House of Secrets and Vows (Crown of Deceit #1)

26. A Reckless Bargain

26

A RECKLESS BARGAIN

I woke up to Zariah holding a fucking dagger to my throat, and instead of killing her before she has another chance to destroy me, I made a bargain with her.

Maddox is right; I have no sense of self-preservation, especially when it comes to her.

Maybe someday I'll learn to listen to my younger brother.

The worst part of it all is that, for a moment, I wanted her to slide the dagger across my neck. Then I might be rid of the incessant thirst that plagues me.

I suck down the bottle of blood in my hand, the emotion swirling through me only fueling my need to drink.

“Are you in there?” Maddox asks from outside my door.

Of course, my fucking brother is here to visit right now.

I came back straight to my room after making the bargain with Zariah last night.

Ever since I woke up from whatever she drugged me with, a headache has pounded between my temples, and I was in no mood to return to the ball and pretend to be the friendly, carefree prince I used to be.

I thought sleeping it off would help, but it hasn’t gone away yet, souring my mood even more.

Maddox doesn't wait for me to respond as he barges into my room.

I tuck the now-empty bottle of blood under my bed covers and casually wipe my mouth. “Forget how to knock?”

Maddox's eyes narrow on me. “You left the ball and never returned. I was worried.”

“Zariah and I wanted a little privacy.” I shrug. “What does it matter?”

“I thought I warned you that spending time with her is dangerous.” His arm hangs at his side, but his fist tightens before he stretches out his fingers.

I want to laugh at just how right he is, though Maddox has been afraid I would hurt her . What would he think if he knew that Zariah had been the one ready to slide a dagger across the Prince of Valazica’s throat?

I step casually away from my bed to the bar area I had added to my room after I became a vampire. “The Solstice is over. I’m sure she’s already gone.”

“What happened when you left the ball?”

“I didn’t hurt her, if that’s what you’re so worried about.” Anger rises in my throat, but I swallow it down and pop open a new bottle of Elderburn liquor. “Have you ever considered that I might be strong enough to control myself?”

I pour myself a glass full of the rum and down half of it, desperate to curb the bloodlust thrumming through me despite the blood I just drank.

Maddox eyes the half-drunk glass. “You’re reckless, Nevan. Always have been, always will be. You make it one week without tearing into someone’s throat, and now you think you're cured of the mess you brought upon yourself.”

“I didn’t ask for this.” I bare my teeth and magic swirls through me, bringing my incisors to a point. “I took some fae brandy when I was grieving my brother’s death and made a stupid fucking decision in meeting with Mavet. But I was tricked into the ritual. I don’t blame anyone but myself, but don’t act like you know how I feel. And I’ve made it much longer than a week without tearing into someone’s throat, brother . Perhaps I have more self-control than you thought.”

I suck in a breath to calm myself. My craving for blood swells as my younger brother’s heartbeat hammers in his chest, and I chug the rest of the rum.

Maddox doesn’t hide his disgust as he stares at my mouth. “You’re just like River. You think life is some game because everyone loves you. But if you become king of Valazica, you’ll get us all killed.”

With another deep inhale, my teeth return to their normal length. “You can leave.”

Maddox opens his mouth to say something, but he changes his mind and leaves without another word.

I grab another bottle of blood and finish it in one long gulp. Anger heightens my need for the metallic liquid, and right now I wish I’d have picked up Maddox and tossed him into the wall.

He might be right about me. Maybe when I’m king, I’ll fuck everything up. But River would have made the best king the kingdom has ever known, and I won’t tolerate any dismissal of my older brother’s character.

An hour after Maddox leaves, a dark-haired servant arrives with the suit she made me for next week’s Heir Ceremony.

She hesitates in the doorway with the suit draped over her forearm and a leather bag slung over her shoulder. “Is now a good time, Prince?”

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I’d opened the door without inviting her inside the room. “Yes, come in.”

I take the suit from her and excuse myself to the washroom to try it on.

When I return to the room, she spreads her sewing tools on my bed and points to the floor. “There’s good lighting near the window.”

The tailor doesn’t waste any time and begins measuring my sleeves and pant legs.

As she works, I return to my thoughts.

Soon, I will officially be Heir to the Valazican throne.

Gods.

I never expected to be given the honor, not when River was made to be king someday. The thought that my older brother would die before being given the chance of his birthright hadn’t ever crossed my mind. And even if I had suspected something might happen to him, I always assumed Maddox would be given the title.

Not me.

