Page 79 of The Serpent's Bride
“Is that your goal?” He watched her keenly then, those red eyes still glinting in the dim candlelight.
“I don’t want to die.” No, she wanted enough time to kill all of them. Picking up her glass of wine, she sipped it and placed it back down between them. “Whether that means I convince you and your family to permanently postpone the ‘honeymoon’…or convince your mother to let you turn me…I don’t know if I have a preference.”
“Hm.” He studied her for a long moment. “I had hoped so, but…no. I fear that once my mother has made up her mind, there is little we can do. Mael’s words will be in vain. Even your murder of Luciento hasn’t swayed her. She says the message we must send to your father is still far more important than whatever ‘perceived value’ I feel you might add to the family. I believe she simply thinks I’m smitten.”
“I’m sure she thinks some part of you is,” Nadi muttered into the wine. It was a good cover for all the screaming and swearing she was doing in her head. She had been clinging to the hope—even some tiny little shred of it—that Raziel would convince his mother to let her stay.
But it was gone now.
And she had to figure out her options. But she’d need time to think, for that. She focused on the conversation instead. “Wait. Why does your brother care what happens to me?”
“That’s what I want to know.” His fangs were slightly extended, which seemed to happen when he got angry. “He’s never given adamnwhat happens to any of my lovers before.”
“Is it because I have your last name now?”
“I doubt it. Lana has hadthreehusbands. All three are dead and dust.” Raziel snorted. He went straight for the bottle this time, taking a swig from it. “No. Something else is going on.”
“Maybe he’s jealous.” She smirked, turning in the tub to fold her arms on the side and prop her chin up on them. “Maybe he’s trying to save me from his wicked, evil little brother and plans to steal me away before I die on our honeymoon.”
The look that Raziel gave her sent her blood running cold. The joke she had just made hadnotlanded well. He wasn’t angry. No, it was worse than that. There was a frigid and terrifyinghatredin his ruby eyes.
She shrank back, just a little. She knew that kind of hate. She’d seen it in the mirror a thousand times.
“Tomorrow, we will attend this garden party at Lana’s. In three days, we board a yacht and leave for my ancestral home. There, you die.” His words were flat. Empty and as dead as a tomb. Standing, he took one more swig of wine from the bottle before placing it back where he found it and heading toward the door to the bedroom.
He was gone a second later. And Nadi knew he wouldn’t return that night.
Sinking into the water, her mind was reeling. Whathad just happened? Why was he upset with her? She’d just been joking around.It doesn’t matter. Focus. Focus!
The fact of the matter was that her hope of convincing Volencia to spare her life was toast. She needed a new plan. Refreshing her glass of wine, she shut her eyes and leaned her head back against the lip of the tub.
Killing the whole family was no longer possible. She couldn’t get it done in three days, with human and vampire guards all around.
Butoneof them was going to continue to be alone with her. Raziel.
So…she would have to settle for the Serpent’s head on a pike. At leastfor now.And he was the most important one to remove from this world. She would go on the little boat ride with him to his ancestral home and kill him there.
Then, her options were either to flee into the Wild and find a new fae clan to join or to make her way back to the metropolis to start again.
The idea of sneaking back into the familyas Razielpopped into her head very briefly, but it was so ridiculous that she barely kept herself from laughing. She might be able to look and act like him. But when it came to being a vampire, and all the powers that came with it? She’d be hopeless.
Kill Raziel…then what? Flee? Or return?
She remembered the look on Luciento’s face as he died. As the life left those iridescent green-blue-yellow eyes that were so very similar to hers. He’d died so she could killallof them. Not just Raziel. If she’d been willing to settle for only the Serpent, he’d be long dead already.
Nadi’s choice had already been made. She was in this until every last one of the Nostroms lay dead.
No matter how long.
No matter the cost.
Nadi was right. She saw nothing of Raziel the entire night. Which was fine by her, honestly—she nestled into the thick velvety blanket and fell asleep. While having another wild romp with her new “husband” was tempting, it was better for everyone involved if she avoided him.
Even her dreams had the kindness enough to leave her alone that night.
But the next morning, she had to brace herself for what was going to happen. Agarden party at Lana’s house.And even though she knew that convincing Volencia to change her mind about the sacrifice was pointless, Monica certainly would want to keep trying.
A knock on the door and a muttered warning told her she had one hour to prepare.
