Page 21 of The Serpent's Bride
“N—no.” Nadi honestly didn’t know. They probably did, but not the kind Lana was talking about.
“Then wemustbring you to one of the ones downtown. It’ll be your bachelorette party! I’ll get all my friends, and we’ll hit the scene. Really welcome you to your new home in style.”
“No.” Raziel’s single word was firm. “She stays here.Alone.”
Lana stuck her tongue out at her brother, whose arm over his eyes meant that he couldn’t see the expression. “She’s not your pet, Raz. She’s basically your wife already. You wouldn’t treat your wife likeproperty, now would you?”
Yes. Yes, he would.
And so would Lana, if given the chance.
But it was a pretty clever ploy by the vampiric mistress, Nadi had to admit. It forced “Raz” to either assert that yes, he was going to make decisions for Monica, or say no, and let her go out on the town.
Of course, neither of them had consulted Monica at any point.
“I do not want her to get dragged off, hopped up on powder, fed too much alcohol, and then who-knows-what-else done to her, and have you roll her out on my doorstep like a used prophylactic.” Raziel grimaced as he bit out the words.
“You have such a beautiful way with words, brother. Truly a poet.” Lana rolled her eyes. “Monica deserves to celebrate. To meet her new friends and family. To havefun.Not be kept locked up in a proverbial cage.”
Knowing Raziel’s proclivities, a literal cage wasn’t out of the question.
Finally, Lana turned her attention to Nadi. “What do you want to do, Monica? Stay here, bored out of your mind, and then get shuffled to the wedding and back without a single moment of fun, or go out on the town? Really cut loose? Meet your new family?”
Oh, gee. How sweet. They were finally asking her opinion on something. For the first fucking time since she’d arrived. But only to put her in an impossible situation. By the void, they wereobnoxious.“I’d hate to upset him.”
“Smarter than she looks.” Raziel huffed a single laugh.
She wanted to stab himvery, very badly.
“Hmph.” Lana sighed. “I suppose that’s smart. He does have a terrible temper. Well, then. That settles it.” She stood, downed her drink, and set the glass down on the coffee table with a clink. “We’ll have the party here, instead.”
“What?”Raziel sat up for that one. “No. Absolutely not.”
“I’m not giving you a choice, brother. If you won’t let her go have fun, I’ll bring the fun here.” Lana giggled sweetly. “You’re right! It’s a much better idea. I’d hate for anything terrible to happen to our wonderful little Monica.”
Raziel growled, a sound that was not human. His canine teeth were longer than they were a moment prior. “I will not let you take over my home and?—”
Lana didn’t let him finish. “Well, it’s a good thing you won’t be here for it. It’s abacheloretteparty, after all. No boys allowed. Well. Noyouallowed, anyway. There’ll be plenty of boys.” She waved her hand dismissively at Raziel as she headed for the door. “Anyway, I’m off! I have a party to plan. Bye now!”
The expression that Raziel wore was one of pure, unadulterated, and seething rage. He glowered at the back of his sister’s head as she left.
All right, maybe Lana wasn’tallbad. Anybody who could piss him off that badly had at least one redeeming factor.
With a snarl, Raziel pushed up from the sofa and stormed upstairs. Nadi sat there, watching the whole scene unfold. An echoingslamof a door told her that he wasn’t going to be bothering her anymore that night.
Smiling, she sat back in the chair and finished her drink.
This was a suicide mission—she was going to die, no matter if she succeeded or failed. But before that happened, she was going to take every possible opportunity to ruin Raziel’s life.
And damn it if she wasn’t going to have a little bit of fun in the process.
Monica was his.His!
How dare his sister breeze in and make designs onhishome andhisthings! Raziel paced back and forth in his room, his muscles taut as he fisted his hair in his hands, yanking on the strands.
Lana always acted like the perfect princess and Mother’s favorite—namely because shewas.Mael was the firstborn son and the heir to the throne. Lana was her mother’s joy.
Raziel?
