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

29. Liquid Gold

29

LIQUID GOLD

M y focus latches onto Zariah as she turns back. A chill runs through me as our gazes meet, and it takes everything in me not to follow her as the door swings shut.

I haven’t forgotten being drugged and nearly killed—I still have a bruise on the side of my face from when I collided with the ground in the library.

But she’s come into this den of vampires with me, and if I have any fucking hope of being a good king, I feel responsible for her getting out.

Mavet's voice pulls my attention back toward the gaudy throne. "I must say, you have delectable taste in women, Princeling."

I swallow my nerves and redirect my focus to Mavet. "You wanted me here to show me all you have to offer my future reign, not to share opinions on women."

"I don't see why we can't do both." He gestures to the woman who remains.

Her dark hair falls to her waist, and when she leans toward Mavet, he tucks half of it behind her shoulder, revealing a neck full of puncture wounds.

The Blood King smirks at me before opening his mouth to reveal his now-pointed incisors.

The woman doesn't react as he leans his head back and then springs it forward and sinks his teeth into her neck.

The deep metallic scent of her blood hits me a moment later, and I can't stop my teeth from morphing into points.

Mavet pulls back, blood dripping from both his mouth and her neck, and grins.

"Denying who you are will gain you nothing." He licks the wound on her neck, and it stops bleeding. "Have a drink."

He pushes the woman toward me.

I take a few steps back. "I'll pass."

"You must remember how delicious blood from the vein tastes."

My mouth salivates as I’m struck with a wave of thirst at the memory. But it also reminds me why I’m here and the bargain I made with Zariah. "Another time, perhaps."

“Tell me, Princeling, have you drank from your lady yet? Her blood smells mouthwatering.”

My ears pound like drums as the edge of my vision blurs. “I haven’t, and neither will any of you.”

Mavet frowns. “Afraid she won’t approve of your darkest desires?"

"Zariah is none of your concern."

"Ahh, but seeing this protective side is so entertaining. Everyone in the kingdom has heard of your reputation with women. What makes this one so different?"

"As I've said—” I start when the iron door swings open, startling me.

Fear that something has happened to Zariah strikes me, but Colesef, Mavet's advisor, saunters into the room and exhales.

I shouldn’t be so worried for Zariah's safety. Only days ago, she had a dagger to my throat, for fuck's sake. But I have vowed to help her search for her friend, and I intend to follow through.

I haven't always cared about my integrity—hell, I don’t think I’ve ever cared—but Maddox's words struck hard. I want to be a good king, not a terrible one like my father.

And I can’t deny that the thought of any of the bastards in this den feeding from Zariah boils my blood.

Colesef bows in front of Mavet.

"King, a message has arrived for you." He hands out a rolled-up piece of parchment tied with brown string.

Mavet opens it, grins, and then gives it back to Colesef."In three days from now, after our celebrations, if you aren't convinced of accepting my offer of an alliance, I won't ask you again."

"And in the meantime?" I ask.

"In the meantime, you must commit to learning exactly what it's like to be a member of the House of Blood."

"I must?"

"I've invited you and Zariah into my home in good faith, Princeling. You wouldn't want to upset me, would you?" His words hold a threat, and not only for my safety.

"Of course not." I dip my chin in a small gesture of fealty.

Forgetting that I’m trapped underground in the Blood King's home would be a costly mistake—one I don't intend to make.

I should have warned Zariah of the danger coming here has put us in, and the price we will pay if Mavet is no longer humored by our presence. Though, I’m sure she is well aware of the risks involved in going undercover, especially into a den of vampires.

"Good." Mavet claps his hand twice and stands. "Now that everything is settled, let's share a drink."

He gives Colesef a nod.

The advisor leaves the room and, when he returns, he’s tugging a human woman by her wrist.

The scent of fear radiates from her like heat from a flame. She doesn't speak, but wide-eyed panic sets her features, and I can't help but look away.

Mavet extends a hand, and his advisor pushes the woman into his arms.

