Chapter 27

I was wokenby a knock on my door. It was Vera come to invite me to have dinner with the women because I hadn’t been up for breakfast or lunch, apparently. I’d just slept, desperate to escape my new reality. Desperate to forget, to not be so afraid.

Vera waited for me while I went to the bathroom and even changed my clothes. She eyed my pants warily but didn’t comment. We went downstairs and I met all the other brides who were more than eager to introduce themselves to me.

I ate because I had no choice, because my body was so weak, my stomach growling uncomfortably. I ate even though I didn’t taste the food, not even that of the blueberry pie that smelled like heaven, which I usually craved like a drug. And when dinner was over, I ran up the stairs of the fifth tower again while the small dragon flew silently behind me, following my every step.

For some reason, it was only when I was behind the closed door of that room they’d put me in that I breathed a bit easier. I knew it was stupid—those men owned this place. They ruled the fucking Isles. A door wasn’t going to stop them from getting to me, and hiding under the bed wouldn’t work, either.

But I’d rather just trick myself until I’d had enough time to deal with this. Until the shock passed and I came to my senses.

So, I slipped in the bed again, and even though I didn’t sleep for a long, long time, I was calm.

For the next two days,I didn’t see the Evernight brothers at all.

For the next two days, I tried to find a way out of the castle without vampires or giant snakes coming for me, but I came up empty-handed.

The brides kept me company almost all the time. One or the other was always knocking on my door to get me for meals, and it was plain to see that they were made to do so. Some weren’t friendly with me because they wanted to be, but because their Masters were making them try to get me to feel more comfortable in this place.

Ironically, only the little dragon, whom I now referred to as Shadow in my mind, made me feel safe. Those women were exactly like me, familiar, friendly, nice—most of them genuinely—yet when I was walking the hallways with only the dragon at my back was when I felt the safest.

Maybe it was the snake. Maybe it was the familiarity.

Or maybe it was another deadly mistake.

That’s why I forced myself to be twice as attentive because being comfortable around a complete stranger and trusting her to keep me safe was what had brought me here in the first place. Mama Si had only been able to trick me because she’d made me comfortable first. I would not be making the same mistake again.

On day three, Valentine finally knocked on my door.

The brides had given me tips about how to control my breathing and try to keep a calm mind. How to lower my heart rate fast—something they’d all had to learn how to do when they first got here, though most not out of fear but out of arousal, as they so kindly informed me. Most taught me breathing techniques, but Lucinda suggested I cough as hard as I could, and that should help bring my heart rate down fast when I needed it. Definitely something I’d have to try.

But the knock on the door came after dinner, and I was sure it would be one of the brides come to tell me something or maybe invite me for a snack or tea, so I opened the door without thinking about it much.

When I saw Valentine, there was no way I could think to breathe a certain way or even remember that my heart was slamming against my chest.

He’s come for me, an ugly voice in my head said. He had finally come for me.

“What do you want?” I muttered. I didn’t mean to be rude, but I couldn’t help myself. The fear, the anticipation made it impossible.

He didn’t miss a single beat. “You.”

I forced myself to roll my eyes. “What do you want here?” I specified, and he opened those lips to say you again, I knew it, so I added, “And don’t you dare say you one more time.”

He grinned like a little kid. “Or what?”

I stepped back and swung the door shut, knowing full well he’d catch it—and he did. He pushed it back open, and I just looked him dead in the eye.

“Okay, I get your point, Sunshine. You want me to be more specific,” he said. “I want to grab you by your tiny waist, pick you up and throw you on that bed, tear all your clothes off with my teeth, then taste every inch of you with my tongue.”

The fucking bastard. I gritted my teeth. “You’re a prick, you know that?”

“No, no, I’m not done,” he said. “After that, I’ll put your legs over my shoulders and?—”

“Stop!” Was he serious?!

He didn’t. “—and I’ll eat you until you come as many times as I wish.”

I closed my eyes and reminded myself that it didn’t matter. None of what he was saying mattered.

Then I looked up at him, shaking my head. “And what, Mr. Evernight? What then? Am I supposed to like this fantasy you’ve created for yourself? Did you think I was going to get turned on by it or something?” I was genuinely curious to hear the answer.

Valentine flinched, his bloodshot eyes moving to the floor, and I like to think he was ashamed of himself.

I’ll admit, what he said was hot—but he knew very well how I felt about this place. About him.

