Page 70 of Of Spindles and Nightfall
Aryana eased out of her mother’s grasp. “Yes, he was. And despite that, it was with his assistance I escaped from King Salen.”
The room fell silent. Even Aryana’s mother looked at her with horror.
“What was the deal?” King Fallor had gone stiff. Every word punctuated with emphasis.
“He agreed to help me escape if we paid him one thousand gold pieces.”
A hefty sum. Though not too hefty for the vampire king.Clever, Vampress.
Fallor leaned back, a low growl in his throat.
“Of course we will pay the sum.” Aryana’s mother gazed at the king with expectation in her eyes. “It is the least we can do for the safe return of the heir to the throne.”
Fallor’s eyes locked with Aryana’s mother, and a silent, venomous exchange passed between them. Zarathos saw the calculation flicker in the king’s expression—cold, deliberate. Fury surged through him. Aryana’s memories had branded Fallor a bastard, but watching him measure the value of his own niece’s life as if it were a coin in his palm made Zarathos want to smash through the crystal, rip the vampire sovereign’s throat out, and watch him bleed out onto the floor.
Fallor gave a slow smile. “Yes, we will give payment to the demon arch king.” He leaned forward in his seat, stroking his short, pointy beard. “Are you certain there were no other stipulations to the bargain that you made?”
“No, Uncle, there were no others. If you’ll forgive me. I’m very tired. Might we continue this another time?”
King Fallor waved a hand of dismissal. “Yes. Yes. Of course. After what you’ve been through, by all means, go take a rest.”
Aryana bowed. “Thank you, Uncle.”
She turned and walked from the throne room. She cut through the halls to her bedchamber. When she got there, she shut the door and leaned against it.
That could have been worse.
Aryana shook her head. “He knows something isn’t right,” she whispered.
Maybe. But does he really expect you to betray him and go after the scepter?
“Perhaps. Now that he is aware you are involved. And oh gods, he had a succubus with him. If she tells him I am Bloodbound…”
Yes, that was a problem. Honestly, Zarathos had forgotten that succubi sensed those sorts of bonds until he saw the demon woman sitting in the vampire king’s lap. It was a silly oversight.
Then we do this quickly. As soon as it is safe.
“The castle calms during the day. So when the sun rises, many will retire into their rooms.”
Then that iswhen we’ll move.
A few hours later, Zarathos watched from Aryana’s eyes as she moved down the hall to her father’s office. She’d attached a sword from her chamber to her waist underneath her cloak. She walked right up to the guard.
“I wish to go in.”
“I’m sorry, Princess Aryana, but your uncle has commanded that nobody shall enter.”
She nodded and pivoted as if to go, but then spun around and rammed the hilt of her sword against the first guard’s head. The other guard’s mouth opened to shout an alarm, but Aryana was there, jumping onto the vampire’s back, her arm on his throat, cutting off his ability to speak. She brought the sword hilt to his head, and he dropped.
Damn, his vampress was a good fighter.
She stood in front of the door to her father’s office longer than Zarathos felt comfortable with. But he knew better than to speak. Let her gather her nerves and move forward when she was ready.
Aryana grasped her sword and took several deep inhalations before entering the room. The alcove wasn’t far, only about ten steps away. Surely, she’d make it across.
She stalled halfway into the room, her breaths coming fast.
Shit. Not now.Aryana. Aryana, are you all right?
