Chapter 17

D racmore Castle was a mountain residence, nestled on one of the peaks of the snow-tipped Evermore Mountain range. It was dark with only the stars and moon for guidance, and so there wasn’t much to see on the winding road to the castle. Ezekiel closed the shutters and pulled the drapes to keep out the flakes of ice that found their way inside the higher we climbed.

The air was thinner, too, leaving me slightly lightheaded.

“You’ll adjust,” Ezekiel said. “It’ll take a few hours, but you’ll be fine.”

“That obvious?”

“Your pulse is faster, and you’re not afraid, aroused, or exerting yourself so…”

“I suppose you can tell a lot from someone’s pulse.”

“The body doesn’t lie.” He pinned me with his gaze. “No matter what words fall from somebody’s lips.”

“Bodies are funny things like that. For example, the other night my body said I should punch you in the face, even though I knew it would be a bad idea. Luckily, mind over matter prevailed.” I gave him a perfunctory smile, and he returned it with an amused one of his own.

“This weekend may not be such a bore after all,” he said dryly. “I can’t wait to witness the scintillating conversation between you and the other nobles at dinner.”

“I won’t be joining you for that farce.”

“Farce?”

“Yep, a bunch of predators sitting round a table pretending to adhere to the human social norm of taking a meal together.”

“Your attendance is mandatory.”

“Says who?”

“Says me. Your king.”

“You’re not my anything.”

“While you’re in my territory, I am your liege whether you like it or not.” His tone rivaled the ice shards swirling in the air outside the carriage. “I allow you to speak informally with me. I permit you to bypass the formalities others adhere to, but I am still your king, and while at the summit you will obey me.”

His imperious tone sparked defiance to life in my chest. “And if I don’t?”

His mouth thinned, the smile that resulted cruel and hard. “Then I will be forced to punish you. Publicly.” He leaned toward me, golden eyes bright in the gloom. “It will not be pretty, and it will not be fun…for either of us.”

His gaze bore into me, daring me to argue further. I wasn’t an idiot, so I kept my mouth shut, which in hindsight was what I should have done earlier. The thin air was making me unnecessarily bold.

I made a zipping motion and threw away the phantom key.

He sat back, shaking his head. “Also, I promised your watchers that I would keep you safe. I cannot do that if you do not remain by my side in the evenings.”

Seriously? “Why didn’t you just say that instead of acting all high and mighty?”

His gaze flicked away. “I wasn’t acting, Miss Lighthart.”

The carriage rocked suddenly, and I slid to the left. Ezekiel grabbed hold of me before I could slam into the wall. The carriage lurched to the right, and Ezekiel pulled me into his lap, pinning me to his body, which hardly moved with the erratic swaying.

How was he doing that? “Is your ass glued to the seat?”

“No. But you’re more than welcome to check.” He grinned rakishly, and my stupid cheeks heated.

And that was how we arrived at our destination, with me seated in the vampire king’s lap, still recovering from the assault of his smile.

The carriage stables were warm from the fire pits stationed in every corner, and the heat created a mist that drifted into the night from beneath the canopy of the slated roof. The smell of leather reminded me of Hemlock.

A young man with a patchy beard and frightened eyes escorted us through a door and into a corridor that led to the castle.

Stone steps, more featureless passageways, until we were led into what he called the southern wing.

“These are your rooms,” he said, bowing twice in quick succession. “I’m Banbury, your chamberlain for the duration of your stay.”

Ezekiel made a noncommittal noise, busy scoping out the huge sitting room. But my attention zeroed in on the six-foot-high portrait of Ezekiel hanging on one of the walls. God, the man loved himself.

There was one other room coming off this one. A bedchamber? I moved closer and peeked into the gloom, spotting the corner of a bed.

One bed.

Wait a second… “Where do I sleep?”

Banbury’s eyes went round. “I…Um…” He looked across at Ezekiel, who rolled his eyes.

“We’ll be sharing the room.”

“What? No!”

He stilled, mouth flattening, and our conversation from the carriage resonated in my mind.

I quickly inclined my head. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

He lifted his chin. “Apology accepted. And to clarify, you will use the room at night, and I will sleep in it during the day.”

