Page 144 of Dark Souls

“Yes, you will. He’s on his way to the castle now so you better fucking hurry.”

“Then you better shut the fuck up and let me get on with it!” I growled and barged past him, slamming into his shoulder and knocking him sideways. I wish I could break his shoulder right off.Damn, sigil.

As soon as I left the front door, I took off into the sky and transported myself above the castle grounds. I made a high swoop around the perimeter to look for any signs of the fae arriving and hissed when I couldn’t see anyone but Romano soldiers patrolling the grounds. I landed on the roof of Ilaria’s attic and scanned the village and gates once more for any sign of someone approaching. Nothing. He better not have arrived early and be inside already because I’d be screwed. I’d have to take him out subtly from inside the castle walls. I climbed down to Ilaria’s window, lifting the inside latch with my mind and shoving it open. Her delightful scent hit my nose and I inhaled deeply with a smile. She’d been here recently. I might have even missed her by minutes. Hopefully, I will still see her and we’ll have a second round of last night’s antics after I finish murdering the fae before he reaches this meeting.

Opening her door carefully, I stopped to listen for anyone within close quarters. Somewhere in the walls, I could hear a rat scurrying, the humming of the heating pipes, and distant chatter from two floors down. I was in the clear. I disguised myself as the same vampire soldier I had used the last time I was here and walked along the grand corridors, looking like I was exactly where I was. If I were king of this castle, where would I have my important meetings? Hmm. Definitely not the top floor. I made my way down to the ground floor and smiled in a friendly manner at a soldier who walked past me. Soldiers smile, right?

I heard voices from behind a closed door at the end of the hallway of one wing and headed towards it, only to freeze when I saw two people coming in the same direction. Ilaria had a phone pressed to her ear and a concerned look on her face. Her Grandma Maddy was chewing at her bottom lip, looking at her with a near identical expression.

“He’s still not answering. I think I should go back. I need to check he’s okay.”

“No. Not if he said he’d text when it was safe, Ilaria.”

“But I don’t have a phone!”

“I am sure he will text mine. He has my number.”

I raised the black eyebrow on the soldier’s face. I was pretty sure they were discussing Luka. Which meant he had her Grandma’s number? He was meeting the fucking family now? For fuck’s sake, I was missing out on witnessing all the awkward shit I loved.

“I guess,” Ilaria sighed. “But if I still haven’t heard from him in half an hour, I am going back.”

Aw, look at Snow, all concerned about us. She must have been at the manor when The Devil turned up. Christ, I bet Luka shit his leather pants. The two women reached me and then looked my way. I quickly glanced down at my boots, whistling a tune as I rocked on my feet to avoid them seeing my black eyes. Best Snow doesn’t know about the crime I’m about to commit in her grandparents’ home until after I’ve done it. Always better to ask for forgiveness than seek permission. That’s my motto.

“Where is everyone, anyway? I thought dinner was at six?” Ilaria asked as they turned their back on me and walked towards the end of the big oak doors where all the voices were coming from.

“Yeah, about that. Your grandpapi has a visitor. So, it’s been pushed back to seven. You are probably going to want to be in on this meeting. It’s aboutThe Underground.”

“What?” Ilaria snapped, picking up her pace until she got to the doors and swung them open, storming inside. Her grandma puffed out a breath and then followed her in, closing them behind her.

Well, fuck me up the ass and call me Sally. I was royally screwed. No pun intended. The fae was already here. Looks like I only had one choice left. Eavesdrop on the meeting to find out what he is telling them and then make an impulsive decision on how the hell I was going to salvage this to save Hana from paying for my fuck-up.

Ilaria

The room fell silent when I entered it. All heads swerved in my direction. My grandpapi, my dad, Raiden, Sienna, my mum and even Archer. But the surprise was seeing a face I hoped I would never have to come across again sitting among them. The fae from last night’s murder maze. His orange eyes squinted a little as he tilted his head, clearly recognising my face but not being able to place me.

“Ilaria. Take a seat,” my mum said. She was smiling, none the wiser as to the mindfuck I had just walked into. “This is Marlon. Marlon, this is my daughter, Ilaria.”

“Daughter? How strange. I swear we have met before but I am sure I would remember meeting the princess.”

“I am sure you would,” I answered curtly, moving my attention to the rest of the bodies in the dining room. “What’s going on? Why is he here?”

“Ilaria. Don’t be so rude,” my mum scolded, giving Marlon her best fake apology smile. She had her Queen alter ego firmly in place. “I apologise. My daughter can be a little bold.”

“No apology needed. I like bold,” he answered, still eyeing me suspiciously. I stared into his eyes, allowing my head to fill with his thoughts.

Where the hell have I met her before? Wait. She looks so similar to that vampire from last night but surely not. Unless the royals were sending one of their own to spy on The Underground. Well, damn. In that case, they probably already know and I won’t get a thing out of this.

“And what exactly are you hoping to get out of this meeting?” I asked sweetly, resting my arms on the table between us. He didn’t mask his shock as his eyes widened.

“Ilaria can read minds,” my dad explained. “Again, I apologise for the invasion of your privacy. She isn’t supposed to do so without being asked. Ilaria, no more.”

“Then someone better tell me what the hell is going on quickly, so I don’t have to.” My patience and anxiety were already sky high after leaving Luka the way I had and the fact I had heard nothing from him was only making it worse. And now this cocky bastard. I didn’t like that this man was in my family's castle. Sitting at the dining table. And I really didn’t like that my family was giving him respect when he was clearly up to no good.

“Ilaria, what has got into you?” my mum questioned, her eyes blazing a deep shade of violet as she gave me a stern look that said I was on my last warning to act like a royal and not a lunatic. Too late for that. I was fuelled by vodka, rage and anxiety right now so a lunatic was who they were going to get.

“Marlon is a member ofThe Undergroundand has asked for a discreet audience with us. He has information he thinks we should know and, in return, we have offered him refuge under the SIA’s witness protection,” Raiden finally gave me some answers.

I folded my arms across my chest and glared at Marlon, which caused his lips to twitch into a strange half smile, half sneer.

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