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The vampires had chosen to linger near the windows—maybe they expected another warg to interrupt this year’s Bloodrain. They wore crimson in celebration of the holiday, and the only humans among them were bleeders. Yuli was sheathed in red satin, the skin of her throat freshly pink with new bite scars, clinging to the arm of a handsome vampire with a shock of hair as red as my own. His green cat’s eyes flashed to me and Wyn, and he smiled.
I was obligated to smile in return, of course, but my eyes didn’t stop roving the ballroom, looking for my decidedly absent husband.
But Wroth had joined us. Enormous and pale, lurking behind a column of roses, he looked… as resplendent as a fiend could possibly be, his clothes tailored to his large, misshapen body, the brocade jacket sweeping down to where his knees bent backwards. His pale eyes were fixed on Kajarin, who fluttered among the humans like a butterfly.
I exhaled slowly, nervous to walk among these lais and fels, people who knew how to behave properly at a vampiric ball. At least in Argent Bloodrain meant eating candy and finding a nice seat to watch the bonfires, not playing nice with people who pretended I wasn’t there.
“Someone is looking less than merry.” Wyn’s eyes narrowed to thin blades, which she directed at a glum-faced vampire in Auré’s retinue. “I know it couldn’t possibly be my hospitality he finds lacking.”
I shook my head, hiding a smile. I suppose you should go do what you do best, I signed to her, my palms sweating at the idea of having to go mingle by myself. Make him enjoy himself. Mandatory merriment, number two on the list.
“I have the strangest feeling you’re having fun at my expense,” she said, eyeing my hands. “Well, I’m going to go chat him up, and see if I can’t get him to behave a little livelier. This is a celebration, after all.”
I didn’t have to fight the smile this time, laughing into my hands.
“Just smile and wave, dear, you’ll be fine.” Wyn swept off, leaving me staring after her, my smile gone just as suddenly as it’d arrived.
The last thing I wanted was to approach the humans alone. I ineffectually hovered in the door, unable to force myself to walk to either of the largest groups. On one side, there was Kajarin, dominating the humans… her cheeks already flushed with drink, now patting the lacy cravat of a young nobleman as she smirked up into his face, leaning forward enough to press her breasts to his arm.
And on the side, there were strange vampires, Auré among them. Neither of us had apologized, and I had no doubt it would be a cold day in hell before one finally came. Wroth was his own party of one, glowering in a corner, everyone giving him a wide berth.
Aside from Wyn, there was no one I particularly knew. I wished Visca were here, or that my husband would make an appearance and save me from dithering like a fool.
I swallowed hard, making up my mind. On the count of three, I’d move, in either direction—but I would move, and not stand here awkwardly, not while Wyn was out there making a valiant effort to show off during Bloodrain.
One. Two. Thr—
“May I have the first dance, Lady Cirrien?”
I turned my head, my gaze meeting eyes as green as mine, nearly identical but for the fine pupils. The vampire who had smiled, his skin still flushed with the blood he’d drunk from Yuli.
I suppose, I said dubiously, unsure of his motives, then rolled my eyes at myself mentally.
Motives? This was one of their favorite holidays. Maybe he just wanted to dance… but Visca had told me that the male vampires would not approach me directly. It would be considered forward by their kind, verging on a dire insult to Bane.
You have the advantage of me, I said, and the vampire raised a brow. “I apologize, but unlike Auré, I’m not accomplished in multiple tongues, as Veladari has served me well my entire life. If you’re asking my name, I’m Erik fel Coros. If you’re asking why, well, it’s because you’re the most beautiful woman in this room tonight.”
He took my hand, bowed over it, and kissed it—then looked up at me rather smolderingly.
I gave him my most weary stare, sighing through my nose.
Erik laughed nervously, his eyes flicking towards the group he’d come from—the group where Auré seemed relaxed, speaking to another vampire, but her eyes were on us.
I was certainly not going to be the one to apologize first. Ever.
For her benefit, I signed with broad, clear motions, staring directly into her eyes. Is this a test? What did you think I would do, fuck him right here on the ballroom floor?
Surprisingly, Auré smiled.
I turned my venomous gaze on Erik. As for you, playing childish games—
“Unfortunately for poor Erik, he was press-ganged into my nefarious plans.” Auré’s smoky voice was so close I half-expected her lips to touch my ears. I scowled at the woman, who had draped herself over Erik’s shoulder with such quick, fluid grace that she seemed to come from nowhere. “He really does love to dance.”
What are you looking for, exactly? I asked her. Why the pathetic attempt at entrapment?
“An excuse, Lady Cirrien. I’m looking for an excuse.” Auré adjusted Erik’s lapel, the vampire male looking between the two of us nervously. “One day you’ll slip up, and you won’t see me in the shadows, waiting for my moment.”
