Ariana was just a step ahead of me. Her presence made me forget my anger and confusion about Nonus. I was doing as Nonus had asked, playing house, following their rules, and mingling with my peers.
Peers who didn’t allow any of my brood members into their so-called sacred spaces.
“You must have noticed by now that not all the relationships you’re involved in are sexual,” Ariana began. She chose her words carefully as she led the way. “I can only imagine how tough it must be for the rest of your brood, having such a…dominant vampire at the helm.”
She paused, then continued, “I’m not sure how to apologize for how things have been since you arrived. I didn’t mean to offend you when I touched you, and neither did the Red Court when they suggested you blood one of the ones we sent. We just have many eager and willing parties interested in you and wanted you to understand how desirable your blood truly is.”
I crossed my arms, unsure of how to respond. She could kill me in an instant, yet here she was, trying to engage me in conversation.
“Many vampires were surprised when you chose Philomena, and then rejected her right after,” she said. “My mother wasn’t surprised, though. We see ourselves as superior to humans, and you’ve already shown your instinctual role as a true emerged queen. You’ll need to trust those instincts if you want to live a long and fulfilling life. You might be surprised to learn that not all vampires are bonded by choice, which is why this place is off-limits to all bonded.”
I was at a loss for words, taken aback by her dismissive attitude toward Philomena. I wondered what instinct I was missing.
Ariana’s laughter echoed through the hallway as we passed through two more metal doors. The next corridor reminded me of a luxurious spa or pool entrance, with wooden doors adorned with intricate carvings.
“I’m trying to use terms you’ll understand, but I can see you’re confused,” she said. “You have the unemerged females, those who are blossoming and will bloom because they sometimes show their gift before they even lose their human imperfections. Lesser can mean anyone that you instinctively dominate, so get used to that term since you’re so young. Feeding from someone as old as Nonus has its benefits, but you’re still no match for a seasoned vampire.”
“What’s a female inferior?” I asked, trying to focus on her explanation rather than the ease with which she could snap my neck.
“A female inferior is just my way of describing a female vampire,” she explained. “We’ve found that not all vampires are like us, nor do they all strictly walk the night. But the females that do—the Aryk? They’re the truly damned. Talentless. Unable to reproduce, with so few Red Queens choosing females for procreation. They walk a lonely path, often meeting the sun if their makers are cruel. But honestly, turning a human into a vampire—condemning them to eternal darkness and numbness—is cruel enough.”
“So, if we can’t turn vampires…what does that make us?” I asked.
Ariana smiled gently and pushed open a glass door to our left. The scents of vanilla and honey filled the air as a warm breeze enveloped us.
“Queens. We are true queens. There are doves, there are princesses, the unemerged queens, but true queens? Ones like you and I? We radiate with what we are and pass it on to each generation.”
She stopped and turned to face me. We were in a small, strange lobby filled with fountains, bamboo, and a soft melody playing in the background. The scent of the oil from a small podium filled the tranquil space.
“My job is to introduce you to our court. That’s where Guerdo comes in, if that’s still his name. Guerdo will be more helpful than me. He’s one of the oldest and most influential of the Red Coats. I think he’d be the best introduction to the Red Court—one I might not give you. I’ve never paid much attention to humans or their behavior. This court is all I’ve ever known, to be perfectly honest.”
I was left puzzled, trying to figure out why Ariana had made the offer in the first place. Was she in cahoots with Claudia? Or was she just buying time for the Red Court, given that she looked my age—even though she was close to ninety-three?
I barely registered the change in the breeze before a strong, commanding voice whispered in my ear from behind—sending a wave of panic-induced shivers down my spine.
“She would be referring to me. But why you would snatch me away from one of my best clients, I can’t even begin to fathom.”
Guerdo was shorter than I had pictured him—a few inches shorter than Ariana or me. His skin had an exotic glow that would have been irresistible on anyone but a vampire. On a human, the lack of natural radiance would have looked more like a bad spray tan or a man doused in oil on camera.
