Page 341 of Bitten By the Fae
“So what now, Nacht?” I asked, setting my glass down again without drinking it. Given they knew I was coming, it was probably spiked with something. Even if it wasn’t, I would never accept their alcoholic handouts. “Are you hoping for a show? Some grand finale to appease your admirers?”
“Oh, we’re all in for quite a show,” he said, sounding amused. “And I’ll be providing you and your pretty little abomination with front-row seats.”
“While I appreciate the intriguing offer, I think we’re going to have to pass.” I fussed with my tie, then smiled at the ancient asshole beside me. “So unless you want a rather violent prequel to your main event, I suggest you let us leave.”
“And I insist you stay,” he replied.
A laugh clawed at my throat, his arrogance astounding. As if I?—
Aflora released a whimper beside me, her arms beginning to shake. “Kai…” My name left her lips on a tremble of sound. “I… I don’t…” She clutched her chest, her body convulsing violently beneath some sort of invisible shock, her eyes rolling back into her head.
Zephyrus reached for her, only a similar quiver worked its way through his limbs, and he grabbed his chest a moment later, his lips parting in shock as he looked at Constantine. “No.”
“It had to be done,” Constantine replied, rolling his neck. “He’s tainted the Nacht name. So I’ll do what I do best and restore it.” He flexed his fingers as power whirled through the room, the source screaming in agony inside my head.
I dove in to figure out what the fuck was happening, only to be hit with a bolt of energy that knocked me out of my chair.
“Let the show begin,” Constantine announced.
Several Minutes Earlier
If Emelyn Jyncould breathe fire, I imagined she would be doing that right about now. She’d refused to acknowledge me since arriving, her anger palpable and, frankly, exhausting.
I had no patience for it.
If she unleashed WarFire on me again, I’d return the gift in the form of an inferno. I didn’t want to be here anymore than she did. And I’d tried all week to convince my father to allow us to go separately. Alas, he’d refused.
I searched for him, wondering if what I felt earlier had been a fluke. But he was nowhere to be found.
Another oddity.
My father was never late. And neither was my mother.
“Have you seen Mum today, Tray?” I asked softly, taking in the modernly decorated space. Our mother had chosen all the fixtures for this meeting room—one that our family rarely used. It was meant for Council business that couldn’t take place at the main compound. And once a year, we all gathered here prior to the Blood Gala while we waited for our cue to enter the grand ballroom.
Untouched flutes of blood-infused champagne sat along a serving bench at the back wall. A few were also placed on the oak table, but all sixteen chairs were vacant, everyone choosing to stand instead.
My brother shook his head. “I haven’t heard from Mum all day. And it’s a bit weird that she’s not here yet.”
“Indeed,” I agreed, stroking my tie. “Perhaps we should go…” I trailed off as Shade entered the room in a proper suit. My eyebrows flew upward. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He’d never attended the Blood Gala before. As luck would have it, he chose to be here tonight. Good. We needed to talk.
I caught his eye and started toward him, determined to have a word, but his father stepped between us. “Is there something I can help you with, Prince Kolstov?”
“You can help me by stepping out of my way so I can talk to Shadow.”
“It’s all right, Father,” Shade drawled. “This conversation has always been inevitable.”
His father sighed. “All right. I’ll be over here if you need me.”
“Of course,” he replied, causing me to frown at their bizarre exchange. They were usually at odds with one another, not operating on the same team.
It left me wondering if the information about Zenaida was true. “Did you really give up your grandmother’s location?” I asked him, not bothering for a soft tone.
“The Council has known my grandmother’s whereabouts for years,” he replied. “So yes, I did, but not recently.”
Okay. I’d… missed something. Something vital.
I glanced around again, this time taking in the tension of the room. And the increased presence of Warrior Bloods—something I’d thought was meant for protection but now suspected served an entirely different purpose.
