Page 28 of House of Vampires and Flame

What was the point of me standing here to watch them eat and drink? I glanced at Gunnar, then mimicked his posture with my feet wide apart and my hands clasped in front of me.

I made a tweak or two though. While he puffed up his chest, I hunched my shoulders. We looked ridiculous together, like a fly beside a pig.

He soon noticed that, peeked down at me, and hissed. I pulled my lips back and hissed back. His face turned beet-red with anger, but there was nothing he could do to me in front of the princes.

“Don’t look at me, man,” I said. “Look at the prince. His Highness might summon us at any time. I’m the little squire and you’re the big squirrel.”

“I’m the captain, dumbass,” he snapped.

I shook my head. “That doesn’t make sense, Captain Dumbass. Prince Louis isn’t a king yet, so you can’t be the captain of the guard.”

“You’ll pay for this, chihuahua!” he threatened.

I ignored him. He wasn’t worth it. Then the display from the dining hall on the first floor caught my attention. The female students looked up at the upstairs thrones where the royals perched, openly showing their interests. Some girls giggled loudly to draw the princes’ attention to them. A group of females paraded in the center of the hall where the princes had a clear view. The princes did glance at the parade. Even though their interest was minimal, more girls joined the parade.

I grinned, waiting for catfights.

“You’re late as usual, Louis,” the shifter prince said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if one day you’re late even for your own funeral.”

“Bitter I got more ladies’ love, Silas?” Louis smirked.

“Right, your fated mate is waiting down there,” Silas snorted.

Louis arched an eyebrow. “I’m not worried. But are you? Everyone knows my house is one of the richest and mightiest in the realm. No wonder females from other houses line up to hook up with vampires.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Silas said, but his amber eyes flashed with anger.

House rivalry. Louis might’ve lured away some of Silas’s lovers. These things happened, since Louis screwed a lot and changed partners every night.

“Kilian is actually richer than you, Louis,” Cade chimed in with a smirk, a dimple deepening on his cheek. “Last I heard, his stock in the mortal realm skyrocketed again.”

My heart skipped a beat as I recalled our encounter. I’d never reacted that way toward anyone before, let alone felt a true connection. He’d seemed surprised at the electric thing humming between us and demanded I tell him my name before Louis had whisked me away.

I’d learned from Drusilla that Killian was the prince heir of the House of Chaos. She’d warned me to run from his path if I spotted from afar that he was coming.

I hadn’t seen him since. But just thinking of his smoldering eyes roving over me made me wet, and I wasn’t even as slutty as Sy.

As soon as Killian’s name was dropped, my interest was piqued. I pricked my ears, listening in attentively.

“That bastard has all the luck,” Silas said through his clenched teeth, jealousy searing his eyes. For a second there, I thought that a wolf might emerge from him.

“His fiancée might be the next High Queen,” Cade continued, a hint of warning in his voice.

Silas narrowed his eyes. “You think so?”

“We’ve all heard how powerful she is,” Cade said.

“If that happens, none of us will have a chance to be the High King except Killian,” Louis drawled.

My heart sank, which was a stupid reaction. Why had I even felt that way toward the prince of the House of Chaos? He had a woman already. Well, now it was crystal clear that he was taken, so I should forget all about him. Even if he wasn’t taken, I could never have a chance with him. He was a prince, and I was a servant boy from a vampire house.

I’d forgotten myself and craved something that I could never have. Sy’s way was simpler. No real attraction. No attachment. Just fuck and run after the feeding.

“He can’t be the fucking High King that way.” Silas narrowed his eyes. “The rule is clear. Only the heir who finds his fated mate and brings back the wild magic with her will be the next High King to bond to the realm. The strongest rules!”

“Try not to dream too hard that you’re the strongest, Silas,” Louis retorted. “I for one am fine without a High King to rule us all. The position has been vacant for centuries. It can wait a few more centuries or forever. Queen Lilith’s house isn’t even acknowledged in Mist of Cinder.”

“Once Killian marries her, their houses will merge,” Cade said, drinking his coffee, and my sensitive nostrils smelled whiskey in it. “If she happens to be his fated mate and they produce the offspring who’s the prophesized one, the high crowns will be theirs. Rumor has it that they’ll get married once Killian graduates.”

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