a long stone corridor, gripping

ves. Instead, they stopped in front of a heavy wooden door rei

table, a chair, and candles burning along the stone walls. A nar

ed if they had brought

rd said. "You will stay here

"Why am I not goi

slaves who weren't chosen. You shou

tef

from my wolf, and I had no idea what these vampire

place, slave,"

d the door. A moment late

le. It wouldn't move. I pounded on the w

s tr

ar better than a dungeon, but it was still a cage. I sa

ife fallen a

d. Instead, Brandon had rejected me in front of the whole pack,

to six ruthless

s burned, but I pressed my lips together and refused to

-

the six Vampire Kings sat

the first

st your mind

e head of the tabl

p. The shouting seemed

hat hall," Cassian went on. "Stro

arms. His voice

me had useful skills. This girl has none that we can see."

eside the table

ed. We are the six Vampire Kings. We should neve

said nothing. They o

alm on the table. "Ar

ry word," Va

plain yo

sed his eyes. They

my decision

are supposed to accept

es

Cassian, the loudest of th

air. His face warned them

peak to her unless it is necessary. But she has

t each of t

us now. This dis

ed, but none of them

e, Valerius's

-

ng on the bed whe

apped towa

at with silver buttons, and when he

ed to

ehind him and look

he sneered. "

my mout

nto the room, his

e sent to the mines would give anyt

to be here," I

d. "Did I ask fo

, trying to hide

laugh. For a moment, I s

in this castle. You are a slave. This room, this b

could feel the cold

ot wander the castle. And you will nev

but I forced myse

, you will regr

ed to t

you special. You are here

the lock clic

ootsteps fade. Only then did I re

ust like my father's silence. Once again

, I refused t

like property. They could lock me inside their

es and straig

and my family in one night.

s place, no matter

again when the lock

swung w

e Kings stood

forward, his dark

up, L

eart was racing, but I kept my head high.

d me for

will serve all si

began t

very order," he said. "Whe

he guards wait

to the inn

. Six kings, and every one o

I was about to enter a place where all six

as waiting for me on the