Page 71 of The Vampire's Lament
Ungrateful.
Traitor.
Must be punished.
“There will be a retaliation,” I explained, anger sparking.
“Right,” she repeated, cold, uncaring, her disappointment obvious.
My eyes narrowed. “Is there something you wish to say to me?”
She huffed. “Doesn’t matter.”
Such arrogance. “Please, go ahead.”
Tilly stood without permission, flaunting her disrespect. “Where is the declaration of war on the mortals? Where is the fire in your belly? We remember Lucius and how brutal he could be. We want that from you.” She took a breath. “We want that elf dead, we want?—”
“Watch yourself,” Vaughn warned from his position in the front row.
I folded my arms, my anger simmering. “Paris is key to our success, so mind your tongue.”
Touch so much as a hair on his head and I will rejoice in your screams.
“While you are allowed to feel how you feel,” I added, “it doesn’t change anything. I must work with him to save us all.” I met all their eyes then. “Everything I do is for you, for your safety. I want to give you a brighter future, but being at odds with each other won’t help us. We must unite.” I sighed, hoping this would be enough. “I’m sorry I’ve let you all down so profoundly, that I’ve brought chaos into this palace. And I will forever remain in your debt, striving to be the king you deserve.” I paused, closing my eyes in the silence.
The Heart of All cooled, its worries on hold.
How many of them agreed with Tilly, aside from the other rebels? I couldn’t read their thoughts, but I could sense their energy, that fervent disappointment smothered in fear.
I’d let them down.
I’d make it right.
“This is the time to fight,” I continued, wanting to stress my point again. “This is the time to be stronger than ever before. We will learn all the truths; from my sister’s name to what happened to our Selene Haven. And maybe we will go home, if there is a world out there waiting for us. Maybe?—”
Tilly scoffed, the sound echoing around the ballroom.
A rush of irritation skipped across my skin. “What are you doing?” I demanded.
“Disrespectful!” Vaughn hissed.
She didn’t care. “You can deliver all the speeches you want, Majesty. Pretty up the situation with your waffle until you pass out. It doesn’t change anything. You’re weak, you’re leaving us open to attack, and involving us in something that doesn’t concern us.”
Goodness, the loathing in her expression was sharp enough to cleave diamonds.
Vaughn tried warning her again, but I held him off.
“Itdoesconcern you,” I responded. “This affects everyone in this room.”
Her lips spread into a malevolent smile. Bryan, a fellow rebel sitting beside her, got to his feet in solidarity.
“If Aidan is this great godly power,” she spewed, “then maybe our loyalties should shift toward joining him.”
For a moment, I couldn’t quite believe what I’d heard. I went numb, dumbfounded by such ridiculousness.
Low voices mumbled their surprise.
“You mean the same deity who murdered my brother?” I rebutted.
