Page 20 of Rite of Blood and Secrets

I glance down at the goblet in my hand, realising that even considering this kind of thing suggests that I've decided to stay, though to some extent, what choice do I have? Several people have told me I'll die tomorrow if I leave the castle as I am. Presumably, the only way to go back to my life from before is to figure out how to revert to my half-vampire, half-human state, and that might not even be possible.

The hall falls silent, and everyone looks around as if to check whether there are any more dhampirs to be announced. When no one says anything, the king steps forward again. His presence is commanding, even as far removed from his subjects as he is up on his balcony. Even from here, I can tell he's not a man I want to cross, and I'm going to endeavour to stay out of his way.

"And now, to the feast," the King announces.

A cheer goes up from the nobility.

"The feast?" I ask Eliza. "But the food is already out."

She gives me a pitying look just as the first scream fills the air.

It's followed by a surprisingly sweet smell that makes my mouth water and doesn't seem dissimilar to what's in my goblet.

Blood.

The realisation sinks in and I search the room for the source of it.

My gaze latches onto where the townspeople are gathered to see a man being pulled away by a vampire in a deep purple dress. He's still screaming as the woman sinks her teeth into his neck.

I can't tear my eyes away as the scene in front of me intensifies. The man stops struggling and falls limply into the woman's arms, only for her to push him to the ground and step over him as she goes to get a different kind of drink.

My stomach churns but I find myself rooted to the spot, not able to help, completely unable to do anything other than watch the horror unfold.

"You should partake," Lord Fallmartin says.

For a moment, I think he's talking to me, but his attention is fully directed at Bastian. I suppose what Eliza told me earlier is true, I'm a girl and can be ignored.

Which is looking perfectly fine right now.

Bastian steps forward and a horrible feeling grips hold of me, squeezing my heart. I want to reach out and tell him no, but there's a large part of me that knows the horrible truth of it. I have no sway over Bastian. And my brother isn't who I thought he was. Either he brought us here foolishly not realising what he was getting us into, or he's well aware and chose to do it anyway.

I'm not sure which option is better.

Neither of my cousins move as Bastian descends to the middle of the room, looking for his perfect prey. Eliza's face is neutral, but Bella's disgust is clear, though I don't know if it's for what's happening, or if it's because of the preferential treatment Bastian is getting after so little time here.

Bastian approaches a woman and holds out his hand to her, saying a few words. For one brief moment, I think he's going to do something to save here, even though I know it's unlikely he'd be successful. Instead, he pulls her close before sinking his teeth into her neck.

A rivulet of blood runs down the woman's neck, pooling at the neckline of her dress and seeping into the fabric there.

Horror fills me as I watch the humanity drain out of my brother even faster than he drains his victim's blood.

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes and my stomach churns beyond anything I think I've ever experienced. The blood in the goblet I'm holding feels like it's taunting me, telling me that this is my life now and it's what I have to accept, even if I don't want it to be.

"I'm going to be sick," I murmur.

"Not here you won't be," Lord Fallmartin says.

I startle, not having realised how close he's standing to me.

"Go outside if you must." He gives a dismissive wave in the direction of the doors.

I nod, grateful that I'm being given permission to leave the room rather than having to endure, even if the reason has nothing to do with me and everything to do with how our House appears.

I stumble away, half-dropping the goblet onto a table as I hurry by, trying not to think about everything I've just seen. The other vampires are bad enough, but Bastian? That image is going to be seared into my memory for years to come.

And I'm never going to be able to look at my brother the same way again.

Chapter 11

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