Although it is tradition for the eldest prince to be anointed the honor, it isn’t Valazican law. Maddox lived and breathed at our father’s side before the king grew ill. He knows everything there is to know about the kingdom and the war against the fae.

I prefer to host revels and socialize with the people, which makes me popular but not ready to rule.

But the king didn’t hesitate when he heard of River’s death to claim that I would take his spot. Maddox, who is usually the last person to show emotion, flinched. Once our father left the room, Maddox told me he’d support me. No hesitation, no arguing.

And what have I done but go and act like a fucking fool to get myself cursed.

Of course, Maddox is furious at me. He should be. I’m angry at myself, too.

And Maddox has been right about Zariah all along, just not in the way he thought.

Spending time with her has been dangerous—so dangerous, that last night I woke up to a dagger at my throat.

As the tailor makes a small adjustment to my jacket, I laugh.

“Is everything alright, Prince?” she asks, pulling away from me with a needle in her hand.

“Yes, sorry.” I shake my head.

Zariah almost killed me. Or tried to, at least. The thought shouldn’t be funny, but it is. Of all the ways I thought I might die, being drugged and stabbed by a Priestess of Secrets had not been one of them.

Her attempt might have been in vain, thanks to the protections the curse offered me, but I left the House of Blood before finding out the finer details.

I should have disarmed her and killed her. Maddox would have.

I move my arm, yanking the jacket from the tailor’s grip again.

“My apologies.” I take a deep breath and hold it before exhaling.

As I return my arm to her, she says, “I’m sure you have a lot on your mind with the ceremony fast approaching.”

I glance down, and she is back sewing the jacket sleeve. Her dark hair is pinned in a low bun that resembles a pin cushion. I resist another laugh at the irony.

“A lot of adjustments are coming.”

She ties off the thread and then rolls up the brown sleeves of her dress before moving to the other arm. “You’ve faced a lot of change already.”

I tense at her words. What does she know?

“Losing your brother so suddenly must have been difficult.” She tugs on my sleeve. “I lost one of my brothers when I was a child.”

“What happened?” Offering my condolences be the proper thing to do, but such a rehearsed answer tastes bitter on my tongue.

She pauses again and stands. “He grew ill, and we couldn’t afford the medication.” Sadness narrows her bright blue eyes. “It was before I offered myself as a palace servant.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

A child died from something money could have saved him from. No doubt he isn’t the only one who has suffered such a fate.

I scan my bedroom, noticing the plush blankets and pillows that all end up on the floor when I sleep. Exquisite artwork shipped from another continent decorates the walls that would have cost more than the tailor will make for an entire lifetime as a palace servant.

She holds up a bent needle. “I’ll have to return with a new one to finish.”

“It can wait until a different day.” I slip the sapphire ring from my right hand. “Take this and sell it. It should be enough for you to survive off of until you can find a better position.”

She holds up a hand. “Oh no, I couldn’t.”

“It’s the least I can do.”

She looks at the jewelry that is worth at least fifty times her pathetic excuse for a salary. After a few more seconds of hesitation, she takes a step back. “I’m likely to get accused of theft when I try to sell it. Poor people don’t usually come by jewels like that honestly.”

“Then I’ll find you once I’ve sold it and give you the money.” I slide it back on my finger.

“You’ll make a good king.” She picks up the small bag of sewing items she brought.

I wish I had the same confidence in myself. Even without the curse now in my veins, I've never been king-like. Hosting revels, drinking liquor, and a knack for flattering nobles aren’t exactly the skills needed to run a kingdom.

And craving the blood of my people only complicates it all so much more.

When I’m finally alone again, I practically inhale another bottle of blood. My nerves are on fire—from my thirst or from the anxiousness building inside me, I'm not sure.

I've never wanted the crown, but I now understand the power the position would hold. Perhaps I can make this kingdom better somehow, even just a little.

First, I need to follow through with my promise to Zariah, regardless if making the bargain was reckless with the Heir Ceremony so fast approaching.

But the desperation in her gaze made me feel sorry for her, and guilt still fills me from what I did to her friend, even if I stopped before killing her. The moment I pushed the woman away from me, I knew that if I ever drank from a vein again, I wouldn’t be able to stop.

If I'm going to be king despite this curse, I need answers.

Going into the House of Blood to find out what happened to Zariah’s friend is only part of the reason I agreed. While I'm there, I’ll learn exactly the limitations of my curse, and if I'm lucky, I’ll figure out how to break it.

But going into the Blood Den won’t be without risk.

Mavet wants me as an ally, and I don't know how far the Blood King will go to convince me to join.

Or what he might do when I refuse.