Page 64 of Crimson Storm

I nearly did a spit take. “Lesspatient? Is that even possible?”

“You’ll see. She’s no longer content to sit idly by in the safety of our stronghold while out in the world, the injustices against our species multiply.”

“I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but I sort of agree with her. Maybe peace at any costisn’tthe answer.”

In my case, the cost had almost been my life. How many other peaceful vampires, like Nathaniel Bradford and poor little Margaret and all the vampires who worked at the VHC, had lost their lives simply because they were the “wrong” species?

Like me and Kelly and Heather—and Sadie—they’d followed the rules, tried to do the right thing.

“But I’m not sure what the answeris.What’s Imogen planning to do?”

“That’s what she wants to speak with you about,” Reece said. “You remember your court etiquette, don’t you?”

“Of course. Bow, address her as ‘my queen,’ don’t piss her off and get myself beheaded. It hasn’t beenthatlong since I was here.”

“You don’t think so?” he said with a faint smile. “Feels like an eternity to me.”

32

A Wise Choice

Before I could respond to the odd remark, the doors to the throne room opened, and guards ushered us inside.

They nodded to Reece in a deferential way, and I noticed all the other queensguard did the same. Clearly he’d risen in the ranks since I’d left the Bastion. It made sense—he was Imogen’s child, and she’d elevated him to her personal guard shortly after he’d joined the Bloodbound.

Was that all Reece was to her? Remembering the way she’d looked at him and touched him the last time I was in this chamber I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d also made him her consort.

Her reaction to our entrance gave me no clues. In fact, she paid no notice to our approach, keeping her eyes on the pair of vampires who stood before her. They seemed to be pleading their case on some matter. A line of others waited behind them for a turn.

Imogen sat on her throne wearing a sleek black wrap dress. She was just as beautiful and unnaturally young looking as she’d been the night we’d met, the night she’d turned me. Her dark hair was up in an elegant twist, her nails and lips stained a deep scarlet.

When she eventually looked over at us, Reece bowed. “My queen.”

I barely heard the words over the sound of blood rushing in my ears. Hastily, I performed an awkward bow of my own.

Imogen rose from the throne and swept her arm toward the line of supplicants in a gesture of dismissal. Her personal guard moved toward the waiting vampires, telling them it was time to leave.

Two of them flanked Imogen as she descended the steps in front of the throne and walked toward me and Reece.

Actually, “walked” wasn’t quite the right word. “Sashayed,” would have been more accurate.

She wore a look of smug satisfaction. “I knew you’d be back. You have a lot of nerve showing your face here again after such betrayal, little one.”

The guards on either side of her moved their respective hands to the dagger holders strapped at their waists, apparently ready to use them at a moment’s notice.

Licking my lips, which had suddenly gone dry, I told her the absolute truth.

“I never meant to betray you. I was simply following my conscience.”

And my heart, which was screaming for me to get as far away from Reece as possible.

“I know you didn’t want me to return, but I didn’t see another choice.”

“Of course I wanted you to return, silly girl. You’re my daughter.” Her tone suggested only the dullest idiot would think otherwise. “Now... to what do I owe the pleasure of your homecoming?”

I was almost too shocked to answer. “I’m in some legal trouble. My friends and I were arrested by the human authorities. We didn’t do anything wrong—they just cuffed us and took us to one of the Safety Centers.”

“You mean prison camps,” she corrected.

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