Page 40 of Kiss of Death
“This is General Viper of the Kingsnake Vampires,” I said. “Viper, this is my father, King Talon Rothschild of the Southern Isles.”
Viper moved into the chair where I’d sat previously and gave my father a slight nod in respect. “Call me Viper.”
“And call me Talon.” My father extended his hand across the table, asking for a handshake, something commoners did when they met. My father offering the gesture was a sign of friendship and dismissal of royal hierarchy—like they were equals.
Viper took it.
“I asked my daughter to bring you here because I wanted to personally thank you for what you’ve done for the Southern Isles.”
I took the seat across from Viper, watching the two of them engage.
“My daughter believes we would have lost that battle without you.”
Viper didn’t glance at me, wearing the same lidless expression I’d seen him show countless times. “I like to believe she would have found another way.”
My father’s expression didn’t change, but I knew those words about me meant a lot to him. “From what I understand, you disobeyed your king’s orders and came here anyway. May I ask why?”
He continued to hold my father’s gaze without uncertainty. Even though my father was in poor health at the moment, he still had the steellike stare of a mighty opponent. He was still confident and powerful with just his presence. But Viper didn’t flinch. “Because I love your daughter.”
Oh shit.
My heart turned to stone, heavy and distinct inside my chest, slowly sinking through the different layers of my body. I became one of the undead, so stricken by his confession that I didn’t want to be alive to accept it.
Or did I imagine that? That Viper just declared his love for me…to my father.
Viper continued to stare down my father with the same sense of calm he always wore, like there was no desire to backpedal, like he spoke his truth and was ready to face the consequences.
My father did the same, giving no reaction to the proclamation he’d heard.
Neither of them said anything.
The silence continued on and on and on.
Viper was the one to speak first…eventually. “When Lily told me an army of vampires with cursed blades marched on her kingdom, I feared for her life and the lives of the people she loves. I petitioned my king to come to their aid, but we were already weary from our own war. It wasn’t the answer I wanted.” He gave a slight shrug. “So I did it anyway. And even though your daughter has rejected my love, I wouldn’t change anything. I still would have come, regardless.”
I did not expect the most tense and awkward conversation of my life to unfold directly before me.
My father must have been uncomfortable with all of this, but he showed no sign of it. “What will befall you when you return?”
“That’s my problem, not yours.”
“If an execution waits for you, you’re welcome to call the Southern Isles your home.”
He gave a slight shake of his head. “There will be no execution because the king is my brother. We’ll have words, and he’ll call me a fool for leaving my own lands defenseless to protect a woman who doesn’t reciprocate my affection. And then we won’t speak for a month. But he’s done a lot of stupid shit himself, and I’ll make sure to remind him of that. He’ll come around. I’m not concerned.”
My father had only been awake for a day and found himself inserted into the most uncomfortable conversation any father could ever have. “I appreciate your honesty.”
“Good, because most people don’t.” Viper dismissed himself from the conversation and rose to his feet. “My men are eager for home, so it’s time I depart. Take care, Your Highness.”
“Talon.” My father rose to his feet, gripping the edge of the table for balance. It was strange to see him this way, so weak that he couldn’t lift a sword if he needed to fight for his life. He looked Viper in the eye and extended his hand to shake again. “I hope we meet again someday.”
Viper nodded before he took his hand. “As do I.” Viper turned away and left the room, a behemoth of a man in that thick armor with the cape that swirled behind him. His spine was stiffer than the trunk of a redwood as he walked out.
I wasn’t sure whose company was worse. My father’s or Viper’s.
I left the table without saying a word and followed Viper down the hallway. He was in the grand entryway when I caught up to him, the guards on either side of the double doors. They opened them at his approach.
“I know what you’re doing.”