Of course. Dammit.

“You may leave, Banbury,” Ezekiel said.

Banbury shifted from foot to foot. “I’m afraid there’s been an incident I must make you aware of before I take my leave.”

“Later,” Ezekiel said. “After I’ve fed. Summon my bloods.”

He cleared his throat. “That won’t be possible, my liege.”

Ezekiel growled in what was probably exasperation but sounded more like I’m- about-to-tear-out-your-throat.

Banbury whimpered.

“I was explicit in my instructions that they should arrive here before me,” Ezekiel snapped.

“Yes, my liege, but the incident that I mentioned. The carriage and the bloods?—”

“Spit it out, I’m hungry and your jugular is beginning to look inviting.”

I’d read about someone gulping in books but now I got to see it for real. “The bloods are dead,” he blurted.

Ezekiel froze. “What?”

“Lady Sangera came across their abandoned carriage just before the Dracmore bridge. There was blood and…parts.” He gulped again. “All evidence suggests that they were attacked by winter wolves.”

“Winter wolves don’t leave the Winterfern Forest, which is at least a mile from the road to Dracmore Why would they attack that far out of their territory, and a carriage at that?” He chewed on his cheeks for a moment before exhaling through his nose. “Thank you for informing me. You may leave.”

Banbury hesitated. “Lady Sangera has offered you your pick of her veins during your stay.”

The corner of Ezekiel’s mouth lifted sardonically. “Tell her that I appreciate her offer, but I will make my own alternate arrangements.”

Banbury inclined his head and hurried from the room.

Ezekiel strode to the drinks table and poured himself a goblet of wine, drained it, then immediately poured another and drank that too before tipping his head back and closing his eyes. His lips moved soundlessly for a few seconds.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ve sent Godor and the others to investigate the scene. Properly. I’m sure there is more to the story than we’ve been told.” His tone was tight with anger and slightly deeper. The voice I’d heard the night he’d tried to compel me to take my amulet off.

I swallowed past the dryness in my mouth. “How hungry are you?”

He looked across at me, gold eyes swimming with crimson rivers. “I can smell your blood, hear it pulsing beneath your skin, calling to me.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why did I not anticipate this play?”

“You think someone planned to have the bloods attacked?”

“I’m most certain of it. Leaving me without a food source puts me at their mercy. Their veins could be poisoned, and if they aren’t, then using them comes with a favor owed, the terms of which do not need to be discussed until it is cashed in.”

Crap. Having the king owe you a favor was like holding a blank check. “So what do we do?”

His gaze dropped to my neck for a beat in which my pulse spiked. He fucking better not be thinking what I thought he was thinking.

He poured more wine and threw it down his gullet. “I can manage the hunger. It’s two days, after all.”

And if he hadn’t been attacked by Emelie and her troop, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Wait… “How did Emelie and the ghosts know where to find you?”

He frowned. “Specters talk, and I have many in my castle.”

“Yeah, but they’re either locked away in the east wing or one-hundred-percent loyal to you.”

He tapped his goblet with his nails. “You believe the attack was orchestrated by someone here.”

“I believe that we should consider the possibility. Think about it. Without that attack, you wouldn’t be weakened so wouldn’t be as hungry as you are. Losing the bloods wouldn’t be such a blow.”

He picked up the jug of wine, ready to pour more into the goblet, then thought better of it and crossed to the windows instead. Thick drapes blocked out the world, and he drew them back to reveal mountain peaks and heavy snow-filled clouds. The weak pre-gray light of impending dawn caressed his skin, and his eyes flinched; still he held his ground, watching as the gray became tinged with fingers of orange sunlight.

Sunlight that could hurt him. Badly.

What was he doing? I took a step forward just as he moved away from the window. “I should rest. I can control my hunger for two nights. I’d be a worthless king if I couldn’t.”

Was he trying to convince me or himself?

He headed away from the rapidly growing rectangle of light and toward the heavy wooden door to his chamber. “Feel free to roam during the daylight hours but be back here before the sun goes down.” He stepped into the room and closed the door, leaving me to watch the sunrise alone.