"Lilah here bargained herself into five years of debt to Malikar." He pushes her long hair away from her neck and rubs the back of his fingers over her porcelain skin. "Today will be her first opportunity to serve by offering her blood to us. Prince Nevan here looks quite parched, don't you think?"

When I make the mistake of looking at her again, her pleading gaze meets mine. Mavet outed my royal status, knowing full well that I have no power here. The Blood King wants me to feel helpless, the bastard.

"Come." Mavet’s focus doesn't stray from the woman's neck, but the order is most definitely directed toward me.

Saliva pools in my mouth as my body understands what I’m about to do. My craving for blood doesn't have a moral compass.

With a deep breath, I do as instructed and move to the Blood King's side.

Mavet runs a finger from her neck, down her shoulder and arm, all the way to her hand, and then he hands me her upturned wrist. "For you, Princeling."

The neck always belongs to the superior vampire, a fact I learned the day I was initiated into this group of monsters. A lowling vampire made the deadly mistake of drinking from an offering's neck before Mavet had his share, and the decision ended with his head ripped from his shoulders.

Like a fucking coward, I avoid the woman's gaze as I run my tongue over my pointed incisors, drawing my own blood. If I see her panic, I might not be able to do what I need to do to survive.

And it isn’t only my life at stake.

If I fuck up and get killed by the Blood King, Zariah won’t make it out. No, she’ll be used just like the woman in front of me.

Mavet turns his attention back to the woman’s neck. There is no gentleness in his action as he bites into her large vein.

The woman’s body tenses as her skin breaks beneath his incisors, but as soon as the Blood King starts to drink, everything in her relaxes.

I don't hesitate as I bring her wrist to my mouth and bite into her flesh. A small, sick part of me is grateful she isn’t struggling; I can almost forget how detestable I’ve become.

When blood hits my tongue, every nerve in my body explodes with ecstasy. My hands tighten around her wrist, keeping it near my mouth as I gulp down the metallic liquid like a glutton.

My heartbeat aligns with hers as the primal side of me cherishes each guzzle.

Swallow after swallow, I lose myself to the high the blood brings me.

Every nerve in my body tingles with pleasure, my cock hardening. Power storms through my bloodstream, awakening something inside me, something dark and commanding. My inner beast thunders with delight, satiated by the overwhelming rush of the woman’s blood filling my stomach.

I'm not sure how long I’ve been drinking when I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"Time to stop, Princeling. The smart little thing made sure to bargain in staying alive."

I want to ignore his order, but at the mention of staying alive, a small voice understands that if I don't stop, she will die.

With one final gulp, I pull back and let go of her wrist.

Blood pours from my mouth and onto my jacket and the tunic beneath it as my breath grows heavy.

I fucking hate how incredible I feel, gorged on blood.

There is no denying the monster I’ve become.

Once Mavet releases the woman, she collapses to the ground.

"Get her to a healer," Mavet tells Colesef. "The last thing I need is to break a bargain."

The advisor tosses the woman over his shoulder as if she is as light as a blanket and leaves the room.

"Denying what you are is pointless, Princeling. Doing so will only end poorly." Mavet returns to his throne, his face covered in drying blood. "Together, the world is ours for the taking. All you have to do is let go of your past."

Guilt settles in my gut, swirling with all the blood I just consumed and leaving me nauseous. But despite the queasy feeling, every inch of my body feels alive, buzzing with bliss. "I’d like to get back to Zariah."

The Blood King shakes his head. "You're quite infatuated with a woman you barely know."

"That's my business." The taste of blood lingers in my mouth, and its stench remains on my clothes.

Something in Mavet's expression almost convinces me to ask what he means, but Colesef saunters back through the doors and the Blood King instructs him to show me to my room.

"There are fresh clothes for both you and your woman in your closet. You'll be escorted to dinner in one hour. Be ready," Mavet says as I follow Colesef through the door.

I have no doubt that drinking from the woman is only the first test I will have to face while we are here.

And if I fail, even once, Zariah and I won’t make it out alive.