Page 37 of House of Crimson Kisses
Lord Netterley shifts on the spot, then a nasty sneer crosses his face. “Then I would like to offer my house as a host. To whomever you are, the most gracious dhampir. I offer you the blood and services of House Netterley. Let me open my arms and home to you. I am certain you’ll need a noble vampire lineage, and as the first to offer, I do hope you’ll see that it is my family that values you most.”
The sneer reaches all the way to the ends of his impeccably groomed hair as he scans the ballroom, laying his eyes upon the other nobles in the room.
A hiss rips around the room as several vampires and several more hunters gasp. That was a bold move from Netterley. I glance at Red. This is quickly becoming a political minefield. There are protesters outside desperate for the cure not to be released. And yet in here, the vampires are welcoming the dhampir like family. A dhampir that is half hunter—the very thing they’ve hated for a millennium.
And it’s now that I see Red’s point. They are opening their arms not because they welcome the cure, but because they seek to control it, or more accurately, control her.
Lady Woodley stands next. “I too, offer my name, my blood, and my services. House Woodley would be honoured to have you as part of our family.”
The hypocritical bitch. I swear that was who Dahlia said was supporting Mother’s efforts to push back the hunter territory.
Noise erupts then. Offerings from a dozen different vampire families, until Mother bellows across the audience for everyone to be quiet.
It’s only then I notice the only people to speak were vampires. Which is when a hunter I don’t recognise stands. She’s an elderly woman, but one in uniform and looking very much like she belongs on a political council. Perhaps a hunter elder, then?
“Yes?” the Chief says.
“Surely, if the dhampir is human currently—and a hunter, no less—then that makes them more hunter than vampire. In which case, I offer Hawk Battalion as their family. Vampires do not deserve the honour of claiming the dhampir. It is from hunter blood that the dhampir derives, and therefore, I am presuming they will reside in the Hunter Academy territory once they have fully transitioned.”
Three vampires all sitting at the closest tables to the elder hunter stand up. Two of them snarling. The guards at the back of the room step forward. Two hunters and two vampires, the hunters have their hands on their stakes.
This will not end well.
Another greying hunter stands, again in uniform. She has several pips on her shoulder epaulettes, so I’m assuming she’s someone fairly senior.
“I too offer Eagle Battalion.”
“Fuck,” the Chief mumbles.
Mother glances at her, and then raises her hands out to the ballroom. “ENOUGH. The dhampir is likely in this room, likely on this stage, and we do not need them to see the petty desires we harbour. This person is a free agent in this city. They do not have to align with any hunter or vampire house. And if they were to, I should imagine they would choose either the Chief or the St Clair family, given our highest-ranking statuses.”
That doesn’t go down well at all. I’ve heard enough. I glance at Xavier, who, while still inebriated, is skirting his gaze feverishly between all the shouting vampires and hunters in the room, trying to take stock of the political mood and how to make everyone friends again, I suspect.
“We need to get out of here,” I say to Red and Xavier under my breath.
Mother tries to shout for silence, but there are now hunters and vampire nobles bellowing at each other across the room.
“Mother,” I bark. She spins to face me. “I’m getting these guys out of here. This is dangerous.”
She nods and says to all of us, “The next trial is the trial of spirit. Your instructions will come to you shortly.”
She turns to the Chief, and they nod at each other and descend the stage to assuage the political discord.
I march out of the ballroom, my hand clamped around Red’s wrist, Xavier trundling behind us.
“What are we doing? I want a drink,” Xavier says.
“You need to sober up. Go get Amelia and meet us in the corridor. We’re going to the carriage tunnels,” I bark and grab his arm, too, yanking them both down the corridor. Red is sweating, her skin is clammy and greenish.
This isn’t right, she’s too hungry. Too needy for my blood. If the pace she’s wanting to drink at continues to increase, I may not be able to satiate her, and that makes my insides burn like nothing else. But more than that, her hunger is far deeper than what’s normal for an addiction.
Xavier returns with Amelia in tow, right as Red wobbles on her feet. Fucksake, we need to get blood in her fast, but not in Castle St Clair. Not where everyone can witness it.
“Xavier, get down to the carriage tunnel and get one ready for us. I’ll carry her the rest of the way.”
He speeds off in the direction of the tunnels. I bend my knees and sling Red over my shoulder.
“The fucth uuu doinnn,” she mumbles into my shoulder and then proceeds to whack my back. “Lethhhh me donnn.”
