I meant business. One guard swung the door open, and I strode past him.

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