Page 3 of Kings of Blood and Ruin

“It is if you plan on marrying me to someone who can help clear those debts,” I argue. Now it’s his turn to laugh, but it isn’t mocking. It’s cruel.

“As if you are fit to marry anyone in our circle,” he snarls, a hand pounding down on his desk. “You’re nothing but a murderer, Thalia. A parasite on this family.”

“Then what’s your plan, brother?” The sharp hiss of my voice drowns out the fear coating my words.

He smiles, but it’s a smile you give someone right before you cut their throat. Cold and calculating.

“The money I owe is to the Blood Kings,” he tells me, his smile growing as he watches my eyes round with unrestrained horror. The Blood Kings are well known in the city as the largest mafia enterprise. They run the streets of Boston with an iron fist, taking what they want and killing those who get in their way, but their operations run deep here in New York as well. Hell, half the Eastern Seaboard is part of their territory or run by someone in their organization.

The vampire mafia, some call it.

Taking money from them is a death sentence. Everyone knows that.

“And what did you offer them when you couldn’t make the payment?” I ask, my stomach constricting before he even speaks the words, because I know the sword above my head is about to come down.

“You.”

Chapter 3

Thalia

“I’m sorry, what?”

This must be some kind of nightmare. That’s the only way I can explain what my brother just spat out for me to hear.

“I offered you to them,” he drawls, elongating every word as if I somehow lost my hearing in the last few moments and I wasn’t bewildered by his callous statement and flippant regard. “Win for me, since I no longer have to look at your disgusting face every day. Father might be turning over in his grave with my actions, but honestly, this is much easier than trying to find someone dumb enough to marry you.”

“You can’t just sell me as if I’m a pig at a market, Evan,” I protest hotly.

My brother purses his mouth in a self-satisfied smirk.

“You’ll find, dear sister, that I can. And I have.”

Ice gnaws at my bones at his words, the dark depths of my situation sweeping through my mind. The Blood Kings are notorious for their tempers and their body count. Most of their wrongdoings are brushed under the rug because they’re far more dangerous than your average human. My father refused to do business with them. Our kind, however distant in lineage to our ancestors, did not mix well with theirs.

Vampires.

Creatures of the night.

Descendants of the great Jure Alilovic, One of the most powerful Štrigons in history.

Many think vampires are a myth. Simply legends. They are far from it. They linger in the shadows of time, siphoning their way through history untouched by the chaos around them.

“They’ll be here tonight.” Evan flutters his hand dismissively. “So be sure you’re all packed by then. I’ll allow you to take anything that has been given to you, but nothing more.”

How generous of him.

Bitterness swells within me, and I wonder if I can stick his letter opener through his throat before he can react…

Shit. Down, psycho. Now is not the time.

“Why are you standing here still?” he sneers. “Get the fuck out and ready yourself. I won’t have you look like some whore when they arrive. Make yourself look as demure as possible. The more innocent you appear, the better. I’ll send Clio up to help.”

Fuck you.

The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I keep silent. Taking a deep breath, I turn on my heel and open the door, resisting the urge to hurl insults at the man who’s supposed to be my family.

“And Thalia,” he calls almost gleefully. I hold my steps, not bothering to turn and look at him. “Don’t bother trying to escape. You won’t make it very far.”

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