He was a stranger. He was a monster, his looks be damned.

“You asked,” the asshole finally said. I could have fucking laughed.

“No, I didn’t,” I spit. “Tell me what you’re doing here, Valentine.”

“Very well,” he said, raising his head, almost like he was pissed but trying to hide it. “Romin wants to see you, and all my brothers will be there.”

The ceiling could have fallen on my head and I’d have been less scared.

My time had really come, and I was not prepared for it in the least.

“Take control of your body,”Valentine whispered as we walked down the stairs. My legs were pretty numb, so I didn’t feel anything, but he was guiding me. “It’s natural that your heart rate will be fast when you initially step into that room, but take control of it as soon as you can after we’ve settled.”

“What do they want from me?”

It was a question I already knew the answer to, but I still asked it. Hoping maybe I was wrong. Hoping maybe they were summoning me to tell me I was free to go home or something.

“Introduction,” Valentine said, and my stomach sank like I’d just swallowed a sack of rocks. “Romin and Grey want to see you because they didn’t get the chance to meet you yet.”

Emil and Tristian did already. They’d traumatized me for life that morning.

How much worse could Romin and Grey really be?

“Remember, your heart gives you away. If you can control it, nobody can control you. If they don’t know what you’re feeling, they don’t know what you’re thinking, and they won’t know how to get to your head,” Valentine reminded me, but I already knew that. The problem was to actually do it. To actually take control of my body, my heartbeat.

Such a ridiculous concept to me still.

“How well can you hear exactly? And is it all your senses?” I asked just to distract myself.

“I can hear your heartbeat from about ten feet away. The more I know someone, though, the better I hear them. I could hear my mother’s from about a mile,” he said, and my heart jumped. The words were at the tip of my tongue—and where is your mother now? Was she like me—a bride? Is she still alive?

“We hear and smell better than most Enchanted out there. We’re fast. We’re strong, stronger than the average Enchanted,” he continued. “We’re the male version of sirens, without the fins. That’s how they made us. Vampires can only be male, just like sirens can only be female, and when we’re older and more powerful, we can harness the power of compulsion as well.”

“Well, fuck,” I choked because it wasn’t enough that they could do everything better than the rest of the world, no. They had to have more power over the mind as well.

The next second, two doors on the other side of the hallway opened. My heart began to pick up the beating instantly when I noticed the guards. They wore black clothing and they had swords strapped to their hips—actual swords I had never seen on anyone before. It took all I had not to reach for Valentine and wrap my arm around his just to feel some comfort, which was why I didn’t. Valentine was still one of them, despite how he talked to me. He was their brother, their own blood.

“The first tower,” he whispered as we went through, the guards looking ahead at the walls, not really focused on anything. “This is Romin’s home. We’re now on the way to his office.”

And we got there much too soon.

“Control your body,” Valentine reminded me as we neared the end of a wide hallway on the second floor of the tower, at the end of which stood another guard with another one of those swords strapped to his hips.

Control your body, I repeated to myself over and over again until the door was opened and I was staring at the inside, and those three little words no longer had any meaning to me. I kept going, still as numb, taking in the massive room and the round table at which sat the brothers on chairs that could be considered thrones, made out of metal and wood and velvet. They all had glasses in front of them, filled with red liquid that I was praying to any god who’d listen was wine.

“There she is, at last!”

I recognized all of them, and the eldest—Romin—was on his feet with his arms wide open, smiling like he was the happiest guy in the world.

So fast. My heart beat so fast it was going to break my ribcage any second, yet I was somehow still walking. Somehow still going, taking in the other brother sitting at Romin’s left with Emil, while Tristian sat across from them, watching me intently from under his lashes.

Grey.

Finally, I was looking Grey Evernight in the face from closer up, and I recognized those almost white eyes as if I’d known him since the day I was born. The memory of him riding his dragon in the rainstorm flashed in my mind. He was looking at me the same way he did that day—like he knew me. He knew me, and he either hated me with his entire being, or I was the love of his life. Probably the former.

A short stubble covered his square jaws, and his hair was all over the place like he hadn’t bothered to even run his fingers through it when he woke up. His charcoal-black shirt melted onto his wide shoulders, and his hands were fisted to his sides tightly. It took all of my will to unlock my eyes from his. So fucking intense I could hardly breathe, but I somehow managed, if only because my instincts were desperate for me to see where I was.

