Page 52 of Hunt the Dusk
“I’m most certain of it. Leaving me without a food source puts me at their mercy. Their veins could be poisoned, and if they aren’t, then using them comes with a favor owed, the terms of which do not need to be discussed until it is cashed in.”
Crap. Having the king owe you a favor was like holding a blank check. “So what do we do?”
His gaze dropped to my neck for a beat in which my pulse spiked. He fucking better not be thinking what I thought he was thinking.
He poured more wine and threw it down his gullet. “I can manage the hunger. It’s two days, after all.”
And if he hadn’t been attacked by Emelie and her troop, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Wait… “How did Emelie and the ghosts know where to find you?”
He frowned. “Specters talk, and I have many in my castle.”
“Yeah, but they’re either locked away in the east wing or one-hundred-percent loyal to you.”
He tapped his goblet with his nails. “You believe the attack was orchestrated by someone here.”
“Ibelievethat we should consider the possibility. Think about it. Without that attack, you wouldn’t be weakened so wouldn’t be as hungry as you are. Losing the bloods wouldn’t be such a blow.”
He picked up the jug of wine, ready to pour more into the goblet, then thought better of it and crossed to the windows instead. Thick drapes blocked out the world, and he drew them back to reveal mountain peaks and heavy snow-filled clouds. The weak pre-gray light of impending dawn caressed his skin, and his eyes flinched; still he held his ground, watching as the gray became tinged with fingers of orange sunlight.
Sunlight that could hurt him. Badly.
What was he doing? I took a step forward just as he moved away from the window. “I should rest. I can control my hunger for two nights. I’d be a worthless king if I couldn’t.”
Was he trying to convince me or himself?
He headed away from the rapidly growing rectangle of light and toward the heavy wooden door to his chamber. “Feel free to roam during the daylight hours but be back here before the sun goes down.” He stepped into the room and closed the door, leaving me to watch the sunrise alone.
Chapter 18
Dracmore Castle might not be as imposing as Branwood Castle, but the location and the raging blizzard outside the windows gave it a different kind of dangerous air. The corridors were stone passageways that created echoes from every sound, and I was afraid to venture too far from our quarters just in case I got lost. There didn’t seem to be anyone about. All the vampires were sleeping. But there had to be some more humans here. Veins and the staff?
Voices drifted from down the corridor, and I followed them, my step quickening until I reached an open door. Several people lounged around in the room beyond. There was a buffet, jugs of wine, and lots of chatter, which stopped as I entered.
“Hi.” I gave everyone a little wave. “Mind if I join you?”
“You’rehiswatcher, aren’t you?” one of the women said. She had an open, honest face and curly blond hair. “What’s he like?”
Whatwashe like? Dangerous, murderous, charming, and charismatic. But most of all… “Unpredictable.”
“There’s a seat here.” Another woman patted the spot beside her on the flowery sofa. She had luscious dark locks that fell down to her waist and a regal air that reminded me of Agatha. My gut tightened. “I’m Regina, by the way.”
“I’m Flo,” Blondie said.
“Orina.”
I joined them, relieved to be among regular people, but then Regina leaned forward to grab her cup, and I spotted the fang marks on her wrist. Marks that were a clear reminder that these were not ordinary people. They were veins.
“You say the king is unpredictable?” Flo said. “There must be more to him than that?”
These veins belonged to heads of houses. Other nobles. They were my fellow humans, but their loyalties lay with their masters, and after the attack on the road and the loss of the bloods, I couldn’t trust anyone.
“There’s not much else. He’s a private person. But what about you guys? What’s it like to be a vein?”
“Fabulous,” Flo said. “I have a whole wing to myself and my own maid.” She smiled smugly.
“Mistress Sangera is generous,” one of the guys said.
Flo smiled fondly at him. “She’s allowing us to get married.”
