Page 22 of House of Pawns
“Samuel,” I say calmly. “Why are you here telling us this?”
He meets my eyes and I see his own grow hard. “Because Jasmine doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing. And Iknowhow a House is supposed to run. There’s supposed to be order to it. My father might not have been a Born Royal, but he did what Elijah would have. It’s time for things to be put back in their right order. And that means having an actual Royal leading a real House.”
I look him straight in the eye before I embrace Samuel. “Welcome to the House of Conrath. I’m glad you’re here.”
Chapter
Nine
MY BREATH CREATES CLOUDS AS I walk over the saturated gravel. When my palms do not sweat as I walk up the half rotted steps, I know something has changed. The last time I stood upon these steps, I was prepared to die. They brought out Ian, expecting me to kill him. I was so terrified.
But here I stand, alone. At least, alone as my small House will allow me to be.
Every one of them is hidden somewhere they can see me.
I raise my hand and knock on the door four times.
It’s a Bitten who opens the door, one I do not recognize, but immediately behind her stands Jasmine.
Without waiting for her to invite me inside, or more likely to attack me, I step over the threshold, bumping the Bitten with my shoulder as I do.
“You’re looking well, Jasmine,” I say in an overly kind voice. I hear a hiss from the Bitten next to me and turn to findher bearing her fangs, her eyes glowing yellow. She earns nothing more than a glare from me.
“And you’re still looking very human,” Jasmine offers. Her eyes are difficult to read. “Your birthday is tomorrow. I hope you are here because you’ve changed your mind about delaying your bloodletting.”
I smile, wiping my feet on the rug before shutting the door behind me. It means my House members can no longer see me, but it is not without purpose. “The time for my death will come soon enough, but it won’t be tomorrow. Though, I do plan to celebrate—with all of Silent Bend. I do hope you and your…” I glance around at the decrepit space for effect, “House, will join us.”
A deep red glow ignites in Jasmine’s eyes. “You really think it wise inviting the town that so fears your family into the very home they once tried to burn down?”
I take a step toward her. “I think you’ll find the attitudes of the wonderful people of Silent Bend are changing when it comes to Alivia Ryan.”
I see Jasmine swallow hard and her eyes follow me as I walk around her, circling her like a vulture ready to devour its next meal.
“Money does not buy true loyalty,” she says. “It only buys fickle minions.”
“I only need numbers at my back for a little while,” I say as I complete my full circle around Jasmine. I stop before her. “You should know—the King has already sent spies to watch me. It won’t be long.”
And her face blanches. Her expression does not change, but her skin does pale.
From one of the back halls, Markov saunters into the foyer to join us, his hands casually in his pockets.
“Quite the interesting conversation taking place out here,” he says.
And I note: he does not stop at Jasmine’s side. He stands a little ways off, observing the two of us.
That makes a smile curl on my lips.
“It’s good to see you looking well, Markov,” I offer. “I heard you all suffered a little attack yesterday. Samuel told me Cameron got a bit roughed up. Is he okay?”
Jasmine lunges at me. Her eyes flash brilliant red. But in my pocket I already had my hand wrapped around a stake and as she collides with me, I pull it out and jab it up into the soft space at the bottom of her ribcage.
She instantly freezes, her eyes dropping to my hands. One I have fisted around her shirt, holding her tight against me. The other presses the point of the wooden stake to her chest.
“Now, now,” I say in a low voice. “I was only trying to make this a friendly visit. I’m sorry if my mentioning Samuel upset you. But he and Lillian are having a lovely stay in my father’s beautiful home.”
The chuckle I hear from behind Jasmine throws me off. I glance over her shoulder to see Markov watching us with much amusement. “I feel the next few months will be most entertaining.” And without another word, hands still in pockets, he turns and walks away.
“You will never take them all,” Jasmine hisses, her eyes gleaming. “You know nothing of what it takes to rule a House of vampires.”
