Page 115 of A Bond Beyond Blood

“You boys made such avaliant attempt at a rebellion, but youonlysucceeded because I walked away andallowedit.You do understand that now, don’t you?That I left the kiddies to play and you played at greatness but never quite achieved it.”

“We achieved everything we set out to do!”Winston roared.“We are the Council of Lords!”

“You areLord of the Flies, at best,” I said drolly.“Boys playing at being men.”

He slapped his hands against the table and pushed up out of his chair.“We arekingsamong mortals—”

“Blasphemy,” I barked.“How dare you say such things in front of your king?”Before he could back away, I had my hands around his throat.“You,” I snarled, “are embarrassments to your kind.Babes playing dress up in Mummy’s shoes.You are role playing, dungeon masters in a board game you cannot win.You are out of your fucking depths, Winston Connelly.”

He snarled as he bared his teeth at me, kicking and shoving to get out of my grip.He was strong, of course he was—nearly as ancient as I was—but no match for a born vampire.

No match for aking.

I breathed deeply and straightened to my full height, dragging Winston out of his chair and up onto the table.

His fellowLordsrose to their feet, pushing out of their chairs so swiftly that at least two of them crashed to the floor.They leaned on their hands on the table, ready to jump in because their brains showed them that their fellow was in danger, but on a base level, in the very marrow of their bones, theyknew.

It went against their primal instincts to challenge a king.

Whatever attack they’d been concocting while making me wait for this meeting, whatever attempt at a second revolt they thought they might pull off today, was for naught.A waste of two weeks.All that careful scheming, only to wind up in the same place they’d been for centuries—below me.

As I held the mastermind of this operation’s life in my hands, I looked around at each of them in turn, then I focused on Winston and shook my head.Even before I voiced the opportunity, gave him a chance to repent, I knew it was futile.He’d been eyeing my throne and craving my power for centuries.But I tried one last time.“Will you surrender, old friend?Will you stand down?”

Scorching hatred flared in his eyes.“Never,” he snarled.

“A pity, that.”I breathed deeply and steeled myself for what I was about to do.I’d find no joy in this moment, but he left me with no choice.“You’ve disappointed me, son.”I shoved my hand into that onyx hair, gripped a handful, then squeezed the other hand around his throat until I tore through flesh, then sinew, then spinal cord.He continued to glare at me until his eyes bulged grotesquely, and then that finalpop, and the light left his crimson gaze.

With repulsion twisting my lips, I tossed the decapitated head of my longest ally—and greatest adversary—onto the table, then dropped the vampire’s corpse.Tilting my head back, I breathed deeply as I stared up at that cloudy night sky painted above me, now painted with sprays of Winston Connelly’s blood.

“Now that I have your attention,” I bellowed, the sound echoing in the cavernous room and shattering the shocked silence of the remaining members of this silly council, “The Council of Lords is no more.”I chuckled and added, “Such a silly name.You should all be ashamed of yourselves.”Scanning the four of them, I stopped on Carmine, who grinned up at me, eyes wild and damn near rabid.

I managed to avoid shuddering at the sight, but made a mental note that Carmine would have to be put down sooner rather than later.Anyone who found that much pleasure in the death of a comrade was of no benefit to me.I wanted support, but I had my limits.Rabid dogs like Carmine Donati couldn’t be tamed, and therefore, would not easily fall in line.If anything, his elation of Winston’s demise only proved he’d been clamoring to take his place.

And that wouldn’t work at all.

But for now, I could use Carmine, manipulate that eagerness in his eyes to work for my benefit.

Until I no longer needed him—or he stepped out of line.Whichever came first.

I jumped off the table and strode toward the wall, running my hand along the wood until it hummed with power beneath my palm.“Ah, there she is.”

Turning back to the remaining four turncoats, I said,“Kneel for your king.”

When they obeyed, albeit somewhat reluctantly, I lowered my head and swept my gaze over the four remaining vampires.“Open the door to the throne room.I have missed her something fierce.”

Carmine snapped his fingers and one of the guards who’d entered the conference room while I’d been relieving my old friend of hisheadrushed forward.“Take Mr.Bristol to his throne.”

I clucked my tongue and wagged a finger at the mob boss.“KingBristol.”

Carmine swallowed hard, then gave a curt nod.“Yes, sir.”

The soldier strode toward me, head lowered reverently, then stopped just a foot away.His stance exuded military training, the likes of which I highly doubted stemmed from anyone in this room.Which meant only one thing.

“Name and rank, soldier.”

He lifted his head and straightened his shoulders, confirming my assumption that he’d had military training.“Samuel J.Brighton, sir.Lieutenant Commanding.”

“Ah.Royal Navy?”I guessed.

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