But there was something about his golden-kissed skin tone that was so rich it made a woman want to run her tongue over it. Or maybe it was just the gnawing hunger in my stomach again—and the way his red suit with its immaculate white frills and stylish cut exposed his jugular so invitingly.
It was enough to make any vampire, male or female, want to stain his collar just to get rid of the white that drew my eye to his flesh. Each delicate swallow drew my gaze to the tiny vein pulsing at the base.
Guerdo frowned, giving Ariana a worried look that was so fleeting I almost missed it. His face quickly morphed back into the welcoming smile he had worn earlier. He was old, maybe as old as Nonus, judging by that swift movement.
It was something I could see but never hope to replicate at my age, no matter how much I drank from him. “She will be in the best care,” he assured me, his voice layered with hidden meanings.
Both of them immediately put me on edge. Ariana left me with a casual wave, retreating through the glass doors we had entered.
I watched her leave with a frown, then turned back to face the man in front of me, also taking in the surroundings behind him. There was nothing particularly alarming—just stone walls and soft, soothing light that seemed to come from the floor and ceiling.
Even though the place didn’t feel threatening, I didn’t like being alone with another vampire I didn’t know. Especially one who moved almost as fast as Nonus without a second thought. The more I fed from Nonus, the more I found I could start to track the movements I had missed, but I was always at a disadvantage, just as Ariana had hinted.
Being around someone I wasn’t bonded to was even more unsettling. I never knew how they might move or react. It made sense now why younger vampires in movies always showed immediate respect.
With a lack of empathy, ripping your heart out wouldn’t be so hard.
“You seem tense, but I won’t ask you to go back and change yet. I imagine you’re most comfortable in what you’re wearing right now.”
A blush crept up my cheeks at his accurate assessment. I had no intention of changing my clothes.
“Why am I here?” I asked, not knowing what else to say. I was fed up with being passed around like a domino between vampires, starting with Nonus that morning. And I certainly wasn’t in the mood for a massage if that’s where this was going.
I wanted to forget this world entirely.
But to be honest, I was just worn out. I felt like I was constantly fighting for my life and trying to figure out everyone all the time. I hadn’t felt safe since Benjamin did what he did.
He paused, looking at me with a curious expression.
“Do I even want to know how Ariana got you involved in this? You look beat.”
His words made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I saw no reason not to answer him. Might as well get it over with.
“The inner… chambers, I think they’re called. Where all the voting happens. Claudia asked Ariana to give me a tour.”
“Ah, that explains it. Claudia can be quite intimidating,” he murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“Just so you know, beyond those doors to your right, you probably won’t run into my brothers. This area is restricted. Only female queens are allowed, and the rooms are heavily monitored. There are locker rooms for the queens to use when they visit. If you’re up for a longer chat, check the cabinets near the vanity mirrors. You should find your size there if Ariana really thinks showing you the court is a good idea.”
“I didn’t come here to—”
His eyes sparkled, indicating he had read my body language perfectly. “Some of which I’ll keep to myself, but I’m really here to help you unload. This is a different part of the Red Court, a safe haven for young queens. Myself and others like me, beyond the doors you passed earlier, are specially trained and vetted before we’re allowed into these inner chambers.
“We’ve been here for a hundred years, sometimes more. Once we’re in, we can’t leave our assigned floors unless we’re given a new task. We’re sworn to defend, protect, and hide the queens in this place if it’s ever attacked. Especially those in our immediate care, unless the council assigns us elsewhere or a queen claims us.”
I was speechless, my jaw dropping slightly. He was so old. How had he not been claimed by a queen?
“I’ll see you on the other side.” He made a small shooing gesture with his hand before walking off toward an area marked No Females. “If you want answers, you’ll have to put up with me. If not—you’re always free to leave, of course.”
And then I was alone in the silence.
There was no going back after hearing something like that. My mind was spinning with the thought of dedicating hundreds of years to being a soldier, and how many of them I had already met. It made me wonder—how many more were being trained? How did they live? Where did they all come from?
I had two options. Move forward or go back to my brood. So when I found myself taking a step forward, I hoped it was the right choice.
There were just too many unanswered questions not to.
