The Vampire's Bride

Chapter 20

Adelaide paced like a prowling lion before the Italian king in the throne room.

She was furious.

How in all Hell had Iris advanced her powers that much, without her catching even a whisp of it? She'd practiced her victory speech, knew the exact words. Iris should have been crying on the ground with her innocence destroyed, her husband dead, and with Adelaide standing over her ready to hack her throat to pieces.

"Why are you doing this?"

Her lip curled as Evelyn's voice filled her mind. It was so pleading, so soft. Adelaide's eldest daughter was lovely. She had to cherish and protect her. Surely she had to thank Evelyn for the use of her body. The girl had been an obedient vessel, even if she reacted with such a horror at Adelaide's plans for Iris. Prehaps this had been the reason that the queen had been so slow at killing the girl. The regret was infectious.

Even though they had lost this day, Adelaide felt that Evelyn deserved a reward.

It was then that the Italian prince rushed into the throne room. His cloak was soaked with rain, the mess of blonde curls stained brown by dampness atop his head. The boy had been outside.

Adelaide felt Emberlyn's emotions surge when she looked at the prince. Prehaps they could both profit from this failed assassination after all, if she fancied him. She could stabilize her daughter's claim to the throne with an heir.

"There's no sign of them?" Adelaide asked the king.

"None, my lady," he replied. He lounged across his conquered throne, a lazy, a fat bastard content with his prize. His son looked at him with such an amusing disgust on his face. Adelaide found herself entertained. Yes, one prize could be exchanged for another.

"We had a deal, majesty," she purred. "The girl for the castle."

"Surely you can be compensated in gold for what you have lost. My guards are searching for your lost bargaining chips as we speak," the king drolled on.

Adelaide curled her lip and lifted her hand. The prince's eyes narrowed, staring at it.

The king stopped, and began to cough. He clutched at his sweaty, red neck desperately. Hot blood began to drip from his fat lips as Adelaide curled her fingers.

"Stop it!" The prince yelled. He grabbed her wrist, snapping her from the ecstacy. Adelaide looked at him and smirked. She reached over to brush a damp curl of blonde hair from his face.

"I'll be taking your son, instead," she purred. She turned her eyes to the gasping king and smiled at his shocked expression. "Let me know when you've found Iris and Jason. I want my own men to drag them back."

"You can't take my heir," the king protested, sitting up. Adelaide glared at him murderously.

"Father," the prince said, struggling to step back. Adelaide lashed out and grabbed onto his arm. Her eyes glinted as she grinned.

"Come now. Don't make this worse than this has to be, darling," she said. The prince's scream echoed in the throne room as Adelaide flashed out with him, dragging him back to hell alongside her.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

Iris breathed out heavily, dragging the firewood into the small clearing. It was freezing in the winter morning. Snow flooded over the ground like a white, fluffy blanket.

Her golden hair slid into her face as she arranged the wood neatly. Jason was laying face down in the dirt next to her, wrapped in his cloak. He was still recovering from his wounds. Even though Iris was giving him small doses of her blood, the stab wounds were being slow to heal.