Page 88 of House of Crimson Hearts
She’s not listening. She’s waltzing to the door and sticking her finger on the gargoyle’s tongue. Which I do just as quickly and run after her. Fucking vampire speed making it difficult for me to catch up when she wants to piss me off. That’s going to get old real quick.
“Octavia,” I bark.
“Yes?” she says, stopping only momentarily to raise a sarcastic eyebrow at me.
“I said… oh my gods… do you know what, it doesn’t even matter. Don’t do it again.”
“Can’t promise that. Follow me.”
She leads me down various stone hallways to a wing of the castle. Much of the décor here looks similar to her mother’s. I have no doubt the opulent artwork hanging on the walls is indescribably old and hideously expensive. Though, just like at her mother’s castle, no portraits of her grace the corridors. Intermittent lanterns cast warm glows of orange and muted light over the hallway flooring to guide our way.
We weave from hallway to hallway. Some have sculptures, some have jewels and other interesting pieces of art.
Then we reach the private residences.
“I don’t need to be down here,” I say.
“You’re staying in my room.”
“Abso-fucking-lutely not.”
She grits her teeth at me, “Must we go through this again?”
“Listen. I agreed to stay here, but that’s as much as you’re getting.”
“If you get killed, I am fucked. Don’t you understand that? This isn’t just a game for me. This is about me protecting the future of this city.”
“You think this is a game for me? I can cure Amelia if we win. I can get my sister back. Fix what you fucked up. This is just a power grab for you,” I snap a little too sharply.
She recoils. Her eyebrow flickers, then her expression hardens.
“You think that’s the only reason I’m doing this?”
“You told me as much in the club.”
She throws her hands up and walks off muttering to herself. “And this is why I didn’t want the conversation.”
“Okay then,” I say, running after her. “Then tell me.”
“Because Dahlia will tear this city in two. She’ll drain it of every drop of blood and then she’ll move onto another city. If she wins this, it’s not just about me having control. Though I admit that is deeply appealing. It’s about saving this city from that fucking monster. She’s a plague and she will destroy the city I love. And I can’t have that, even if the city doesn’t love me.”
I look up at her, seeing her differently for a moment. I had no idea that she cared so much about Sangui City. I had no idea that she could care that much given how the city has treated her.
“Don’t fucking pity me,” she snaps.
“I wasn’t.”
“And don’t lie to me either. I don’t need to be a vampire to smell the pity in your blood because it was written all over your face. Your poker expression sucks. There—” She points at a room on the right. “If you’re so insistent on being away from me, sleep there.”
“That’s not—” I start but suddenly she’s a hair’s breadth from my face. She continues moving.
Step. Step. Step.
I move back. Back. Back.
My back hits the doorframe. She leans in, her hand above my shoulder.
“Do you think I asked you to stay in my room as a joke?”
