A sense of dread washed over me as I sat in the council chambers. I was barely aware of the conversations happening around me, only realizing the council had adjourned when people started to move about.
The legal jargon had gone over my head, or maybe it was the ringing in my ears as I tried to make sense of my options. The debate about my blooding hadn’t been long, and I realized it was being rushed because of Benjamin’s involvement in my emergence.
The idea of attempting to kill an emerged queen was a serious crime. It made them nervous to leave me “unprotected” without a mother, a matter to be decided at a later, undisclosed date.
I hadn’t been able to ask anyone about Benjamin during the trial. I could only sit there, feeling the chains burning into my wrists the longer we were in the room together.
The phantom pull at my wrists echoed in every movement. Each time our eyes met, it was like a searing pain in my throat, even though I managed to stay still.
The Red Court seemed to believe I would be bonded with someone from the “inner circle” to be mentored as a daughter—an older, more experienced queen. Someone to guide me, or essentially enslave me to their cause or their house.
The thought of anyone being my “mother” other than my own was nauseating. But now, the idea of an execution too? Benjamin had put my life at risk, but did he really deserve death for that?
Or was that the human part of me speaking? The part that might lead to my downfall if I didn’t let things proceed to his demise? There was so much death associated with him in the trial.
But I knew that Nonus alone had a death count far beyond that, just from the amount of blood we shared. Nonus was deep in conversation with Claudia and Ophilia, a younger carbon copy in pink at her elbow, just a few inches shorter.
Unlike Claudia, Ophilia seemed disinterested as she walked away. Nonus’s face showed clear disdain and anger, contrasting with Claudia’s passive supermodel smile.
Dominic, Ryder, and Khalid were in deep discussion behind me. I glanced over at the trio, my emotions overwhelming me once more as feelings from the bond seeped in.
Khalid’s gift seemed unreachable as I felt the walls closing in. I tried to focus on the surrounding environment instead of my rising panic.
Claudia and Nonus approached me, his presence helping to keep my emotional state from shattering. Khalid’s hand on my shoulder was the only thing that soothed me, creating a mental barrier between my head and heart.
His soft smile warmed my body and dulled my senses as I met his eyes. I needed to feel, but I didn’t want to feel too much, especially with my anxiety already at an all-time high.
Khalid seemed to understand this as I instinctively reached for him in the bond. He gave me a small nod and a soft smile, then stepped back to give me room for the next challenge.
Nonus appeared stoic as he stepped forward, hands behind his back and face passive. Claudia, on the other hand, practically glowed with joy, her hands folded in front of her.
Claudia’s demeanor remained cheerful, ignoring his words as she looked at me expectantly. She continued speaking as if she hadn’t heard him, effectively cutting him off.
“Should you choose to leave with any of your bonded, understand that the Red Court can’t provide financial aid or physical protection beyond these walls, except for the compensation from Benjamin’s assets. We aim to protect our members, especially if your brood proves to be…troublesome. We can resolve blood disputes easily if vampires threaten your life, but brood issues are more complicated. We want to welcome you, but leaving you without a proper mentor is risky, and a blood bond would be the best way to help you transition—”
“Enslave her, you mean,” Nonus interrupted, his voice laced with a snarl. His face was a mask of anger. “Blood bonds alter a lot chemically—something we’ve scientifically proven time and again.”
“An enzyme has nothing to do with magic, Nonus,” Claudia responded, her voice steady. “This is the only way to ensure she had a proper upbringing after a long prepubescent childhood with the humans. It’s the best way to ensure her overall growth, as has been our tradition since the court was founded.”
“My court would beg to differ. Your kind did just fine before you were organized.”
The two of them locked eyes, a heavy silence hanging between them. It felt more like a squabble between children than a confrontation between ancient enemies—at least to me.
I wondered where the deadly intent came into play, how far beneath the surface it simmered. I was tempted to reach out to Nonus again, to gauge his true feelings—but I was afraid that doing so might sway my decisions.
He might not want me here, but I wanted to understand what it meant to be a queen in the Red Court before we left. Claudia’s mention of broods becoming problematic had raised a red flag—especially considering Nonus had thought it was okay to smash my phone the other day.
It was behavior my mother had warned me about in human men, and it left me feeling uneasy. I couldn’t help but worry that he might escalate from objects to people, given how nonchalant he’d been about it.
Nonus was the master of his world, and this was the small oasis where I was out of his reach. He hadn’t shown any signs of discomfort or concern yet, outwardly, as if everything was going according to plan.
But what if his plans for me weren’t what I wanted? I was willing to take a small gamble. I was curious about his reaction, and I wanted to see more of the Red Court.