The room was painted a deep red here, but it looked almost black at the corners where the light didn’t quite reach. The animal heads mounted on them were fucking terrifying. A wolf with antlers. A bear with red eyes. A hog with horns on his head. A purple snake head twice as big as the one that almost ate me that morning.

I was sick to my stomach two seconds in.

“Autumn Hayes, allow me to officially welcome you to the Evernight Court of the Whispering Woods. It’s an honor to have you among us,” Romin said with a deep bow.

Valentine stopped us on the other side of the table, the top of which was engraved with a map.

“Good evening,” I barely choked out, all my focus on not looking at the animal heads framed in silver that someone had thought would make for a nice decoration—or at Grey.

“A very good evening, indeed. You’ve already had the pleasure of meeting Emil and Tristian, second and fourth. I am Romin, the eldest of my brothers, ruler of the Evernight Court, and this is Grey, the third.” My eyes moved to his face quickly, and—yep, he was still looking at me like that. “I believe you already know Valentine is our youngest.” Romin grinned, showing me perfectly white teeth, but in my mind I could have sworn he was wearing fangs.

“It’s nice to meet you all,” I lied, chin up and hands fisted behind me, determined to make it out of this room alive one way or the other, no matter that I was in the same space—same closed space—as the world’s biggest predators.

“Glad to hear it,” said Romin, taking his seat again and crossing his legs. “I was a bit worried when I heard about the way you came to be in our midst, so when I was asked to give you some time to settle, I agreed.” He paused. “I’m a generous fella like that.” Again, he paused.

Was he waiting for a thank you?

“Ha, ha, ha—I’m only kidding,” Romin finally said.

Was he, though? I couldn’t really tell.

Fuck, I was sweating. And I couldn’t believe Valentine had asked Romin to give me time. I mean, it was probably him—who else? I was thankful for it, of course, but I’d also been secretly hoping that the brothers simply lost interest in me.

“I gave you time. I decided that none of us would approach you for two days, which is a lot, don’t you think? And our brides made you feel welcome, didn’t they?” Romin continued, those piercing black eyes seeing right into my soul.

“They did, yes,” I said when Romin didn’t look like he’d continue speaking if I didn’t answer this time.

“Very well, then,” he said. “Come. Sit with me. Let me look at you.” He waved a hand at Grey, who never spoke a single word.

Grey stood up, took his chair and pushed it closer to Romin, his eyes never leaving mine. My God, he looked both mad and tortured at the same time. I could have sworn his eyes were begging me somehow, and fuck, he scared me.

This guy had killed his own father. He looked like a sophisticated version of a mountain man, with mad eyes, a true savage on the inside, and it scared me shitless.

I swallowed hard and walked ahead anyway, once more unable to break eye contact. Romin stood up again, but I hardly saw him, so consumed by Grey.

Monster. Such a beautiful fucking monster, and the closer to him I went, the more beautiful he became.

Until he stepped back to let me through, and I was face-to-face with Romin.

“My, my,” he whispered, looking at me from head to toe. I realized I wasn’t breathing as heavily anymore. I realized my heart wasn’t beating so fast, either. But it was impossible not to flinch when Romin put his hands on my shoulders. “She’s exquisite, isn’t she, brothers?”

They all murmured yes and nodded their heads.

“I almost want to keep you to myself for good,” Romin said with a fake laugh that hurt my ears, when…

“She was supposed to be mine.”

Everyone fell silent for a moment, and I turned to look at Grey, who was standing not three feet behind me. There was a hunger reflecting in his eyes right now that made me wish I was anywhere else in the world but here.

“Now, now, Grey,” Romin said, but he was smiling.

“His hatchling bit her when it was Storm who picked her first,” Grey said, his voice thick and full of something I couldn’t quite place, vibrating throughout me, turning the blood in my veins to stone. He sounded just as dark as the image of him.

I risked a quick glance at Valentine, but his expression was unreadable as he looked at me, and Shadow on his shoulder didn’t move a single inch, either.

“But Storm didn’tbite her—the hatchling did. Don’t be bitter, brother,” Tristian said from the other side of the table.

Grey threw him a look. Just one look—and Tristian leaned back in his chair, trying to act casual. But fuck, he was terrified of his brother. I could have sworn he turned two shades paler.

And if a man like Tristian was afraid of Grey, my instincts—and Valentine—were absolutely right about him.

