Page 69 of Crown of Blood and Vengeance

The cathedral was justas I remembered it last time I was here—shattered glass on the floor, busted up pews, and blood—my blood—sprayed on the back wall. Vlad had a fucking field day torturing me in here. My hand moved to the hilt of my sword beneath my duster, fingers curling around the familiar grip.

It was strangely quiet. Too quiet.

But I could feel eyes on me. I wasn’t alone. Years of running New Orleans’ underworld had taught me to trust that prickling sensation at the back of my neck. Someone, or something, was watching from the shadows.

Death permeated the walls and the stench of evil nearly choked me. I’d smelled enough death in my centuries to know this was different—this was Balthazar’s kind of evil.

Gianna and Prince Rocco had to be somewhere in the shadows, but there was no sign of them. The urge to tear this place apart stone by stone clawed at my chest. I needed to raise the stakes and get Serenity as far away from here as possible.Bringing her anywhere near this corrupted place made my blood boil, but both Enzo and Vlad had insisted we needed her. That better not have been a miscalculation. If anything happened to her—brother or not—I’d take my time skinning him alive. Too many people I cared about were already in danger because of this mess.

“I’m here, Petar, just like you said. Show yourself, you fucking coward.” My voice echoed through the unholy silence, dripping with centuries of threat.

Balthazar stepped out of the shadows, all rockstar swagger in his leather pants, his bare chest marked with demonic symbols that seemed to writhe in the darkness. I ran my thumb along the edge of my blade, anticipating the moment it would meet his neck.

“Aren’t we the patient one?” He narrowed his eyes, a predatory smile playing on his too-perfect face. His long dark hair fell around his shoulders like a shadow. “And I see you brought your little stick to poke me again. It was very rude for you to barge into my house. It was destroyed.”

“Glad to hear it.” I twirled the blade with practiced ease, letting him see just how comfortable I was with my weapon.

Balthazar’s beautiful features twisted with rage, demonic energy crackling around him. “You won’t feel that way when I make you put it back together brick by brick—vampire.” He spat the last word like a curse.

“Where’s Petar?” I scanned the darkness, rage simmering beneath my skin. “Hiding behind you?”

“He’s here.” He snapped his finger with theatrical flair.

Petar came out of the shadows like the dog he was—alone. His hair was slick back and he wore that superior look that made me want to tear his throat out. In his hand, he held a whip, the same one he had used during my torture. The memory of it cutting into my flesh only fueled my anger.

I narrowed my eyes, centuries of violence bleeding into my voice. “Where’s Gianna…King?” My lips curled up in a snarl on the last word, making the title a mockery.

He cracked the whip, the sound echoing through the cathedral. “She’s here. So’s the prince.”

I remained immobile, not even flinching. I’d endured far worse than his pathetic attempts at intimidation. My fingers tightened imperceptibly on my blade.

“I have a deal for you, vampire,” Balthazar drawled, his voice dripping with false sweetness. “Your sister for Serenity.”

“No.” My voice was low but final, commanding the signature of countless deaths. I’d killed for less than what they were threatening now.

“I thought you would do it the hard way.” He gestured with his hand. The shadows parted, revealing Gianna chained, her hands high over her head. The prince was next to her. They were both gagged.

Gianna’s eyes were huge as she stared at me, silently pleading. Purplish bruises bloomed across her cheekbone and jaw, and dried blood crusted at the corner of her split lip. Despite the obvious beating she’d endured, she held herself with defiance, her spine straight despite days of captivity. The sight of those chains around my sister’s wrists made my blood boil, but I kept my expression carved from stone.

The prince pulled on his chains, but they wouldn’t give. They were obviously powerful enough to restrain a vampire. I should know since those same chains had bitten into my own flesh during my torture.

Balthazar and Petar studied me like vultures, waiting for a crack in my composure. They wouldn’t get one. I’d spent centuries perfecting my poker face in New Orleans’ deadliest games.

“I knew you wouldn’t come alone,” Balthazar said. “But I have a little surprise for you.”

Screams and snarls echoed outside. My gut twisted at the sound; Serenity was out there.

“The portal should be opening up right now. Your pitiful allies will be hunted down by hellhounds and demons.” He bowed slightly, looking far too pleased with himself. “Payback by yours truly.”

Ice spread through my veins, but I kept my face impassive. If those hellhounds got their teeth into Serenity... The blade nearly trembled in my grip, my rage barely contained. But I couldn’t let them see how deeply this cut. They’d use it against her, against all of them.

I needed to stall for time. Vlad hadn’t let loose the signal yet. “Such a coward Petar. You think you’re going to defeat me by whipping my sister?”

He grabbed Gianna’s hair and yanked her head back violently. A muffled scream escaped through her gag as she jerked against his grip. “I know how you feel about Gianna.”

Rage burned through me, but I kept my voice deceptively casual. “True. But it’s so pathetic. You’re literally hiding behind her skirts. Why don’t you do something more challenging, like fight me?” I broke out in a sinister smile. “But then again, you’ve always been a worm, hiding by others.”

He snarled with malice. “I’m not the one who’s going to be dragged back to hell.”

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