Page 92 of A Crown Without Mercy

Kadricawoketothesounds of the lock rattling and slowly sat up, feeling groggy and out of sorts. A young gal walked in carrying a tray with a single silver goblet. She had a sculpted figure with a tapered waist and a burnished complexion. A pair of arched eyebrows framed her sweeping lashes, and her constellation blue eyes stood out against her raven-black hair. Kadric noticed a shadow move serenely behind her as she shut the door.She is not alone,he told himself. He stood defensively, not knowing what was in store for him.

Her hair fell over her shoulder when she set the tray down on the stone slab and as she swept it back over her shoulder, she subtly dragged her finger across her throat. Kadric picked up the cup and looked at the burgundy liquid and swirled it around. “What’s this?” he asked.

“Fresh cruor,” she replied quietly.

He set it back down. “I’ll pass. They have drugged me once already.”

“’Tis clean. You may drink freely,” she replied.

She looks familiar,he thought. “What is your name?”

Without moving her head, she glanced behind her. “I will leave it. Should you change your mind?”

As she collected the tray, he noticed a deep scar across her opposite wrist.

“Do not drink,”she stated telepathically.

“Who are you?”

“I have only ill begotten memories. But I know I do not belong here. Your scent is familiar. Are you Nosferatu?”

“I am. And you are as well?”Kadric asked.

“Yes,”she replied.

“Do you know why, or how long you have been here?”

“I know not why, and I have been here as long as I can remember. I serve thy Faye Priestess.”

“Maybe we can help each other?”he replied.

“’Tis impossible. Word of warning. I learned long ago to cloak my thoughts. Do not think what you do not want them to know. They are listening.”

“Can you tell me anything?”

“You are now at their mercy.”She suddenly straightened her back, tucked the tray under her arm and left.

Mira and Laurent jumped to their feet when they heard the lock on the door clink. Sylvana was in shock when she saw Mira and Laurent. “What the hell?”

Mira ran to her and wrapped her arms around her waist, and Laurent stood quietly by the window. “I’m so sorry Sylvana, I didn’t—they made—I didn’t have a choice.” She sobbed.

Sylvana pulled her arms from around her waist and kneeled down and held her hands. “Mira, calm down and take a breath.”

Mira let out a few breathless sobs, pulled her hands away, and wrapped them around Sylvana’s neck.

Sylvana held her tightly, looked at Laurent, and held her hand out to him. “Come here, Laurent.”

He walked over and she wrapped her arm around him and then walked them to the settee. She then looked at the brothers. “One of you had better explain to me what the hell they are doing here?”

Riordan took a seat and crossed one leg over his knee and set his goblet down on the table. “Mira and Laurent ran away tonight. I’ll let the bairns explain.”

She kneeled down before them. “Mira, what is going on?”

“I’m sorry Sylvie,” was all she managed to say in-between her heavy breaths.

“Laurent, tell me what’s happened,” Sylvana said.

He nervously eyed the brothers, and Riordan nodded. “It is true. Father said Mira and I were not to see each other for a-while so Mira and I left. We were only planning on being gone for a few days.”

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