Page 88 of House of Darkness
“The tsar and his favorite general! To what do I owe the pleasure? Sit, sit.” Edward waved us over with a grin that was anything but friendly.
I flashed my best dazzling smile and flopped confidently into a chair. “It’s been far too long, Edward.”
Ignoring the fact that I would wipe his entire House off the map if given the chance, not just for what he did to Catina but for the human-hunting games they had been notorious for in my father’s time.
“Get them a drink, please, Luis.” Edward flicked his head toward one of the vampires along the dingy walls. He gestured to the two vampires flanking him, both with tanned skin and a rough brutality that came from spending too long at sea. Something Edward had managed to avoid in his many years. “I’m not sure you’ve met my captains. This is Xavier and Emiliano.”
Xavier had curly hair like mine and a scar over his eye that must have come from his human days. Emiliano resembled Edward, with a square jaw and neatly cropped hair, though his stubble made him look less polished than his count. They both nodded tensely at me and Catina, their eyes wary and bodies ready to spring. Two heavy glasses were set before us, filled with rum and garnished with a few drops of blood. I didn’t want to know how fresh that blood was. I left mine untouched.
Edward scrutinized us closely as he lifted his glass to his lips. “How have you been, Cat? It’s been a while.”
“Don’t fucking call me Cat, asshole,” Catina snarled.
I shot her a glare. I wanted nothing more than to let her have free rein to chop off his balls, but that wouldn’t be very productive in discussions of peace.
Edward clicked his tongue and took a long sip from his glass. “Iwas just trying to be friendly. Then again, you always were a bit?—”
“Let’s remain peaceful, Edward,” I interjected.
He grimaced. “Then keep a leash on your dog.”
I struggled to choke down the rage bubbling in my chest, especially as the sunset aura at my shoulder nearly exploded. “You’re just mad that I’m not your dog anymore, Eddie.”
This wasexactlywhy I didn’t want Catina or Sorin here. I knew they would derail the conversation the instant they were given the opportunity. I started to say as much to Catina, but Edward interrupted. “Perhaps you’re right. I should’ve kept a shorter leash on you too.”
She stood, but I grabbed her arm and slammed her back into her chair.Calm the fuck down before you get us both killed.
We could take them, she snapped back without hesitation.
We’re here under a white flag, Catina.
She pulled out her blade, spinning it between her fingers, but ultimately settled back in her chair. She kicked her feet onto the golden table, a clear sign of disrespect that had Edward seething.Fine.
“Edward, I’m here to discuss the terms of your surrender,” I said through a barely checked snarl, having already reached the end of my limited patience.
“Surrender? Whatever do you mean?” Edward wasn’t looking at me, instead eyeing Catina’s nimble movements with her blade. There was a predatory glint in his eye, a hint of the psychopath lurking beneath his thinly veiled façade.
“Imeanthat I know you are protecting the traitors and have executed a number of humans. Turn them over to me and step down as Count of the Javali House, and you can keep your head.”
Edward chuckled, the dark sound reverberating through the room and making my hackles rise. “Is that why she’s here, to help remove myhead?”
“I’d love nothing more,” Catina growled.
“Even after I taught you how to remove heads? Such a shame, Cat darling. Why taint such fond memories?” Edward flashed a grin, his fangs extended. The Javali fangs had always made me uneasy. They were far too thick—designed to kill their prey. He finally turned his attention to me. “Mihal has promised true freedom,Your Highness.Freedom to hunt as nature intended. To rule over humans as we should, rather than caging ourselves to make morsels feel more at home.”
“A primitive, disgusting way of thinking that will not be accepted,” I replied coldly.
His vicious eyes scanned me clinically. He set down his glass and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the gaudy table. “I heard your little toy was stolen. Interesting that the acolyte you took from me was taken from you. One could say it was fate.”
Blackness seeped through my joints like a hot, bubbling toxin waiting to be spewed. My nails dug into the table, denting the metal. He was looking for any weakness to exploit and provoke us into lashing out. I needed to rise above it, but it was a challenge when all I could think about was taking him to the fucking dirt. “A mistake on Codran’s part that will result in his disembowelment,” I hissed.
Edward chuckled again. “Of course. Theft should not be tolerated. Makes me think I should challenge you for the morsel since you took her from me. Might have to, knowing what I know now.”
Though my wings were already out, I began to shift fully, coils of black spreading over my flesh and my vision darkening to shades of red. By some miracle, I didn’t destroy the room. “Watch your fucking tone.”
Edward’s fangs flashed like lights in the darkness. “That’s why you really want Codran, right? Because he got his claws into her. Gotsome other things?—”
My snarl cut through the darkness like a knife. I didn’t know how, but I was standing, wings spread wide, ready to spring. Edward barked a laugh. He leaned back and finished off his glass, passing it to Luis for a refill. “At least we’re on the same page now,Your Highness.”