Not just one room with men trying to “serve me” at a faux spa. So far, what I’d seen didn’t feel like the home I’d been promised. The question was whether that was due to Nonus’s influence, or if I truly didn’t belong.
It was Ariana’s gaze from across the room that prompted words to form in my mind. A decision. A decision that suddenly seemed clear, but not something I could voice aloud.
Something about her expression helped me reach my conclusion.
“Can…I think about all of this? I’ve never been to court before, so I feel like I need to process things…,” I said, lifting my eyes to Nonus, trying to look innocent and naïve. I wanted to appear as if I were simply unsure about where my choices might lead me.
“I haven’t been here very long, and I would like to learn more about where I was supposed to be brought up. Give me time to…decide if I should go to another court.” I turned my gaze to Claudia, offering her the same innocent expression.
I was young, and it was easy to manipulate someone who saw me as inferior. This was a tactic I’d learned in my first job stocking shelves to get what I wanted. Not to mention the countless times in history class when I’d confused dates and managed to talk the teacher into improving my grade.
Apparently, the tactic worked even better on vampires. Their expressions softened, as if they were dealing with a toddler rather than an adult. Claudia’s voice turned sickeningly sweet.
“Anya. You belong here. The Black Court is no place for one of our kind,” Claudia said, her tone gentle but insistent.
“We will do our best to give you time to adjust, but a blood bond with one of our stronger, well-established families is the best way to properly protect you as you fully emerge. Think of yourself as a butterfly that hasn’t even finished drying out her wings yet. This time is critical for your development and growth in order to fly free. We want to see you be as successful as possible as an emerged queen.”
Her words sent shivers down my spine. “We want you to thrive as a newly emerged queen.”
I couldn’t help but wonder how much they would have wanted me to succeed if I hadn’t emerged. Was my emergence the only thing keeping me safe? Or was it putting me in more danger?
Was it because of Nonus and the fact that I had bitten him that I had any semblance of freedom? I wasn’t sure. I still had so much to learn about our world.
“Are you implying that I can’t protect her? Or that she would be in danger in my own territory?” Nonus challenged. His fangs bared with no recognition of his reaction except for a slight twitch in Claudia’s eye.
She was baiting him, letting him make a spectacle of himself. Playing on his emotions. Nonus, unlike Claudia, was still grappling with his newfound emotions—emotions he was struggling to control at the moment.
I understood his struggle as I gently probed the bond, releasing Khalid’s gift. It was because he couldn’t read my thoughts. He couldn’t feel me through the blood bond, so he was in the dark about what I was doing, even as I slowly tried to peel back the mask.
Suddenly, Nonus’s plans seemed to be going off the rails. His insecurities and panic seeped through without any clear reasoning—or at least none that I could discern.
I wasn’t sure what disturbed me more: his visible irritation or Claudia’s blatant taunting. She knew he was vulnerable. It was like a child using a magnifying glass to torment ants.
“Please,” I pleaded in a small voice. “All I’m asking for is a little time. Maybe a few weeks? I mean, I’m free to leave, right? But if I stay here and choose to stay, that’s better if I’m less scared, right? It would make things easier?”
I blinked, widening my eyes as much as possible, even altering my stance to appear more submissive. Feet together, shoulders slumped, as if I were seeking approval.
Claudia and Nonus were both silent. Neither of them liked the idea—but their mutual dislike made it a fair compromise.
“I’ll show her around,” Ariana chimed in. She had been closely following the conversation and smoothly inserted herself into the dialogue as Claudia and Nonus glared at each other, neither able to persuade me at the moment.
Taking my hand, Ariana gave me a quick, odd look that I almost missed before flashing a bright smile at Claudia and Nonus. It made me question if I had imagined it.
“There’s the Beltane masquerade in two nights, and I doubt the council will make a decision before then—especially since she’s willing to stay close to the court. It would be a great way to introduce her to others and help her understand what it means to be a Queen of the Blood. We could make a week of it. I’ll act as a temporary mentor—a normal routine similar to what’s offered to all of us at the Red Court.”
A smile spread across Claudia’s face, her eyes sparkling. “I think that’s a splendid idea. Since you two are already acquainted, it would be fitting for Ariana to accompany you during your visit. She could educate you on our rules and the workings of the entire Red Court. There couldn’t be anyone more effective for the task.”
Nonus grimaced and gave a small shrug, looking defeated. His mind was already racing, knowing that whatever was decided here wasn’t the final verdict.
So, he agreed, albeit with a deep sigh of what sounded like regret. “Whatever my queen wishes.”
“Great,” Ariana responded, her face practically glowing with excitement. “I’ll pick you up in the morning, and we’ll visit the lounge rooms.”