Except Grey wasn’t done, and his eyes were on me when he said, “She was supposed to be mine. Valentine shouldn’t have been part of the selection with a fucking hatchling, Romin, and you know it.” Slowly, his furious eyes turned to his brother.

I was barely breathing.

“The rules are simple. You have a dragon, you participate in the selection regardless of age,” Romin said. “And we all know Valentine will not get his bride the first years, but his hatchling is just as able to select pure blood as any of our dragons.”

“He stoleher from Storm,” Grey insisted, and I imagined Storm was the name of his dragon.

As much as I hated to admit it, that dragon had come to me first. I remembered the moment when I was still in the water, and the huge dragon came for me, then the small one sneakily got below his talons and bit me.

Fuck, I was shaking so badly…

“Nobody can steal what was never yours, Grey,” Valentine finally said, his voice calm.

“Except she is,” Grey insisted, and he was so certain of it I almost believed him myself.

Tristian forced a laugh. “Who knew you were a sore loser.”

“Nobody,” Grey said. “Because I don’t lose.”

Nobody dared say a single word for one of the longest moments of my life.

“Sit down,” Romin said after a little while, and his voice was so strong, so full of power, even I felt it as if it pressed against my shoulders and pushed me down. “Enough of this nonsense. We have a new bride among us. Let’s not scare her even more—do you not hear that heart?” Romin shook his head as if he were disappointed, but I could have sworn his eyes glistened with amusement. “Come. Sit, Autumn. Join us for a little drink.”

My knees gave under the weight of his magic, and I sat in Grey’s chair while he took another and sat between me and Emil.

Emil, the same guy who’d come out of those trees with blood all over him and extended fangs and murder in his eyes.

The next second, something came closer to me, fast.

It was the little dragon, and he was landing on my shoulder.

Fascinating that I was still alive, really. With the way I was being scared half to death every few seconds, I should have been six feet underground already, yet here I was, sitting at a round table with five vampires, and a small dragon on my shoulder.

Could be the reason why I was having such a hard time breathing still.

“Keep your dragon where he belongs, young one,” said Romin. Right now, he really wasn’t amused.

“His choice,” Valentine said.

Romin raised a brow. “That so.” It wasn’t even a question.

Valentine nodded. “Shadow, come to me.”

The absolute silence that followed was only broken by a snickering sound coming straight from the dragon on my left shoulder. I fisted my hands until my fingernails sank in my palms, just so I didn’t let my body react.

Romin sighed, leaning back on his chair. “Well, at least you finally named him.”

That’s when I realized… “Autumn did.”

All eyes turned to Valentine again, except Grey. Grey was looking at me, at the dragon, like he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to skin him alive yet or not.

Meanwhile I wanted to smack Valentine on the back of his fucking head. Not only had he named his dragon Shadow, but he was telling Romin and the others that?! Was he nuts?

Then Tristian said, “I’d tell you to not go falling in love, little brother, because it’s not going to be fun to see her feeding and fucking your brother soon, maybe carrying your nephew—but we’re vampires. Our hearts don’t beat, so I think you’re safe.”

Valentine didn’t even flinch, but I did. Fuck, my heart tripped all over itself, and my eyes locked on Grey’s who sat so close to me I could touch him if I just reached out my hand. So close he could grab me without much effort, and he looked like he wanted to. God, he really looked like he wanted to put me over his fucking shoulder and run away.

“Autumn, darling, can I get you a drink?” Romin said, pulling my eyes to his.

Of course, I didn’t want a drink, but the brides had told me how it was considered rude to not accept food or drinks from the Masters just yesterday, so I said, “Yes, thank you.”

His smile widened. “Very well. Let me tell you a little bit about Ennaris and how glorious it used to be.” He waved a hand at the tabletop and the map engraved on the polished wood.

Shadow still sat on my shoulder and my hands were still fisted tightly. I risked a quick look at Valentine just to beg him, please, get him off me, but Valentine was looking at Romin. The wall sort of opened somewhere behind him—a hidden door of some sort, and Vinny came through holding a glass of red wine on his tray.

I barely choked a thank you when he brought it to me, then pretended I was too focused on the wine while Vinny left and none of the brothers made a single sound. All my instincts were on high alert and half of me was convinced that I was never going to see sunlight again.

Still, I took the glass of wine from the table and I drank.