I give him an imperceptible nod, ready. And a little terrified.

“I understand,” Noah says. “But if you hurt her, I will?—”

“I’m not a monster, Montgomery. I have no desire to harm her.” He pulls me toward the door. “And as long as you do as I say, I won’t.”

I turn to watch Noah as Jameson leads me out the door. His jaw is so tight, the veins in his neck are showing. But he stays put.

Trusting me.

I raise my hand in a subtle fist, giving him a silly signal I know he’ll understand now that he’s watched half a dozen K-dramas.

Fighting.

He returns the gesture, and then the door closes between us.

“What are you doing?” Jameson demands, looking at my hand. “Surely you don’t think you can overpower me?”

I immediately drop my arm and look up at him. “Is this how you want to get the throne?”

“I don’t care about the process. Results are all that matter.” He slips the stake under his jacket, keeping his hand on my back as if to remind me I’m under his control. “Now walk.”

I could stab a hair pin into his arm right now. But I wait, knowing it’s not time. I need him to talk first.

“Why do you want the throne so badly? You must have a reason if you’re willing to stoop to kidnapping.”

“To fix things.”

“That’s what Cassian said, too.”

Jameson shoots me a look. “Cassian is half the problem.”

“Why didn’t you pardon Alfred?”

“Because it looks better for me if I allow my son to pay for his mistakes.”

“But wasn’t he working for you?”

“Yes, but no one needs to know that.”

I slide my eyes over him, having some trouble connecting the two vampires. He looks like he could be Alfred’s brother.

“So, tell me the truth—are you really going to kill me?”

“Only if your husband refuses to cooperate.”

“So as long as he formally removes Cassian’s name from the nominations, you swear you’ll release me?”

“Yes,” he sounds bored, which is good.

“But if he accepts the nomination on Cassian’s behalf, then I’m dead?”

He gives me a droll look. “I’m afraid so.”

“Will Gerald care if you kill one of his vampires?”

“I highly doubt it.”

“Because you’re working together?”