Page 106 of When Night Falls

I look back down to my naked bride lying lifeless on the bed.

"I take that it's done?" Natasha's query filters through the air.

"Yes, she'll be feeling the effects by morning and fully transitioned by tomorrow night," I state.

I want to stay with her through it all, but I know I won't. I can't. The promises I made to myself and to the one I love most won't allow me to form attachments, though I already know I'm in too fucking deep with the girl who lies still on my bed.

"Very well. I’ll let the Faction know that-"

"Natasha. The Faction? You merely mentioned Viktrum." Anger boils in my veins knowing that they're here to investigate.

"My apologies. The Faction and Viktrum. I'll give you enough time to finish up here, sir." She nods her head before seeing herself out, relocking the door behind her.

I unfold the pile of clothes that lay on the nightstand and lean on the bed to dress Lucynda. I know she'll be dazed and confused when she wakes up from her gravely slumber so I want to make sure she's comfortable. I start by cleaning up our aroused mess with a rag before dressing her with her undergarments, then I work her night shorts over her thighs before slipping her tank top over her head. Even in deadweight, she's light as a feather.

I reach into the basket and grab the heating pad. I know she'll be sore from where I took her, but she'll feel the most pain where I broke her neck, so I opt to lift her head and slide the blue heating pad under her neck. I make sure the setting is on medium, enough to heat the pain away but not enough to hurt her.

I reach back into the basket and set out the water bottle and a couple more Aspirin for her to take in a couple of hours-she'll be dead until sunrise. I also take out the notepad and pen I asked Natasha to include.

Dearest Cyn,

You were so good last night. I'm sorry I had to leave you like this. Duty calls. Please take the medicine and eat the chocolate, it will make you feel better. Madly, your shadowed admirer.

I decide to close the note with the closure I'd provided her once before. Those days seem long ago though we're only a few weeks into October.

I leave the notepad open to my letter for her and place the chocolate bar on top of it. I pull the blanket over her body to ensure she stays warm while she rests. I give her another kiss, needing to satisfy my need to feel her skin against mine again before picking up the remainder of our night together—the used rag and her discarded dress. I stuff them in the basket and leave it for Natasha to grab later on.

I look at Cyn, my sweet fucking sin. I feel a war coming on, between my own inner turmoil and with the societies who might decide they are finally going to break peace. Even though I'm not quite sure what that means for us, I do know that I won't let this get in the way of my plans.

"Sorry I'm late. It is my wedding night after all." I don't hide my snarl as I turn the corner to a room full of people gathered in the great hall.

Viktrum sits at one end like he owns the fucking place, Zharus is near by making sure he doesn't pull anything stupid. About seven more people gather around the table, while my guards stand near the door.

I turn to look at Kacian. "She's alone up there," I tell him and that's all he needs to know that his exit is required so that he can guard our queen.

"We were under the impression that you knew we were coming, Prince Duquesne." One of the human Faction members speak up.

"KingDuquesne," I correct them as I pull on the sleeve of my jacket.

The Faction is made up of hundreds of advisory members. If specific societies are involved, then they bring one member of each Nocturne Society as well as one Outside from each of their towns. So in this case there are Outsiders from Shadow Creek and Fallen Meadows. As well as a few other members outside of those townlines to act as mediators.

The Faction is designed to keep and restore peace. They help navigate accusations, which I'm sure is what they're doing now. They make sure that the societies are mingling well with the humans of their town and attempt to mitigate blood overconsumption. They justify the deaths if needed and act on unnecessary violence with disciplines and punishments that they see fit. The Faction is what keeps the treaties between societies intact as well as many other things needed to make sure vampires and humans can coexist.

The Outsiders in the Faction only have a modicum of compulsion running through their little brains. But the awareness they have of our kind is still there. They agreed tohelp make sure that their entire race doesn't end up as a pile of flesh and bone at the hands of Nocturnes, and they can speak for the humans' rights during meetings like this.

"What can I help you all with tonight? I'd love to get back to my wife." I look between the faces that sit before me. I recognize one of my own men sitting amongst them and despite the fact that I want to feel betrayal by his seat in the Faction, I know that it's a must in order to make sure no biased opinions are formed.

"Ah, so you did go through with the wedding.Finally." Viktrum's smug face makes my blood tick with an incredible need to end his life once and for all. Take that for treason. But in all honesty, if it were my kingdom being imposed upon the way he claims, I'd likely be tempting the same fate. Only I'd take matters into my own hands instead of snitching to the Faction like a little bitch.

"Youwereinvited," I remind him, pinning my eyes on him to see if I can get a better read on him. "Saved you front seats and everything. YouandAmeliana, if I do recall." I see the slight twitch in his lips. He lied to me before. But now he knows that I know. Hollows Trace's former queen is alive and well in the care of his own, thanks to the confession of my antagonizing brother.

He winces and looks over at Zharus which doesn't really catch my attention at first, but then I notice the way Zharus holds his eyes for more than a second.

"I was busy," he mocks as he leans back in my chair with his arms folded over his chest.

"I can see." I wave my hand around the room to indicate the nonsense he brought to my castle.

Irritation grows deeper inside of me when I think of all the other things I'd rather be doing with my night.

---