Page 29 of House of Crimson Hearts
“Only in my nightmares.”
“So cute. Terrible liar, though,” I whisper.
Cordelia’s voice bellows over the crowd, “Peace. I demand peace or I will compel you into obedience.”
That makes the room acquiesce into silence. Red releases me but stands by my side as Cordelia continues to talk.
“Guards, stand down. I do not want the hunters hurt. Hunters, I kindly request you allow me to finish explaining my plan before you decide on whether to slaughter my guards.”
The Chief’s jaw flexes. But she gives a curt nod and the hunters back down. “Get to the point, Cordelia.” She’s practically snarling stood next to her. The mic she’s near amplifies the rage tenfold. Two vampire guards appear at the back of the stage.
“This is going to get ugly unless Mother hurries proceedings along,” I breathe.
“What makes you think we won’t enjoy that?” Red says, but before I can come back, Mother continues.
“Judge me as you may, but for thirty years, I’ve held this knowledge back, hoping I wouldn’t have to share it. That the door would simply vanish after the years passed. But it seems that someone attempted to breach the boundary last night and both the Chief and I lost valuable men and women. We can no longer standby and do nothing. This is why I bring it to your attention now. We must breach the boundary before our enemies do.”
“Why should we care about the door and what’s inside it anyway?” the Chief says.
Cordelia’s shoulders sag, her face drops and for a split second I actually buy the act.
“Because I’m tired. Are you not exhausted of this… this… charade?” Cordelia gestures between herself and the Chief.
The Chief narrows her eyes, trying to work out what game she’s playing, what the real play is, and I do the same. Red glances at me, confusion written in the lines across her brow.
Cordelia shifts position and turns to the crowd. “I am tired of war. And I am here to formally announce my retirement. It is my last wish to foster peace between our two species for the first time in history. And in order to do that, I formally request that the Chief also step down from her role.”
A gasp rips through the room. The Chief takes a step back, her eyebrows practically climbing off her forehead.
“Did you know?” Red breathes.
“No,” I whisper back. “I had no fucking clue.”
“How dare you,” the Chief says and her posture jerks forward as if she’s going to attack. The two vampire guards behind Cordelia are on the Chief in seconds, swords crossed under her chin.
“Stand down,” Cordelia says, touching one of them on the arm.
Reluctantly they shift back and release the Chief.
“Please…” Cordelia says, pleading in her tone and then turns to the audience, her face sweet and light. “I beg you to let me finish before you pass judgement. All our fates lie in your hands, Chief.”
Oh, that canny bitch.
“Motherfucker,” Red hisses.
“Come on, it was a good play. Even if it was manipulative,” I whisper.
Red’s teeth grind against each other.
“Fine. What are you proposing?” the Chief says, folding her arms a distinct expression of violence reflected in the hard lines of her neck and jaw.
Cordelia stands a little straighter and opens her arms. “Together, we break the barrier. Teams of two: one of my vampire children and one of your senior hunters. We run a series of trials to collect the items we need to break the barrier spell. And then…”
“Then…” Chief says, leaning forward.
“The winning team that reaches the door and opens it first, becomes our heirs.”
The Chief bursts out laughing. “An-An-And what in blood’s name makes you think we’d go along with such an audacious plan like that?”