Save the hard talk for someone who cares. By the Light, I was damn tired of this woman, with her accusations and petty games.
Auré’s violet eyes hardened, almost glowing in the candlelight. “I smelled your scent in the library,” she said softly, ever smiling, giving Wyn no reason to come save me. “I smelled Kajarin with you. What plans have you two wrought together?”
I started shaking my head before she even finished speaking. It was galling to have to defend myself against her, though I’d done nothing wrong. Plans? Right now my only plan is to worry about your obsession with me. I can’t stop Kajarin from using the library, no matter how much I’d like her gone from the keep entirely.
“Using the library for her little assignations,” Auré sneered. “Do you keep watch for her?”
I can see we’re going to make no progress with each other. I kept my gaze level despite the fury licking at my veins. You’ll keep accusing me of being a whore, and I’ll keep accusing you of being an idiot. Why don’t we call a truce for the night and go our separate ways? I’d hate to ruin Wyn’s hard work.
The beautiful vampire touched Erik’s hand and whispered to him, and to my relief, he made a sharp retreat to the vampires clustered by the window. Yuli welcomed him back with open arms.
“There can be no truces,” Auré murmured to me. “My sole purpose is to protect the Lords of Veladar against their enemies—be they wargs, or women.”
I am no loyalist, I told her.
“So she’s told you what she is?” Auré watched Kajarin flirt, expressionless, but her pupils had contracted into fine lines—a vampire on the verge of hunting. “I’m sure she’s tried to recruit you to the cause.”
Tried and failed, I emphasized. I grew up in Argent. The few loyalists there are treated like scum, and rightfully so. I know what we owe to your kind.
“In Argent, under the Silver Sisters’ protection.” Auré made her own emphasis quite clear. “One of our most ancient enemies, and if you don’t believe the loyalists have infiltrated their ranks, you’re wrong.”
I was never a Sister proper. I was their indentured servant, and have no loyalty to their beliefs. I half wished for Wyn to save me now. I’m sure you could take every piece of evidence and twist it to suit your convictions, Lady fel Seren. All I will tell you is that I’m not, and never will be, a loyalist, and I’m perfectly happy with Bane. All you’re doing is interfering and making an enemy of me.
Auré met my gaze levelly. “In another life, I think I would’ve liked you. But I’ve been wrong about so many things. I helped the human Lords create the first draft of the Accords, despite all the restrictions it placed on us. I helped choose Kajarin. I lost Andrus’s first wife to the wargs. I made their lives hell. But every time I wanted to do things my way, I was told I was overthinking, overreacting, overpla
I’d had no idea Auré had been that deeply involved with every aspect of the negotiations between our kinds. With that much bad luck and failure under her belt, no wonder she was wary of me.
I still didn’t like her. But she was one of them, and I would be in the wrong for not trying.
I’m not asking you to like me, I signed slowly, choosing my words with care. But I know you are one of Bane’s oldest friends, and you have his best interests at heart. Any hostility between us will only hurt him in the end. So no, I’m not asking you to treat me as a close friend. I’m asking you to give me a chance before you make me your enemy, for his sake.
Her pupils widened, her head tipping to the side.
I can live with us hating each other. He is the one who will be hurt if forced to choose between allegiances. It’s better for him if you and I can come to an agreement—let’s loathe each other in a way that doesn’t impose on his ability to rule. Or his willingness to contact his brothers. These tests of yours are only going to alienate you from him.
“This is an argument I can understand, even if I don’t like it.” Auré searched my eyes. “Very well—I’ll agree to that. But I will be keeping an eye on you. You were part of the Silver Sisterhood, and Kajarin has openly tried to bring you into her circle. Perhaps, in ten years or so, if Lord Bane is still happy… then we will reconsider our feelings towards each other.”
Agreed. Have a good night, Lady fel Seren.
“Bloodrain tidings, Lady lai Darran,” she murmured. Her gaze moved over my shoulder, and then she was gone with a rustle of silk.
I exhaled in relief. Having achieved a tentative truce of my own with a hostile vampire was… well, stressful and slightly terrifying. But I had achieved it, without anyone else’s help, and that made me feel a little better about this night. Bane would not have to choose between me and his oldest, strongest allies, not if I had anything to do with it.
A rough hand took my arm, spi
His voice, at the volume drunks get when they’re a bottle or more in but not too inebriated to walk, carried through the room. His fingers dug into my arms, and I realized Miro fully intended for me to be his dancing partner.
The scent on his breath made my stomach turn, and his hand was tight around my waist as he dragged me forward and spun me around carelessly.
This was the worst Bloodrain I’d ever lived through.