“It’s a revolution for the Nightworth Kingdom!” Lolita claims. She’s been standing in front of my new sewing desk—courtesy of the twins—since she barged in here ten minutes ago. “We can fashion ourselves with protection all thanks to you. What an advantage to have over those Onyxias fuckers still using rings.”
“I don’t see how it’s that much of a revolution,” I admit. “Jewelry works just fine, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, but jewelry can be stolen more easily,” Tertius states. He looks at Octavius who whispers in response, “Trousers can be stolen with the right attitude, dear brother.”
Lolita snorts. The sound rivals her lady-like appearance and stance. She plumps her red curls with a delicate gesture and then plants her palms on the desk. The way her pupils ignite and blow up tells me she’s spotted the blood on her garment.
Warmth trickles from the crown of my head to my chin in about half a second. “Sorry, Lolita. I’ll scrub that out. I didn’t mean to—”
She takes my wrist with a soft smile and swipes the bead of blood from my finger. When she releases my hand, she dabs the blood on her tongue. Her eyes roll briefly. She grins a little wider and leans over the desk, practically plopping herself into my lap.
“No wonder Darius wishes to keep you to himself. Your blood isdelicious. Is that…?” She smacks her lips like she’s sampling food from a five-star Michelin chef. “...Oh. Is that a lack of poison I sense? You’ve barely done anything truly bad in your life. That’s so incrediblyunique.” She rattles off something in French that I don’t recognize.
The twins laugh in tandem, the sound as alarming as watching those freaky twins fromThe Shininghold hands and chant.
I’m getting ready for Tertius and Octavius to request that I play with them forever when Darius grumpily marches into the room, huffing like he’s just run a marathon—with human lungs, that is.
“Lolita!”
His cousin spins around and touches her cheek lightly like she’s trying to hide something she’s attempted to steal. “Dear Darius! Why, you look positivelypaleright now.” She turns to me. “Darling, would you be so kind as to feed my cousin? He probably just had a long chat with the Council about—”
“Lolita, what did I say about pestering my bloodbag?”
She innocently gestures to the dress I’ve been toiling over for the last hour—half of which she’s been in here harassing me about this stitch and that design and if I can so kindly do a piece for her distant uncle, the same uncle who tore up her blouse because it wasn’t quiteFrench enoughfor theFrenchball.
My eyes rolled right into outer space. She sure was dramatic. I could see where Darius got his theatrics from in his bloodline.
“I don’t care,” Darius says firmly. “She told you one week, so give her the week. She has other clients since you loudly flapped your jaw around the kingdom. I’vejustgot the new bloodbags settled and I don’t have time for you to—”
The twins swing into view. “She’s become the shining gem of the kingdom,” Tertius explains. Octavius nods and adds, “The Baron wants to commission her as well.”
Darius fumes for a split second and then his shoulders drop as he stares off into space. “The Baron? He’s the most popular vampire designer in the underworld. He was last spotted in Milan—how the hell did he manage to get word of Amber’s skills in just two days!”
Tertius and Octavius stiffen. With their backs to me, I can only imagine the face they’re both giving to Darius. Faces that match an apologetic tone as they admit simultaneously, “We may have mentioned it.”
Darius puffs up, chokes, and then points to the door. “Alright, everybodyout.”
Lolita lifts her chin poshly and then follows her twin cousins out of the suite. Silence rattles my ears. God, that girl can talk an eardrum right out of someone’s head. The amount of gossip she harbors is impressive—and honestly, overwhelming.
I’ve learned about every noble family in just the Nightworth Kingdomalone. I can’t imagine how many there are in the other six kingdoms. There were families she mentioned in the Onyxias Kingdom that I had no idea evenexisted.
Then again, my time was better kept by Jasper and King Marr. Why would I know much about anyone when I had all my tasks sorted for me?
Big cringe. I felt like a porcelain doll getting handled by a new owner. Which I guess is a great way to describe being a bloodbag.
Darius looks at me. He folds his hands behind his back. He bows his head. It’s not a respect thing.
When he avoids meeting my gaze, I have to wonder if he’s putting distance between us.
Is that really something I should care about? Seriously.
“Don’t get me wrong, Amber. Your popularity is a blessing to this kingdom,” Darius explains in a deep voice. “We’ve finally cleared those dreadful headlines.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Headlines?”
“Quinn earned himself a rather creative nickname in our underground news circles.”
“Enlighten me.”