Page 6 of The Serpent's Bride
But now? Now that the stupid wedding invitation had landed in her lap?
A plot was forming in the back of her head. It was insane. It was absolutelyludicrous.And if she succeeded, she would probably wind up dead. This was a one-way trip. She didn’t have time to plan or to take care of any kind of contingencies. But this might be the best chance she’d ever have.
This “Monica Valan,” the human who was being married off to Raziel, was coming from one of the outer human cities. The trains would have to move through contested areas, which was dangerous. Nadi doubted Monica’s family would risk making the trip with her.
That meant Monica would come alone for the wedding.
And that meant a switch could be made.
Nadi chewed her lower lip.
A bribe and a switch.
Raziel had a…reputation, when it came to partners. A reputation that would precede the Serpent even in the distant settlements where Monica lived. And Nadi could use that to her advantage.
Her thoughts flashed back to the first time she had set eyes on the vampire. On the grin that had been burned into her soul. That too-smooth, fanged smile when he’d seen her. And the one word he’d spoken that had cut through her very soul.
“Run.”
Her jaw ticked in rage.
Nadi was going to make Raziel Nostrom suffer.
Or she was going to die trying.
TWO
“Itoldyou.”
Raziel shrugged. “Do you want a trophy?” He stared out the glass of his brother’s high-rise office, looking down at the street below. The cars in this area of town were like the buildings themselves—huge, new, clean, expensive. Far away from the soot and grime of the people who made them.
Far away from the homes of the laborers who cheered when the girders of each skyscraper were riveted together. But they weren’t Raziel’s concern. Nor were they the concern of his brother.
Mael leaned back in the leather-padded chair of the office he occupied in the metropolis’ statehouse. The piece of furniture creaked with the strain of his weight. Raziel was taller and broader than most but looked like a rail next to his elder brother.
He would never admit aloud how much hehatedthat fact.
Flicking a coin into the air, Raziel caught it as it danced back down toward his palm. “Fae will never be happy with the scraps we let them scavenge. They will always try to claw up from their holes like the fetid beasts they are.” Grimacing, he fought the urge to extend his fangs. “We should have exterminated the Iltanis when we had the chance. Every last one of them.”
“They can be useful, brother. You know that.”
He rolled his eyes. “There are other beasts down there who will bring us the narcotics we need. We don’t need thatthingwho fancies himself a man. He grows too bold. It’s only a matter of time before he does something remarkably stupid.”
“No.” Mael stood from the chair behind his desk. Raziel glanced over at him. A stranger on the street would never think them related. Raziel with his long dark hair and red eyes, and Mael with his blond strands and golden orbs. “Luciento Iltani is a dog. One we’ve trained to obey. He snaps at his leash from time to time, and we correct him with the rod.”
“And I am the rod.”
“Yes.” Mael smirked. “You are. And you like it.”
With a heavy sigh, Raziel headed for the door. “Someday, this rod might snap, brother. Then what will you do?”
He didn’t wait for an answer.
Sneaking onto a train filled with armed guards was easy…when you couldbecomean armed guard.
Well.
Sort of easy.
