Page 113 of Bitten Vampire
“You are so beautiful,” he whispers. Valdarr leans in, nose tracing the line of my neck, lips brushing my skin.
He doesn’t rush.
I can feel the smile tugging at his mouth. Then—slowly, carefully—he bites.
Power floods me; emotions crash in, some mine, some his. It feels as though the universe pauses and says,“There. That’s them.”
The bond wraps around us like a steel cable. I feel his love, his need, and my own answering feelings rise to meet them.
It’s not just the bite; it’s a joining of souls.
He drinks only a little, then seals the wound with a kiss. He also kisses the scar on my neck.
“Wow,” I whisper.
“Wow, indeed,” he replies.
Chapter Forty-Two
I dressin a navy trouser suit and a pale-pink silk blouse. My hair is pinnedjust so, and my makeup is flawless. Whenever I do my makeup, I think of House. I need to try to locate her again. Everything just keeps getting in the way.
Valdarr has people looking, but by now, she could be anywhere in the world. We have no way to contact her. She might be stuck wherever she is for years. No—withher magic, if she wanted to reach me, she probably could. House is powerful. So her silence must be part of some greater plan, though that doesn’t stop me worrying.
Once this council visit is over—ifwe survive it—I will find my friend and help her for a change.
Beryl is warmer now; I’m sure she will be all right. She sits in the magic inside pocket of my jacket. Harrison has had a mage magically modify our clothing. When shewakes, we will have a long talk about boundaries, and I will apologise for outing her.
I just hope the bloodthirsty stake won’t stab me.
Valdarr enters, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. Somehow we have coordinated—same colour, same understated elegance—and he looks devastatingly handsome. He shoots me a silent question, and I shake my head. He nods. He already knows there’s nothing I can do to summon a vision. Unless I manage to force one while we are in the car, we have run out of time.
I leave Baylor with security. Roger—the guard who helped me with Theresa—is on duty and delighted to dogsit. The guards adore my boy, and I don’t want him upset when we leave, not in such a fancy house. He hates being left alone.
The drive to the curved, black-glass skyscraper is mercifully uneventful, yet I spend the whole ride gripping the seat, knuckles white. The attacks we faced last time have turned me into a nervous wreck.
Inside, the entrance now resembles an airport. Extra guards, magical scanners, weapons logged and removed. Pointless, really, when vampires are walking weapons. Harrison makes a show of being most put out when a few of his weapons are found, but the rest of us have nothing to surrender. I’ve seen the clan fight, and they use whatever they seize from their attackers.
They do not find Beryl.
The open-plan atrium gleams, spotless. It’s as if the battle and executions never happened. Every trace has been repaired. So many deaths, and for the vampires, it was just another day in court.
Whathaschanged is that the sweeping bone-white tiers of seating are crammed, as though every clan has gathered to watch my trial. Perhaps my accusation against the Grand Master is the true attraction—some want him to win, most want him to fail, and the rest are here for the spectacle.
The packed, curving white seats turn the hall into a modern coliseum. Once seen, the image won’t leave me. I half-expect a lion.
We wait in silence, the clan at our backs. Valdarr’s expression is unreadable.
I steady my breathing—though I don’t need it—and recall every lesson: be direct, be respectful. James’s reverse psychology advice echoes in my head.
Last time I was here, I listened to hours of council debate to our advantage. Now, the not-knowing is all-consuming, but I did this once, I can do it again.
The Vampirical Council file in and take their seats. The Grand Master settles on his throne, wearing a smug smile.
The Herald of Silence enters in royal blue, ceremonial staff in hand. He bows—first to the Grand Master, then to the assembled Council.
“Order!” he bellows. “The Court is in session.”
The room falls silent as the staff slams down. I brace myself for the bone-crushing wave of magic. Stronger than before, the power booms through the chamber; a fresh ward seals the Hall and steals the air from my lungs.
