he door now, oh sweet escape, only for strong steel-like arms to wrap around my waist. I s

me up and dumped me on his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. Every eye, human and vampir

hane's frantic warnings echoed in my head. Do not draw the Lord'

Lena's parents, h

ice deep and demanding. "I asked who thi

is only Lena, a distant cousin who arrived to visit. She is o

he had a completely straight face and I wondered if anything ever really got to him. He

clearly and the sight was devastating. I was seconds away from swooning in awe. He was more perfectly formed than anyone I had ev

in then took another deep whiff, letting out a low growl. I w

looking at Shane. "Her blood sings louder than any huma

y Lord, she was ill as a child. She is fragile. My eldest,

ure disdain. He turned back to me. His

r name, femal

outh, but no s

Lord," Shane tried to cover.

ced his hand lightly on my cheek a

e," he commanded

ed to whisper, m

as genuinely alarming. "Lena. You are mine now. You

air authority. "I refuse to be claimed, Lord Valerius," I said, my voice barely a

sped audibly. I felt Irina seize up next

ht I had sealed my fate, that he would strike

d laughed. It wasn't a kind laugh.

n. But refusal is not an option here. You have appealed to

tall, stern vampire

y for her transfer to the palace. She will be installed in the Consort's Wing by dawn. She is my new Cons

mmediately. "

A Consort. He had chosen the plain, hidden

ed but she is too frail! She is not fit for the role! We

o me and then offer a substitute? Your foolishness is astonishing, Hale. You will be compensated

onse. He looked at me one

went out of the ballroom. The woman beside him who must be Queen Mother Mira

I passed her br

Irina was sobbing, half out of shock and half out of bitter disappointment that Alic

e was a mountain of muscle and a

me now. Any resistance will be seen as an act of treason

ed on moving forward. I was just exchanging one prison (the

on my back and steered me

ing?" I asked Axe

ord demands you move in by dawn." He paused, looking down at me. "He has never chose

rning w